My wife had our 19999 ML 320 Sony stereo replaced w/some new fangled dvd player some 13 months ago. Problem w/the new unit from day one is that it won't tune in the am band worth beans. I can just barely hear the stations thru the static of the engine, but they are there. To troubleshoot this poor am performance, the shop tried to re-attach the original Sony back into the harness, but struggled w/what now most likely is an incorrect security code. The shop thought that the dealership may be able to take that original radio and get it to work 'on the bench' to ensure the codes are correct, this in preference to taking the new radio back out again.
Sooooo....is it possible to powerup the radio on the bench to ensure the code is accurate? AND....this radio shop is stating that am reception is ever more so difficult to realize than FM. Now we're talking about a metropolitan area w/no skyscrapers and an AM station blasting 70,000 Watts.....heck, ya'd think ya could hear that in any orthodontist's office????? Thoughts on these kids saying that AM is more difficult to tune-in than FM? I was of the opinion AM is EASIER than FM?
Is there a reliable way to check the car's antennae.....and if the antennae is bad, don't ya think it'd affect both AM & FM....EQUALLY?
thanks in advance 4 yer help!
ray

AM reception can be tricky, if the antenna is a poor design or broken. AM antenna needs are differet than FM, I think FM needs a certain length(32 inches??), and AM needs maximum length. Radio Shack used to sell signal amplifiers that can be plugged in line with the antenna cable.

You are not alone, the Bose factory radio in my dad's 2000 ML320 has very poor AM reception. The real problem, as much as I like AM, is that it's a dead medium in this modern age we live in.

There are two things that come to mind in this situation...One is that aftermarket CD Radio's don't have a very good AM section in them and the other is that the antenna is engineered to be tuned to the stock radio and not yours. In the old days there was an antenna trimmer on the back of the radio to tune the antenna to the radio for AM. Of course we don't have these today but due to the nature of AM this critical adjustment would help if it was available to you. The test is to substitue an antenna that is 50-60 inches long and make sure the base of the antenna is grounded well to the car body...I think you would be surprised at the reception difference..

I can't take the poor reception, on my Becker Grand Prix any longer...so I am having my indy install a Becker 4602 in my '84 380sl and I could use some advice.
I live outside Los Angeles and I get lousey AM...static, whine etc and NO FM at all.
Will the new Becker get better reception?
Will it tune to my stock antenea?
Will my indy know about grounding etc?
Do you have a reco on replacement dash speakers?
Thanks in advance.
Jo