FM frequencies question
 

Hi,

I'm looking into replacing my current '92 Bonnie with a newer one. The thing is, that all '94 and up Bonnie's we have here were actually purchased in the U.S. and were privately imported here.

Now the problem is, that radio stations here (like in Europe I believe) use "even" FM frequencies - like 91.8, 100.0, etc. , unlike American FM radio that use "odd" frequencies - 95.5, etc.

The stock units that were originally sold in the U.S. are setup in a way that they simply can't tune in to local FM radio stations here. Stock units that were sold here by local dealers are different and have no problem with "European" FM frequencies.

I found a nice '97 with the stock CD-radio, and before buying it, I'm trying to find out what's involved in modifying it to the "European" FM standard. So far I can't seem to find any information at all on the web - I still don't know if it's even doable.

I'd appreciate any info, insight or an educated guess :-)

Thanks,

You might have to go aftermarket. But I'm not sure what there is to offer over there. I do know that there are GM dealerships in the Middle East area. Check out the GM corperate page for the proper links. Then look up dealerships and find the nearest one to you and call them if you can. Getting a stereo through a dealership will be probably the least cost effective way of getting the proper radio, though.

On a side note. My parents have a home stereo made by Pioneer. It is amazing for being almost thirty years old, great power and sound. It has adjustments you don't find on stereos anymore. Including adjusting frequency by .05!! For example: 99.85 FM is a possibility. The frequency readout is digital. I'm not sure what kind of tuner it is, though.

Thanks for the quick reply,

Actually we have all kinds of aftermarket audio equipment here, but I'd like to keep the stock unit because of the red backlighting and the steering wheel controls (I know that there are adapaters available though).

I guess I can find a stock '96 Grand Prix radio (that was the last Pontiac that was actually sold here by GM dealers), but will it fit in a Bonneville? and can I make the steering wheel controls work with it?

Thanks,

Uri

I know diddily about radio electronics, buy my guess would be that the tuner would need to be changed within the radio.

I would venture that the GP's radio would not fit but that the steering wheel controls would still function because the wiring harness might be the same.

Well it doesn't matter anymore - I changed my mind and bought a 2000 Impala LS today :-)
A great car btw.

The Chevy was originally sold here by a local dealer so the radio was setup to the "European" standard of 100KHz FM steps.

Thanks anyway,

Glad you found something you're happy with. Don't be a stranger. That car still has the 3800, correct? I checked out Chevy Isreal, and as little as I could translate, "Impala LS 3800" was there.



I think the GP radio may have worked.

Yeah it has the 3800 - I won't have any other engine in my car :-)

Btw current GM models selling here are the Impala, LeSabre, Alero, Cavalier, Rendevouz, CTS and all of the SAAB's and Opel's. No Pontiac's for us since 1996.....

Also we have a variety of Daweoo-Chevys that aren't really worth mentioning, but are selling extremely well - better than "real" GM cars actually. That's what happens when you have 120% tax on cars :-(

120% :shock: Are you serious????

Dead serious..... a new Impala with the 3.8 is about 45K US$ here. A new CTS - 75K US$.

I got my used '00 Impala for 22K - at least they depreciate at the same rate ;-)

All new/used parts are also taxed this high, not to mention gasoline - I'm not totally sure about the conversion, but it's around 4$ a gallon.

I bet you're feeling lucky right now :-)

The line of work I'm in (e-commerce), I actually deal with a lot of Isreali customers. With taxes like that, I can understand how so many of our customers are willing to call the US to get their software. If I paid that much, I'd fight like heck to get my stuff too!! :shock:

And people from MN complain about 6.5 to 7 % .......