Antennas and outlet

sonicbimmer19 · 01-13-2012, 04:45 PM

Hey all,
I took my car in for service because the dealership broke my rubber antenna. What I always wondered was why do I have two antennas? Rubber antenna and the shark fin antenna.
What I noticed today is new cars do Not have rubber antennas and only have the shark fins. Why does my car 2008 1er have two antennas?

Also, the outlet that has smoke sign on it is gone in new cars. Is there no outlet in new cars or is it hidden somewhere?
Maybe with iPhone charger and built in gps's BMW thought the outlet was no longer necessary?

Thanks

IDBMW · 01-13-2012, 05:11 PM

I have a 2008 135i and only the shark fin. I don’t have the Nav option. Perhaps that’s the difference.
And I have a 12V outlet in the ashtray area and under the center armrest.

BimmerE82 · 01-13-2012, 06:19 PM

I believe only verts have the mast type antenna. I have a 135i with navigation and my gps and radio antennas are inside the shark fin on the roof. Where is the shark fin antenna located on a convertable? The trunk lid?

RoundelM3 · 01-13-2012, 07:04 PM

Wife's 2011 128i Vert has both antenna (replaced with aluminum stub) and shark fin, but no navigation or satellite radio.

sonicbimmer19 · 01-13-2012, 09:33 PM

My car is e88 (convertible) with no navigation.. I guess no one really knows.
And yes, the shark fin on convertibles are on the trunk lid. It's smaller too haha.

And no one knows why the 12V outlet is gone? or if it's hidden somewhere else?
My guess is with the iphone/ipod outlet, built in naviagtion option for many cars, BMW didn't see the need for an outlet. Hm

RoundelM3 · 01-14-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

My car is e88 (convertible) with no navigation.. I guess no one really knows.
And yes, the shark fin on convertibles are on the trunk lid. It's smaller too haha.

And no one knows why the 12V outlet is gone? or if it's hidden somewhere else?
My guess is with the iphone/ipod outlet, built in naviagtion option for many cars, BMW didn't see the need for an outlet. Hm

12V outlet is in the center armrest area now. Definitely don't like not having an outlet in the dash area - difficult to plug in portable Nav/R2D2, etc.

Dackelone · 01-14-2012, 09:24 AM

Even on a 135i (w/shark fin) the radio uses TWO antennas. One is inside the fin and the other is the grid lines for the rear heated window.

IF you go into the radio's hidden menu you can access and change the switching of the antennas from auto or to one of the other antenna.

DIY Radio hidden cookie menu – gaining access…

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=441064

Pangloss · 01-14-2012, 11:28 AM

Convertibles (E88) get a short rubber antenna on the left rear quarter panel instead of the coupe's rear-window integration. As I understand it it's for the AM/FM radio. The shark fin design won't work for local radio reception because it's not long enough. It's is only good for satellite reception. I don't know why everyone gets the shark fin, but maybe it's just easier than deleting it.

(The fin may also be used by BMW Assist for GPS location -- I know that was true on my previous vehicle, which had OnStar from GM.)

sonicbimmer19 · 01-14-2012, 10:58 PM

So the rubber antennas are for AM/FM and the shark fin are for satellite?

anyone care to take a picture of where the hidden(?) antenna is, on cars that don't have rubber antennas but have them behind the rear window?
And outlet under armrest? if it isn't much trouble..

01-13-2012, 04:45 PM	#1
sonicbimmer19 Lieutenant 72 Rep 487 Posts Drives: E88 and F32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	Antennas and outlet Hey all, I took my car in for service because the dealership broke my rubber antenna. What I always wondered was why do I have two antennas? Rubber antenna and the shark fin antenna. What I noticed today is new cars do Not have rubber antennas and only have the shark fins. Why does my car 2008 1er have two antennas? Also, the outlet that has smoke sign on it is gone in new cars. Is there no outlet in new cars or is it hidden somewhere? Maybe with iPhone charger and built in gps's BMW thought the outlet was no longer necessary? Thanks
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01-13-2012, 05:11 PM	#2
IDBMW Captain 41 Rep 825 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, ID iTrader: (0)	I have a 2008 135i and only the shark fin. I don’t have the Nav option. Perhaps that’s the difference. And I have a 12V outlet in the ashtray area and under the center armrest. __________________ 2019 X3 M40i - Black Sapphire Metallic - Mocha Lather - 21" 718M wheels - Every option except Sun Shade
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01-13-2012, 06:19 PM	#3
BimmerE82 Captain 105 Rep 837 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Sport package Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [7.00]	I believe only verts have the mast type antenna. I have a 135i with navigation and my gps and radio antennas are inside the shark fin on the roof. Where is the shark fin antenna located on a convertable? The trunk lid? __________________ Last edited by BimmerE82; 01-13-2012 at 07:07 PM..
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01-13-2012, 07:04 PM	#4
RoundelM3 Major General 1833 Rep 6,987 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wendell, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Wife's 2011 128i Vert has both antenna (replaced with aluminum stub) and shark fin, but no navigation or satellite radio. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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01-13-2012, 09:33 PM	#5
sonicbimmer19 Lieutenant 72 Rep 487 Posts Drives: E88 and F32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	My car is e88 (convertible) with no navigation.. I guess no one really knows. And yes, the shark fin on convertibles are on the trunk lid. It's smaller too haha. And no one knows why the 12V outlet is gone? or if it's hidden somewhere else? My guess is with the iphone/ipod outlet, built in naviagtion option for many cars, BMW didn't see the need for an outlet. Hm
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01-14-2012, 09:24 AM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Even on a 135i (w/shark fin) the radio uses TWO antennas. One is inside the fin and the other is the grid lines for the rear heated window. IF you go into the radio's hidden menu you can access and change the switching of the antennas from auto or to one of the other antenna. DIY Radio hidden cookie menu – gaining access… http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=441064
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01-14-2012, 11:28 AM	#8
Pangloss Lieutenant 28 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	Convertibles (E88) get a short rubber antenna on the left rear quarter panel instead of the coupe's rear-window integration. As I understand it it's for the AM/FM radio. The shark fin design won't work for local radio reception because it's not long enough. It's is only good for satellite reception. I don't know why everyone gets the shark fin, but maybe it's just easier than deleting it. (The fin may also be used by BMW Assist for GPS location -- I know that was true on my previous vehicle, which had OnStar from GM.) __________________ 2012 135i convertible, DCT, Black/Beige, HK, Prem, M sport, no nav. Last edited by Pangloss; 01-14-2012 at 11:36 AM..
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01-14-2012, 10:58 PM	#9
sonicbimmer19 Lieutenant 72 Rep 487 Posts Drives: E88 and F32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	So the rubber antennas are for AM/FM and the shark fin are for satellite? anyone care to take a picture of where the hidden(?) antenna is, on cars that don't have rubber antennas but have them behind the rear window? And outlet under armrest? if it isn't much trouble..
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