There must be some way to tune my 2002 BMW 525 radio to a particular FMfrequency but I can't figure out how so my GPS won't work.My Garmin GPS nuvi transmit on any FM frequency I tell it to. Theinstructions say find an unused frequency and tune the radio to thatfrequency. OK. But how do you tune a BMW automobile radio to an unusedfrequency?On a friend's car in a parking lot with everything turned off, I can tunehis American car radio to any FM frequency I like ...... for example to100.1 FM. Then I can set the Garmin nuvi to speak on 100.1. There's a wholelot of hissing and other sounds but at least I can hear the music anddriving instructions through the American car radio.However, on my Beemer, there are only two settings. One will only find"working" stations so it skips right past the weak GPS FM transmittersignal. If I press the little BMW "m" on the stock radio, I can then pressthe arrow buttons to go back and forth a bit, but still, there is no way toget to 100.1 which is the cleanest empty station in my area. The dastardlyBMW radio skips to whatever station it wants to when you press the arrow.I'm frustrated with the BMW radio lack of tuning ability.How do we tune a BMW automobile radio to an unused FM frequency like 100.1?

I would pick one of the empty (skipped) FM broadcast stations. I wouldthen set the GPS to output on a skipped broadcast frequency, eg 100.1and then let the FM radio "find" your Garmin. If possible, get theGermin as close to the auto antenna as possible.arthur

How does a BMW car radio tune to GPS FM transmitter frequency? (2025 Update)

Sep 06, 2007 Last reply: 8 months ago 23 Replies

Rate this thread:

Raoul Watson 18 years ago

Just let the garmin transmit first. At this point the signal should indicate to your radio not to skip this location since there is a signal.

Vote

Dave Plowman (News) 18 years ago

Much later than that in the UK - it was an 'extra' on my '92 E34. To allow consumer choice, 'they' say...

Vote

Scott Dorsey 18 years ago

And sadly, now you can't order them WITHOUT oodles of crappy electronic accessories.

--scott

Vote

Bert Hyman 18 years ago

I think that the 300 series was the beginning of the end of BMWs as "pure" driver's cars.

I suppose the sign that they were finished with that market was when they dropped the "Ultimate Driving Machine" slogan.

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required