m3 shark fin

[cuda]

am thinking of buying an e46 m3 with all the bits including sat nav and tv. most cars i see have no shark fin antenna on the back of the roof. is it really necessary and what does it do on cars to which it's fitted?

[Plotloss]

You need the shark fin for the sat nav.

Its the GPS reciever.

If its not got a fin, its not got sat nav.

[pmanson]

its the radio/gps/phone ariel.

[cuda]

thanks - but alot of the adverts on BMW used cars website say they have sat nav but they don't have fins. strange...

[Zod]

It is not for the SatNav! It is just for the BMW phone kit.It is also not the radio aerial - that is in the rear screen.


>> Edited by Zod on Tuesday 11th May 12:11

[sidekick]

Yup, for the phone only.

[ScoobyZoom]

retro fittable for next to fluck all anyway...

[ascender]

And some newer M3 car kits put the aerials in the front bumper, so there's no need for the fin.


-Mike

[johnh74]

Hello....

Its sort of the phone, but actually its the BlueTooth kit which adds the shark fin, an it is worth it.

You leave you house with your cell phone, get into your M3 and drive off, you phone rings, but you can answer it via the car controls.

This is the most you have to do, any bluetooth phone just links straight in with the system. I have seen this working, and it is pretty cool.

[ScoobyZoom]

Zod said:

It is not for the SatNav! It is just for the BMW phone kit.It is also not the radio aerial - that is in the rear screen.

Wrong.

Plotloss said:

You need the shark fin for the sat nav. Its the GPS reciever. If its not got a fin, its not got sat nav.

Correct.

In fact, if you have either you get the fin. But it is DEFINATELY there with Navigation.

And its the convertibles that use the bumper mounted aerial malarky...

[Zod]

Sorry ScoobyZoom, but you are completely wrong. The shark fin has nothing to do with the navigation. My first E46 M3 had navigation, but no shark fin. My second had navigation and a phone. The fin is for the phone.

It also has nothing to do with bluetooth. It is simply the phone antenna. Come and argue with us at www.bm3w.co.uk if you like. This question comes up about once every six months.

>> Edited by Zod on Saturday 22 May 18:59

[agent006]

Was the sharkfin not a post-M3 facelift addition?

[ScoobyZoom]

whatever you say Zod.

Personally i'll just stay here in Pistoheads forums.... don't like change...

I had a 330 clubsport without Nav but with bluetooth.. had a sharks fin

I have a 330 Sport with nav but no bluetooth... i have a sharks fin.

so did they build my cars wrong?

regardless what you had mate, whether they have changed from then to now, what i posted is correct. Sorry.

edit because i have had 4 hours sleep i two days... going back to sleep....

>> Edited by ScoobyZoom on Sunday 23 May 00:39

[john_p]

ScoobyZoom said:

hate being wrong... will triple check monday... but i fluckin' swear i'm right... my car has Nav, no phone and an aerial i promise you

Satnav = aerial in rear shelf
Phone = shark fin
Phone with retrofit kit/convertible = aerial in bumper

Unless someone has added it aftermarket OR your car has option 640 (?) phone preparation AFAIK

[Azura_tzo]

ScoobyZoom said:

hate being wrong... will triple check monday... but i fluckin' swear i'm right... my car has Nav, no phone and an aerial i promise you

Sorry mate, you ARE wrong! ;-)

I had an E46 M3 WITH Sat Nav, but no phone and it didn't have a fin.

Your latest 3-er... was it new or used? If it is used, the previous owner may have had the fin added.

[ScoobyZoom]

right i refuse to admit i am totally wrong but it does seem like sat nav cars dont need the fin...


BUT MINI'S DO WHEN THEY HAVE NAV!!

so i am half right



50% wrong i can live with.... my apologies