rey
11-08-2007, 01:04 PM
Bought a XM kit from Bavarian Sound Werks, and now have it installed. If works perfectly with all advertised features. The instructions with the kit were issued by BMW for Sirius installation. I had several converstations with Bav. Sound Werks tech on differences with an XM install. They had no direct experience with installation in a coupe, so I was sort of a pioneer for them.
Whether you choose Sirius or XM is a personal choice. For me, I have XM in other vehicles so a continuation of XM made more sense to me.
A very important difference between XM and Sirius as shown on the BMW instructions P/N01 29 0 392 565 dated 8/1/06, is that the Sirius must be connected to the radio itself. This means removing the radio, which is easy if you know how. You have to remove the vent above the radio, which is held in place by two metal clips at the top which in turn are accessed through the inside/top of the vent. Both clips have to be depresssed downward together, and both clips are almost invisible.
Contrasted, the XM modules (two of them) are not directly connected to the radio. The XM adapter is connected to the CD changer power and audio leads which, in my case, were taped to the horizontal body in the area beneath the rear storage compartment. Obviously, these leads are covered by the rear storage compartment, and BMW has you removing the rear storage compartment for access, which I did. It is a hassle to remove and replace the storage compartment. The Sirius is also connected to these leads.
The special adapter module supplied by Bav. simply plugs into these leads. The module has similar leads exiting from it, which presumabaly are intended to preserve the capability to connect to a CD changer.
The major point of this post is that I think the entire XM installation can be easily done through the trunk in less than an hour. The vertical bulkhead behind the rear seat is covered by a carpeted panel in the trunk. If this carpeted panel is displaced the metal bulkhead behind the carpeting is revealed. There is space between the carpet panel and the bulkhead where the amplifier is mounted, and there is plenty of room for the the XM or Sirius moduls to be also mounted.
I am speculating that one can reach and pull the CD/audio leads from the trunk. Space is pretty tight, but the leads are just loosely taped to the horizontal surface of the body, and I think a simple coat hanger wire could hook them and pull them rearward.
Removing the carpet panel is a bit tricky. It is fastened to the bulkhead at the top corners by hidden fasteners. To access these fasteners one needs to remove or displace the side carpeting which covers the fasteners, and to do this one has to remove the plastic panels above the side carpeting.
Whether you choose Sirius or XM is a personal choice. For me, I have XM in other vehicles so a continuation of XM made more sense to me.
A very important difference between XM and Sirius as shown on the BMW instructions P/N01 29 0 392 565 dated 8/1/06, is that the Sirius must be connected to the radio itself. This means removing the radio, which is easy if you know how. You have to remove the vent above the radio, which is held in place by two metal clips at the top which in turn are accessed through the inside/top of the vent. Both clips have to be depresssed downward together, and both clips are almost invisible.
Contrasted, the XM modules (two of them) are not directly connected to the radio. The XM adapter is connected to the CD changer power and audio leads which, in my case, were taped to the horizontal body in the area beneath the rear storage compartment. Obviously, these leads are covered by the rear storage compartment, and BMW has you removing the rear storage compartment for access, which I did. It is a hassle to remove and replace the storage compartment. The Sirius is also connected to these leads.
The special adapter module supplied by Bav. simply plugs into these leads. The module has similar leads exiting from it, which presumabaly are intended to preserve the capability to connect to a CD changer.
The major point of this post is that I think the entire XM installation can be easily done through the trunk in less than an hour. The vertical bulkhead behind the rear seat is covered by a carpeted panel in the trunk. If this carpeted panel is displaced the metal bulkhead behind the carpeting is revealed. There is space between the carpet panel and the bulkhead where the amplifier is mounted, and there is plenty of room for the the XM or Sirius moduls to be also mounted.
I am speculating that one can reach and pull the CD/audio leads from the trunk. Space is pretty tight, but the leads are just loosely taped to the horizontal surface of the body, and I think a simple coat hanger wire could hook them and pull them rearward.
Removing the carpet panel is a bit tricky. It is fastened to the bulkhead at the top corners by hidden fasteners. To access these fasteners one needs to remove or displace the side carpeting which covers the fasteners, and to do this one has to remove the plastic panels above the side carpeting.