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Thread: 1994 525i e34 Radio fade dysfuntion

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Sacramento
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    My Cars
    1994 525i

    1994 525i e34 Radio fade dysfuntion

    I'm guessing it's the amp that has malfunctioned. Can these amps be fixed? I'm not really that keen on buying another used e34 audio amp that is the same age as the one in my car that just broke.

    Is there a clear upgrade path? Do I need to replace the head radio unit too?

    Anyone have the straight dope on this fix?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    West London/Heathrow - UK
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    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi,

    It 'could' be the head unit with issues/failings, or if you have an amplifier unit as well, it could be that. Given it's likely to be 23+ years old, it's up to you to see if it's worth sending the modules out for diagnostic and then any repair costs. If it was me, I'd remove the old modules and fit a modern new single DIN head unit and amplifier along with new upgraded speakers.

    Cheers, Dennis!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Sacramento
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    My Cars
    1994 525i

    troubleshooting tecniques

    Thanks Dennis.

    I also, have a 6 CD player in the trunk. If I played a CD through the FM transmitter and I got sound without it fading away, would it prove the HEAD unit is bad?

    Or, if the HEAD unit was bad, would it NOT play the CDs?

    I'm just trying to devise a troubleshooting technique to find the problem.





    QUOTE=DennisCooper;29698280]Hi,

    It 'could' be the head unit with issues/failings, or if you have an amplifier unit as well, it could be that. Given it's likely to be 23+ years old, it's up to you to see if it's worth sending the modules out for diagnostic and then any repair costs. If it was me, I'd remove the old modules and fit a modern new single DIN head unit and amplifier along with new upgraded speakers.

    Cheers, Dennis![/QUOTE]

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi,

    You need to have the unit looked at and tested from which the chances of determining exactly what is or could be wrong with it can be pinpointed. Your initial post is vague, your second one seems to suggest that music is played but it 'fades' out ? It might be the cicuits/components which control the balance/fader option that's failing and the rest of the unit is fine, it might be that and the rest of the unit isn't fine and has other issues that are related or might not be related. What's certain is that trying to diagnose is without having an electronics specialist check it isn't going to be successful, about the only thing you can try is to swap with a known working unit to see what that does in your car.

    The costs to have the unit looked at might/could be relatively pricey. At that point, assuming IF any spare parts/electronic components etc are available for a fix, you'll need to purchase them and then pay for the time to fix the unit as well. You'll need to duplicate all of that to check the amplifier unit too.

    I guess it comes down to how important is it that you *must keep* the oem modules?

    Cheers, Dennis!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    1994 525i

    plays for 5 minutes then fades like a lost radio signal then goes silent.

    Yep, it's a pain in the ass. I'm going to tear out the OEM and replace with Single DIN radio and new amp.





    Quote Originally Posted by DennisCooper View Post
    Hi,

    You need to have the unit looked at and tested from which the chances of determining exactly what is or could be wrong with it can be pinpointed. Your initial post is vague, your second one seems to suggest that music is played but it 'fades' out ? It might be the cicuits/components which control the balance/fader option that's failing and the rest of the unit is fine, it might be that and the rest of the unit isn't fine and has other issues that are related or might not be related. What's certain is that trying to diagnose is without having an electronics specialist check it isn't going to be successful, about the only thing you can try is to swap with a known working unit to see what that does in your car.

    The costs to have the unit looked at might/could be relatively pricey. At that point, assuming IF any spare parts/electronic components etc are available for a fix, you'll need to purchase them and then pay for the time to fix the unit as well. You'll need to duplicate all of that to check the amplifier unit too.

    I guess it comes down to how important is it that you *must keep* the oem modules?

    Cheers, Dennis!

  6. #6
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    ‘15 F31d Msport
    You need a 10 channel amp and 10 channel crossover.

    Why not not just feed a signal to the amp from another source, a different head, etc and see if it is amp or the head unit?
    It could be the output stage of either one... but the 94 has a 10 channel 5 chip output, so I'd guess it would be the head.
    If I were to give my Touring a first name, I'd probably name it "Alan".
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