Lost radio reception

[geepee]

Over the last week or so,I have noticed that the radio reception on my 07 Coupe has become very poor.
I thought at first that maybe it was atmospheric conditions (it started when we had that week of good weather), or the local transmitter being down, but having driven the wife's car over the weekend it has become apparent that its my car that's the problem.
I haven't touched anything to make it go wrong - no stubby fitted for instance. But I have noticed that unscrewing the whip aerial makes no difference to reception.
Thanks to the excellent guides on this forum, I have managed to remove the vents & check that the aerial is still in place in the back of the radio, but still all I can get is Radio 4.

Any ideas chaps?

 

[ZedFourM]

but still all I can get is Radio 4.

What? You mean there are other Radio stations than Radio 4?!

 

[geepee]

Actually it was quite good yesterday - listening to a dramatisation of John Wyndham's "the Chyrsalids" while trying to persuade the vents to come out.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Have you had the rear bumper off?

The FM aerial is fastened along the inside edge of the bumper cover and easily damaged. I'd check that first and ensure it's still connected.

 

[geepee]

Not touched it, but the car has been parked in a carpark around the corner while we've got a skip in our drive. So someone may have been messing with it. Where do I look?

 

[cj10jeeper]

You couldn't mess with it as it's on the inside of the bumper cover. Well hidden.

 

[geepee]

I'm guessing its this?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DU52&mospid=49421&btnr=65_1203&hg=65&fg=30

 

[cj10jeeper]

Yes - that's the part, although mine was zip tied on rather than those fancy hangers.
I'm no expert on audio so over to others or drop into an audio specialist
for some tests

 

[geepee]

I was wondering whether it might be an idea to disconnect the battery to see whether the aerial amplifier might reboot itself - any problems doing this?

 

[cj10jeeper]

I was wondering whether it might be an idea to disconnect the battery to see whether the aerial amplifier might reboot itself - any problems doing this?

No harm at all. Leave it off for a few minutes.
Expect to lose some setting such as time, date, mpg, etc

 

[ZedFourM]

I was wondering whether it might be an idea to disconnect the battery to see whether the aerial amplifier might reboot itself - any problems doing this?

Your electric windows may need resetting after a battery disconnection. Then again, they may not. See numerous threads on here about this issue!