Radio issues... advice please.

[rmz]

CD changer and all the speakers work fine, but the radio only works intermittently. Sometimes when i turn on the car it will work, sometimes it won't. When it does work it sometimes cuts out while driving and stops working again.

when it is not working, it won't catch any stations when i try to seek. it will just keep going through all the frequencies with no sound.

is this a common ignition switch issue? or something related to my antenna/connections?

the tape deck no longer works.

also, in the past i had problems that were, apparently, classic ignition switch ones. the MID would often not work at all until I restarted the car or played with the driver's sunshade light. that problem is no longer there, but now the radio doesn't work.

advice?

side note: my antenna got knocked off my back windshield years ago (when my boss wanted to do me a favor and clear snow off of it) but the radio always worked fine after that until recently.

[IcemanBHE]

Sounds like a antennae issue to me.

[Timm]

Seen this a few times now - as Ice says, it's an antenna issue, it is actually where the antenna plugs into the radio module (far left side of the trunk, behind the carpet). They develop a fatigued joint on the antenna connection. It can be successfully repaired by re-flowing the joint.

[Kiyoskia]

^ I'm listening...

[DenisMcG]

I do not think that this is an antenna issue. The radio is intermittent, and the tape deck does not work, but the cd changer works. I am pretty sure that the cassette player is the problem. This is a pretty typical problem for older cars.

[Qsilver7]

side note: my antenna got knocked off my back windshield years ago (when my boss wanted to do me a favor and clear snow off of it) but the radio always worked fine after that until recently.

Just an FYI: the antenna that was stuck to your rear windshield didn't have anything to do with your car's radio reception...that antenna was for your car's cellphone reception. The car's radio antenna is embedded into the rear windshield along with the defrost wires & antenna for the car's (FZV) keyless remote entry system:

But since you tell us you have a MID...that means that you have the in-dash cassette tape deck which is also your car's radio receiver (it's not in the back trunk area like those that have the Nav screen). Your radio antenna cables run from the antenna (built into the rear windshield) to an amp (#2) & a module (#1) in each C pillar...then the antenna cable (#3) runs up front to plug into the back of the cassette/radio receiver:

TIP: If you have another BMW or a friend that has a BMW from about 1993 to 1999 which has a "single DIN" BMW radio (one that's the same shape as your in-dash cassette/radio)...you can retract the wings that secures it into the dash (by turning the screws behind the little flap doors on each side counter-clockwise) and swap the radios. Your issue could be a failing radio receiver...and swapping in one that you know works...could easily verify this. The wiring harness is designed the same for the BMW single DIN [anti-theft] radios for just about the entire decade of the 90s...then BMW moved away to the separated components (MID/cass-tape/radio or MID/CD-radio or Nav/cass-tape w/radio in trunk) that are MODEL SPECIFIC

For example, a CD43 indash CD/radio or C33 indash cass/radio from an e36 or 34 or e32 can hook up to our cass tape/radio harness to test if the problem is your radio receiver:

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[martyanderson10]

I am pretty sure you need a new cassette/radio head unit. There is a guy on Ebay who fixes these radios. I went through two used ones until I found this guy and he fixed it perfect for about $80 and guarantees them. I can get his contact info if you want it. Don't waste your $ on used units. (no affiliation)

[GIJOE2664]

Humm...... Got me thinking - I had the non nav radio and replaced it with an aftermarket one. My radio signal is still awful. Can someone point me in the correct direction as to how I can resolve this?

[blueninja1980]

I was having the same problem with my radio replaced it with a good use one. Haven't had a problem since.