[RichR]

I listen to news and sports on AM radio, often on distant stations. The problem with my 535 is, whenever reception is less than perfect, some sort of dynamic muffling occurs, as if someone is turning down the treble or putting a pillow over the speakers so that I don't have to hear even a little static or "snow".

When I asked my local dealer to check into it, he said there is no software update to defeat or even improve this feature.

Anybody know if it's possible to make it go away through coding? If so, I have a Carly Adapter and would gladly buy the app.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by RichR

I listen to news and sports on AM radio, often on distant stations. The problem with my 535 is, whenever reception is less than perfect, some sort of dynamic muffling occurs, as if someone is turning down the treble or putting a pillow over the speakers so that I don't have to hear even a little static or "snow".

When I asked my local dealer to check into it, he said there is no software update to defeat or even improve this feature.

Anybody know if it's possible to make it go away through coding? If so, I have a Carly Adapter and would gladly buy the app.

Do you have HD selected in the iDrive? That would the radio switching from the HD signal to a regular signal.

[RichR]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Do you have HD selected in the iDrive? That would the radio switching from the HD signal to a regular signal.

I do but, that's not the cause, as these stations do not broadcast HD Radio signals.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by RichR

I do but, that's not the cause, as these stations do not broadcast HD Radio signals.

Are you sure???

[RichR]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Are you sure???

To the extent that I can plainly see an "HD" indicator alongside those AM stations that are broadcasting an HD Radio signal (I receive a couple from Chicago), yes. I am sure.

Plus, at their best, these stations never sound like HD Radio. They just sound like old fashioned AM radio, with the typical low S/N and a 5 kHz ceiling. When reception fades a bit and the high-frequency limiter kicks in, that drops to maybe 2 or 3 kHz. It's awful and completely unnecessary.

But, when I get the car back from the dealer tomorrow, I'll turn off HD Radio to make sure that's not the culprit; given how ridiculous it is, I guess it's conceivable that BMW decided the "HD" setting should "improve" the analog stations, too. Thanks for the idea.

[Surly73]

Is there any indication that it's popping in and out of AM Stereo when you hear the change?

[RichR]

Originally Posted by Surly73

Is there any indication that it's popping in and out of AM Stereo when you hear the change?

Definitely no stereo on these stations. And, that would have to be HD Radio, right? (I think analog AM stereo was put to rest many years ago.)

Yesterday, when I picked up the car, I searched for at least five minutes but was unable to find the HD Radio enable/disable in the menus. (I also didn't see any HD stations in the roster; so, maybe it got turned off.) I'll have to check the manual and get back to y'all.

[RichR]

Disabling HD Radio has no effect on it.

I guess I'll just have to accept the reality that my newest, fanciest BMW has a crummy-sounding AM radio compared to my previous ones.

But I should probably test-drive another to be sure there's not something uniquely wrong with mine.