[fulcrum]

Anyone had this fitted?

Thoughts?

FULLY INTEGRATED DAB DIGITAL RADIO £299. SOUND GOOD? *

THE BMW DAB DIGITAL RADIO WILL BE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS.
Delivering access to a wide variety of radio stations, the BMW DAB Digital Radio is yours for a one-off cost of just £299 that includes all fitting and labour and a full three-year warranty.

The system works through your existing radio head unit with a small aerial that is fitted discreetly to the inside of the windscreen, and you'll soon be singing the praises of the handy wireless remote control that can be mounted to the dashboard allowing you to change through the stations seamlessly. *

Access to a wide variety of radio stations
Seamless integration
Handy wireless remote control
Three-year warranty
All for just £299 including fitting

[xenon]

Wireless remote? Sounds a bit pants - unless I could control it through the iDrive like the factory-fit option I wouldn't bother.

[creepy coupe]

Sounds like the Pure Highway only at BMW prices

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...l_4c6onlfn2o_b

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Sounds like the Pure Highway only at BMW prices

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...l_4c6onlfn2o_b

That would look pants & the extra aerial would look evan worse

[RagingKileak]

I enquired about this as at first glance (I didn't bother reading it) it sounded great and well worth the £299 if fully integrated.

Alas, it's not. It's a Pure (or similar) which is 'hard wired' in and has the little remote thing.

It's cack basically. But not bad if you have no other choice - just don't pay £299 for it.

Matt

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

It's cack basically. But not bad if you have no other choice - just don't pay £299 for it.

Matt

Are there any other choices that will look good without spending a fortune on an OE retrofit?

[RagingKileak]

To be honest you could do the same thing yourself quite easily.

The link that Creepy has posted above has more or less the same kits in it as the BMW kit would have been. The only challenging bits are hard wiring/splicing in the power and trailing the aerial wire.

The simplest install I could think of would be to put the DAB unit in the armrest (assuming you have an E92 here, I can't remember what the E90 has in the armrest) and power it straight from the 12v with a car adapter (so that it's all hidden.) Connect the DAB output into the 3.5mm aux jack and then wire the aerial into the back compartment under the carpet and onto either the back window or side window (depending on what works best.)

Then use the remote to change station and store it wherever you're happy with. You can then use your idrive/head unit to switch to aux and the DAB remote to work it. You should be up and running for circa £100 at retail rates (you can usually get a cheaper deal if you shop around.)

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

To be honest you could do the same thing yourself quite easily.

The link that Creepy has posted above has more or less the same kits in it as the BMW kit would have been. The only challenging bits are hard wiring/splicing in the power and trailing the aerial wire.

The simplest install I could think of would be to put the DAB unit in the armrest (assuming you have an E92 here, I can't remember what the E90 has in the armrest) and power it straight from the 12v with a car adapter (so that it's all hidden.) Connect the DAB output into the 3.5mm aux jack and then wire the aerial into the back compartment under the carpet and onto either the back window or side window (depending on what works best.)

Then use the remote to change station and store it wherever you're happy with. You can then use your idrive/head unit to switch to aux and the DAB remote to work it. You should be up and running for circa £100 at retail rates (you can usually get a cheaper deal if you shop around.)

CHEERS

[Dizzle]

My dad picked the leaflet up form the dealers yesterday, I'll bring this to his attention. I thought it seemed a fair price for OEM kit.... explains it all if its just payment for BMW to stick the circa £90 Pure kit into your prized Beemer.....

[xenon]

use an iPhone and stream it via Bluetooth.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by xenon

use an iPhone and stream it via Bluetooth.

Most people have limited data allowances for their phone.

The sound isn't too great either.

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Most people have limited data allowances for their phone.

The sound isn't too great either.

Not to mention that some coverage switches during certain events, when streamed from the web as opposed to played on DAB.

For example, Yorkshire Radio (owned by Ken Bates) currently has exclusive rights to broadcast 99% of Leeds matches. Although Yorkshire Radio is available on both the internet and DAB, whenever a match kicks off, the coverage switches to music for internet listeners.

So there you go. Another station I like is Planet Rock, which is the same wherever you listen to it.

Matt

[DanTheManc]

How much would it cost to have OEM DAB fitted which can be controlled using iDrive, if that even possible?

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by DanTheManc

How much would it cost to have OEM DAB fitted which can be controlled using iDrive, if that even possible?

Sharp intake of breath, are you sitting down? ................... £1,000 plus if you get BMW to do the job, less if you can get used parts

[RagingKileak]

Retrofitting an OEM job would vary depending upon what iDrive, what HU, what Nav, what year of car etc that you have.

But, yes, it's going to be about a grand (or more) from BMW and that is IF they even speak to you about it. Many dealers will just assume its impossible.

Matt

[Boyd1963]

This is who you need to speak to.

http://www.navtvman.co.uk/retrofits/bmw/index.html

[Bomber]

This is another option, looks like its controlled by the Idrive via canbus

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OEM-Au...ht_3599wt_1018

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by Bomber

This is another option, looks like its controlled by the Idrive via canbus

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OEM-Au...ht_3599wt_1018

Or HALFORDS

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_265865

[Boyd1963]

Originally Posted by Bomber

This is another option, looks like its controlled by the Idrive via canbus

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OEM-Au...ht_3599wt_1018

That looks pretty good apart from the glass mounted aerial

[Hopeful]

All of the aftermarket ones mentioned so far re-transmit the DAB audio on an FM channel so that you can hear it through the existing radio. I've read that this can reduce the quality a bit (but have not heard it for myself).

Dension have an add-on DAB module
http://incarmusic.co.uk/Dension%20DA...S%20GWPro%20BT
for the Gateway 500S media controller (which can control an iPod or USB stick for those of us who don't have that OEM option on their iDrive's). It's only available for the CCC-type system at the moment, the CIC one should be available early next year.

I also want to investigate the possibility of utilising the OEM DAB antenna. I haven't discovered yet whether my E91 already has the antenna in the rear window - if so, I would just need a replacement diversity aerial splitter.

[groomeister]

I may have a spare dab BMW unit if that's any good and I can help with fitment. I fitted one myself to my E91. Takes about 2 hours to fit (I am slow but careful!). Plus programming, but a local one in the midlands can do it for £59.99. Simon

[Falmouthboy]

Also, a word of caution before forking out for DAB. Whilst the sound quality and station choice are far better, reception isn't. We have it as standard fit in the mini but don't bother to use it as you are in and out of signal coverage all te time.

Before spending money on it, spend time in a car with DAB where you do most of your driving to satisfy yourself that signal coverage is adequate.