"Say, come on down to Stockton, Alabama for a big ole RTE on December 30th. Nothing but a bunch of Iron Butt types and wannabe's hanging out and such..."

Another approach...has this happened on multiple rides or on just one? Or put another way, did you happen to have a duffel strapped to the pillion seat at the time by any chance? I'll reveal my naivete here, but I was having the same problem a few weeks ago, until I realized the bag I had strapped down back there was changing channels while coming in contact with the passenger control buttons...oops.

ps...sorry I missed you guys on the way out, but I had to go. Next time, brother. Want me to PM you about what we talked about in the parking lot?

I just came across this thread -- Bruce, are you using the same FM transmitter with both units? Just guessing, but it sounds like the problem isn't the radio, but the FM unit stopping its transmission (at which point the radio, having lost its signal, shifts to a near-by stronger signal).

Where's the FM unit mounted? Any chance it's overheating, or that it's power is being interrupted? Have you tried a different FM unit, so that you can rule out yours being defective?

Just thought-generatin' here -- I'll ponder a bit more.

Bruce, look in your radio manual and see if there is a new auto seek feature for 2005.

No, the XM is not shutting off; the stereo FM looses it's signal/station (88.7 for example) and goes to the next strongest station. When this happens the XM stops playing (power still on etc.) because of the inability to receive/communicate with the former stereo station (88.7 or whatever station was previously programmed and placed into memory).

I did not know about the turn off timer. How does one deactive this timer? Thank you for your comments!

Well I guess if it (CRS) can happen to me it can happen to a radio. Loose it's memory that is. I have diligently read the instructions in the BMW Radio manual about setting a particular radio station into memory. The reason for doing so is to allow the XM receiver to communicate with the FM band/station, etc. All is good for about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding and without warning or other issues the stereo will go to another channel/station and of course I loose my XM channel at the same time. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction as to how to trouble shoot this problem? LT is an '05 w/J&M CommSys. and XM SkyFi2 receiver.

Thank you very much in advance for your help and/or advice.

In THIS THREAD in the old forum, at least two '05 owners (STEBS and Wmi) say that there '05s do NOT perform in this manner.

If you are riding out about 2 hours, more than likely you are losing the reception from the FM station that you have programmed to receive the XM signal. Once you lose the FM reception, you have to tune to another FM station and reset the XM to receive on the new channel.

Joe, the stereo will go to the next strongest signal after about 1.5-2.0 hours or so.

I'm having a little problem understanding the exact problem. Is you LT's FM radio losing ALL of it's radio station memory locations. Or is it just jumping or scanning to the next programmed radio station after about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding?

This may sound backwards, but is the XM shutting off after 2 hours? Then the
underlying unmodulated signal can come thru? XM has on its menu a turn off
time which also can be inactivated. Just a thought.

A few have reported that their radios turned off after 2 hours while riding, and this was found to be a malfunction.

Are you certain that this is a new "feature" of the '05 and newer radios?

Well on the '05's the radio normally shuts off after 2 hours...

All is good for about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding and without warning or other issues the stereo will go to another channel/station and of course I loose my XM channel at the same time.