OK I have read through the manual, but can't find this info.

What is that bar graph? See the red circle at the bottom of the pic.

 

i don't know but guess it could be to do with strength of the radio signal??

jonboy

 

CD is on.

 

THis is your cell phone's signal
i have a built in bMW phone in my car and whenever i trun it on this comes up indicating signal strength.
if you are getting this and u don't have a phone in the car then it could be navigation signal strength

 

Maybe it is sort of a cell phone signal. I don't have a cell phone in it yet, but maybe it's the signal associated with BMW Assist (which must use celular).

I do have Pro Nav, so it could be associated with the GPS.

 

i guess it is the signal for your car's GPS. i dont have any navigation, but still have that bar changing over time. i think it is for BMW assist indication.

 

I'll bet it's the cell signal of the built in phone for BMW Assist.

As far as I know, GPS signal strength isn't really something you need to monitor. For GPS, it's not about signal strength, it's about how many satellites are within view or "visible" by the car. (Once you have at least three satellites visible, you can triangulate a postition, etc.)

The E39 had little dots in a box in the upper-right corner of the screen indicating how many satellites were visible. Once three or more dots lit up, the letters "GPS" displayed in the box. Most times, there were like 8 or more dots showing up.

 

In the 7 series it works with the BMW Phone and the BMW assist.
If i have the phone switched off the bars won't appear filled. After switching it on the bar will appear filled like in the previous picture.

 

Rudy: I'm pretty sure you just need two satellites w/in view to get lat./long. The 3rd add altitude. I'm not positive, that's just what I thought. Thanks.

Sam

 

I think you're right. I remember reading that somewhere as well.

Either way, the bar graph on the screen doesn't relate to GPS signal strength, it relates to cellular signal strength.