Long post about 325is Radio/Electrical Problems

[Roundel Guy]

I had the original premium audio package (Blaupunkt Casablanca) in my '94 325is. About a year ago, the radio began having episodes where between long periods of working fine, I would turn on the car, and it would just not be working. The lights on the face would flash dimmly and it would emit a high squealing noise for a while when the knob was turned (it would continue after putting the knob in the "off" position) before going silent and dark again. About a month ago the radio was working fine when I accidently cranked the engine with the car in first gear. The radio died, and has never turned on again. Some of my AC panel lights and my headlight panel lights went out too. I checked the grounds and they are fine. The battery is charged. The car has no other problems.

Someone suggested a bad "voltage regulator" might have caused the problem. Have any of you had similar problems, or know what is going on and have suggestions on how to fix this? Also, does anyone know where I can get another casablanca tape deck? I will appreciate any help you can give me!

Thanks for reading this far!

[filou]

before you change anything, i would make sure. that the power supply to radio is clean and constant. And yes, a bad regualtor can make the voltage fluctuate in such way that the radio got "burn" by voltage peak.
Get a cheap digital voltmeter, they are more accurate.
Good luck !!
Filou.