DAB Differences

Zippeh · 08-20-2015, 03:08 AM

I picked up my new 330d last month after having an 320d F30 for over a year, and I've noticed the DAB goes off more often in the new one than the old car!

Are there any settings I can look at or is there anything I can do to sort it? It's really annoying!

creepy coupe · 08-20-2015, 03:22 AM

DAB is shite. It's the new medium wave.My 235 wasn't too bad reception wise. But the 420d I borrowed lost signal much more often. I know there is no logic in that.

Tengocity · 08-20-2015, 04:05 AM

Interesting the differences people have with DAB. I've had it in quite a few cars now and honestly never had many problems with it and no car was better or worse than any other.

Watsey · 08-20-2015, 04:21 AM

DAB in my F31 is rock solid - never had signal loss.

I had a 420GC as a loan car a few weeks ago and the signal loss (drop-outs) was so bad it was unusable.

Seems to be model-specific rather than a problem with DAB per-se.

creepy coupe · 08-20-2015, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

DAB in my F31 is rock solid - never had signal loss.

I had a 420GC as a loan car a few weeks ago and the signal loss (drop-outs) was so bad it was unusable.

Seems to be model-specific rather than a problem with DAB per-se.

Indeed,which doesn't make sense to me.

SkyJawa · 08-20-2015, 04:39 AM

Discussed a few times. DAB in BMW was shit on my E92, and its just as shit on my F31. Never ever use it.

ep22jg · 08-20-2015, 04:47 AM

DAB is shite in my experience. Same experience with my current 335d as my S4 previously. Long sections of the A303 with no signal

At least with MW and FM, when the signal gets a bit weak, you can still hear the programme, albeit not so good sound.
With DAB you get nothing. Progress!!

creepy coupe · 08-20-2015, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ep22jg

At least with MW and FM, when the signal gets a bit weak, you can still hear the programme, albeit not so good sound.
With DAB you get nothing. Progress!!

Exactly.

Zippeh · 08-20-2015, 05:14 AM

It worked fine on my old F30. Never any breaks on my commute. Its the difference between the cars that bugs me.

creepy coupe · 08-20-2015, 05:23 AM

DAB strikes me a bit like mobile phone signals. We were sold this must have technology and now 25 years on it's still not properly sorted.

dubdemand · 08-20-2015, 05:50 AM

My E92 missed dab on the standard spec by a matter of weeks - always felt like I was missing out, so I'm looking forward to having it in the F31.

We do already have it in our Audi though and reception is pretty good generally. I will be interested to see if there's much of a difference with the new car!

HighlandPete · 08-20-2015, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

DAB strikes me a bit like mobile phone signals. We were sold this must have technology and now 25 years on it's still not properly sorted.

Certainly applies up here, where there are lots of dead spots. I also notice (like digital TV), strength of transmission and cut offs are variable day to day.

Some days I can even get DAB in my drive, (typically cuts off), other days all the dead spots show up and sometimes for greater driving distances.

I guess a lot of us are only just getting acceptable DAB signals where we drive. If a particular model is a bit sensitive to the poor signal (component tolerances?), we have more issues.

BTW, the Golf I was driving over the weekend was worse than my 535i, more dead spots.

Just out of personal interest, I've just put my digital TV signal up on screen, both quality and strength show 100%. Quality intermittently drops to 95%. Some days that will drop out to about 50%.

HighlandPete

TimMcC · 08-20-2015, 06:22 AM

Perfect in my 4 series down here in Hampshire.

rich100 · 08-20-2015, 06:42 AM

Mine is hit and miss. I find it irritating for that reason and don't bother using it.

gr4z · 08-20-2015, 07:36 AM

Agree with a lot of comments here, DAB in my F30 is shite. Always dropping out and making it next to useless.

Weirdly my previous S4 was fantastic and on the same journey never dropped out at all. I can only concur the aerial in the F30 is crap!

I guess internet radio using 4G is the future rather than the rubbish DAB they push nowadays.

Russbmw · 08-20-2015, 08:08 AM

In my 2009 e92, it was crap. In the new 435, it's faultless.

Makes no sense, I agree.

TBH, radio music content is pony anyway and so I rarely used DAB (of FM!) before and still rarely use it now.

dopper99 · 08-20-2015, 08:43 AM

My experience of dab is its crap too.

Yesterday we went a day out with the family, drove about 30-40 miles and it kept dropping out. Turned it off the the end.

But on the way back, same radio station and it didn't drop out once. Exactly the same road. Doesn't make sense.

HighlandPete · 08-20-2015, 09:09 AM

Good old FM....

I have two memory buttons set for my most used radio station, one for DAB, next button for FM. That sorts it, if I'm listening to something important.

HighlandPete

Mr Enigma · 08-20-2015, 09:36 AM

There was talk in another thread that there is apparently some interference that may cause the DAB issues...

roshambo · 08-20-2015, 09:38 AM

No problem with my F36 in Yorkshire. Only times its dropped out is in underground car parks or some blackspots along the M1 nr London.

ukbeemerboy · 08-20-2015, 10:25 AM

Guys, it's probably not problems with the cars, but more where you live and the station you listen to. I've don't have issues with the reception where I live but have had signal loss in other areas when travelling.

xenon · 08-20-2015, 10:34 AM

I only use it for R5SX for the cricket. Seems fine to me.

08-20-2015, 03:08 AM	#1
Zippeh Captain 345 Rep 926 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Manual 2015 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Wales iTrader: (0)	DAB Differences I picked up my new 330d last month after having an 320d F30 for over a year, and I've noticed the DAB goes off more often in the new one than the old car! Are there any settings I can look at or is there anything I can do to sort it? It's really annoying!
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08-20-2015, 03:22 AM	#2
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	DAB is shite. It's the new medium wave.My 235 wasn't too bad reception wise. But the 420d I borrowed lost signal much more often. I know there is no logic in that. __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Current car.M240i. Previous.MINI JCW. E92 325i. 435d M235i.M135i. 635d Coupe, E92 M3 manual, E92 M3 DCT Competition Pack. E92 335i, Porsche Cayman S Gen2, 135i Coupe. E92 320d, MK5 R32. MK5 Golf GTi,MK5 Golf GT-TDI,E46 318Ci.
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08-20-2015, 04:05 AM	#3
Tengocity General 8571 Rep 19,982 Posts Drives: 911, Cayenne Turbo, Disco 4 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Interesting the differences people have with DAB. I've had it in quite a few cars now and honestly never had many problems with it and no car was better or worse than any other. __________________ Current: Porsche 911 991 C4S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Discovery 4. Gone...G01 X3 M40i, Cayman S 987, F31 340i, Cayman GT4, F82 M4 CP, Lotus Exige V6, G20 330e, F30 330e, Boxster S 987, F31 335d, Mini Cooper SD, E89 Z4, E90 330d 320d, E60 520d, E46 330d 320d, MX5s, E30 325i
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08-20-2015, 04:21 AM	#4
Watsey Major General 6428 Rep 8,502 Posts Drives: F31 330D sDrive M Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: On sabbatical. iTrader: (1)	DAB in my F31 is rock solid - never had signal loss. I had a 420GC as a loan car a few weeks ago and the signal loss (drop-outs) was so bad it was unusable. Seems to be model-specific rather than a problem with DAB per-se. __________________ Current : F31 330sD, remapped, Ohlins Road & Track, Millway camber plates, Quaife LSD, Stoptech brakes + Pagid RSL1 pads all round, Weichers front strut brace, Eibach front & rear anti-roll bars, Michelin MP4S.
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08-20-2015, 04:39 AM	#6
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	Discussed a few times. DAB in BMW was shit on my E92, and its just as shit on my F31. Never ever use it.
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08-20-2015, 04:47 AM	#7
ep22jg Captain 234 Rep 738 Posts Drives: G01 M40i Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (0)	DAB is shite in my experience. Same experience with my current 335d as my S4 previously. Long sections of the A303 with no signal At least with MW and FM, when the signal gets a bit weak, you can still hear the programme, albeit not so good sound. With DAB you get nothing. Progress!! __________________ X3 M40i Carbon Black
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08-20-2015, 05:14 AM	#9
Zippeh Captain 345 Rep 926 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Manual 2015 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Wales iTrader: (0)	It worked fine on my old F30. Never any breaks on my commute. Its the difference between the cars that bugs me.
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08-20-2015, 05:23 AM	#10
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	DAB strikes me a bit like mobile phone signals. We were sold this must have technology and now 25 years on it's still not properly sorted. __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Current car.M240i. Previous.MINI JCW. E92 325i. 435d M235i.M135i. 635d Coupe, E92 M3 manual, E92 M3 DCT Competition Pack. E92 335i, Porsche Cayman S Gen2, 135i Coupe. E92 320d, MK5 R32. MK5 Golf GTi,MK5 Golf GT-TDI,E46 318Ci.
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08-20-2015, 05:50 AM	#11
dubdemand Captain 416 Rep 941 Posts Drives: F80 Individual Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (2)	My E92 missed dab on the standard spec by a matter of weeks - always felt like I was missing out, so I'm looking forward to having it in the F31. We do already have it in our Audi though and reception is pretty good generally. I will be interested to see if there's much of a difference with the new car! __________________ Individual SY F80 / insta:@dubdemand
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08-20-2015, 06:22 AM	#13
TimMcC Captain 510 Rep 959 Posts Drives: BMW I01 i3S & Jaguar I-Pace Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Perfect in my 4 series down here in Hampshire.
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08-20-2015, 06:42 AM	#14
rich100 Colonel 875 Rep 2,060 Posts Drives: F31 320i Xdrive msport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Mine is hit and miss. I find it irritating for that reason and don't bother using it.
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08-20-2015, 07:36 AM	#15
gr4z Colonel 1135 Rep 2,808 Posts Drives: i4 e40 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stamford iTrader: (0)	Agree with a lot of comments here, DAB in my F30 is shite. Always dropping out and making it next to useless. Weirdly my previous S4 was fantastic and on the same journey never dropped out at all. I can only concur the aerial in the F30 is crap! I guess internet radio using 4G is the future rather than the rubbish DAB they push nowadays. __________________ Current: G26 i4 M Sport Pro, Tech Pk, Sunroof Previous: 2016 440i MPPSK, 2014 330d Saloon F30, 2013 Audi S4 Avant, 2011 Mercedes C350
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08-20-2015, 08:08 AM	#16
Russbmw Colonel 680 Rep 2,444 Posts Drives: 2018 630iGT sport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Caloundra, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 640i [0.00] 2014 BMW 530d GT [0.00] 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX [0.00]	In my 2009 e92, it was crap. In the new 435, it's faultless. Makes no sense, I agree. TBH, radio music content is pony anyway and so I rarely used DAB (of FM!) before and still rarely use it now. __________________
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08-20-2015, 08:43 AM	#17
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3533 Rep 11,292 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	My experience of dab is its crap too. Yesterday we went a day out with the family, drove about 30-40 miles and it kept dropping out. Turned it off the the end. But on the way back, same radio station and it didn't drop out once. Exactly the same road. Doesn't make sense. __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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08-20-2015, 09:09 AM	#18
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	Good old FM.... I have two memory buttons set for my most used radio station, one for DAB, next button for FM. That sorts it, if I'm listening to something important. HighlandPete
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08-20-2015, 09:36 AM	#19
Mr Enigma Lieutenant 201 Rep 491 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: London iTrader: (0)	There was talk in another thread that there is apparently some interference that may cause the DAB issues...
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08-20-2015, 09:38 AM	#20
roshambo Captain 230 Rep 964 Posts Drives: F36 435i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (0)	No problem with my F36 in Yorkshire. Only times its dropped out is in underground car parks or some blackspots along the M1 nr London. __________________ F36 435i M Sport
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08-20-2015, 10:25 AM	#21
ukbeemerboy Beemer Heaven 462 Rep 2,941 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Competition Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Somerset UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW F82 M4 Comp [0.00] 2017 BMW F30 330d M ... [0.00] 2014 BMW F30 330d M ... [0.00] 2009 BMW E90 330d M ... [0.00] 2006 BMW E90 330d M ... [0.00] 2002 BMW E46 325i S ... [0.00]	Guys, it's probably not problems with the cars, but more where you live and the station you listen to. I've don't have issues with the reception where I live but have had signal loss in other areas when travelling. __________________ Scott 2018 BMW M4 Competition 2019 Mini Countryman Cooper S : 2008 Mini Cooper
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08-20-2015, 10:34 AM	#22
xenon Major General 1400 Rep 8,086 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	I only use it for R5SX for the cricket. Seems fine to me. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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