BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna

[APDspider]

Question:

Besides the degraded reception of the AM signal (according to the BMWusa website) are there any other drawbacks?


BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna #65202296761

[Mayhem]

I don't notice any issues, not even a degraded AM signal. Though I live in a major metropolitan area so the AM signals tend to be strong.

[SchweiZ4]

I would say low FM signal quality in areas where FM signal is weak; which is understandable considering the antenna is much smaller and thus its reception capacity is lower.

This is what I have noticed, but not a real drowback if you don't go deep in mountains every day - in other areas, reception quality is good.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

I would say low FM signal quality in areas where FM signal is weak; which is understandable considering the antenna is much smaller and thus its reception capacity is lower.

This is what I have noticed, but not a real drowback if you don't go deep in mountains every day - in other areas, reception quality is good.

It is my understanding that the stubby antenna is only for AM reception, not FM, so that should not be affected at all.

[SchweiZ4]

It might be just my case, but I have noticed that in area where FM signal is good, I don't see any difference between stubby and stock.
But I used to travel accross mountains where signal becomes weak and I can see difference between my Z4 with stubby and my other car.

But it doesn't bother me a lot since it is 1 hour per week.

You can go for it without hesitation, you very likely won't notice a thing.

[VailM3]

How much are bmw charging for that stubby. Just FYI this is not a bmw piece and is a 3rd party that makes it for BMW: Citroen and fiat use the same piece and costs about 10 bucks.

Edit as i though THREE TIMES THE PRICE

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/30...RT-ROD-ANTENNA

same piece

[SchweiZ4]

I agree.
As for me, for what it is I won't go for something bigger than 3" and more than
$10.

You can get plenty of them with cool style (matching your car color, etc) and with almost "no" FM signal loss on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

[SgtGigglebox]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

I agree.
As for me, for what it is I won't go for something bigger than 3" and more than
$10.

You can get plenty of them with cool style (matching your car color, etc) and with almost "no" FM signal loss on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

I don't think it was more than $2X.00 at BMW when I picked mine up a few months ago. It pains me to see the long antennas on the Z4, such an easy mod that in my experience has 0 negative impact.

[Alpha_Zulu]

Originally Posted by APDspider

Question:

Besides the degraded reception of the AM signal (according to the BMWusa website) are there any other drawbacks?


BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna #65202296761

I put a car cover on my Z4 at the end of the day, and before I do that I take off the antenna and throw it in the trunk. There have been times where I forgot to put the antenna back on and I'm driving around listening to the radio without it . I put it back on cause it just looks retarded without an antenna.

[APDspider]

Thanks for the replies guys.... I'll order an aftermarket.

[rking117]

no issue for me, this is the second Z i have had with a stubby.

[bjarne]

Originally Posted by APDspider

Besides the degraded reception of the AM signal (according to the BMWusa website)

I am curious where on BMWusa website you saw this statement. This antenna is not used for AM at all, it is one of three antennae in the FM diversity system.

There is a lot of misinformation about it being used for AM, but not according to BMWs E89 technical information.

[APDspider]

Originally Posted by bjarne

I am curious where on BMWusa website you saw this statement. This antenna is not used for AM at all, it is one of three antennae in the FM diversity system.

There is a lot of misinformation about it being used for AM, but not according to BMWs E89 technical information.

It specifies that information right on the product page on BMWUSA's website. I'm currently on an iPhone thus forwarding a link is beyond my typing patience. But search for this product and read their disclaimer.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by bjarne

I am curious where on BMWusa website you saw this statement. This antenna is not used for AM at all, it is one of three antennae in the FM diversity system.

There is a lot of misinformation about it being used for AM, but not according to BMWs E89 technical information.

Originally Posted by APDspider

It specifies that information right on the product page on BMWUSA's website. I'm currently on an iPhone thus forwarding a link is beyond my typing patience. But search for this product and read their disclaimer.

Yes-- I just pulled this off the BMW USA site:

"BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna

Short, sporty antenna rod for optical enhancement and individualism of your vehilce. At 4 inches, the antenna rod is significantly shorter than the original part and offers non-stop good reception thanks to high-quality aerial technology. No troublesome removal necessary before a mechanical car wash. With the sport antenna rod, special emphasis was placed on technology and design. Thread adapters are provided with 5mm and 6mm for hassle-free replacement.

AM reception may be impaired in areas with especially poor reception."

[bjarne]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Yes-- I just pulled this off the BMW USA site:

"BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna

Short, sporty antenna rod for optical enhancement and individualism of your vehilce. At 4 inches, the antenna rod is significantly shorter than the original part and offers non-stop good reception thanks to high-quality aerial technology. No troublesome removal necessary before a mechanical car wash. With the sport antenna rod, special emphasis was placed on technology and design. Thread adapters are provided with 5mm and 6mm for hassle-free replacement.

AM reception may be impaired in areas with especially poor reception."

Very interesting, I guess BMW can't make up their mind, or different MY are different. The document I refer to in this post
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpost...3&postcount=28
clearly states that is FM antenna 2. While this document comes from bmwcoders, I have seen the same document as an original BMW pdf.

It also seems that some people are reporting weaker FM reception with the stubby in marginal areas.

All that said, I have never had any trouble with either AM or FM reception with the stubby

[Constant.S]

Just a heads up, I went through two pairs of the BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna (second one paid by the dealer thankfully). Just letting you know that they are very fragile and tend to break easily on the car wash. Reception is not as good for FM if you dont live in a metropolitan area.

[jparnes1]

You take your Z through a car wash?

[hyper1]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

I agree.
As for me, for what it is I won't go for something bigger than 3" and more than
$10.

You can get plenty of them with cool style (matching your car color, etc) and with almost "no" FM signal loss on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Thanks for the info.
I just ordered one for $10.00 (white alum with cf)
Will see if the length make a difference.

[keepittrill]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

You take your Z through a car wash?

I do too? I suppose the guy with the Bentley Continental GT I saw there last time shouldn't have taken his through either?

[Moo]

Originally Posted by hyper1

Thanks for the info.
I just ordered one for $10.00 (white alum with cf)
Will see if the length make a difference.

I would advise getting an aluminum one-piece antenna. The CF ones have tips that break off easily, which is exactly what happened to mine.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Constant.S

Just a heads up, I went through two pairs of the BMW Sport Short Rod Antenna (second one paid by the dealer thankfully). Just letting you know that they are very fragile and tend to break easily on the car wash. Reception is not as good for FM if you dont live in a metropolitan area.

My first one from the dealer also broke in two. It had rings around it, and it broke right along one of the rings. I bought a replacement one and they changed it. It is a bit thicker, more robust, and it doesn't have the same rings around it like my first one. It is solid and seems to be holding up well. I don't want the antenna to be too solid. At the end of the day, if it snags something, I would rather the antenna break, than possibly cause damage to either the threads or even cause the surrounding metal to dimple.

[hyper1]

Originally Posted by Moo

I would advise getting an aluminum one-piece antenna. The CF ones have tips that break off easily, which is exactly what happened to mine.

Crap.....too late now.
But thanks for the advise.
I will keep that in mind if the new one brake.

thanks