Aftermarket radio install on C32 - Poor FM Reception
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Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 107
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From: Orange County, CA
2009 C63 AMG Steel Gray
Aftermarket radio install on C32 - Poor FM Reception
I've searched, and didn't have any luck, so if I missed somethinbg let me know.
I had installed an aftermarket radio (AVIC-Z1) in my 2003 C32, and the FM reception is now VERY poor. Practically unusable. Did the installers miss something? Is there an amplifier they maybe unplugged, or possibly a power turn on to an existing amp?
Anyone else have this problem? And ideas on how to resolve it, or tests I can run?
Thanks all! I've been looking around for a while, but this is my first post!
-Jeff
I had installed an aftermarket radio (AVIC-Z1) in my 2003 C32, and the FM reception is now VERY poor. Practically unusable. Did the installers miss something? Is there an amplifier they maybe unplugged, or possibly a power turn on to an existing amp?
Anyone else have this problem? And ideas on how to resolve it, or tests I can run?
Thanks all! I've been looking around for a while, but this is my first post!
-Jeff
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Naperville, IL
2008 BMW 135i
I am having the same poor-FM-reception issue with my AVIC D3...
I was thinking of getting a booster or an aftermarket hidden antenna from eBay, but I dont know which one to get and where to mount it.
I was thinking of getting a booster or an aftermarket hidden antenna from eBay, but I dont know which one to get and where to mount it.
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From: Livingston, California.
2002 c32 AMG 2012 c250 Coupe
I've searched, and didn't have any luck, so if I missed somethinbg let me know.
I had installed an aftermarket radio (AVIC-Z1) in my 2003 C32, and the FM reception is now VERY poor. Practically unusable. Did the installers miss something? Is there an amplifier they maybe unplugged, or possibly a power turn on to an existing amp?
Anyone else have this problem? And ideas on how to resolve it, or tests I can run?
Thanks all! I've been looking around for a while, but this is my first post!
-Jeff
I had installed an aftermarket radio (AVIC-Z1) in my 2003 C32, and the FM reception is now VERY poor. Practically unusable. Did the installers miss something? Is there an amplifier they maybe unplugged, or possibly a power turn on to an existing amp?
Anyone else have this problem? And ideas on how to resolve it, or tests I can run?
Thanks all! I've been looking around for a while, but this is my first post!
-Jeff
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
There's actually a TSB for crappy radio reception too, but the antenna amplifier that MB wants to sell you goes for entirely too much to be worth it ($200+ including install), plus, I don't know if it'd work with an aftermarket head-unit.
I think your best bet would be to look into something similar to what Saer said, just a plain ol' cheap remedy to an "expensive" problem
I think your best bet would be to look into something similar to what Saer said, just a plain ol' cheap remedy to an "expensive" problem
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Aliso Viejo, CA
2007 E550, 2011 BMW 335i
i have a kenwood unit in my car, the reception was crap, i said i wouldn't tolerate it, they looked again and saw that they needed a power antenna adapter. Maybe that is the issue, perhaps not. Just what happened to me, the reception now is as good as stock, even with a tinted window.
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From: NJ, NYC
Something Slow
i have a kenwood unit in my car, the reception was crap, i said i wouldn't tolerate it, they looked again and saw that they needed a power antenna adapter. Maybe that is the issue, perhaps not. Just what happened to me, the reception now is as good as stock, even with a tinted window.
do you remember what Brand Power antenna they got?
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Senior Member
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From: Aliso Viejo, CA
2007 E550, 2011 BMW 335i
the more i think about it, basically they needed to connect the power antenna cable to another cable that would turn it on. The poor reception is because it basically is working with no antenna. I hope that makes sense. Once they did this, the difference was night and day....
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From: South Jersey
2002 C32 AMG
the more i think about it, basically they needed to connect the power antenna cable to another cable that would turn it on. The poor reception is because it basically is working with no antenna. I hope that makes sense. Once they did this, the difference was night and day....
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From: Cumming, GA
2006 C55 AMG
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Cumming, GA
2006 C55 AMG
I have the same problem, I have gone through 3 powered boosters and still nothing, HD Radio works and then loses digital connectivity then sounds like crap. Im just sort of ignoring it and living with XM, I rarely listen to regular radio though, it does hurt that I got the HD Radio module and its worthless to me at this point. The stereo shop has told me this is a pain in the *** with MB's and they dont have a real solution at this point...
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Savannah, GA
2002 C32
I was curious about this myself as I have terrible reception as well. I did some probing around the MB service manual (as best I could) and then gave up and went to Advance Auto Parts and checked out the Chiltons Manual.
Chiltons shows that the antenna is infact in the rear window and the AM/FM wires x2 are clear. I'm assuming these are the ones that act as a booster and should be connected to a power source--the white and blue wire like eleventeen was mentioning before. I'm not exactly sure either...
Chiltons shows that the antenna is infact in the rear window and the AM/FM wires x2 are clear. I'm assuming these are the ones that act as a booster and should be connected to a power source--the white and blue wire like eleventeen was mentioning before. I'm not exactly sure either...
Last edited by idiotter; Apr 5, 2011 at 07:22 PM. Reason: details details
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Cumming, GA
2006 C55 AMG
I've gone through maybe 4 head units so far in this car and I'm very happy with the Pioneer avic-x920BT for me it's the best price/feature combination in a head unit. I had an F90BT, X710BT and a dreadful JVC nav unit they were all painfully slow, poor touch screen, no BT audio streaming and no Pandora integration! This one does it all, again very pleased with it.
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
I've gone through maybe 4 head units so far in this car and I'm very happy with the Pioneer avic-x920BT for me it's the best price/feature combination in a head unit. I had an F90BT, X710BT and a dreadful JVC nav unit they were all painfully slow, poor touch screen, no BT audio streaming and no Pandora integration! This one does it all, again very pleased with it.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 72
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From: Cumming, GA
2006 C55 AMG
F90BT stolen at The Tabernacle while at a concert, JVC given to my son since I didnt like it, X710 too many problems to list, traded up at stereo shop for X920. I get my work done at American Radio they are pretty good and have done all my cars:
http://www.facebook.com/AmericanRadioGA
My original install by them - note they put 05 C55 I have an 06, not a big deal
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...id=66194952455
Last edited by riverace; Apr 6, 2011 at 06:55 AM.
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Looks good.they definitely installed it right.i saw their fj cruiser at this booth at ces recently, looks good.i am not the biggest fan of pioneer sql though.
