Hello.

I'm a new owner of a 2004 530i (06/2004 build date) and am in need of some assistance. Firstly, I would like to say I've spend hours already on this forum and I must say it's excellent! Plenty of great informative threads and members!

Anyway, I bought the 530i as a CPO vehicle so I do not have the original sticker. I am wondering if I have the SIRIUS satellite radio preparation? I've read a few of the threads here and located where the tuner should go (driver's side in trunk). I have no tuner (as I expected) but I did notice about three wires w/ connections tied up right near the location of a possible would-be SIRIUS tuner. One definitely looks like the end of a SIRIUS antenna wire (I have a few plug-n-play SIRIUS radio antennas to compare), while the other two I would believe are for other communication purposes for the tuner(?).

My question for anyone with the SIRIUS tuner or at least the satellite preparation, can you take a look to see what type of connections are used for the tuner and possibly what they look like? I would be happy to take a picture of what I have and post them up if that will help.

I was tempted to bring out one of my plug-n-play SIRIUS radios and hook the antenna-style connector to the radio and see if I get a signal... but I don't want to fry any components quite yet.

I found the number for BMW customer relations here (I read I could call them to confirm with my VIN) but alas they, and my BMW Center, are closed until Monday and I just have to know if I can go down the avenue of having the SIRIUS service integrated rather than using a plug-n-play unit. I am aware that some programming/upgrades may/will be required.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Once again, great forum!

-Nick

 

Quick Update:

As I should of the other day, I ended up checking out a friend's 2008 528xi with SIRIUS. I've attached a few pics of my 2004 530 and the 2008 528.

Attachment 1 = closeup of my three unused connectors I have in question
Attachment 2 = overview of my driver's side trunk area
Attachment 3 = overview of the 2008 528's SIRIUS tuner mounted.


The connectors on the 2008 look a little different but come from the same area of the wiring. I'm thinking the four model year difference between the vehicles could play into the scenario.

Anyone with an earlier e60 care to compare connectors to the tuner? I'm sure I'll eventually find out what I have going on here... But I figure the pictures will be nice to have around for anyone needing them as a reference.

Thanks!

-Nick

 

Nick,

Did you ever resolve this? I'm in the same boat with my 06/04 545iA. Same wires and shark fin antenna, assumed it meant SA693, bought a receiver and to my disappointment, the dealer said no-go. I asked what the wires were for, believing they were for Sirius, but they said "Some other M.O.S.T. connectected audio option". I asked what other audio option, since I have the Aux Input and CD Changer in the dash, as well as NAV and Bluetooth working, they could not answer. Were tired of talking to me and answering hard questions.

Anyone else with insight? Should I ask another dealer?

Thanks in advance.

- Joe

 

The simplest thing to do, if you're located in North America is to call BMW NA and give them your VIN information. They'll be able to tell you if you have the Sirius prep option or not. Those connectors do look like they may be the right ones but they could also be for an older telephone compensator (antenna booster) so it's not worth trying to plug something in to see what happens (even if the connectors are for Sirius, plugging in some other Sirius receiver is not a good idea...)

The Sirius prep option in 2004 was a tricky one -- at first, they offered the prep for $75 but then around March or April of 2004 (I could be off on the exact dates) they stopped offering Sirius prep completely because they didn't think they were going to be able to make the Sirius radios work with the earlier build cars (even the ones with the $75 prep installed).

Many people were pissed that they couldn't get the prep package at all. Around May of 2004 (I think) they started including the Sirius prep on all cars at no additional charge. I think they did that because they were starting to make progress on getting things to work but thought that if they continued to charge money for it but couldn't make it work, they'd have even more people upset and demanding a refund of the prep fee.

In January of 2005, they finally began selling the retrofit kit for cars that had the prep option. Obviously, that made people who bought cars back in March or April of 2004 upset because they wanted to get prep and BMW said it wasn't available. Now, these people were being told that they couldn't get Sirius without the prep!

Based on all of the above information, I think you'll agree that it's best to verify with NA if you have the option or not...

 

Hi Joe. Funny, I've been meaning to at least post a quick update to this... No positive update from me though. The dealer stated the Sirius option was not ordered on my vehicle even though I asked about those connections just sitting there. They said it might be for a rear-mounted CD changer, but I couldn't verify if that was right or not. After that, my quest ended and I never saw a post since then that would prove otherwise or answer the questions in more depth.

I ended up going this route to get Sirius in my vehicle. It works, and I'm pretty much used to the setup now.

Please post if you hear anything otherwise.

 

Do you have the Tis in a PDF for the 05 and up install? ive got changer prep and just got the sirius module after talking to Sonnen BMW and being told they have done 4 cars that are no prep
its just has to use a aftermarket antenna or a bmw antenna that goes in the rear package tray like this http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10536

 

From my experiences with TIS, they don't have instructions for retrofits, etc. I think the instructions for the retrofits are included in the retrofit kits...

 

Thanks all, I'll try BMW NA, and probably end up calling Sonnen BMW. My dealer "claimed" to have checked, but not sure I believe them.

Nick - I thought about the option you used and linked, but currently have my Blackberry, which I use for MP3's installed in a cradle there through the Aux Input.

Will post any success.

- Joe

 

I am in same boat as this. sorry for replying to an old post but I did search.

04-05-2004 Bmw 545i No option SA693 in build list but has changer prep. car has nav, no logic 7. Small amp in trunk.


wanting to add sirius. I have no issues with a seperate antenna.

Who has done this completely.