[bimmerbuff]

Getting ready to place an order for a lightly equipped 2 Series as it will be a weekend warrior, not a daily driver.

I'm skipping the Technology Package entirely and I can do without everything in the Premium Package except for satellite radio. I see from the standard features listing that the car comes with "pre-wiring for SiriusXM Satellite Radio tuner" which I think is/was option code S693A.

I did some searching around and found that on other recent BMW models (especially the F30) people have purchased an FSC enabling code just for the satellite radio as the head unit already has the tuner installed. I didn't see anyone having done the same on a F22 though.

Has anyone gone the FSC route yet either through their dealer or an independent? Or has anyone been able to just order a car from the factory with satellite radio but without also ordering the Premium Package?

[hoyasaxa]

This is non responsive, but I just wanted to point out (since you seem like someone who may care) that without tech you cannot stream bluetooth audio. Even if you don't care about the rest, I thought that if you cared about sat radio you might also care about pandora/streaming mp3s/etc

[tccox]

My 128 had sat radio. I found it too expensive ($18.00 per month) I prefer Pandora and Itunes radio to sat radio. And while I cannot stream Audio through BT its no problem at all to just plug my Iphone in when I get in car and I can then listen to Pandora, ITunes radio and MP3s with no problem at all. And I believe the audio is a little higher quality using cable vs BT.

[bimmerbuff]

I have the BT streaming audio now and never use it. I only tried it once to see what it was like.

I'm sure you can get better audio quality from BT streaming or USB cable; I guess I'm just used to the satellite radio after all these years.

[bman6074]

BTW you can have your car coded to turn on blue tooth streaming. The combox is in the car they just don't turn the feature on for some reason. Its a one letter change in the coding. A friend has a 2014 335xi and didn't get tech pkg but found the hardware (combox) for blue tooth streaming is in the trunk. He has someone code it and viola it works now.

[bimmerbuff]

To answer my own question, I ordered a 228i over the weekend.

I was hoping there was a "secret option" in the dealer ordering system, but there's no way to order satellite radio enabled from the factory without the Premium Package.

Dealer quoted $695 to add it via an FSC Enable code. I think the code is $375 from BMW, so they're charging $320 for the coding/programming labor which seems silly high to me.

[wmo168]

Originally Posted by bimmerbuff

To answer my own question, I ordered a 228i over the weekend.

I was hoping there was a "secret option" in the dealer ordering system, but there's no way to order satellite radio enabled from the factory without the Premium Package.

Dealer quoted $695 to add it via an FSC Enable code. I think the code is $375 from BMW, so they're charging $320 for the coding/programming labor which seems silly high to me.

With all the effort and stuff, just order the premium package and you get the sat radio. I debate that but only $20 a month more to lease, adding premium package make sense.

[FoxCrane]

So 2s that come without premium package are not only pre-wired for sat radio, but also outfitted with the receiver and just needs to be activated by a code? In my current car (albeit an Audi), it was pre-wired, but I had to go buy the receiver and hook it up myself. That was a pain since I had to fish out the wires from between the trunk lining and the chassis. Though in the end, totally worth it. IIRC, my receiver was around $350 at the time. I'm sure labour would have doubled the price.

[wmo168]

Originally Posted by FoxCrane

So 2s that come without premium package are not only pre-wired for sat radio, but also outfitted with the receiver and just needs to be activated by a code? In my current car (albeit an Audi), it was pre-wired, but I had to go buy the receiver and hook it up myself. That was a pain since I had to fish out the wires from between the trunk lining and the chassis. Though in the end, totally worth it. IIRC, my receiver was around $350 at the time. I'm sure labour would have doubled the price.

I do not think the module are install. Antenna, Receiver and stuff are not install if you didn't order Premium package.

[wmo168]

Originally Posted by FoxCrane

So 2s that come without premium package are not only pre-wired for sat radio, but also outfitted with the receiver and just needs to be activated by a code? In my current car (albeit an Audi), it was pre-wired, but I had to go buy the receiver and hook it up myself. That was a pain since I had to fish out the wires from between the trunk lining and the chassis. Though in the end, totally worth it. IIRC, my receiver was around $350 at the time. I'm sure labour would have doubled the price.

Premium Package comes with Sat radio with 1 year subscription. You just need to call XM/Sirius to activate it for free by giving them the code from the radio.

[bimmerbuff]

Originally Posted by FoxCrane

So 2s that come without premium package are not only pre-wired for sat radio, but also outfitted with the receiver and just needs to be activated by a code? In my current car (albeit an Audi), it was pre-wired, but I had to go buy the receiver and hook it up myself. That was a pain since I had to fish out the wires from between the trunk lining and the chassis. Though in the end, totally worth it. IIRC, my receiver was around $350 at the time. I'm sure labour would have doubled the price.

That's my understanding. BMWs that used to come pre-wired for the satellite radio required you to add the tuner module and potentially the antenna. Current models come with the module built-in to the head unit and just need to be activated via an FSC code.

The ShopBMWUSA site doesn't seem to have the 2-Series on it yet, but if I look for a 2014 328i Sedan for entertainment options there are three options to add satellite radio (one for cars with nav, one for cars without, and one for cars with "entry radio" whatever that is).

Here's the one for cars without nav: http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/38...OUT-NAVIGATION

I'm assuming the 2-Series is similar. The dealer quoted $695 to do it, so they're charging $320 for the labor based on the code cost of $375.

[Canaletto]

Thanks for the info!

I'm trying to spec out my car, and I really don't want the premium pack because I hate moonroofs.

It's nice to know that there is an option to get satellite radio without getting the premium pack (even if $675 is kind of ridiculous just for the dealer to enter an activation code).

[bimmerbuff]

Originally Posted by Canaletto

Thanks for the info!

I'm trying to spec out my car, and I really don't want the premium pack because I hate moonroofs.

It's nice to know that there is an option to get satellite radio without getting the premium pack (even if $675 is kind of ridiculous just for the dealer to enter an activation code).

If you're getting the M235i, there is a "moonroof delete" option. The 228i needs to skip the Premium Package though to achieve the same thing.

I agree that $695 is a lot as I can't imagine it takes more than an hour for them to get the code and load it in to the car...not sure if I'm going to go for it. As of right now I'm going to skip it; I can always have them add it later.

[yep]

I really liked Sirius/XM sat radio. It isn't available in Europe though. That was a big part of the reason I didn't order the premium package because the 235 already has the power seats, moon roof, and leather from the premium package on the 228.

[Kristalov]

I just ordered my M235i and the dealer adds the receiver module and codes it for about $700 without having to get the premium package.

[darkerosxx]

^^^^^ BAN please