Help w/XM & Blitzsafe Install on 325I

[dmr]

Anyone had trouble w/a 2003 325I XM install using the Blitzsafe box? I plugged it in last night & got the error msg "NO SDARS". XM technical support folks were clueless and I tried the vendor help tip of checking the country setting on the radio. It would seem that the head unit isn't recognizing the receiver, but it initially flashes Sirius & then XM Radio like advertised. Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[bmwrocks]

Call Blitzsafe tech support maybe? They were very helpful and knowledgeable about their products with me. They know about BMW installs as they developed the product to work specifically with your BMW. Give that a shot.

 

[JTravick]

Which Blitzsafe box do you have? The BMWX/ XMD 100? Unfortunately I don't have any experience with that one. I have the Blitzsafe BMW XMDMX PIOV.1. It allows you to connect a Pioneer GEX-FM903XM reciever to the CD Changer harness. It doesn't give you a display on the headunit-- so I have to use the unit controller that came with the reciever. I had some issues finding the right harness, once I located the install was straight forward. There is a warning in the installation instructions on most of the Blitzsafe units that warns that the 3 wire Cell phone wiring harness is almost identical to the CD Changer harness except for the color of the #2 wire, and plugging the Bliztsafe interface will damage both the cell phone system and the blitzsafe box. Not sure if that is your problem, just a note a read with the unit I have.

 

[JTravick]

BMWROCKS, did you install your universal transciever yourself, or did you have the center do it?

 

[Susie520]

I purchased an XM Direct unit that uses Blitzsafe. I had to remove the carpet from my trunk, locate the wiring harness for a CD changer and simply plug in the XM Direct unit. I ran the antenna along the top of my trunk and through the fold down area of my seats so it is sitting on the rear deck in the crack near the rear window - this way it doesn't make my trunk ugly and my reception is about 90% of what it was when it was magnetically attached to the trunk. Anyways .. it was the simplest thing to install! This unit was designed specifically for BMW's since they have a contract with Sirius. The XM Direct unit tricks the pre-wired SIRIUS headunit into thinking I am actually using Sirius ... just beautiful! When I called XM for activation we were discussing my XM Direct and they were very unfamiliar with it. I would recommend this hands down to anyone looking for XM radio. It uses your headunit and allows you to use the steering wheel controls just as if you were changing FM stations. Everything is in the storage compartment on the right side of the trunk!

 

[JTravick]

I really wanted the XM direct unit because it utilized the BMW headunit's display and steering wheel controls which is awesome. But I had already owned the Pioneer system, with a controller. So for just $99 bones i was able to get an interface that works with my current system. I mounted the display in the ashtray above the shifter and ran the wires under the center console and under the back seat to the trunk. Having the commander inside the ashtray looks almost OEM, and the cool thing is I can close it to conceal it, like stealth. My antenna is mounted on the rear deck also. The sound is incredible because there is no more need for the FM modulator . I'm riding happy I must say. I almost wish my commute to work was longer so that I can enjoy my XM and my ride a little bit more every morning.

 

[bmwrocks]

BMWROCKS, did you install your universal transciever yourself, or did you have the center do it?

The center did it. They threw it in as part of my purchase, no charge.

However, I think I would do the install myself if I didn't have it already. It's easy from the DIY I have seen.

BTW the transceiver came standard from the factory on my X5. [headbang]

 

[dmr]

UPDATE: Thanks all for the responses. Finally spoke w/ someone at Blitzsafe & they advised opening the box & checking the internal connections (2). One plug had come loose & I replugged & the system is working great. Apparently, Blitzsafe has had this problem before - it was the first thing the guy I spoke with asked me to try. If you want XM in your 2003+ 3 series, I highly recommend the Blitzsafe w/XM direct receiver. Lower cost than the BMW Sirius set-up & it works w/the factory head unit & steering wheel controls. Once the problem was resolved, the system is awesome. Install took 15-20 minutes which mostly consists of pulling back the trunk lining to find the wires.