I picked up a glorious M3 a couple days ago and it had XM radio integrated in it fairly well (aside from stealing my ashtray). Problem is I get "No Signal" 99% of the time throughout Raleigh. I've had XM before and it got great coverage, so I don't think its a hole in service, so that leaves my setup.

The XM unit is sitting in the ashtray with wires running to the back of the stock Business Cd head unit. Its tapping power/ignition on/ground from the HU's harness and is also integrated into the stock radio antenna in order to provide a clean install.

The XM unit runs its lines to a little square box which has an in and out antenna setup. The stock radio antenna runs into the box and then another line comes out of the box into the head unit.

Anyone have any ideas why I would be getting no signal? I don't have metallic tint on the rear window (which i believe is where the stock antenna is mounted) and i get FM radio clearly.

3/16/2010 11:16:55 AM

http://www.drvanos.com/

file this one away. you'll need it for later...

3/16/2010 11:47:34 AM

nah.

3/16/2010 11:50:44 AM

The antenna line running from the unit isn't pinched or connected loosely is it? I killed the antenna cable to my Inno one time from this. Way I figured it out was that I rotated and wiggled the cable and was able to make it work properly. Dropped a new one in and it worked perfectly. I would definitely look at that. You can get another antenna cable for $20 from Myradiostore.com (probably the best place for buying satrad equipment).

3/16/2010 12:08:54 PM

YOUR VANOS IS GOING TO BLOW UP AND YOUR SUBFRAME IS GOING TO RIP IN HALF!!!!!!!!!!!11!

what year/color/transmission /// did you pick up? pics plz.

3/16/2010 12:54:35 PM

2003, grausilber, 6mt.

And the rear trailing arm bushings are definitely shot. Moves all over the place under hard acceleration and highway ruts.

Apparently its a much easier job than it was on my e30 though, yay!

Somehow i managed to have an M3 and not a digital camera, sorry.

3/16/2010 4:36:33 PM

i dont know if the color has anything to do with it.

3/16/2010 4:58:23 PM

it could just be the rtab. the OEM ones are soft as hell and go on the regular. extra mushy. i slid around on mine a bit before a replaced them.

3/16/2010 9:05:04 PM

Quote :

"And the rear trailing arm bushings are definitely shot. Moves all over the place under hard acceleration and highway ruts. "

no kidding?

3/17/2010 2:22:51 PM

IF yours are bad, I'd go with stock replacement, and maybe add limiters if you're that worried about it.

3/17/2010 2:26:34 PM

^exactly

3/17/2010 2:54:59 PM

The rogue engineering ones are too stiff?

3/17/2010 5:21:04 PM

Maybe not a place for this, but

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sale-wanted/153409-2003-imola-red-m3-north-florida.html

He's at $15k OBO and wants to sell immediately. Might be worth a call at least. If the car has had things like thrust bushings, clutch, RTAB, etc, along with records of upkeep, this could be an interesting deal.

3/17/2010 5:32:42 PM

i just sold my 2001 with 126k on the clock for 14k. i had new rtab's and new fcab's. also had inspection 2 done including valve adjustment. tranny and diff fluids were fresh, and literally had 200 mles ont he most recent oil change. engine belts were 10k miles old. MAF had been cleaned. new engine and cabin air filters. brand new bosh wipers.

so yeah basically if he wants to get 15k he needs to have very good service records, he should have done inspection 2 at 120k.

that being said, his car sounds cleaner than mine was.

3/18/2010 8:17:27 AM

i would probably go with OEM too. i put powerflex on my four corners. ahmet claims they were loud. i would probably have to agree. there is no reason not to go OEM really.

getbmwparts.com

3/18/2010 8:18:25 AM

Loud as in squeeky?

3/18/2010 7:47:35 PM

No, as in road noise (high frequency vibrations).

3/18/2010 10:09:56 PM

I was looking at the Black Rogue Engineering bushings (Shore A 93 hardness). Are the powerflex bushings harder than that? While not a difficult job (or so it seems), I'd rather this be a one time only replacement.

3/19/2010 7:35:43 PM

i believe OEM are rated for 60k miles. if you put limiters on them they will last even longer.

3/19/2010 10:37:43 PM

where is the XM antenna mounted?

[Edited on March 20, 2010 at 5:12 PM. Reason : from the OP, it sounds like it doesn't have an XM antenna. it doesn't use your FM antenna]

3/20/2010 5:12:05 PM

is it in the windshield?

3/21/2010 8:59:46 PM