Ok what is this wire

[Kibokojoe]

Where does this blue connector wire go? The wire itself is black with a white stripe. Also what is the terminal on the radio?http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/radioterminal.jpg If the blue connector goes on the radio terminal then there is something missing that would lock it into place

[BMWCCA1]

Looks like an antenna connection on the radio to me. Dual-diversity-antenna car?

[repenttokyo]

If you cut that wire, I stop breathing.

[shogun]

cable black/white, plug blue, Nr. on plug is on my car 137651.9 BMW, one pin.
That is the speed signal (GAL).
http://www.rayd.co.uk/blogs/rayblog.nsf/d6plinks/BMWRadio
or google for BMW radio pinout GAL

[Kibokojoe]

What the heck is it doing in the radio area? Does it connect into the computer?

[shogun]

geschwindigkeitsabhängige Lautstärkeanpassung (abbreviation: GALA, also GAL,
Englisch: Speed Dependent Volume Control (SDVC), Speed-sensitive Volume Control (SVC), or Speed Compensated Volume (SCV)

[BMWCCA1]

In other words, not used in the USA on an E34 with our stock head units.

[Kibokojoe]

You have got to be kidding me. You mean the volume on the radio would increase as the speed of the vehicle increases. Holy crap what a car.

[Kibokojoe]

How about the terminal is this for a separate antenna? I don't see a cable to connect to this.

[shogun]

usually goes to the radio pin 10
http://www.7-forum.com/forum/4/umbauprojekt-dvd-stereo-pinbelegung-radio-70302.html
In Germany it is needed when driving > 200 kmh on the Autobahn.
In Japan I have the Sony radio for the japanese frequencies, that cable is not connected.

They also use it for the older Navigation systems, in such case a GAL signal is a must.
My new Sony Navi also does not need it, it has GPS, and I even can disconnect it from the car and put it in the also supplied belt bag and can use it for a bycicle trip or walking thru the big city.

[Kibokojoe]

Now I understand were the blue connector goes but what about the terminal on the radio?
Found this on line but can't make out what it says
"FM IF OUT (TO ????? ??? CONTROL)" Is this part of the multiple antenna system. I read somewhere that the computer switches between antennas to get the best reception. Have you read this? Don't seem to have a cable for this terminal.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/radiodiagram1.jpg


usually goes to the radio pin 10
http://www.7-forum.com/forum/4/umbauprojekt-dvd-stereo-pinbelegung-radio-70302.html
In Germany it is needed when driving > 200 kmh on the Autobahn.
In Japan I have the Sony radio for the japanese frequencies, that cable is not connected.

They also use it for the older Navigation systems, in such case a GAL signal is a must.
My new Sony Navi also does not need it, it has GPS, and I even can disconnect it from the car and put it in the also supplied belt bag and can use it for a bycicle trip or walking thru the big city.

[shogun]

That is probably the diversity antenna control.
If you have a diversity antenna control, that switches always to best connection.
You are right.

[repenttokyo]

You have got to be kidding me. You mean the volume on the radio would increase as the speed of the vehicle increases. Holy crap what a car.

common feature on general motors vehicles of the early 90's as well.

[uscharalph]

Thanks for the info. Since I've been working on my radio setup I've been very curious about that.

[pingu]

Superb!

[Kibokojoe]

If I don't have geschwindigkeitsabhängige Lautstärkeanpassung, I am sure I don't have diversity antenna control. I guess it won't hurt to look

[632 Regal]

Have you plugged it in and experienced what it does yet?


If I don't have geschwindigkeitsabhängige Lautstärkeanpassung, I am sure I don't have diversity antenna control. I guess it won't hurt to look

[BMWCCA1]

I think you all don't understand what you've been told so far. The blue wire is the speed input for a radio that has speed-sensitive-volume. I don't know of any E34 sold in the USA that had it. Our radios were different than the rest of the world (odd decimal for FM, etc.). The jack on the radio is for the second antenna input. If you don't have it on your car, then don't plug it in. I don't remember when the windshield antenna got added but I think it was sometime around 1993 or 1994. I'm assuming this radio is not the radio your car came with?

[uscharalph]

I think you all don't understand what you've been told so far. The blue wire is the speed input for a radio that has speed-sensitive-volume. I don't know of any E34 sold in the USA that had it. Our radios were different than the rest of the world (odd decimal for FM, etc.). The jack on the radio is for the second antenna input. If you don't have it on your car, then don't plug it in. I don't remember when the windshield antenna got added but I think it was sometime around 1993 or 1994. I'm assuming this radio is not the radio your car came with?
Is there something aftermarket that can be attached that will improve radio reception?

[BMWCCA1]

Is there something aftermarket that can be attached that will improve radio reception?IIRC, your year came with the top few lines of the rear-window defroster as the antenna for FM and the next one or two for AM. Possibly by the next year they changed it to include some vertical lines in the grid to increase reception. After that they went to the dual diversity. If you don't already have a rear glass with the vertical lines in the grid, you could find a later one at a junk yard and install it, but the increase in reception may be minimal. On the '89s, BMW was also instructing us to install conventional antennae on cars where the customer had a real complaint about reception and that was an ugly solution. But the whole reason BMW went to the in-glass antenna was because the masts would get bent, or get damaged in car washes, or get dirty and stick up, and Consumers Reports counted this as an electrical system failure on their annual rankings. It was killing BMW on the reliability ratings for the E28. So no more masts.

I'm sure there must also be an antenna amplifier in the system. On the E36 it was problematic because the power to it would get cut or pinched where it was located in the left-rear c-pillar. To be honest, we never had problems with them on the E34 so I don't even know where it is, but you might check the ETM and see, and make sure it's working.

[shogun]

That is the one behind the C-pillar on my E32 and also most probably on the E34
http://cgi.ebay.de/BMW-E32-E34-Antennen-Heckscheibe-Verstaerker-1-384-975_W0QQitemZ330279588553QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item3 30279588553&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#eb ayphotohosting
Heizung = rear window heater/defroster
and the others are for AM and FM radio

[BMWCCA1]

I just checked and BMW says the diversity antenna system was introduced on the model-year 1992 E34 in the USA. If your antenna amplifier is getting power and still not working the way you want, there are antenna amps available from under $10 and up that might help, or maybe you can retrofit the roof antenna from later 5-series models made by Hirschmann

[uscharalph]

I just checked and BMW says the diversity antenna system was introduced on the model-year 1992 E34 in the USA. If your antenna amplifier is getting power and still not working the way you want, there are antenna amps available from under $10 and up that might help, or maybe you can retrofit the roof antenna from later 5-series models made by Hirschmann
I actually get good reception, but more is better right? LOL!! Do those antenna amps for under $10 or the Hirschmann models connect to the diversity antenna connectiion?

[Kibokojoe]

Don't see a cable to plug in

[Kibokojoe]

Don't know if this is the original radio. Guess I could look at the serial numbers. Perhaps I could tell from that.

[Kibokojoe]

Oh an antenna amp. Where oh where can I find one of these jewels

[Kibokojoe]

The newest car I have is a 1994 Honda Accord

[Kibokojoe]

Has anyone purchased an antenna amp, that worked?

[Kibokojoe]

Have you plugged it in and experienced what it does yet?
Thought you might like this
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/obamagiffinal.gif

[uscharalph]

Has anyone purchased an antenna amp, that worked?
I installed a CD43 in my 1989 525. I was thinking of getting a antenna amplifier from a 1999 BMW installing it and running a diversity antenna cable back to it. Has anyone done this before? Did you get any benefit from this?