BMW now fitting DAB as standard, plus retrofit to older cars

[S7Paul]

I hope this hasn't already been covered (if it has I can't find it).

From BMW yesterday:

We are pleased to announce that from January 2013, every model across the BMW Range will feature DAB radio as standard. By leading the way, we are able to offer BMW Drivers improved reception and superior sound quality.

BMW is to offer DAB radio as standard across its entire range from January 2013. The move sees the marque establish a marked lead in the switch over to digital radio compared to its competitors and comes soon after it offered owners of older BMWs the chance to upgrade their vehicles with a retrofit solution.

The 360 degree solution to the forthcoming digital switch over means no BMW owner of a modern vehicle will have to go without in-car entertainment when analogue radio broadcasts are discontinued. DAB radio will be fitted as standard from the entry level BMW 114i 3-door Sports Hatch all the way up to the BMW 760Li. No other mainstream premium manufacturer currently offers such a breadth of in-car entertainment.

The benefits of DAB have been compared to the switch over from AM to FM as the preferred medium. Digital radio offers greater choice to the listener with better reception and superior sound quality. Currently 94 per cent of the UK is covered by DAB signal with approximately 24 million listeners a week using the format at least once.

News of the class-leading across the range DAB offer comes soon after BMW partnered with Connects2 and its AutoDAB product to offer a fully integrated retrofit digital radio that is compatible with all BMWs with an RDS text-equipped FM radio.

The unique interface is the first fully integrated aftermarket digital radio available for BMWs in the UK. The AutoDAB system fits behind the dashboard, plugging into the existing radio. Fitting seamlessly behind the existing head-unit, installation takes on average one hour with no additional box or dangling wires, just a small aerial running from the back of the unit, affixing discretely to the top left corner of the windscreen.

Once installed, the station, artist information and song titles are all transmitted via RDS and displayed as text on the car’s existing display. All DAB functions are controlled by a radio frequency remote control fixed to the dashboard and favourite digital radio stations can be stored for quick access, with FM radio stations still available. The BMW digital radio retrofit is priced at £299 fitted and available to order from your local BMW dealer.

[mathmos]

What they don't make very clear is that the retrofit has an additional aerial inside your windscreen that re-broadcasts the DAB signal to your radio....bit like the itrip for your iphone/ipod. Not exactly fully integrated IMO.

[anonymous-user]

m135 now 500 more expensive as well as some other items, not really a free upgrade.

[mc_blue]

I'm surprised the "USB Audio Interface" £75 option isn't standard to be honest.

[dave_s13]

edited cos I was talking sheeite.

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 23 January 19:43

[mathmos]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the Halfords one works with the newer gen BMW's through the steering wheel....So F series car's may be stuck with the BMW one and the remote.

[Flying machine]

dave_s13 said:

This was discussed before and the concensus seemed to be the £150 kit from Halfords was much better than the BMW retro fit option.

Apparantly the BMW retro fit requires use of an additional remote and doesn't integrate with the iDrive as you might expect.

This one does apparantly
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I almost bought one of these for my little 1 series, but didn't because I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone (include connects2) whether it would fit an idrive equipped car. Connects2 said that I wouldn't, but weren't sure and I notice that Halfords now state that it WONT fit idrive equipped BMW's. Which is annoying!!

[S7Paul]

It was confirmed today that the DAB radio I'd specified as a £305 extra on the 320d Sport I have on order is now "nil cost", which is nice.

[LocoBlade]

BMW said:

....every model across the BMW Range will feature DAB radio as standard. By leading the way...

BMW might be the first to fit DAB to every model in the range but they're hardly leading the way are they, most Vauxhall Vectras and Astras had them as standard in about 2005!

[IATM]

LocoBlade said:

BMW said:

....every model across the BMW Range will feature DAB radio as standard. By leading the way...

BMW might be the first to fit DAB to every model in the range but they're hardly leading the way are they, most Vauxhall Vectras and Astras had them as standard in about 2005!

I don't think thats the case - You may be confusing DAB with RDS - its not the same thing

[F355GTS]

S7Paul said:

It was confirmed today that the DAB radio I'd specified as a £305 extra on the 320d Sport I have on order is now "nil cost", which is nice.

but they increased the base car prices, at least they have for my 535d due in March

[LocoBlade]

IATM said:

I don't think thats the case - You may be confusing DAB with RDS - its not the same thing

Nope, not confused, we had RDS in the '90s

Google reveals.... Vauxhall DAB announced in 2004
http://www.carpages.co.uk/vauxhall/vauxhall_gets_d...

Edited by LocoBlade on Tuesday 22 January 22:45

[Drek]

Alternatively, Cartronics will do an iDrive DAB retrofit for a cool £900 +VAT! Sheesh, wish I'd ordered it first time round..

[mrmop]

I was looking to have DAB retro fitted to my Post LCI 5 series, looked at the Halfords offering alongside the BMW dealer fit, I was told by a reputable business on the South coast the AUTODAB unit would work fine, it didn't, its crap and whats even more annoying is the company who fitted it are now ignoring me.

PM for more info

[turbospud]

mrmop said:

I was looking to have DAB retro fitted to my Post LCI 5 series, looked at the Halfords offering alongside the BMW dealer fit, I was told by a reputable business on the South coast the AUTODAB unit would work fine, it didn't, its crap and whats even more annoying is the company who fitted it are now ignoring me.

PM for more info

totally agree,autodab unit is crap sends a signal to the radio on an unused fm station so hardly digital and a rubbish controller separate from the idrive,i would forget it

[Yetidj]

I recently had a new 320 when my 335 was in getting serviced and the 320 had DAB and I found it hopeless where I stay, it kept displaying no signal on every station and going quiet. This was even happening in the middle of Aberdeen, not really an upgrade until they can get the digital signal better IMO. Maybe a faulty radio but I really began to get annoying!

[mrmr96]

mrmop said:

I was looking to have DAB retro fitted to my Post LCI 5 series, looked at the Halfords offering alongside the BMW dealer fit, I was told by a reputable business on the South coast the AUTODAB unit would work fine, it didn't, its crap and whats even more annoying is the company who fitted it are now ignoring me.

PM for more info

Not "gender-1000kgs" was it?

[mrmop]

mrmr96 said:

Not "gender-1000kgs" was it?

not sure what or who you mean ?

[S7Paul]

F355GTS said:

S7Paul said:

It was confirmed today that the DAB radio I'd specified as a £305 extra on the 320d Sport I have on order is now "nil cost", which is nice.

but they increased the base car prices, at least they have for my 535d due in March

When did you order it Mark? I ordered mine last November, with delivery scheduled for 2nd March, and they seem to be holding the price at the moment.

[Wills2]

They need to do this as they are planning to switch off the analogue signal in a few years time, was planned for 2013 now planned for 2017 (so I've read) TBH I can't see them doing it then either as millions of cars still won't have it.