OEM-Style Control and Display for your 2003/2004 MY BMW/Mini Cooper

At least 5 times a week I get emails and messages asking when an adapter will be available for the BMW that will let users keep their steering wheel controls and display the radio information on the existing head unit?

2003 MY (and newer) 3, 5 and X5 series (without NAVI) BMW and MINI Cooper owners, look no further than this new adapter from Blitzsafe. Older models cannot use this product as they do not have Satellite-ready radios.

Introducing, the XM Direct XM Receiver and smart cable from Blitzsafe; a new type of XM product like no other. Not only can you now pipe in the audio through a direct auxiliary input to your head unit for the best possible sound, but the XM tuner hardware is now completely out of sight (usually in the trunk), and the factory head unit displays and controls all functions. You get all this at a competitive price, allowing you to install XM in these vehicles. As you know, BMW and Mini Cooper only provide Sirius as a factory official dealer option.

INSTALLATION IS A SNAP

For this install, I was able to get access to a 2003 BMW 530i for a little while. It took me literally under 2 minutes to install the unit, including antenna! You open up the access panel on the left of the trunk, and find the two connectors from the pre-wired harness inside that area. Plug in the Blitzsafe, and this will provide you with all the connections needed to plug in your new XM Direct Satellite radio receiver. The micro antenna plugs into the XM Direct separately and is routed to the rear roof of the vehicle through the rubber gasket around the back window and into the trunk. DONE!

START YOUR ENGINE

Turn on the radio, get into the satellite radio mode, and it will immediately take you to Preview Channel 1 on the XM dial. At this point, if you haven?t already done so, you must call XM to activate your service on this unit, or visit them on the web at www.xmradio.com. Once activated, just start flipping though the channels like you would on your FM radio, and begin enjoying XM's over 120 digital channels. Press and hold the channel change button, and the speed at which the channels change will increase for faster manual selection. Channel name / Artist Info / Song Title pop up almost immediately on the display.

The few buttons on the face of the radio each have some specific functions. Pressing the 'SAT' button will take your through 3 banks of 6 presets each for a total of 18. 'INF' will take you through the channel name, artist, and song title. But the gem of the buttons, especially for you channel surfers out there, is the 'SC' or 'SCAN CATEGORY' button that will take you through a preview of what's on the various channels, hands free, stopping at each one for a few seconds.

And now for the best part: never take your hands off the steering wheel. Your existing steering wheel radio controls function just as well as they would with your FM radio. Flip through your presets at the push of a button and adjust the volume. The display in your instrument cluster will even tell you the name of the preset channel that you are on, so you don't even have to look down at the radio.

The sound quality through this adapter is flawless as it's direct and hardwired into the factory head unit, as with the previous Blitzsafe adapters.

CONCLUSION

If you are lucky enough to drive one of these vehicles, then this is a must-have if you want XM Satellite Radio. It is completely clean looking, and seamlessly integrates into your existing head unit. No one could do a better job installing this type of interface.

The new XMDirect receiver and Blitzsafe interface is NOW available from your local dealer. This is a first in satellite radio integration into factory head units.

XM Direct interfaces will be available for FORD and CHRYSLER vehicles beginning May 2004. Other versions will follow including Sony, Clarion, Kenwood, Pioneer.

Click here to purchase the XM Direct product:
http://store.myradiostore.com/xmdireforbm.html



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www.MyRadioStore.com - XM Radio & Opie & Anthony Hats/Shirts. The latest XM Hardware and ALL Accessories! Pioneer Inno, Skyfi 3, Samsung Helix, and More!

Last edited by Ziggy on Sat Apr 24, 2004 8:46 am; edited 1 time in total

The XM Direct is also compatible with the 2004 X-3 WITHOUT navigation.

It was verified at a BMW dealer. The 3 and 6 pin required wires are located under the center console. After removing the console the attached pics show the wires.

I know the pix may be diffcult to comprehend just looking at them below, but this is what you will find once the center console covering is removed. Then the pix should be self-explanatory.

Happy XM'ing!



_________________
www.MyRadioStore.com - XM Radio & Opie & Anthony Hats/Shirts. The latest XM Hardware and ALL Accessories! Pioneer Inno, Skyfi 3, Samsung Helix, and More!

Last edited by Ziggy on Fri Oct 01, 2004 9:19 am; edited 2 times in total

What kind of BMW is that ?
Thats only a 10 character display am i right ?
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-Andrew

Go Eagles !!

I just read your article and looked at the pictures of the Z4 installation. I have a 2003 Z4 with the factory installed Harman Kardin radio with CD player; no CD changer. In your article you mention the Z4 radio in the picture is satellite ready. I was under the impression that no Z4s have been delivered with radios that are satellite ready. I also notice that the picture of the Z4 radio display has no buttons for Satellite. Are you connecting through the CD changer wiring or some other available wiring? Any information/help is appreciated.

Ziggy - Thanks for the detailed explanation and pictures for your 530i. I'm new to car “self-installations” and am really wondering HOW easy or hard it really to pass antenna cord from the trunk CD compartment to the rear of the roof (or probbaly vise versa)? Do you have any pictures and/or stet-by-step instructions on how this could be done? What should be avoided or could be screwed up during anthenna installation? I have BMW 2003 325i w/out CD changer so the car radio should be Sirius ready and I'm considering getting XM Direct unit with Blitzsafe smart adapter you described. Connection to the XM Direct box in the trunk looks straightforward but how to pass the antenna to/from the roof? Thanks in advance!

So the antenna cord will be visible (just laying on the surface of the car) in between of where it comes out of the trunk and the closest place where it could be hidden under the rubber around the rear window? Sorry if this question sounds strange to you, please note I have never done any "custom" work myself in the car so far.

Also, my factory-installed radio does not have SAT option now (that's 325i). Will SAT appear after XM Direct will be installed (like now I use MOD to switch FM1 – FM2 -… AM1 – AM2 - …)? Then it will be FM, AM, and SAT1, SAT2, SAT3?

Quick question: How would one perform this install in an X3 with a CD changer already installed in the center console, and where would the receiver go? Beneath the driver's seat, perhaps? And the antenna? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

It's a 2004 BMW X3, and is supposedly compatible.
Thanks.