BMW 325I Install

[W6WAW]

Has anyone done any BMW installations? I would like to put a radio or two in a 2005 325i. It has the navigation system, so the spare DIN space is already occupied. I'm planning to do a trunk mount.

Pictures would be great.

Thanks.

[Wicho]

Ouch, I'd hate to drill that. Perfect candidate for cellular look alikes if you can get away with it.

Or....can you say "HT resting in the front seat"?

Now that I haven't helped any, I'm sure others will.

[NSPD]

What kind of radios? I've been toying with the idea of 3 MCS2000 Model II's (800/VHF/UHF) in a 300-series. Using small low-profile black antennas on strategic locations would be the best bet.

Otherwise... yeah.. portable on front seat.

[W6WAW]

What kind of radios?

I was thinking of commercial UHF (under 470). I do have a Yaesu dual bander, but want to have something on some commercial UHF freqs. that could also double on 440.

I don't want to put a 110 watt radio in due the RFI issue with the car electronics. The car came with a window sticker that warned against running any RF source without an external antenna -- even a cell phone. Of course I have done the latter with no problems. I have heard of guys who run 100 watts HF and get away with it.

I think I have solved the no-holes antenna problem. There is a dual band ham antenna that requires no ground plane. The antenna mount adheres to the glass, but it is coax fed -- not thru the glass. I have run some ham gear with this with no problems and the antenna is fairly broad banded even up into the commercial band. The only objection I have found is a slight acoustic noise at interstate speeds.

There is some space where the ashtray is that could handle a small control head. I have stuck the Yaesu head there. The battery is in the trunk, so direct wiring for a trunk mount.

Thanks for any ideas.

[Astro Spectra]

Hi Fred,

OK my ride is a 2001 E46 330i and I had the same problem what to do about the Astro Spectra W3 I need for work.

For the antenna I purchased the BMW cell phone antenna kit:

845 069 070 85 SINGLE PARTS F TELEPHONE ROOF ANTENNA

This kit is one of a number of standard BMW fits for cell phones. Take your VIN to the dealer’s parts department and see what antenna kits they have or can get for you.

This above kit is a black whip (not a shark fin) and fits on the centre line of the roof about six inches in from the rear window. You WILL need to drill a hole in the roof but it's not as bad as it first seems. If you don't want to take the risk get your local BMW dealer to do the job. Best of all the kit includes a cable fitted with min-UHF connector to screw right into your favorite Motorola transceiver.

I used the base fitting from the stock antenna tip and made a 6 inch 1/4 wave for 490MHz as the stock whip is a little short for the job. I also ordered a spare antenna tip so that when I sell the vehicle I can return it completely to standard. The tip P/N is:

845 069 070 83 antenna tip

To work on the interior you probably need the following BMW notes:

51 43 251 Removing and installing / replacing trim panel for left or right rear roof pillar (C-pillar).

52 24 005 Removing and installing / replacing rear seat (normal)

You can find these BMW notes using Google around the web or get them from the parts department.

If you decide against trunk mount, it is possible you have the coax you need for a radio up front already in place if you have a phone pre-wire see:

84 02 99 E46 Telephone Prewire Connector/Coax Location

This would allow you to put a baby radio up front. However I can assure you that with my 110W Astro T band install there is no problem with the body electrics. Even so I've turned the power down to 50W to give some extra margin.

As you know the battery is in the trunk on the right and the Spectra mounted just fine under the parcel shelf using existing holes. You could fire the speaker up thru the shelf if you don’t have the premium speaker install, but I’ve mounted the Motorola speaker on the trans hump behind the front console. It‘s a perfect fit. The W3 hanger is mounted on the passenger side foot well wall of the console.

Good luck!

Cheers, John

[Code3Response]

John.... nice write up. Do you have any pictures of the install? Seems like class act work.

[Astro Spectra]

Could do, amd I hate to admit it, but after all these years I still have no idea how to post photos to the Batbaord!

[Code3Response]

Go to http://www.imageshack.us and you can upload them. From there they will give you a list of links you can post in.

Easiest is the bottom link they give you, copy that to your clipboard, then click the Img button in your post reply area and it will prompt you to paste in the link.

[EVModules]

Interested in the photos as well! You could also try http://www.photobucket.com as well.

[Astro Spectra]

OK here is the BMW antenna kit, exact whip selection depends on what you order (see your dealer):



Note: The above parts diagram is the property of BMW AG and the image is used under the doctrine of ‘fair use’ for illustration or clarification of the author's observations.

I ordered kit #1 and extended the whip for UHF. Whip #3 wasn't available when I ordered but might be a goer for VHF. Cable #5 in my kit came with a mini UHF fitted. This image shows the common cell phone universal cable that needs an adapter for your rig, they're not hard to find (Fry's, etc).

The black dot on the roof is the approx location for mounting. The hole diameter is spec'd in the install info that comes with the antenna. I found a Blue-Mole to do the job. The key like thing is a plastic tool to stop the base rotating when you tighten the outside base.

I'll do some images of the install next week.

[W6WAW]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was out of town, hence the delayed response.

Fred
W6WAW

[chpalmer]

Hole right dead center of the roof!


Shivering yet? Sorry couldnt resist...

[SlimBob]

Hole right dead center of the roof!


Shivering yet? Sorry couldnt resist...

Yeah, but I don't want to cut a hole in the ragtop...

[Splat]

I used trunk-lip mounted antennas on my Mercedes S-class. I remote-mounted the control heads in the center console with a little Velcro to hold them in place. No holes, no dash modifications, and it works fine.
--
Splat

[jedi_saber]

I am sporting a high power VHF astro spectra w3 in my 02 5 series. Everything is trunk mounted, with a black trunk lip antenna that blends perfectly. A speaker is in the passenger side foot rest area and the w3 head is typically just stashed away between the center console and the seat. I love that set up. Remember, "discrete is elite" in these cars.

I will try to find some pictures of this set up. Since BMW places the battery in the trunk, this was a really easy install detail too. Running wires and installing a siren speaker in a fully and efficiently packed engine compartment however is a completely different story...

[jedi_saber]

Tho shall not promise pics without delivering:

[Rayjk110]

Very clean, and very professional looking.


Nice.

[agtkgv]

Can you use the siren with the W3 control head? Are you using a DEK or the HHCH to control the features. I was under the imporession this wasn't possible. This would solve a great problem for me.

[jmr061]

You can use a dek or the hhch top/side buttons to do the siren. If yo ugo the dek route then there is a special siren cable for it and if you go the top/side buttons the firmware must be recent.

Jason

[jedi_saber]

Yes to everything Jason said. I do have a DEK, but RARELY use it - as a matter of fact, it is disconnected most of the time, as I prefer a more discreet set up. My top buttons can control airhorn, toggle on/off whereas the three sidebuttons allow to switch tones and activate the PA.

The obvious draw back is that you lose functions that you would otherwise have, such as monitor, scan on/off, crypto on/off, light etc. I ended up programming secure/clear channels and placing scan, repeater/TA, power etc. into the menu options, as I rarely use them.

[agtkgv]

Jedi,

I know this question is posted elsewhere too, but, do you know the part number of the cable or cables needed to go from the HHCH to the DEK, and also is the Y cable a different part than the standard one?