Satellite radio

[tpollard95124]

I just got quoted $800 for installing sirius in my M3 - I can buy a plug and play with car kit for $150 at Circuit City - can anyone tell me what's different at BMW to justify the difference?

[Slvr e39]

If you get it BMW I believe it will work on the stock headunit, even if you don't have GPS HU, but I am not sure about that. I think it is just because "BMW" is giving it to you. I mean, I got my Dad a licence plate frame and it was over $50.

My Dad doesn't have GPS screen and BMW quoted him over $1000 for the Sirius so from that standpoint you are getting a deal, but still a rip if you ask me. He was thinking about the AVIC-N1 by pioneer but decided he liked the stock look better.


EDIT: BMW actually quoted over $2000, after telling him that he may actually consider it. Like I said before, i'm not sure it intergrates in the HU, do you know if it does or do I need some other hardware. I would say 800 to have it intergrated isn't soo bad.

[Robrick]

Originally posted by tpollard95124@Jul 8 2004, 06:00 PM
I just got quoted $800 for installing sirius in my M3 - I can buy a plug and play with car kit for $150 at Circuit City - can anyone tell me what's different at BMW to justify the difference?

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[Robrick]

I have an new, 2004 330i (no nav. or 6-CD changer option) w/single CD radio and Harmon-Kardon speakers. I just got a price from a BMW dealer of about $560 ($395-parts; $142-labor, plus 5% sales tax) to install BMW's version of a Sirius satelite radio. I was told that by going with their version verses the many available aftermarket packages, my current radio display would reflect the "same sirius broadcast information that any aftermarket display does", and that "I would be able to use the radio controls on my steering wheel". UNFORTUNATELY, THE BMW SATELITE RADIO IS ON BACKORDER, AND THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEM. ANOTHER DEALER SHOWED AN ORDER PLACED IN MID-SEPTEMBER HAS YET TO SHOW A DELIVERY DATE. I like the idea of not having another radio box sticking out somewhere on the dash, which is why I'd prefer to buy a package installed by my BMW dealer. However, I think almost $600 for a satelite radio is allot to pay, even though it supposedly works with my currently installed radio and steering wheel controls; furthermore, if the backorder gets prolonged, they can offer it for free and it won't matter. I'm going to keep looking, and if I come-up with a better way to go, I will post it to this website. I would love to hear about solutions others may have discovered.

Update 10/25/04: After a bit more research and talking to a few reliable installers about my options, I decided it was best for me to just have a BMW dealer install the BMW-Sirius Sat. Radio. The main advantage is that the BMW-Sirius unit plugs into the pre-wired harness for the optional 6-CD Changer (which I don't have). After calling different dealers, I found one with the radio (installs out of sight, behind one of the panels in the trunk), installation kit, and antenna in stock. I've only used it for 3-days, but so far, like very much the way it works through my existing head-unit and steering wheel radio buttons. My solution may not be optimal for those who don't like the standard BMW head-unit though. However, I think the standard radio with the H-K speakers is fine for my purposes. Good Luck!!!

[leetman]

only diff is the steering wheel controls. You can go to best buy for much cheaper and just buy a new deck with sirius on it and have them install it for you. You might get free installation too so basically your price is only how much the deck is you pick out, oh and a 50 dollar antenna thing for the satellite.

[Rookie]

WAIT!!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!! What the dealership is telling you is bullshit! Go to any custom audio shop besides the typical car toys and tell them what you are trying to do! I am running an pioneer XM and a pioneer 6cd off of my stock headunit. They run through an additional converter that makes them work with my deck. To switch from XM to the changer all I just hold the scan button for like to seconds. All of your normal functions work, if you radio will do it can control the unit. I forget what it is called but I know they exsist and they are like $125 bucks!