BMW X3 OE sat nav GPS antenna location
 

Hi all, This is my first post so here goes. I have a BMW X3 3.0d 2005 that has a problem with the sat nav. The GPS hidden menu shows reception interf and ANT OPEN, possible cable or GPS antenna problem "I am hoping". I am trying to find where the antenna is located the small co-ax comes off the Mk4 in the boot and then enters the loom any help would be much appreciated Thanks in advance

Sharkfin on the roof i think...

or in the front between the air for the windscreen under the dash plastic

Kostas which side do you think it is on left or right as you are sat in the car? I really want to find ourt where it is now as I have just proved it isd the antenna with a spare one

left side
i guess the best way to find out is try to locate the black gps cable which comes from the trunk to the front

The antenna will only be under the dash if sat nav was retro-fitted. In this case, the BMW instructions say to put it on top of the air ducting behind the speedo / tachometer. This is because this is the only easy way of getting behind the dash. Actual postion for a retrofit will be different for LHD/RHD X3's. There must be no metal directly above the antenna - plastic and glass are ok.

I think factory supplied navs put the antenna in the shark fin on the roof:

See item 8:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...94&hg=65&fg=22

I'd guess that your antenna is in the sharkfin - these are hard to get to since you need to remove the roof lining as the fin is glued and sealed.

You'll need a 5 metre antenna if you decide to add a replacement behind the dash. Routing the cable through dash, glovebox and down near side sills is reasonably easy but involves removing lots of components in a UK RHD X3 - see my other posts on retro-fitting sat nav to X3.

The following diagram is from the sat nav retrofit instructions for LHD X3's:

interesting
mine was a retrofit
in this case is better to put a new one
i still wonder if a can pair the mk4 with a bt gps antena somehow

David, Thanks for the info:thumbup: I believe you are correct and the GPS antenna will be in the shark fin as it is OE fit. I will have a look tomorrow to see if I can get to the GPS antenna via the roof lining. Have you ever had to remove the lining before I have a feeling it aint gonna be easy!!!!!

OE sat nav GPS antenna location
 

Thanks all the GPS antenna is located in the sharks fin on OE fit sat nav and it was bust. It is too hard and expensive to replace sharkfin so have retro installed a new GPS antenna into the rear spoiler and all works OK.