radio will not turn on

[jmindler]

Hello All,
I have a 1998 528, and the radio will not power on. The clock still works fine, but no radio. All of the fuses have been checked? maybe a problem with the unit in the dash?
Thanks,
John

[NICU RRT]

Helllo John,

Sounds like we have similar problems, I have a 1998 540i and my radio also won't power on. I fave found out that the radio has it's own fuse and may need to be replace and a second alternative is disconnect battery brown first then red then reconnect red then brown. let me know what u find out.

[evertoconquer]

Bad amp.

[JoeH]

Mine did the same thing occasionally and I never had fm. Anyways, I replaced the radio with an aftermarket and havent had the problem. Since Im using the same power/ground/antenna wires now I pretty sure it was the oem head unit and not wiring or fuses etc.

Wouldnt the radio still turn on without the amp working properly?

[evertoconquer]

Radio will come on with the amp not working, it just won't play any music. I had this problem when I first got my touring. Replaced the amp and she works fine now.

[Jackcat559]

Radio will come on with the amp not working, it just won't play any music. I had this problem when I first got my touring. Replaced the amp and she works fine now.

+1

Got an amp off ebay for pretty cheap, and it resolved the issue. They are different amps through out the e39 life span

[jmindler]

thanks for all of the help. The radio has its own fuse, wherevis it located?
thanks again. I also noticed that the cd changer was also not getting power. the cassette player also powerless.

thanks all. where is the separate radio fuse located? also, the cd changer or cassette player do not power up.

[evertoconquer]

I can't help you with that. My changer hasn't worked since I've had the car but my casset works. Have you found the fuse guide in the glovebox?

[Rigmaster]

thanks for all of the help. The radio has its own fuse, wherevis it located?
thanks again. I also noticed that the cd changer was also not getting power. the cassette player also powerless.

thanks all. where is the separate radio fuse located? also, the cd changer or cassette player do not power up.

fuse #56 in the rear fusebox (above the battery) is the main fuse for the CD, Amp and radio

[Rigmaster]

fuse #56 in the rear fusebox (above the battery) is the main fuse for the CD, Amp and radio

not sure what else I can tell you.

There's no separate fuse, it's in the rear fuse panel, above the battery.

IIRC, it's a 30a fuse (green).

[jmindler]

Thanks. The fuse is good? Amp maybe?

[Rigmaster]

Thanks. The fuse is good? Amp maybe?

That seems to be the next thing to look at.


I had a bad amp in my 2000 528iT when I first bought it, I replaced it with an amp out of an E36 M3 that had the same connections and it works fine. I know there are some differences in amps throughout the years, but I think as long as the plugs are the same, you should be fine.

[jmindler]

Thanks again. Will look on ebay

[Xeniczone]

There is a fuse behind the radio itself isn't there? I can't remember exactly but I'm pretty sure there is one. Take the radio out and see.

[jmindler]

thanks all. I took the radio out. no fuse. is there a central module or amp that the cassette player radio and cd changer plug into? all three units are not powering up.
Does anyone have a schematic for this circuit?
Could there be a fuse that I am missing?
thanks again.

[Xeniczone]

Did you take the radio out or the MID out?

There are several modules to the radio.

MID- Multi-Informational Display. The long LCD with all the buttons and crap.
Head Unit- The actual place you put the CD/Tape
CD-Changer- Unit in the trunk that stores/plays CDs.
Amp- Well. It's an amp.

The Head Unit is the actual piece that controls everything without this the MID will only show the time and nothing else. If your radio is not turning on, more than likely their is something wrong with this. Do you have a Tape player or a CD Player for a head unit? Are you sure there isn't a fuse behind it? I could have sworn that their was a small 5amp fuse on the CD Players. I have no idea with the tape players.

[jmindler]

thanks. I took the MID out. The only thing that is working on the MID is the clock.
I will pull the tape player out tomorrow and look.
How does the tape player come out?
thanks again.

[Xeniczone]

Yeah, it comes out. There should be two small T5? T8? screws under the tape player. They were previously hidden by the MID. Unscrew them and the cassette player will slide out. The screws will not come out. You probably only have to rotate them 10 times for each one to let go.

[yacob555]

Mine does this too, but the turn signals also go out(on the interior). Have read that it can be corrosion in the cd changer cord. Haven't investigated yet.

[Errol5]

Mine does this too, but the turn signals also go out(on the interior). Have read that it can be corrosion in the cd changer cord. Haven't investigated yet.

got the same problem on my 97 523i. Radio sometimes work, sometimes not, clock (MID) sometimes shows up, sometimes it does not.

when the clock display is there my turn signals (cluster), Hi beam (cluster) and reverse light (AT tranny) all work, but as soon as the display goes out (the radio/MID just shuts off/dies out), then signals and high beam indicator and reverse light all stop working.

[jmindler]

pulled the tape player out today. the fuse is there and it was good. I replaced it anyway. does anyone know the exact locations of all of the fuses that have anything to do with the sound system?
maybe a schematic.
thanks again in advance.

[jmindler]

update: I took the tape out and checked the fuse. the fuse was good. so pulled the plug off the back of the tape player and checked for constant power, switched power and ground. all where present. it looks like there may be a problem with the tape player it looks as though it may serve as a head unit also, so I ordered one off eBay.
I will keep everyone posted.

[Xeniczone]

Yeah, sounds like a bad tape player. Try to find someone on here or in a local dump for a new tape player. Ebay seems to be overpriced. 120 dollars for a 13 year old tape player? No thanks.

[fragzem]

Thanks. The fuse is good? Amp maybe?

what about the fuse in the radio itself?

Yeah, sounds like a bad tape player. Try to find someone on here or in a local dump for a new tape player. Ebay seems to be overpriced. 120 dollars for a 13 year old tape player? No thanks.

you can get the business CD for about same price

[jmindler]

thanks. found a tape player on eBay for $30