Ari Posted August 23, 2003 Report Share Posted August 23, 2003 Anyone know what that "shark fin" shaped thingy is above the rear window on latest BMW's sometimes? GPS receiver for sat-nav? Phone aerial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted August 23, 2003 Report Share Posted August 23, 2003 [ QUOTE ] GPS receiver for sat-nav [/ QUOTE ] Bingo. Although I had this in my Alpina and it didn't have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARACTERE 007 Posted August 23, 2003 Report Share Posted August 23, 2003 umm i thought it was for the blue tooth stuff?.....seen quite a few m3 with nav and tv without the fin.....lagoo maybe you can answer this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted August 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 Yeah exactly. Mate of mine has an M3 with TV/GPS and no fin. He doesn't have phone though, which is why I guessed it could be that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lagoo Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 Yeah its for the GPS, but i think you have the option of a bumper mounted ariel (in the bumper ), in the case of the cabs then obviously they have to have the bumper one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted August 26, 2003 Report Share Posted August 26, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Yeah its for the GPS, but i think you have the option of a <font color="red"> bumper mounted ariel (in the bumper ) </font> , in the case of the cabs then obviously they have to have the bumper one!! [/ QUOTE ] What a great place to put a bumper mounted ariel....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lagoo Posted August 27, 2003 Report Share Posted August 27, 2003 I knew someone would pick on that ... you know what i meant.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted September 19, 2003 Report Share Posted September 19, 2003 Its deffo for the phone, nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitcher Posted June 23, 2004 Report Share Posted June 23, 2004 Its a Bluetooth Aerial. If you choose Bluetooth prep on a new car you get the aerial and the phone holder in between the front seats. Its costs around £400 and you still need a bluetooth phone. Bargain eh !!!!! I bought fin off Ebay for £7 , its an exact Beemer copy ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brn7y Posted June 23, 2004 Report Share Posted June 23, 2004 What! wait till I see you next, £30k BMW's with MAX POWER stick on fins!! What's the world coming to!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitcher Posted June 23, 2004 Report Share Posted June 23, 2004 [ QUOTE ] What! wait till I see you next, £30k BMW's with MAX POWER stick on fins!! What's the world coming to!! [/ QUOTE ] Wondered how long it would take you to find me Mr Brown. I seem to remember a few bits of plastic on the Lexus , around the headlights. I should have gone for the Bluetooth after I saw the aerial as it looks the business. I've ordered the replica but don't know if I'll fit it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPLiiX Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 I bought a Fin too and it's going on the Avant! It's black and will stay that way. Who would know it's not real? Apart from you guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brn7y Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 You should have got this one It has a cool flashing light!! LINKY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 BMW MINI have them as part of the aerodynamics of the car, can have it as well as or instead of the rear spoiler! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fignon21 Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Just got one of those "shark finned" 325's as a loaner - nothing but a radio and phone inside, so must be at least an antenna. Although, my 328i has all sorts of lights and sensors inside that do absolutely nothing until I pony up for the accessories like alarm system, etc. So that shark fin might be for the "underwater James Bond stealth mode" option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobmad Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Shark fin is defo for BlueTooth ONLY - 1st E46 M3 - no options except FCA and 6 CD - No Fin 2nd E46 M3 - HK, FCA, 6CD, Heated seats - No Fin 3rd E46 M3 - SatNav + TV, HK, FCA, 6CD, Heated seats, 19" - No Fin 4th E46 M3 - Bluetooth, SatNav + TV, HK, FCA, Heated seats, 19" - FIN Guaranteee that the fin only comes with bluetooth factory fitted option as standard from BMW. Obviously it can be aftermarket fitted without BlueTooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Can anyone tell me if the Bluetooth phone prep and fin can be fitted at the dealer? I have an M3 with Harmon Kardon system being collected on Friday and although I could do with a phone kit, my experience of having an after market kit fitted into a car with an upgrade stereo system is not good. I am guessing that at least BMW's kit will be designed to handle such things as the HK kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Yes the dealer can retrofit Bluetooth. However, it is extremely expensive - ask them and you'll see what I mean! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Why would you need a fin for bluetooth? Surely having it on the outside is just going to allow for other people to pick it up and make the signal strength weaker inside the car worse since it has to broadcast through the roof? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Why would you need a fin for bluetooth? Surely having it on the outside is just going to allow for other people to pick it up and make the signal strength weaker inside the car worse since it has to broadcast through the roof? [/ QUOTE ] Spot on. Bluetooth is just a means of your handset talking to devices such as your in car hands free kit wirelessly. There are a number of cars now with these fins on, BMW's, Saab 93's, the new GTI etc. On some it is an antenna for the hands free kit to give better signal strength (nothing to do with bluetooth) and on others like the new GTI for example it is for the GPS/sat nav. Not sure that it is necessary to have one of these, personally I think it is a new fashion item similar to 10 years ago when everyone had normal phone antennas on their cars but these days there are more discreet options such as tax disc holders etc and phones are much better. I think it draws attention to your car and is something that can be ripped off by little s with nothing better to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Yeah, my mum had the aerial ripped off her Z3 when it was parked at her work (a small primary school) by some tosser in the village who was skiving off from the local secondary school. My cars got a seperate mobile phone aerial from an old Nokia hands free kit but I just fold it down flat to the rear window that its stuck to as I don't have a Nokia phone and the controlling box for the kit has been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 The fin amplifies the phone signal - not the Bluetooth broadcast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] The fin amplifies the phone signal - not the Bluetooth broadcast. [/ QUOTE ] Gotcha! Surely it'll be there if you have a non-bluetooth phone kit too then, or is that no longer an option with BMW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Nope - Bluetooth kit only. They don't offer another on the M3 now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Nope - Bluetooth kit only. They don't offer another on the M3 now. [/ QUOTE ] Can you get the Bluetooth on the convertibles then? Or do they just locate the aerial somewhere else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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