Aftermarket Satellite Options?

[fueledbymetal]

I like satellite, but not enough to spring for the entire executive package for it. Would portable satellite radios work OK? I’m assuming they could interface via aux or Bluetooth, so it would just be a matter of reception. Any other options worth considering? I DON'T have an unlimited data plan on smartphone, so just streaming Spotify isn't a cheap option for me.

[Jaymax85]

U can code in xm... That's what I plan to do

[fueledbymetal]

I wasn't aware that was possible - can you elaborate or provide a link with more details?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by fueledbymetal

I wasn't aware that was possible - can you elaborate or provide a link with more details?

Contact forum vendor BimmerTech for details and pricing of the Sat Radio enabling code (FSC) for the already built-in tuner in your iDrive.

[fueledbymetal]

Awesome, thanks! Did some more research and see the dealer could enable it too but for a much higher price (estimates are around $800 from what I've read).

[3er]

Have you listened to satellite radio lately? The sound quality is pretty terrible (39 kbps), so you're looking at an incredibly low resolution MP3 file (low res MP3 = 128 kbps). Anyways, I thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't heard it lately. For some reason, I recall XM radio in my '08 Silverado sounding really great (maybe the speakers were that bad! -and/or- they had a higher bitrate at that time). However, I've been very unimpressed with Sirius in my wife's previous '11 Jeep GC and our current '12 e92 HK and '13 e70 HK.

A lot of people I know primarily listen to talk radio on Sirius/XM - and that's cool given it's our only feasible option. Either way you go, good luck! Quote from Wiki below:

"Channel quality is two flavors, stereo music channels at 39 kbit/s and mono talk channels at 16 kbit/s using proprietary compression. Many subscribers have complained about the low quality of satellite radio sound. But providers have stuck with the plan for more channels instead of better quality."

[Patrys@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by fueledbymetal

Awesome, thanks! Did some more research and see the dealer could enable it too but for a much higher price (estimates are around $800 from what I've read).

This is what you need
http://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/item...sy-diy-upgrade

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by Patrys@BimmerTech

This is what you need
http://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/item...sy-diy-upgrade

Thanks, I planned to contact you once my car is delivered! I have a couple questions though:
Can you disable the Active Sound while you're in there coding the sat?
If so, would there be an additional charge?

[Patrys@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by fueledbymetal

Thanks, I planned to contact you once my car is delivered! I have a couple questions though:
Can you disable the Active Sound while you're in there coding the sat?
If so, would there be an additional charge?

We can discuss it by email. Get in touch with us

[BEMR]

Satellite sucks 160 channels digitally compressed coming through the air with sooo much compression that when uncompressed or decoded it sounds like shit. Talk channels don't matter although since your not looking for highs and low frequency.

Get app for your phone for Sirius then stream that to your car if you can afford the data usage, sound is awesome, 2 channels coming down the pipe instead of 160 x 2.

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by Patrys@BimmerTech

This is what you need
http://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/item...sy-diy-upgrade

+1

These guys took care of me. I listen to ESPN radio 95% of the time so i wanted Sirius but didn't want to pay for the Exec Package to get it.

[MasterC17]

Local dealer charges $505 installed for retrofit.

[Patrys@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by MasterC17

Local dealer charges $505 installed for retrofit.

Usually dealers charge $500+ for the same retrofit, so you save a lot of money with us

http://www.bimmer-tech.net/shop/bmw-...radio-retrofit