[kaigoss69]

So I am pretty pi$$ed right now because I just stumbled across this:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...82&postcount=9

I had asked this question at least twice and basically given up on the idea of installing an aftermarket processor due to the fact that I could not set a constant volume level which would be required for the aftermarket processor to work effectively. I was told that a volume level display is not possible in our cars.

Hell it isn't!

Quote from the 1-series thread:

1. turn on the radio
2. press button "m" or "tp" for at least 8 sec.
3. "+" and "-" to navigate through the menu (there must be a submenu "volume" or something like that, then use the volume-knob to see how high the level goes)
4. turn off radio and on again

I immediately went out to the car and sure enough, it works! The only downside is that you have to be in this secret menu in order to see the volume level and you cannot use any other functions of the radio besides the volume. However, if you set the radio to the required volume, then turn it off and back on again, the setting remains the same. Then every click of the rotary volume button is changes the setting by "1". Again, this is displayed only while in the secret menu but you can remember the setting and just add or subtract the amount of clicks in your head if you had to without having to access the secret menu again while you were driving.

Now the only question I have is: At what volume level does the radio/amp start to distort? This would be good to know in order to be able to set the output to the max level before clipping, if you want to use any aftermarket processors and/or amps.

I have no way to measure this. Anyone care to volunteer?

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Now the only question I have is: At what volume level does the radio/amp start to distort? This would be good to know in order to be able to set the output to the max level before clipping, if you want to use any aftermarket processors and/or amps.

I have no way to measure this. Anyone care to volunteer?

If you have a laptop with a line-in, you can do a basic test for distortion. Burn a CD with sine-wave sweeps and run your line-level (via LOC) outputs into the PC. Start a recording and watch for when your nice pretty sine wave starts to deform.

You could also use an oscilloscope, but I like using a laptop so I can scroll back through the whole test, and save the results for further analysis.

[MrDummy]

I use the 2 person with good hearing test.

2 peeps crank it up and when they both agree it sounds bad I know

[VP Electricity]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

I have no way to measure this. Anyone care to volunteer?

Great... if you find some secret menu to change preout voltage later, you gonna be mad again?

I stand by my earlier position that we don't have a USABLE volume indication, but you have found an interesting and potentially useful tip - thamks!

I have done this sort of test with a 0dB 1kHz sine wave and an oscilloscope, but I've not done it on the E9x. I guess I have to do it now when I get to the next stage.

[kaigoss69]

I am interested solely in the L7 amp outputs, of course, not the head unit outputs of the non-L7 radios.

[MrDummy]

Will this work on an 06 standard non L7 radio?

what is the "tp" button, I tried the "m" button but nothing happened?
Do you need it on a certain function, like radio or cd?

thanks

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

Will this work on an 06 standard non L7 radio?

what is the "tp" button, I tried the "m" button but nothing happened?
Do you need it on a certain function, like radio or cd?

thanks

You have to push the "m" button and hold it for about 8 seconds immediately after you have powered-up the radio.

[deletedelete]

What do you need the volume display for? The car lowers the volume automatically when you turn it on, so it doesnt blast your ears. Then you just turn it up.

[MrDummy]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

You have to push the "m" button and hold it for about 8 seconds immediately after you have powered-up the radio.

Thank you

[I335]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

What do you need the volume display for? The car lowers the volume automatically when you turn it on, so it doesnt blast your ears. Then you just turn it up.

It does? I never new this! I'll have to give it a try...

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by I335

It does? I never new this! I'll have to give it a try...

Yes, not sure if its a setting you have to turn on. But I turn the car off with the music blasting, but it turns on at a low volume. It even states this in the manual I believe. So no need for a volume bar.

[ianbiz]

I have a 06 with Idrive what button do i push since I dont have the M

[kaigoss69]

Do you have "TP" ?

[deletedelete]

I dont have m or tp, lol.

[VP Electricity]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

I dont have m or tp, lol.

You also don't read any of the threads or references about why someone might want a volume bar, apparently. It is for use with various OE integration preamp devices when upgrading the audio system.

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

You also don't read any of the threads or references about why someone might want a volume bar, apparently. It is for use with various OE integration preamp devices when upgrading the audio system.

Nope, I certainly dont!

[andrew 330i]

~ this worked great ...

i always hated the limitations on the volume... now i have it up to the max of 55... i may not take it that high for distortion purposes but love the ability to do so!

thanks again!!!

ps - the radio must be in "am/fm" mode to navigate through/to this secret menu.

[MrDummy]

^^ On my 2006 pro bmw radio I can change the display as well and it STAYS that way, I was playing with the volume when I got my car back from dealers last night and have a dot matrix style of display. It doesnt match but hey it looks cool to me.

Now I set it last night and it was still that way this morning, so I will see what it looks like when I leave work.

But it is the radio without the chrome accents on it. also what is RDS and do I want that ON all the time?

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

also what is RDS and do I want that ON all the time?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Data_System

Try it! (I am not sure if it works over here or not)

[MrDummy]

thank you I will check it out

[VP Electricity]

Tested Professional HU in base Audiosystem mode yesterday. These results apply to base audio systems without amps only:

52 volume clicks. 1kHz, 0dB test track.

Clipping begins at 45, with 4.5VAC

At 48, 5.5VAC.

At 52, 9VAC!

So there is a hockey-stick to the volume, and I would tune the system for 45 clicks

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Tested Professional HU in base Audiosystem mode yesterday. These results apply to base audio systems without amps only:

52 volume clicks. 1kHz, 0dB test track.

Clipping begins at 45, with 4.5VAC

At 48, 5.5VAC.

At 52, 9VAC!

So there is a hockey-stick to the volume, and I would tune the system for 45 clicks

i have base system with amp
and i set my amps at 45 also
anything more and you can start to hear distortion
i'm impressed with myself
i did it purely by using my ears
do i get a gold star or something?