[WallyF]

I am looking into adding a Terk XM Commander satellite radio to my 325xi. The 325 has the sat radio prep package. See the following for the Commander:

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/s...4136&langId=-1

The XM Commander comes with a remote control unit that will fit nicely in the sunglass tray once the ashtray is exchanged for the sunglass tray. The receiver unit can mount under the trunk floor where the OEM Sirius sat raido would normally be installed. (See photo "Trunk 1 and Trunk 2).

The remote control unit has a cable that connects to the receiver unit. The receiver unit has two RCA audio jacks that will need to be converted to a 1/8 inch stereo plug so it can connect to the IPOD jack in the center console.

There are two BMW connectors that are available in the trunk( See photos Connector#1 and #2). Connector #1 has two standard "SMB" type RF plugs in it. Connector #2 has three wires and one fiberoptic cable. One wire is green and is most likey a ground. The other two wires are a brown wire and a red with blue strip wire. I assume that one of these is +12 volts and the other is maybe a +12V return.

I have several questions:
1) Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the E90?

2) Do the two SMB plugs in Connector#1 go to the shark fin? If so, is each plug connected to one side of the shark fin ? I assume that there is an antenna on each side of the fin; one to look to the right and one to look to the left.

3) Does anyone know what the three wires are for?
Green -Ground?
Brown - ????
Red/blue strip -?????

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If I make it work, I will post detail pictures and instructions.

Thanks

Wallyf

[DeSotoSteve]

I was thinking about doing exactly the same thing. I already have 3 XM radios and didn't want to switch over to Sirius. I've already installed the sunglass holder and have concluded that the Commander is probably the only XM display that would fit in it.

I haven't actually tried to figure out the wires yet. I did post a question about a month ago about being able to tap into the shark fin antenna but the general response was that, even if I could, it wouldn't work with XM. I resolved myself to putting the antenna on the rear shelf.

I'm disappointed that you haven't received any responses to your questions. Please let us know if you're able to make this work.

Good luck.

Steve

[WallyF]

Steve,

Thanks for the response. I have been waiting for some repsonse.

I figure that putting the Commander's antenna on the rear shelf was an option. Where did you determine that the RF connector to the shark fin was not useable?

I can test the three wires (green, brown and red/blue) with a meter to determine what they are for. Then I will splice into the wires and leave the connector alone in case I sell the car.

Sure wish someone had the electrical wiring diagrams. Any interest in going in together with others?

Wallyf

[3s-a-charm]

[ben1364]

I only discovered this thread after asking a similar question and having my post moved to this Heading. It seems to me that if the Shark Fin antenna cannot be used to receive XM, someone could make some money by crafting an adapter, or some such. I would rather not install an additional antenna. Hoping for some good advice to this poor electronically driver. <g>

BTW, as regards the wiring color code question, typically BMW has used brown insullation on ground wires. Brown+Earth(ground)

[RedBirdRuss]

I have mounted the Pioneer Airwave XM2go in the change holder, run the auxilliary cable to the MP3 input in the console, run the car power adapter to the console, and run the antennae cable through the console, around the seats, onto the rear deck where the magnetic antennae sit on a metal clip.

It sounds great, is fairly elegant, and didn't require any rogue tinkering with the electrical system

Parts required:
Pioneer Airwave with Car adapter $149
Radioshack "Short" Lighter adapter $12
RadioShack 6 foot 1/8" Audio cable $4


As soon as the Pioneer Inno is available, I plan to integrate it as well so I can have an MP3 player capability.

[3s-a-charm]

Red,

Can you take some pics of this setup? I'm especially curious about the antenna placement and wiring. I have XM and when my new car comes in I would like to wire it up as well.

Thanks!

[loopsandsounds]

Originally Posted by WallyF

3) Does anyone know what the three wires are for?
Green -Ground?
Brown - ????
Red/blue strip -?????

Green = Fiber optical connector to MOST network. You can't use this unless you are installing a factory audio component.
Brown= Ground
Red= Power

[ScottiePP7]

I believe the main reason why you can not use the fin is due to XM and Sirius using different voltages therefore having incompatible antenna’s. There is a thread that mentions this on xm411.com (great XM resource).

As for me I currently have the roady sitting next to me and the antenna on the back shelf and I am getting nearly as good reception as I was in my old car having it on the roof (I would say 95% of what I used to have) and I am in area of no repeaters (Northeast PA).

As for an overall solution............ audiovox claims to be working on something that should be available "early 2006" take that for what it is worth, I heard this means mid-April but that is only random msg board chatter. I hear the main problem with this XM solution is the new system in the e90 and companies like blitzsafe (by far the best pre-e90 solution) are having trouble using it (much like after-market sound solutions are I assume).

And this folks, is about all I know.

(FIRST POST!!!)

[WallyF]

Loopandsound,

Thanks for the color code info. The green wire is definitely a #20 gauge wire and not the fiber optic cable; the MOST fiber optic cable is black and is also in this connector.

See my photos.

Wallyf

[loopsandsounds]

Originally Posted by WallyF

Loopandsound,
The green wire is definitely a #20 gauge wire and not the fiber optic cable; the MOST fiber optic cable is black and is also in this connector.
See my photos.
Wallyf

Wally-
There are 2 green cables. One with a black sheath, and one without a sheath. They are side by die and are BOTH fiber optic cables. The MOST systems works on a fiber loop topology, hence one of the cables is SEND, and the other is RECIEVE. Anything that's green (or sheathed green) is fiber.

[WallyF]

Loopsandsounds,

Sorry for the green wire confusion. I looked at it again and it is actually a fiber optic cable like you said. I just jumped to a wrong conclusion.

Wallyf

[gilport]

Seems like an integrated XM solution will soon be available ...HURRAY!

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/s...5012&langId=-1

[RedBirdRuss]

I have some pictures from my XM installation

[Kerosene Hat]

Any hope to get some more layman level tips on this part, Red?

>>run the car power adapter to the console>>>

Did you run the power adapter from the armrest's 12v to your pioneer unit, or did you use the car's power line and then hook that to the pioneer's cig-adapter?

Related topic - is this thread waaay to old to get such an answer?

THANKS.

[bartman32]

Originally Posted by 3s-a-charm

Dude that looks sweet! Did you have to take off the ashtry door to fit that in there?

[rlc]

Originally Posted by WallyF

Do the two SMB plugs in Connector#1 go to the shark fin? If so, is each plug connected to one side of the shark fin ? I assume that there is an antenna on each side of the fin; one to look to the right and one to look to the left.

The magenta connector contains the lead to the sharkfin satellite antenna and terrestrial (not left/right). Get an extension cable and plug into ONE side of the connector - trial and error to determine which side works for satellite - and you will be connected to the sharkfin satellite antenna. I have the Sporstcaster in the sunglass tray connected this way.

Cable: http://www.myradiostore.us/antennas-...adiostore.html

Another XM E90 install thread from the early days....pay closer attention to the last two pages of the thread at http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=%2475

Good luck - the Commander unit looks good in your install.