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BMW Radio Question

post #1 of 11
3/18/09 at 10:41pm
Thread Starter 
This may be a dumb question so forgive me. I recently drove a loaner 2006 3 series while my car was getting some work done and noticed that the radio had the song title readout on the display. I don't seem to have that on my 2006 330 and can't seem to find anything in the owner's manual regarding this. Anybody know if this is a standard feature or did the loaner have some sort of upgrade?
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post #2 of 11
3/18/09 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by millionaire75 View Post
This may be a dumb question so forgive me. I recently drove a loaner 2006 3 series while my car was getting some work done and noticed that the radio had the song title readout on the display. I don't seem to have that on my 2006 330 and can't seem to find anything in the owner's manual regarding this. Anybody know if this is a standard feature or did the loaner have some sort of upgrade?

I think its a function of the radio stations you listen to. I notice that some will display song titles and artists, while others do not. Perhaps the station you tuned to was one of those that did not? I am fairly sure this is not an enhanced option.
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post #3 of 11
3/18/09 at 10:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by millionaire75 View Post
This may be a dumb question so forgive me. I recently drove a loaner 2006 3 series while my car was getting some work done and noticed that the radio had the song title readout on the display. I don't seem to have that on my 2006 330 and can't seem to find anything in the owner's manual regarding this. Anybody know if this is a standard feature or did the loaner have some sort of upgrade?


There should be a RDS/PTY button on the radio.
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post #4 of 11
3/18/09 at 10:58pm
Standard feature. Depends what station you are on or for CDs how you have the tags set up.
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post #5 of 11
3/19/09 at 10:03am
my E46 even has that feature.... depends on the station.
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post #6 of 11
3/19/09 at 10:19am
What everyone else said.
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post #7 of 11
3/24/09 at 5:03pm
my 2007 328xi has this, it depends if the radio station sends HD headers in the waves
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post #8 of 11
3/24/09 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roikins View Post
There should be a RDS/PTY button on the radio.

There isn't one.
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post #9 of 11
3/24/09 at 6:52pm
I can't say too specifically, but the song title stuff is part of the RDS, or Radio Data System. As I understand it, and with some help from Wikipedia, the RDS overlays a bit of digital info over the analog FM signal, and can therefore convey a short bit of text, including information about the radio station itself and the track being broadcast. Some stations make greater or lesser use of it, and of course your radio has to do something with it for it to display on your screen. It is distinct from digital radio, which has only been around for a year or two now. I saw RDS radios, if I recall correctly, 10 years ago.

I find it hard to imagine your 2006 Bimmer doesn't have any RDS capabilities, but anything is possible. It's pretty standard even in most American cars. However, some of the BMW radios are pretty booty - I've owned '89, '96, and '07 BMWs and I'd say only the '07 has a decent system.
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post #10 of 11
3/24/09 at 7:15pm
Your car should definitely have the RDS option. Check your owner's manual.

I have an 07 335xi, and the RDS works fine for me.

As for comments on BMW sound systems, the standard system is generally quite poor. They really sucker you into buying the premium sound option, which comes standard on 330s, 335s.
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post #11 of 11
3/24/09 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by millionaire75 View Post
There isn't one.


2006... might be a menu on the Nav/iDrive:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1237939011


Old radios had a button.
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