Re: Radio Saga

[Porsray@aol.com]

Wish I'd known this before when I replaced the radio on my Quattro with a 
rebuilt unit (dealer part; only $74 and has a 1 year warranty!).  I had to
transfer
the faceplate from my old unit onto the rebuilt; could have very easily said
"S***w it!" and taken the little rubber orange bulb covers, too.

By the way; the factory radio is built by Matsushita.  If you can find the US

headquarters, it might be worth a letter to them asking about purchasing
the little covers.

Glad that my advice was helpful.  Good luck!

Ray Calvo (porsray@aol.com)
1990 Coupe Quattro
 


In a message dated 96-09-17 00:45:14 EDT, you write:

<< 
 From: KSMITH1@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com
 Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:16:54 -0400
 Subject: Radio Saga
 
 Hi All:
 
 For those of you waiting with bated breath (or BMW breath for that 
 matter) to learn how I fared with my radio problem previously reported 
 (no AM, LH panel lamps bad), I have the following to report.
 
 Upon testing the continuity of the lower antenna amplifier coax to the 
 rear pillar amplifier I found no continuity.  The reason was (are you 
 ready for this) the two coax cables were reversed at the rear of the 
 radio.  Needless to say, this finding resulting in a significant 
 savings over my expectation.
 
 With respect to the lamp repair, thanks to all who responded, giving 
 needed advice, expecially Ray Calvo, who defined the appropriate Radio 
 Shack lamps saving me experimentation time  (P/N 272-1154 for the 
 record).  Although I haven't checked them in night conditions, the 
 display now lights during the day nicely.  The repair had been tried 
 before, but the doer made a subtle error.  He tried light emitting 
 diodes (LEDs), without using a series resistor.  Lifetime would be 
 predictably short.  (Also, the brightness would not be expected to 
 track the incandescent lamps.) 
 
 For those planning this lamp-replacement task, solder on extension 
 wires first and use shrinkfit to insulate the solder joints.  Use a 
 heat gun, not a match to shrink them. The only refinement still 
 lacking is the use of the orange booties on the lamps that adjust the 
 color balance.  These were observed on the RH panel lamps and I 
 presume they were on the original LH lamps.  I don't suppose they are 
 available from anywhere?
 
 Thanks again
 
 ***                 ...Kirby    (Kirby A. Smith)                 ***
 ***              ksmith1@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com             ***
 ***              [=]    kirby.smith@lmco.com                     ***
 ***  Opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author. ***
 
  >>