XSeries-forum

I've installed an Andrive which was pretty straightforward, but the radio reception is a bit hit and miss.

The Andrive came with an antenna adaptor that gave a blue "ant" cable and the fakra. With the blue cable connected, reception is rubbish. Without it connected, reception is a subject to interference depending on which direction I'm travelling,  but when its good, its very good, so i can live with it 80% of the time.

I've been looking at ways in which I can get 100% radio reception and it seems the best option is to disregard the BMW antenna and install a new one. My 2004 X5 had a simple radio/cassette set-up - no sat nav/phone/tv/amps etc.

I've seen loads of posts etc., but most offer advice regarding the more complex BMW systems and now I'm a bit confused...
1) I've read about connecting the blue wire to a white wire
2) I've read about getting DAB installed, but I'm actually fine with FM
3) I've read about windscreen internal stick on aerials which seem to get slated
4) I've read about external bee-sting aerials that require drilling the roof - not advised
5) I've read about hiding antennas in the spoiler

Can anyone recommend a route I should go down to get my radio reception better?

PS: Andrive support has been non-existant

Can't help with the wiring side, but the BMW aerials are/were on the near side rear quarter glass window.  They look like a heating element.

For any kind of mobile aerial you either need a system that is amplified and uses more than one element - called diversity - which is what the OEM system does, or you need an external aerial.

Windscreen aerials may work if the distance between the aerial and receiver is very short, but otherwise they are as you say generally pants.

An aerial wire built in to the rear spoiler is an option as long as it is done correctly which means using coax and creating a 'dipole' with the inner of the aerial (keeping its insulation intact) exposed to the correct length and the outer bonded to the car somewhere.  You need to cut the cable to pick the centre of the VHF frequency band (87.5 - 108Mhz).  So approx 1.5 metres for 98Mhz for a 1/2wave dipole if 75cm for a 1/4 wave version.  You can fold the exposed centre back on itself to get it to fit but keep it all horizontal.  Don't let the centre core wires touch anything conductive or you'll lose the signal.

If you need to work it out yourself the formula is L=V/f. Where 'L is the length in metres, 'V' is the speed of light in metres/sec (300,000,000) and 'f' is the frequency in Hz (98,000,000) which gives an 'L' of around 3 metres.  Half that gives you 1.5, or you could halve it again to create a less sensitive (but still functional) 1/4 wave dipole of 75cm.

There must be an easier way......such as a bit of wire in the aerial socket and see if it works 

Richard