Fin above window
- Thread starter samlee4444
- Start date
The '04's with premium (that includes BMW assist) seem to come with the fin. Mine has premium but was built before BMW assist was included, so I have no fin.
To confuse matters more, I was at the dealer last week and saw a 330Ci with the fin in the showroom. Asked my salesperson what the fin was for, just to see what he would say, and he says it's a combo GPS antenna and phone antenna that they went to recently.
I wish I knew the answer to this once and for all.
To confuse matters more, I was at the dealer last week and saw a 330Ci with the fin in the showroom. Asked my salesperson what the fin was for, just to see what he would say, and he says it's a combo GPS antenna and phone antenna that they went to recently.
I wish I knew the answer to this once and for all.
Another Fin Question:
As I wait for my first BMW 330i to be delivered, I'd like to ask another question related to the fin....Can the Satellite radio antenna be wired through that fin?, or do we need to mount a seperate antenna for the satellite radio?
Estimated Delivery date at the Performance Center: July 8, 2004![[wiggle]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_wiggle.gif "Wiggle [wiggle]")
As I wait for my first BMW 330i to be delivered, I'd like to ask another question related to the fin....Can the Satellite radio antenna be wired through that fin?, or do we need to mount a seperate antenna for the satellite radio?
Estimated Delivery date at the Performance Center: July 8, 2004
![[eek]](/images/smilies/eek.png "EEK! [eek]")
BMW assist is very similiar to the Cadillac northstar system. Basically you push a button & get a BMW operator, she will call for emergency help, give you instructions if you get lost, or even tell you about hotels / restaurants etc in the area (Conciere').
The microphone is built in and her voice comes through your stereo speakers...I was impressed when I tried mine.
Essentially no need for a phone or anything, you get stuck...they send help.![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
The microphone is built in and her voice comes through your stereo speakers...I was impressed when I tried mine.
Essentially no need for a phone or anything, you get stuck...they send help.
Supposedly all vehicles produced after a certain date, I think Jan 2004, equipped with the BMW Premium Pkg will have Assist as part of that pkg. I have also seen the fin available for purchase as a dummy add on. In addition to what was mentioned previously the Assist feature also automatically notifies the Assist Center with your exact location upon deployment of airbags.
Yes the shark fin is the antenna for BMW Assist. While it is somewhat similar to OnStar (GM product), it also lacks some of the most important functionality of OnStar. On the plus side, if you're in an accident, the system will notify authorities and give them location based on the GPS antenna in the fin. On the negative side, unlike OnStar, the system CANNOT be used to track the car in case of theft. That feature was the one reason I kept my OnStar contract going. After the first free year of BMW Assist runs out, I seriously doubt that I will renew the service. And on the 5 series, the shark fin also houses the antenna for Sirius satellite radio, as opposed to the added "mouse" looking antenna.
![[xx(]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_dead.gif "Dead [xx(]"){kind=icon}