Here's a picture of a DSP amplifier for a X5. The round connector is for the coax cable.

http://www.bavauto.com/assets/imglib500/65126940977.jpg

Yea, I know what an amp looks like. I have three spares. I also know the connector for the dsp. I'll have to pull the carpeted wall off to get a better look. But there is what looks like antenna arrays mounted under the vented plastic part that the rear sliding cover sits in.
I should have some time tomorrow to pull it apart and get some pics.
Being non nav, it has a dash mounted radio. So maybe the dsp wires just route close to the antenna and go under it towards the front of the car. Or maybe it's a dsp junction for the radio and phone inputs and then one output to the amp?

Well, I had a chance to trace the black dsp wire. It goes up the rear c pillar into the headliner. It's bundled with another black wire just like it. That one goes to the phone connector. Both run up into the headliner.

Is there a glossary anywhere for all these acronyms, for us noobs? I know what DSP is, but CDC and PDC and all this other stuff...a glossary would really be nice...

CDC is a cd changer.
Pdc is park distance control.
Dsp is dynamic sound processor.

CDC - Compact Disk Changer
PDC - Park Distance Control
DSP - Digital Sound Processor
iBus - information Bus (copper wire that media info travels throughout the car)
nav - navigation
MK1=MKI
MK2=MKII
MK3=MKIII
MK4=MKIV - these are nav computer generations in iBus cars (from 1994 to 2007 - dates are approximate)
MOST - Media Oriented System Transport, fiber optic bus that replaced the iBus, started in 2002 with 7 series, now all bimmers have MOST

folks, add to the list

Actually, I'll start a new thread so as not to clog up this one. Perhaps it can get stickied somewhere and just keep growing it.

shark fin - the antenna style on the roof
clown nose - the red LED light on the bottom of the mirror, blinks to indicate alarmed state
angel eyes (devil eyes) - corona lights, introduced with facelifted E39
talking head - image of a talking head on the steering wheel, associated with Voice Recogntion and telephone functions

good idea

probably include the E and F nomeclature of the models, as they can be very confusing too...

I've started a thread here: http://www.xoutpost.com/miscellaneou...ml#post1006508

Perhaps mods will decide it could live elsewhere, perhaps they'll sticky it. Hopefully it will continue to grow and help others.