Question about BM53
 

Hello, is there BM53 (new gen) radio with round pins?
All I happened to find had the flat pins.
Also, is there a convertor from round to flat pins?
Thanks

You need a PlugPak to make your X5 compatible with the BM53 radio. All BM53s are Flat Pin (MOST) design:

BMW Radio Tuner "PlugPak"
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=291

The round pin flat pin issue has nothing whatsoever to do with MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport), which is the optical system used in the newer BMW's, E60, E90 etc.

BMW make adapters so you can install flat pin radios in cars with round pin harness :

61.12.6.913.957 Round Pin to Flat Pin Main Radio Harness Adapter
61.12.6.913.955 New Gen Radio Antenna Adapter
61.12.6.924.785 10-Pin to 12-Pin Radio Audio Input Adapter
61.12.0.140.716 CD Changer Audio Input Cable
82.11.0.149.390 Aux Input Adapter Kit for New Gen Radio

I have seen a post or two that referenced a BM53 radio with round pins. However, I wouldn't try too hard to find one of those, because they would not have any of the primary advantages of a New Gen radio.

In my opinion, the main reasons to go with a BM53 radio are the following. You would get none of these advantages from an early round pin BM53.

• You have a nav harness with flat pin radio plugs
• You want Aux Input
• You want Sirius
• You want MP3 audiotext capability

Thanks for the info guys.

I'll have a BM53 P/N 65 12 6 976 961 for sale that supports audiotext, sirius and aux available very soon. I'll post it over on the for sale area .....

Do all BM53's support audiotext? I am about to buy one that's made in 2002.

No, it must be manufactured 2005+.

Thanks Tom, is there anywhere a list of model numbers that support audiotext?

There's quite a bet of part numbers out there - it's easier to go by manufacture date for this feature.

Here's a list from martin's site:

65 12 6 976 961 - BM53 navigation radio 8/05 - newer
65 12 6 976 962 - BM53 navigation radio 8/05 - newer RMFD
65 12 6 972 665 - BM53 navigation radio 3/05 - 07/05 production
65 12 6 964 398 - BM53 navigation radio 1/05 - 03/05 production RMFD
65 12 6 964 399 - BM53 navigation radio 1/05 - 03/05 production