Radio Static when lights are turned on

TT3 iN NyC · 09-02-2014, 11:37 AM

Hi all,

I've noticed that the radio gets static when i turn the headlight switch once to the right to use the angel eyes and fogs when the sun is setting.

If i turn the lights off, the radio sounds normal, no static but with headlights on or even just the angel eyes, i hear static in the radio.

Does anyone know why this occurs and how to fix?

Thanks!

TT3 iN NyC · 09-02-2014, 11:31 PM

Bump. Anyone?

Wongway · 09-02-2014, 11:46 PM

probably a bad LED bulb you're using

6spdcoupe · 09-03-2014, 01:17 AM

Aftermarket or OEM radio/speakers ? Aftermarket or OEM halos ?

TT3 iN NyC · 09-03-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spdcoupe

Aftermarket or OEM radio/speakers ? Aftermarket or OEM halos ?

OEM radio/speakers

LUX H8 LEDs angel eyes

Meeni · 09-03-2014, 04:47 PM

The AE are doing it.

TT3 iN NyC · 09-03-2014, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

The AE are doing it.

Ya I figured that too. Is there a fix or anyway to prevent it from occurring?

Quasimodem · 09-03-2014, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TT3 iN NyC

Ya I figured that too. Is there a fix or anyway to prevent it from occurring?

For non-idrive cars page 81 of the manual for 2009 e90s has instructions to deactive the DRLs. I would do that while listening to music until your DRLs are fixed. I dont know where to find the instructions to deactivate the DRLs on the idrive cars.

Wongway · 09-04-2014, 12:10 AM

Either your LEDs are defective, or you bought bad LEDs. Either way, getting rid of them will get rid of your static.

In the meantime, the only thing I can think of that 'might' help, is if you can manage to get a ferrite clamp around the harness that connects to the LED lights.

Quasimodem · 09-04-2014, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wongway

Either your LEDs are defective, or you bought bad LEDs. Either way, getting rid of them will get rid of your static.

In the meantime, the only thing I can think of that 'might' help, is if you can manage to get a ferrite clamp around the harness that connects to the LED lights.

Maybe a diode.

TT3 iN NyC · 09-08-2014, 12:13 PM

Hi all,

The diodes on the LED bulbs are all good. Checked them yesterday. Any other suggestions?

I had a friend remove a downpipe fix. Couldnt it be anything to do with that? The DME isn't throwing any codes or anything and everything else seems to work fine. Could the DME have an effect on the radio, when the AE's are turned on?

Wongway · 09-08-2014, 01:06 PM

Go back to your LEDs.

I'm guessing you're not familiar with how LEDs work. (and even I'm no expert), but the short version is that, to be able to provide the right kind of power for the LEDs and still maintain a long user life, without burning them out, you have to have a sort of power converter. This power converter has to have really high slew rates. This is what causes cheap or defective LEDs to cause radio interference.

It's no different when people have had crappy or cheap amplifiers installed in the trunk and find that it interferes with radio reception. Because the amplifiers are causing it with the power switching and converters.

(More than likely, I've butchered the correct terminology, but it's the best way I can explain it)

edit:
Also, that's WHY I suggested putting a ferrite clamp or something around the harness that connects to the LEDs, since ferrite clamps can reduce some of the interference in the wiring.

09-02-2014, 11:37 AM	#1
TT3 iN NyC Colonel 249 Rep 2,567 Posts Drives: F80 M3CS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (9)	Radio Static when lights are turned on Hi all, I've noticed that the radio gets static when i turn the headlight switch once to the right to use the angel eyes and fogs when the sun is setting. If i turn the lights off, the radio sounds normal, no static but with headlights on or even just the angel eyes, i hear static in the radio. Does anyone know why this occurs and how to fix? Thanks! __________________ 07 e92 335i - Retired 18 F80 M3CS - Retired 21 G20 330i M-Sport - Current
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09-02-2014, 11:31 PM	#2
TT3 iN NyC Colonel 249 Rep 2,567 Posts Drives: F80 M3CS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (9)	Bump. Anyone? __________________ 07 e92 335i - Retired 18 F80 M3CS - Retired 21 G20 330i M-Sport - Current
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09-02-2014, 11:46 PM	#3
Wongway Captain 29 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 328i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	probably a bad LED bulb you're using
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09-03-2014, 01:17 AM	#4
6spdcoupe tends to get irritable 205 Rep 800 Posts Drives: 21 M5C,18 M550,14 F15 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Jersey iTrader: (2)	Aftermarket or OEM radio/speakers ? Aftermarket or OEM halos ? __________________ AC Schnitzer/Eibach/M Performance/RaceChip/Compustar/Drone/BimmerTech/FireTV/Helix/Dynaudio/Micro-Precision/Jehnert/Audiomobile
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09-03-2014, 04:47 PM	#6
Meeni Gateropode 332 Rep 2,846 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	The AE are doing it.
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09-04-2014, 12:10 AM	#9
Wongway Captain 29 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 328i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Either your LEDs are defective, or you bought bad LEDs. Either way, getting rid of them will get rid of your static. In the meantime, the only thing I can think of that 'might' help, is if you can manage to get a ferrite clamp around the harness that connects to the LED lights.
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09-08-2014, 12:13 PM	#11
TT3 iN NyC Colonel 249 Rep 2,567 Posts Drives: F80 M3CS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (9)	Hi all, The diodes on the LED bulbs are all good. Checked them yesterday. Any other suggestions? I had a friend remove a downpipe fix. Couldnt it be anything to do with that? The DME isn't throwing any codes or anything and everything else seems to work fine. Could the DME have an effect on the radio, when the AE's are turned on? __________________ 07 e92 335i - Retired 18 F80 M3CS - Retired 21 G20 330i M-Sport - Current
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09-08-2014, 01:06 PM	#12
Wongway Captain 29 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 328i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Go back to your LEDs. I'm guessing you're not familiar with how LEDs work. (and even I'm no expert), but the short version is that, to be able to provide the right kind of power for the LEDs and still maintain a long user life, without burning them out, you have to have a sort of power converter. This power converter has to have really high slew rates. This is what causes cheap or defective LEDs to cause radio interference. It's no different when people have had crappy or cheap amplifiers installed in the trunk and find that it interferes with radio reception. Because the amplifiers are causing it with the power switching and converters. (More than likely, I've butchered the correct terminology, but it's the best way I can explain it) edit: Also, that's WHY I suggested putting a ferrite clamp or something around the harness that connects to the LEDs, since ferrite clamps can reduce some of the interference in the wiring.
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