Shark Fin
- Thread starter jcrosi
- Start date
Shark Fin w/ Navigation too. . .
I did not purchase the premium package, but did get the additional GPS navigation and therefore have the shark fin. So I think you get the fin one of two ways:
1) Purchase the premium -- shark fin necessary for BMW Assist.
2) Purchase GPS navigation -- shark fin necessary for GPS.
Can anyone else confirm this?
I did not purchase the premium package, but did get the additional GPS navigation and therefore have the shark fin. So I think you get the fin one of two ways:
1) Purchase the premium -- shark fin necessary for BMW Assist.
2) Purchase GPS navigation -- shark fin necessary for GPS.
Can anyone else confirm this?
Call the dealer and tell them what you have in your car, then ask them "If I do not have BMW assist, why do I have the shark fin?"
With Nav and no BMW assist, you do not get the shark fin. The GPS antenna does not use a shark fin in BMWs.
I have a feeling you got the shark fin installed at the factory by accident, as no system on your car currently uses it. If you like the way it looks, then you are all set. If you don't like the way it looks, then maybe pursue having them remove the non-functional fish fin. Personally I think they look cool, more like the 7-series, which all have it as they come standard with Assist......
Or maybe yours came from Australia, where the fin is used for the radio antenna.
With Nav and no BMW assist, you do not get the shark fin. The GPS antenna does not use a shark fin in BMWs.
I have a feeling you got the shark fin installed at the factory by accident, as no system on your car currently uses it. If you like the way it looks, then you are all set. If you don't like the way it looks, then maybe pursue having them remove the non-functional fish fin. Personally I think they look cool, more like the 7-series, which all have it as they come standard with Assist......
Or maybe yours came from Australia, where the fin is used for the radio antenna.
Not Sure
Let me clarify -- I ordered a 325i with Navigation (but not Assist) and I thought my dealership told me I'd have the shark fin as a result. I'm not sure. It sounds like we're making progress toward the answer though, right?
Thanks for looking into this. I'm new to the board, and I've really been impressed with people's responsiveness. This is a cool community.
Let me clarify -- I ordered a 325i with Navigation (but not Assist) and I thought my dealership told me I'd have the shark fin as a result. I'm not sure. It sounds like we're making progress toward the answer though, right?
Thanks for looking into this. I'm new to the board, and I've really been impressed with people's responsiveness. This is a cool community.
The shark fin is required for BMW Assist, which comes free for 1 yr with the Premium Package. The NAV GPS antennae is integrated into the rear bumper. If you ordered the NAV system w/o Premium Package, you shouldn't have the fin.
Too bad they couldn't integrate Sirius radio into the shark fin. I didn't want two visible antennaes, so had to do without Sirius.
Too bad they couldn't integrate Sirius radio into the shark fin. I didn't want two visible antennaes, so had to do without Sirius.
Concerning the aesthetic aspect of the shark fin, I agree with most people that it looks awkward. However, we can cover the car every night without having to worry about lowering or damaging an antenna. I've been noticing other BMWs with antennas in the same location, which would make the car difficult to cover.
Cars without BMW Assist should NOT have the "fin." If the fin is on there, it is likely a mistake. I did a lot of poking into this issue because I did NOT want the fin on my car. I'd initially ordered mine with the premium package; didn't really care about BMW Assist, so when I found out that there was no way to leave the fin off with PP, I had the package deleted and ordered the options separately. I might have used the free BMW Assist service for the first year, but there's no way that I'd pay what BMW is asking for the annual fee afterwards, so the fin would just be sitting there useless. Personally, I think it ruins the the clean lines of the coupes (what I'm getting), but at least it's not the huge monstrosity that Audi owners have to deal with!
