Satellite Radio Options

[salvatore]

Does anyone have images of their E46 satellite radio installations? Im considering XM or Sirius as an upgrade to my 2005 325i but Im loathed to install some extra controller or head unit hanging from the dashboard.

Images of existing installations or ideas about how best to do this are welcomed.

.salvatore

[EnvyM3]

Originally posted by salvatore@Mar 2 2005, 10:07 PM
Does anyone have images of their E46 satellite radio installations? Im considering XM or Sirius as an upgrade to my 2005 325i but Im loathed to install some extra controller or head unit hanging from the dashboard.

Images of existing installations or ideas about how best to do this are welcomed.

.salvatore

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I originally got the xm commander b/c it fit right into the ashtray and would be hidded but in order to install it, the whole dashboard would have had to come out. The whole dash is all in one piece and there was no way to get the wiring to the head unit.. So I ended up returning it and I got the Roady2 which just plugs into the cigarette lighter and has a wireless FM Modulator. I did the best I could and ran the wiring behind the woodgrain on the dash so it looked as clean as possible. It is not a bad unit though b/c you can gat the home kit for another $40 so you can hookl it up and listen to it through your home stereo. Here are the pics of the finished product. Hope this helps.

[salvatore]

Originally posted by EnvyM3@Mar 2 2005, 11:56 PM
can hookl it up and listen to it through your home stereo. Here are the pics of the finished product. Hope this helps.

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It does help, thanks.

[salvatore]

Took the plunge this afternoon and ordered this. Cross your fingers about an easy install this weekend.

Thanks again.

[EnvyM3]

Originally posted by salvatore@Mar 3 2005, 01:44 PM
Took the plunge this afternoon and ordered this. Cross your fingers about an easy install this weekend.

Thanks again.

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What year is your car. I don't think that model would have worked in my car.

[dgkfl]

Originally posted by EnvyM3+Mar 3 2005, 06:53 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EnvyM3 @ Mar 3 2005, 06:53 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-salvatore@Mar 3 2005, 01:44 PM
Took the plunge this afternoon and ordered this. Cross your fingers about an easy install this weekend.

Thanks again.

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What year is your car. I don't think that model would have worked in my car.

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[/b][/quote]

I installed that setup on my 05 325i. It's as simple as plugging in a few connectors and deciding how to route the antenna wire. It works great, with good sound quality, and the XM is seamlessly integrated into the factory radio. Once you locate the connectors in the trunk (see below for my comments about this), you could literally have it working (if not permanently installed) in 60 seconds!

Locating the connectors: the instructions have you removing the trunk lining. You may not have to do that. First try removing the fastener right above the CD changer shelf on the left of the trunk. Now, pull the lining away from the shelf, and fish your fingers down under the shelving unit. If you're lucky, you'll feel the wires that you need. Pull them out, along with the fabric pouch the ends are wrapped in.)

David

P.S. I am extremely satisfied with this setup and recomment it highly. However, I do have a quibble, related to the way it displays the XM streams and provides content information. The BMW radio will only show 10 characters and doesn't scroll. The unit will show, by default, only the channel name. You have to press the info button (which will appear when you connect it), to see artist/song info, and it will only display that info momentarily. Also, you can't move up and down through the content streams (i.e. rock, classical, news, etc.) You can only automatically scan through them sequentially, which is a little annoying. The solution is to have at least one preset in each stream that interests you, and then move up or down through the stations from that preset.

[salvatore]

I installed that setup on my 05 325i. It's as simple as plugging in a few connectors and deciding how to route the antenna wire. It works great, with good sound quality, and the XM is seamlessly integrated into the factory radio. Once you locate the connectors in the trunk (see below for my comments about this), you could literally have it working (if not permanently installed) in 60 seconds!

I have an 05 325i as well and Im delighted to hear it'll work as expected. Thanks for the feedback David.

I opted for overnight delivery and expect to install either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning; I'll post again as soon as everything's up and running.

[salvatore]

Originally posted by salvatore@Mar 3 2005, 09:05 PM
I opted for overnight delivery and expect to install either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning; I'll post again as soon as everything's up and running.

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This install was a breeze. Aside from the trunk liner fasteners which didnt want to pry themselves out smoothly[1], the XM Radio hardware install was plug and play. One thing to look out for, however: none of the step by step instructions I found were performed on an E46 with a Harmon Kardon stereo. It appears as though the HK upgrade puts a large grey metal piece atop the CD changer tray where several head unit connections are made. After a few moments of fretting that the vehicle-to-XM wires were already in use, I found the correct wires *behind* the CD changer tray. Not only were they not visible without some fishing, but they were wrapped in a black velcroed cloth. Nice insulation, but less than intuitive location if you're expecting the wires to just be visible.

Once located and identified, the install went perfectly. XM Radio rocks.

[1] These are really plastic screws which needed quite a bit of force to extract. I took things nice and slow so as not to break/mar them.

[325isBaby]

I did a Sirius install on a 2005 330xi Friday. Just mount the Sirius reciever (from BMW), the antenna, plug in and go. Just had to make sure I hid the antenna wire well. Nothing added to dash. 2005's are prewired for Sirius so that's what I'm planning on getting for mine.

[kwguy]

dgkfl posted: "you can't move up and down through the content streams (i.e. rock, classical, news, etc.) You can only automatically scan through them sequentially, which is a little annoying. The solution is to have at least one preset in each stream that interests you, and then move up or down through the stations from that preset. "

I was wondering if the Sirus receiver (from BMW) has this limitaion too, or does it work the way you would hope?

How easy is it to route the antenna wire out of the trunk up to the roof? I heard the antenna fastens by a magnet, is it strong enough to withstand an automatic car wash?

[srwinston]

I had installed XM commander in ashtray of my 1999 328 and don't believe they had to take out dash in order to get in. I really liked this set up because it was hidden and you can select songs you like for beep reminder when on any station. Only negative was trying to hit small buttons when going down highway.

I recently bought new 330 and had Sirius installed with BMW radio used as control. As other writer noted, it is a pain to hit info button each time you want to see who is singing song. That is one of the great features of satellite radio. Also, display scroll option must be set each time you get into car and it really doesn't help much as group/song titles are cut in middle of words.

In hindsight, i would install XM in cigarette lighter of new car--would have saved $400. Also, Sirius seems to cut out much more frequently than XM in my area.

SW

[srwinston]

PS. antenna can easily be moved in trunk each time you go through carwash. wouldn't suggest going through without moving or taping down.

[kwguy]

Originally posted by srwinston@Apr 3 2005, 02:42 AM
PS. antenna can easily be moved in trunk each time you go through carwash. wouldn't suggest going through without moving or taping down.

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So you have your antenna on the centre of your trunk? Or does it somehow run up the edge of the back window to your roof?

[kwguy]

Originally posted by srwinston@Apr 3 2005, 02:41 AM
I recently bought new 330 and had Sirius installed with BMW radio used as control.* As other writer noted, it is a pain to hit info button each time you want to see who is singing song.* That is one of the great features of satellite radio.* Also, display scroll option must be set each time you get into car and it really doesn't help much as group/song titles are cut in middle of words.

Also, Sirius seems to cut out much more frequently than XM in my area.

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Can you save the Sirius channels you like in to the presents on your radio of do you have to find them each time you want to listen to the same one?

Where abouts do you live? Just wondering about the cut outs with the Sirius signal.
KW

[325isBaby]

If your vehicle has a shark fin we mount the antenna on the trunk if not the antenna goes on the roof kwguy...there is no additional controlers with Sirius and there is no intrusion in the dash.