About Evan Slater Expertise All 1999 model year and newer. Don't know much about pre OBD2 stuff. E46 and newer I am Especially good with late models. I NEED YEAR & MODEL OF VEHICLE! when asking questions. Please give last seven digits of the VIN number. Please give as much background info as possible when asking questions. Please read past questions and answers to avoid duplicate questions.
Experience 6 years automotive experience and 3+ years working as a Dealership Master Technician. Will offer dealership Technician perspective with knowledge of common failures/problems, part weaknesses, Service Bulletins, and Improved components. Will not give tipical Dealer Bull
Organizations Current BMW dealership Master Technician
Education/Credentials Graduate UTI Phoenix 2002 (won 9 out of 15 possible top student awards) BMW STEP Graduate 2004, Over 90% average on BMW ACT competition question for 3 years. BMW Master Technician Level 4 with Master Tech training. ASE Master Certified Technician.
Question About 3 months ago, purchased the car with 91,000 miles on it. Now has about 97,000 miles. have problem with poor AM radio reception, but bigger problems followed.
Stopped to fill up with gas a few weeks ago. When restarted the car, the airbag light stayed on and I had no cruise control. The next day when I started the car, the airbag light stayed on and so did the transmission little yellow wheel by the airbag light - again, no cruise.
Subsequently lights will not come on sometimes and cruise will work, other times one light will come on and no cruise. Then I was driving one day and the radio went off all by itself. I drove about ten miles and the radio came back on all by itself. Now, when I start the car, the lights may or may not come on and the radio may or may not work. Sometimes I can play with the ignition switch and make the lights go out and sometimes not. Sometimes I cam make the radio work by switching the key off and on and sometimes not.
Otherwise, the car runs fine. Always starts right up, good gas mileage, runs smooth. Any ideas on either problem -- radio reception or warning lights? Have not yet been to a dealer to put a scope on it, but did check fuses to no avail.
Thanks.
Fran
Answer Fran, The AM radio reception in BMWs is known for being poor. Window tinting on the rear window affects the reception greatly. Also there is a device called the antenna amplifier behind the rear C-pillar cover (the cover that has the rear reading light in it). I can't remember if it is the left or right one in your vehicle. I think left. Antenna amplifier is Beige/white rectangular box with many wires and connectors comming out of it. There is a silver Coax (kinda like an old TV fitting)screw on connector that is for the AM antenna that is always loose providing a poor connection and reception that gets worse or changes when driving over bumps. Please check this connector and tighten with pliers. First carfully pry out the reading light. Pull C-pillar off with firm tug. Make sure clips are in C-pillar and not in pillar.
The problem you describe sound like a intermittenly faulty Slip ring behind the driver's airbag that transmits Multifunction steering wheel and airbag functions while the wheel is free to turn. Could also be a Faulty steering angle sensor, but the previous fits the discription better. Make sure the vehicle battery is in good shape and check to make sure that the original year stamp is not in the negative battery terminal (this is a sign of original battery). The radio problem seems as though the electrical section of the ignition switch is not functioning properly at times. My diagnosis is to take the car to a dealer and pay an hour for them to read out the vehicle fault memory to get a better idea of what you are up against. If you have the dough let them diagnosis the car. If not make sure you get a print out and send me another post.
-Evan
Fan after reviewing your post you also may be dealing with a faulty ignition switch. They are known for causing wierd radio issues.
-Evan 8/28/06
