Succesful 1999 540 install

[crwilsn]

Hope I can add some usefull dialog to the forum. I have a US model 99 BMW 540 and as expected the dealers said I cannot have bluetooth. Well, to me that is a challenge so I had to do it. Using info on here I got an Audi 54 pin connector and made up and addaptor from 25 pin D connector to the 54 pin using info from other posts. For some reason the ibus signal was not making it to the 25 pin connector so I tied into the signal for the CD player. Once tied in the ULF showed up on the nav screen exactly as expected. I put in a switch to ground pin 32 in the ULF and by placing the phone right next to the ULF I was able to pair my Motorola Q with no problem, contacts and all. Now for the bluetooth antenna, I figured I would go and buy one from the dealers. Just out of curiosity though I tried attaching an old XM radio antenna (with a similar Fakra connector). One of the terk ones with the magnetic base. Guess what, it worked perfectly. I ran the antena to the center console and now have a fully functional bluetooth in a 99 BMW for the price of the audi connector and a ULF off ebay.
Hope this helps someone out, especially the antenna bit as I have not seen this anywhere else.

Clay

[ccfj1]

Welcome to the forum, well done, nice job.

[740iL]

So your saying the Xm antenna works as a bluetooth antenna? GREAT JOB!!!!