If you have an E53 X5 made after 10/2002 then you can easily install an auxiliary audio input. You just need to answer 2 questions:
1. Do you have the navigation system or not?
2. Do you want to spend more money or less money?
Here are your solutions:
- If you
do have a navigation system then you need one of these part numbers:
82 11 0 149 391 Retail $39.95
65 12 0 153 503 Retail $79.00
- If you
do NOT have a navigation system then you need one of these part numbers:
82 11 0 149 390 Retail $39.95
65 12 0 153 502 Retail $79.00
As far as I can tell the 391 & 503 cable kits are the same and the 390 & 502 cable kits are the same. The only difference I can tell is that the 502/503 cable kits were released in Europe and the 390/391 cable kits were released in the USA.
Now for the installation I suggest reading this outstanding write-up:
http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...-input-x5.html
For non-navigation unit installation see this good info:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...isness-cd.html
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...id-bmw-x5.html
In addition, here are BMW's installation instructions (attached as pdf files):
1. Instructions for the 502 & 503 kits. Dated 10-2002
2. Instructions for the 502 & 503 kits. Dated 03-2003
3. Instructions for the 502 & 503 kits. Dated 05-2006
4. Instructions for the 391 kit. Dated 01-2004
5. Instructions for the 390 kit. Dated 10-2009
For advice on what cable to buy to use between the installed auxiliary audio input and your ipod or mp3 player:
- See post # 22 here:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ocation-3.html
- See post # 30 here:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ce-need-3.html
Additional information. BMW refers to components more frequently by number (code) than by name. Here are the relevant codes for these installations:
SA602 = On Board Monitor (this is the navigation system screen that you actually look at)
SA609 = Navigation System (this is the navigation computer that sits in the trunk of the X5)
SA650 / SA661 = BMW Business Radio with CD Player (if you have this you DON'T have the navigation system)
SA663 = BMW Professional Radio (if you have this you DON'T have the navigation system)