akirax

The latest information I have when I went to order the prep kit and nav is that you CANNOT order nav and the prep kit together...it's either one or the other until the update/fix is available...

so naturally my order hasn't been placed.

kigerka

You can get NAV and Sat. prep but you cannot have the actual Sat. radio until the 2005 models release. That is the latest word from the dealership here. I did not ask about a possible upgrade with the 2004 models.

Rudy

The latest info I have (from 3/15) regarding the nav & sat is quite confusing.

What BMW is now saying is that you can no longer order a car with nav and sat prep. (I read somewhere but can't confirm that any car in the build queue as of 3/19 was updated to remove the sat prep.) I think you won't be able to order these features again until model year 2005.

There will be a software update in the fall of 2004 that will allow cars with nav and sat prep to get everything working.

Now here's the part that makes no sense: If, in the fall, they can upgrade the software on cars that already have the nav and sat prep options, why would they stop allowing orders for these two options?

Stay tuned as I'm sure more information will be released (as well as information changing).

kigerka

I ordered my car from Germany (US Spec) and it is available with the Sat. Prep. I ordered the car on Mar 18th.

Rudy

Has it gone into production yet? If not, don't be surprised if you learn that the satellite prep option was deleted.

akirax

that's the same info I got, orders already in the queue will be updated by March 19...if the salesperson doesn't update the order by March 19, the system(computer) will....the salesperson is suppose to contact the customer to see what option he/she would prefer....

svbmw

I can't imagine spending 40K + and not have at least 200hp. Get the 530i

545i

I just got off the phone with the service manager at my dealer. I was told that there will be a reto fit for sirius radio available for those of us with Nav, ETA is September.

Rudy

That's the line you hear the most. There is still conflicting information out there with regard to retrofits on pre-wired cars coming from various levels at BMW.

As much as I hope your Service Manager is right, I'm not sure I'd place him as high on the informtion chain as others who are not as willing to commit to such a specific timeline. All he's doing is regurgitating a bulletin that's been out for a while now.

They even stopped taking orders for Nav (option 609) & pre-wiring (option 693) as of mid-March on all model year 2004 5 and 6 series cars. Any car built since around 3/20 will not have both options from the factory. (All dealers were to update their existing orders to remove one of the conflicting options or BMW would do it for them after 3/19.)

If they were so sure a retrofit would be available this fall for the MY 2004 cars, why would they no longer take orders for the pre-wiring?

Again, I hope they will be able to retrofit everything since my car is pre-wired. If so, I'll feel sorry for anyone who orders a car now and couldn't get the pre-wiring.

545i

He did mention the prewiring. He said that it is a pointless option. It is cheaper to just have the sirius installed. He said cars don't need to be prewired to be retrofitted.The prewiring is not necessary.

I agree with you that these guys are far from being a source of correct upto date information. This would however explain why they pulled the prewire option.

I hope he is right.