SA is a factory option - you can enter you car's VIN (the last seven digits only) into a VIN decoder and it will list the options the car was built with.

bimmer.work : VIN Decoder for BMW

SA 662 is the BMW Business CD radio
SA 609 is the factory Navigation system

if this doesn't do it for you, take it to a professional.E39 Aux Kit Radio Upgrade and Install DIY - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

I've just re-insulated all my cords- I really need to find out which PINS I need to attach them to. I've wasted hours and hours on this :(

Very frustrating these resellers sell cables that have no spot to plug in on my device. All the videos seem to use a cord with the 12-pin plug. Totally inconsistent

Here's my cord (well, mine is now without the case).

http://i.imgur.com/wyYW3rU.jpg

I would have made a guess that white is the left, red is the right and yellow is the common (earth) but looking on the factory wiring diagrams, I see the following info on the 12-pin connector on the back of the CD Player unit: -

X13598
Pin 3 - Left In - Yellow
Pin 4 - Right In - White
Pin 10 - Gnd - Brown

Not sure this helps you much.... you need to find out from the supplier what wire is what on your adapter - or find someone with a multi-meter.

Thank you - I did locate that and tried it without success.

Problem is, it takes such a long time to try every combination.

Is there a quicker way- that doesn't involve me connecting it to the radio every time? Such as, can I dismantle RCA cable of mine connected to some speakers and try connecting there?

How are you testing it? With an iPod etc. connected?

I think the CD Player "senses" that a device is connected and adds the AUX option to the mode list. If no device is connected, the AUX will never appear as an option. At least, that's what I understand from comments made by others here. And it makes sense, from an electrical engineering perspective.

Confession; I don't have one of these cables in my car BUT I do this sort of thing for a living...

Unfortunately, I doubt there's a quick way to sort this without a multi-meter or some other test instrument - and with one it will take 30 seconds. ;)

i wouldnt do this DIY, if you buy the aux plate from the dealer and have best buy install relatively inexpensive

Apparently, I have the 661?

The results are:
http://i.imgur.com/RBV5OXA.jpg

Have you checked that your CD Player/Radio internal software is new enough for the Aux feature?

Here's how:

1. Turn Radio Off.
2. Turn Radio On.
3. Press and hold the "m" button for about 10 seconds.
4. Press < or > to navigate, you will need to go to the 2nd screen to look for the SW Verison which is in a SV xx-xx xx format.
5. To be Sirius/AUX or XM compatible, the radio must be SW 43 or higher.
6. Turn radio off to exit.

The MODE button is not a good enough of an indicator to check if a radio is AUX or Sirius compatible. It needs to be manufactured 09/02 or later.

(thanks to tom@eas over at e46fanatics for this info.)

BTW, just checked on my '05 , which has the SA663 option (BMW CD Professional) and the SW version displays as 41. Given that most internet-sourced documentation indicates that a car from late '02 or newer would be OK with an AUX input, I'm surprised to find that my '05 most likely isn't. :confused:

Good thing I'm not trying to get an AUX input going! :cool: