Satellite Help
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
My Ride: 2005 545i - Black on Black, Maple Anthracite. Cold, Premium, Sport, Nav, Heads Up Display, Logic 7, Power Rear Sunshade.
Hello...I just bought a 2005 545i two weeks ago. It still has the window sticker with the car and there was a $75.00 Satellite Prep charge but I don't show a satellite option in I-Drive. Just fm/am, cd and wb.
I'm assuming because of the prep fee I can get satellite radio? Do I have to go to a dealer to get it? Is it worth it? Do you know cost?
Thank you in advance for your response.
p.s.
Love the car. My first BMW and I'm now sure the first of many to come.
I'm assuming because of the prep fee I can get satellite radio? Do I have to go to a dealer to get it? Is it worth it? Do you know cost?
Thank you in advance for your response.
p.s.
Love the car. My first BMW and I'm now sure the first of many to come.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
The price may be different now but take a look at the following thread about how much it cost back in 2005:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=6396
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=6396
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
From: New York und Wien
Ja, the prep means you can install Sirius sat. radio, specifically the BMW receiver.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
My Ride: 2005 545i - Black on Black, Maple Anthracite. Cold, Premium, Sport, Nav, Heads Up Display, Logic 7, Power Rear Sunshade.
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='588664' date='May 26 2008, 02:15 PM
Ja, the prep means you can install Sirius sat. radio, specifically the BMW receiver.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
My Ride: 2005 545i - Black on Black, Maple Anthracite. Cold, Premium, Sport, Nav, Heads Up Display, Logic 7, Power Rear Sunshade.
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='588663' date='May 26 2008, 02:15 PM
The price may be different now but take a look at the following thread about how much it cost back in 2005:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=6396
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=6396
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
From: Encino, CA
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='588664' date='May 26 2008, 12:15 PM
Ja, the prep means you can install Sirius sat. radio, specifically the BMW receiver.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
It's very well integrated into the overall car and iDrive but I still see sat. radio as yesterday's technology.
You have to pay a monthly subscription and it's still rather limited.
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
It truly depends on your situation/music collection. Granted, there is a monthly cost with sat. However, it's about $10 bucks a month. Downloading from your iPod will cost you .99/song on average. It's really a matter of preference and desire. I have an iPod and Stilletto, and I love sat content. The cool thing is, you can get the iPod integrated and use a portable sat nav unit like the Stilletto through your aux. port.
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,672
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA USA
My Ride: E90 M3
Model Year: 2011
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='588664' date='May 26 2008, 02:15 PM
On the other hand, if you add the iPod retrofit, you have unlimited content and you would control it.
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
From: New York und Wien
Originally Posted by advancedlogic' post='588670' date='May 26 2008, 03:52 PM
It truly depends on your situation/music collection. Granted, there is a monthly cost with sat. However, it's about $10 bucks a month. Downloading from your iPod will cost you .99/song on average. It's really a matter of preference and desire. I have an iPod and Stilletto, and I love sat content. The cool thing is, you can get the iPod integrated and use a portable sat nav unit like the Stilletto through your aux. port.
I found sat radio content intriguing a few years back when I had the first BMW with sat radio. But it quickly lost its luster once I started listening to my integrated iPod six months later (using the Dension ice>link integration in my previous 5er).
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
From: New York und Wien
Originally Posted by kscarrol' post='588744' date='May 26 2008, 06:53 PM
Not totally true on an '05. The iPod integration works well, I had it in my '04 and loved it. But there are some restrictions on the number of playlists or songs that can be handled. While I had no issues using a smaller Nano, folks with big iPods like an 80Gb model have found they cannot load all their music. Not arguing against getting it, just be aware that there are some spacve limits with the retrofit iPod.
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,672
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA USA
My Ride: E90 M3
Model Year: 2011
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='588775' date='May 26 2008, 07:02 PM
All true but, despite the limitations, I still think it better than sat radio content