Sirius-ly great radio

Phester · #1 12-27-2005, 02:07 PM

When I got my 5 series, it did not have the sat radio prep - I assumed it would be too costly, at that point, to put it in. So I went out and got the new Sirius S50 unit and installed it (poorly) this past weekend. Although there are wires hanging out, it still looks pretty good and works great....

This unit is amazing. The quality of the screen is great and it has the ability to scroll sport scores, jump to traffic, and download songs to the harddrive to play when not attached (as a portable MP3 player). The only real downside is that the sound comes through the FM transmitter.

For those of you with Sirius already installed, are you happy with the features? My wife has an X3 that has the capability of having Sirius, but after installing this unit, it seems limited to have the BMW installed unit for the same price as the S50. We are debating on installing the BMW or going with the S50 for her....

Thoughts?

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hayaku · #2 12-27-2005, 02:30 PM

have you tried looking at the aux input for the oem headunit? i would suggest that route instead of the fm modulator.

i would think the s50 has better features like being portable and downloading songs. which should mean it has a better interfaces and probably lets you manage it with your pc/laptop.

the bmw unit would be out of sight, looking 100% factory and you will have full steering wheel and headunit control as it was intended. however, you won't be able to take it car to car nor having the downloaded songs and such...

give and take really.. depends on what you are after... more features or factory look full integration?

Phester · #3 12-27-2005, 02:35 PM

You can go thru aux input on a standard '05 530? hmm. I go in for my first major service next week. I was thinking of asking them to install the antenna better. But I think I will ask if there is any way to go directly into the stereo - I know the Sirius S50 has a "line out"....

thanks for the info.

IFlyX5 · #4 12-27-2005, 04:30 PM

Yup, AUX input is the way to go. That's what I get installed in my 650i tomorrow. I already have Sirius in mine, but I'm adding the iPod's songs to the collection. AUX is much better than tape or FM transmitter.

PeteG · #5 12-27-2005, 05:48 PM

Hey Phester, I was thinking of getting an S50 also. How does downloading songs onto the unit work? If you catch the song after it has already begun, do you get just part of the song cut off? Or does it somehow download the whole song cleanly (w/no voice overs) from beginning to end? How many downloaded songs/how much time does the unit hold?

Also, how hard is it to put an aux input into a non-dsp '01 X5? Right now I use a JVC Sirius unit with an fm modulator. The sound is really very good-like the best fm station you've ever heard with absolutely no static! But still not as good as my oem cd changer....

Phester · #6 12-27-2005, 05:48 PM

Do you think that BMW has an AUX cable that would work? otherwise I will have to buy one and have it ready for them when I take it in. Do you know a good cable for this?

hayaku · #7 12-27-2005, 06:07 PM

the aux input into the head unit uses (i believe) a 3.5mm jack pin. its the same size as the one that goes into your s50 for audio out. you would need a male to male cable. you can get this at any audio store or radio shack...

Phester · #8 12-27-2005, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayaku

the aux input into the head unit uses (i believe) a 3.5mm jack pin. its the same size as the one that goes into your s50 for audio out. you would need a male to male cable. you can get this at any audio store or radio shack...

Great, thanks....

The Sirius unit did not come with anything - I'll go get one soon.

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