Hey guys, don't tell me you're happy that your radios don't work properly. Does anyone know why PTY AUTO doesn't work, or how to fix it?

 

I was just reading up on this subject while I was scanning the MINI's books. I have no clue what they do. When you find out let me know.

 

We were discussing this on bimmerfest and some interesting things came to light...

I think I've found a bug in the radio. PTY AUTO works if I switch the radio clock on! (with the little clock figure displaying above the RDS symbol). And it continues to work if I switch the clock back off again. But, if I have the radio clock turned off, and then stop and restart the car (off for more than 10 seconds) then it starts failing again. Now, I hate the clock being on, so no way am I going to leave it that way. Thus it seems I have to flick the radio clock on and off again each time I start the car to get PTY AUTO to work!!!

Can anyone with an '02 confirm or deny this behaviour? Is you PTY AUTO also broken unless the radio clock is on (I'm betting it is)? Can anyone with a newer car, (03/04) confirm if PTY AUTO works with the clock off? Does anyone know of a reason why a newer radio couldn't be installed into an '02?

TIA

 

Pty

if your pty button is on manual....press and hold it to change to automatic. Theres a lot you can do with your stock unit...READ UP POSTS/

 

if your pty button is on manual....press and hold it to change to automatic. Theres a lot you can do with your stock unit...READ UP POSTS/

umm..you do know your first post is to a 4 yr old thread?

welcome aboard. :hi:

 

Lol, yeh, and the radio really was broken and was replaced under warranty. And as soon as winter rolled around the replacement radio started showing bad pixels, so they had to replace it a second time. Welcome to the world of refurbished warranty parts

 

Drove a Z3 yesterday and the radio was showing RDS**PTY and whenever I changed stations both name and type flashed up automatically. In my '02 3'er I can only get RDS* PTY in the display and I have to press the PTY button manually to get the pty info displayed, even with PTY AUTO turned on (by holding down the button).

So what the hell does PTY AUTO do? It doesn't seem to make any difference. Has anyone got pty auto working on a '02 3'er? This is really bugging me.

Also, if you hold down the RDS button it switches b/w REG ON and REG OFF, which apparently has something to do with regional programming. Has anyone seen that do anything useful in the USA?

Finally, it is claimed that an RDS radio can automatically switch to the strongest signal for stations that broadcast on multiple frequencies. Has anyone ever seen this happen?

you legend. my stereo always had regoff now i got rid of it. thanks heapss

 

Quick thread jack: ^Your wheels :drool: They are the only ones I like more than my own!