AM Radio Reception

[jcsromeo]

Any concerns on AM radio reception on your I3? I also understand AM radio might not standard on all vehicles? My 2015 has the option. Just looking for feedback.

 

[Schnort]

AM reception is probably suboptimal. In the US cars, it's disabled by BMW because it doesn't fit the brand quality image they want to maintain.

AM is really susceptible to electrical interference, even in the power supply of the radio, and being an electric car, there's lots of electrical noise going around the car that isn't easily filterable.

source: work in the automotive radio industry.

 

[muddtt]

i'm using AM radio and it seems to work fine. i think the AM stations that use HD don't have the same problem??? Dunno, no weird interference for the stations i listen too. i've seen the youtube video with the nasty am radio...so who knows.

 

[Schnort]

AMHD uses OFDM and not amplitude modulation. This modulation scheme is much much less susceptible to electrical interference.

 

[user 2724]

Any concerns on AM radio reception on your I3? I also understand AM radio might not standard on all vehicles? My 2015 has the option. Just looking for feedback.

Although not optimal AM does work and I have coded it on for those times you need it for public service type messages. Examples, border and ferry information, mountain road information and the odd AM talk radio station I like to listen to from time to time. There is some interference but when the car is not moving it isn't there. A known trade off. I also can listen to AMHD if available but not all stations are available in AMHD. AM radios I believe are in all i3's they are just programmed off by default in the US and Canada because they don't meet the expected quality you would expect from BMW.