Does anyone know where the FM amplifier is? My FM signal is horrible. Any tips on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

What Year is your R52?

I didn't find one listed on the parts listing ... you can look yourself here ... https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sel...&prod=20060600

Link is for a 2006 but I din't see any difference in the listings for multiple years

From what I saw, most likely it is either the cable or the antenna, did you ensure the cable is correctly plugged into the Head Unit (radio)? If anyone has messed with the radio or reached in back behind it may have knocked it loose or disconnected it and then there is the antenna side.

Best of luck.

Motor On!

 

Thanks for the reply buddy, I was beginning to feel skeptical if anyone was going to reply.

Anyways, it's a 2006 R52s. It's funny how you mentioned about if anyone had messed with the radio. There is some kind of charger (looks to be for an android device) coming out from behind the head unit from the previous owner so it's possible the cable is loose. I tried removing the antenna on the roof to see if it made the signal any worse and it did not. The signal remained the same. I switch from FM to AM with both experiencing horrible signal. I will check the cable whenever I get some free time.

Again, thanks for the reply!

 

I also checked the link you provided and like you said, doesn't appear there is a part for an FM amplifier. I've seen others on forums with FM amplifiers pertaining to hatch backs and possibly other years. I've seen a thread where someone was experiencing the same issue with a convertible and didn't have any luck resolving the issue.

 

From that experiment, it does sound like there is something broken, cable wise, between the antenna and the radio (head unit).

BTW, I don't think there is a separate FM signal amp.

 

Thanks for the info, this helps narrow things down a bit.
I’m really curious to see what it may be. I will mess with it this weekend and keep you guys posted.

 

Is it the factory, or an aftermarket radio?

 

It’s the factory radio.

 

Ok, I was going to suggest checking to make sure the power antenna lead was connected even though MINI’s don’t have motorized antennas.

I had something similar happen before in a car with a windshield antenna. I didn’t connect the power antenna lead on the new radio because the car didn’t have a power antenna, but the car actually used this wire for a hidden factory signal booster. I didn’t have any reception until it was hooked up.

 

In the hatchbacks, the antenna amplifier is located under the quarter trim on the passenger's side in the back seat area directly below the window. I can't help with the convertible though.

 

Any luck figuring out your radio issue? I have an '06 R53 that also has radio reception issues that I'm just starting to track down.