BMW has available for North American Customers Sirius Satellite radio that Fully integrates into BMWs with Navigation and without navigation. This Sirius receiver is designed for 2003 model BMWs without Navigation and 2004 year model BMWs WITH navigation without modification. The below information will focus on how to upgrade your older model BMW in order to support the BMW Sirius Satellite Radio receiver. BMW Sirius Receiver E46 E39 X5 Z4
BMW Sirius Receiver New Body Style (Idrive)
Sirius Satellite Receiver installed in the BMW E38
BMW official list of Supported BMWs without requiring additional upgrades
SIRIUS can be installed on all 3 Series E46 from 09/2002 - on without navigation and 09/2003 - on with navigation
SIRIUS can be installed on all E39 5 series vehicles from 09/2002 - on without navigation must have a single in-dash CD radio, not a cassette radio
SIRIUS can be installed on all vehicles produced from 7/2003 - On without navigation and from 03/2004 - on with navigation Restrictions? All X3's (e83) must have SA 693 (Satellite Radio Preparation) or satellite radio cannot be retrofitted in any way.
Can be installed on- 10/03 on - vehicles without navigation - 04/04 on - vehicles with navigation Restrictions Not compatible with 6 disc CD Changer
BMWs older than the model years listed above CAN be upgraded to support Sirius. If the BMW does NOT have navigation the radio headunit can be replaced with a version from 2004 or newer. If the BMW DOES have navigation, both the radio AND the navigation computers must be the newer versions. Once the Radio module and the navigation computers are upgraded your BMW navigation system will function just as the newer BMWs with all of the new features including support for Sirius Satellite radio. Pictures of new style radio w/Sirius software fully integrated in a 2001 E38 UPGRADING A 2001 and older X5, E46 3 series and E39 5 series, and E38 7 series BMW: see section below
How to update your 2002 & 2003 X5, E46 3 series and E39 5 series BMW to support Sirius In the 2003 Model year MKIV Navigation equipped 3, 5 or X5 BMW by simply updating your Trunk mount radio with the newest version radio. The radio version required is the latest BM53 Radio. Upgrading your trunk mount radio to the latest version is as easy as unplugging the old radio and replacing with the new radio. The new radios are pin to pin compatible and take no technical skill. Simple unplug and replace with the new. The location of the radio module depends on the model BMW with the E39 Radio located to the left of the CD changer. The E46 radio located below the CD changer, and the X5 located below plastic cover under the spare tire. Once the radio is replaced and your MKIV navigation software is upgraded to the latest version, your 2003 model BMW is Sirius Radio Compatible. Simple purchase the Sirius receiver & antenna and cable and Sirius will operate properly in your car.
In the 2002 Model year MKIII Navigation equipped 3, 5 or X5 BMW, in addition to upgrading the Radio module to the latest version BM53 as above you will also need to upgrade the navigation computer to the latest MKIV version. Replacing the Navigation computer is a simple task in the 2002 model year BMW. The BMW MKIV is Pin to Pin Compatible and is just a quick remove and replace.
The MKIV navigation computer is REQUIRED when installing Sirius as the selecting of the channels is done via the navigation display. All of the functions of the navigation display are using the navigation computer.
2002 and 2003 Model BMW Sirius upgrade Summary
2002 2003 BMW with Navigation Requires
BMW MKIV Navigation Computer - 2003 Models standard factory equipment
BMW Trunk Mount Radio - P/N 65 12 6 988 276 with Sirius and BMW MP3 Audiotext support
BMW Low Profile Antenna comes with P/N 84 11 0 150 526 CD Changer Extension Cable $12.08 OR P/N 84 11 0 141 978 2.1m CDC Extension Cable $13.80 depending on your application
BMW Sirius Receiver
How to upgrade 2001 and older BMWs with Navigation to Support BMW Sirius Satellite Receiver Photos of 2001 BMW with Sirius Parts Required are the same as above however also require an additional Radio Adapter HarnessRadio module Upgrade Background
New style radio retrofit documents from BMW For Model Years 2002 and newer BMW, changed vendors on their radios from Alpine to Becker. What was immediately gained was an auxiliary input on the radios. This Aux input was a big step in the right direction allowing owners to add in I-pods, or other MP3 equipment to the stereo system. This vendor change was most obvious in a physical connector change on the radios (see image above). The BMW Radio Adapter Harness addresses this change. Link to New style radio retrofit documents from BMW. The Sirius Radio Retrofit is not that complicated now that all of the adapter harnesses are available from BMW. It is just plug and play from the old style radio to new style radio
Parts Required for 2001 and Older BMWs with navigation
BMW Trunk Mount Radio - P/N 65 12 6 988 276 with Sirius and BMW MP3 Audiotext support
BMW MKIV Navigation Computer
BMW Sirius Satellite radio
Radio Adapter Harness Kit consists of the following parts.
BMW Low Profile Antenna comes with P/N 84 11 0 150 526 CD Changer Extension Cable $12.08 OR P/N 84 11 0 141 978 2.1m CDC Extension Cable $13.80 depending on your application
BMW Sirius Antenna and cable P/N 84.11.0.141.978 Sirius to CD Changer adapter cable
The radio location is different in each BMW - E39, E46 and X5 are all easy access. The E38 requires removing some brackets which are detailed below:
The BMW E39 Radio is located to the left of the CD changer. - Disconnect old radio, using adapter connect new radio module. Plug 6 pin audio plug into small radio plug location 3, 8, and 9 if equipped with DSP amp. Plug 6 pin audio plug directly into Sirius module.
The E46 radio is located below the CD changer. - Disconnect old radio, using adapter connect new radio module. 6 wire cd input cable is NOT required.
The X5 is located below plastic cover under the spare tire. - Disconnect old radio, using adapter connect new radio module. Plug 6 pin audio plug into small radio plug location 3, 8, and 9 if equipped with DSP amp. Plug 6 pin audio plug directly into Sirius module.
The BMW E38 Radio is located behind the amplifier bracket. The radio replacement requires removing the brackets see below - BMWs before 1998 production will also require an additional power connection. Email us for details
The old radio harness consist of there parts. The Main harness, (circles on left) the Tape and nav audio input wiring (white connector) and the CD changer input (not populated because of DSP) The old to new Radio Adapter adapts the old Main harness to the new main harness simply by plugging them together.
The Radio Adaper harness allows the connection from the New BM53 Radio into the round pin plugs
In the BMW E38, E39 and X5 with DSP you will only use one 10 pin audio plug on the Radio adapter for Tape audio and navigation Audio. The white 12 pin plug will be connected to the Sirius receiver directly using the 6 wire CD input cable. This harness has a white plug 3 wires located in position 3 (white/brown) 8 (White/red) and 9 (white/blue). The black 12 pin plug does not need to be changed, however you can add the BMW Auxillary Audio input cable if desired (pins 3, 4, 10)
The Below section applies only to the BMW E38 as the BMW E38 radio module is located behind the amplifier bracket in the back of the car
In the BMW E38 since the Radio is located behind the amplifier bracket the first step is to remove all of the components of the rear compartment to remove the old style radio
Once all of the pieces are removed, you will need to remove the Trunk mount radio. The radio bracket is held into place by two sheet metal screws. 
One is hiding on the left and the other is easy to see behind the black cloth 
Once removed, replace the old radio with new style radio and connect together with your adapter pieces. I wrapped everything in electrical tape just so that it did not rattle in the trunk area. Probably a good idea to wrap in cloth as well. 
In the E38 with the older style CD changer you will need to move a pin on the 12 pin connector of the BMW Sirius adapter harness. The cable that comes from BMW has the common ground (the tan and white wire) assigned to pin 2 - which is a null pin for the receiver. The common ground is pin 3. So to hear music from your OEM CDC player move the tan and white wire from pin 2 to pin 3 on the 12 pin connector and you have music. FINAL STEPS ALL BMWS
Put everything back together making sure to connect the new white 6 wire CD Connector to the Sirius Receiver
Next step is to follow the directions for installing Sirius radio. 1) Disconnect the 3 pin power connector from CD changer 2) Connect these two wiring harnesses to the Sirius module 3) Connect the Sirius adapter harness from the Sirius module to the CD changer 3 wire and 6 wire connectors. 4) Route your Sirius antenna to a good location. (I mounted mine in the rear deck area next to the GPS antenna)
No dealer coding is required however you must manually set your new Radio "AREA" to US in order to use Sirius See BMW SB 650704 for details
Once installed properly the Sirius functions of the radio work as designed. See link for pictures
First Photo of VERY FIRST BMW E38 IN THE WORLD with the BMW Original Sirius Satellite Reciver fully integrated. 6/24/2004. 2000 Production BMW 750iL. Very excited about everything working perfectly however photo is a little blury from the back seat.See link for more pictures
