Poor AM reception when Rear Defroster is turned on. Phila area.

[jaisonline]

I live in the Phila area and usually listen to WIP 610 (AM station) while driving home from work. I rather listen to Howard Eskin calling people morons than Don and Mike on 94.1FM since they are terrible. Darn, I wish Opie and Anthony get back on the air soon :)

ANYWAY, while listening to AM stations (especially WIP 610), I noticed that if I put on the rear defroster, the AM reception pulls in static. I don't notice this behavior with any FM stations nor other more powerful signal AM stations though. When I turn off the rear froster, then the static goes away.

Has anyone else experienced this?


PS: I do have my windows tinted 20% smoke if this matters. I know the fm and am antennas are integrated on the rear window.

[palooka666]

I think that's just inherent bmw design. My AM reception blows. I get kyw 1060 but that's about it. i have a 38% tint. it was a little better before the tint, but not much.

on a side note., the Don and Mike show is just horrible. They suck so bad... there aren't words to describe their level of suck-y-ness
and eskin.... talk about the lesser of two evils. :banghead:





I live in the Phila area and usually listen to WIP 610 (AM station) while driving home from work. I rather listen to Howard Eskin calling people morons than Don and Mike on 94.1FM since they are terrible. Darn, I wish Opie and Anthony get back on the air soon

[Alex Baumann]

Hello,

Same thing happened on my car which I had noticed on the day of delivery.

Make an appointment with your dealer. The rear window must be replaced.

[Spectre]

Alex,

You mean there's actual damage to the antenna or antenna connections that cause the poor AM reception?

[palooka666]

alex, and i guess that also means you have to have the rear window re-tinted...

eh... i don't listen to AM that much.

[Alex Baumann]

Originally posted by Spectre
Alex,

You mean there's actual damage to the antenna or antenna connections that cause the poor AM reception?

No, no damage. How do you call those defroster wires in English ? :D

Anyway, probably one of those defroster wires is supposed to be disconnected (probably production error), when he pushes the defroster button, it's causing a kind of a short-circuit.

[optlabguy]

Had the same problem on my 2000 323i, it only got progressively worse. I listen to FM or cd's most of the time but during the winter with the crappy weather I usually put on KYW News Radio...soon as I turned on the rear window defrost it became all static.
Dealer replaced back window, cured the problem and the dealer did a good job installing the new one. I think this is a common problem.

Ed

[stash182]

I'm guessing the dealer isnt willing to help without getting paid for a 98 323is since its out of warranty?

Had the same problem on my 2000 323i, it only got progressively worse. I listen to FM or cd's most of the time but during the winter with the crappy weather I usually put on KYW News Radio...soon as I turned on the rear window defrost it became all static.
Dealer replaced back window, cured the problem and the dealer did a good job installing the new one. I think this is a common problem.

Ed