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Subject: XM satellite radio receiver installation in a '92 BMW 750iL Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 11221 posts Posted on: 2005-03-02 23:48:38

The satellite antenna was located under the rear parcel shelf for a completely concealed installation. The parcel shelf is made of fiberboard so the satellite signals pass through it without any problems.


The Alpine XM receiver was mounted under the rear shelf in the trunk, next to the stock amplifier.


The power, antenna and control wiring for the XM receiver was passed from the cabin to the trunk via a hole in the car body behind the stock amplifier.


Here's a view of the wiring entering the rear parcel shelf.


The driver's foot panel was lowered so that the RF modulator could be installed next to the alarm controller.


Here's another view showing the RF modulator secured in place (the silver box to the right of the trunk release). The controller/display for the XM receiver was mounted in the ashtray (more on that below) and the wiring for it was snaked under the steering column and into the center console by removing the carpet panel on the side of the transmission tunnel.


The rest of the wiring harness was routed along the edge of the car beneath the plastic sill covers and carpet.


Here you can see the HVAC control panel and radio removed from the center console. This provided enough room to drill a hole in the plastic ashtray drawer assembly through which the wiring harness could pass.


This photo shows how the nearly 1" hole was drilled in the black plastic of the ashtray drawer. The actual ashtray was removed first, of course. Be careful not to drill beyond the inner side of the plastic because there's only about 1/2" of clearance before hitting a plastic vent duct.


The chrome trim on top of the ashtray was removed by unscrewing the two philips screws securing the leather cover.


A cutout was made in the back of the ashtray for the wiring harness.


Power (constant +12V and switched +12V) was obtained by tapping into the fuses for the radio and headlight washers. A small screw was drilled into the body for a ground (the black wire).


And finally, a view of the display/controller mounted neatly in the ashtray!

Unfortunately, I didn't make photos showing how the antenna connections were made, but it's really quite simple. The antenna lead from the RF modulator was routed to the back of the radio and spliced into the antenna cable there.

To operate the XM receiver, I simply tune the radio to 88.7FM then pop out the ashtray and tune the XM receiver directly. It works and sounds terrific and, contrary to what others suggested, the satellite antenna works flawlessly under the rear parcel shelf. I really like the concealed look that this installation offers and hope it proves helpful to others.

David Cecil, KI4GZR
'97 740iL, 129k miles
'92 750iL, 78k miles
'86 735i, 97k miles

www.e38.org has links for everything about your BMW 7-series automobile

• XM satellite radio receiver installation in a '92 BMW 750iL (pic) - DavidC 2005-03-02 23:48:38 (8619 views)
  • Re: XM satellite radio receiver installation in a '92 BMW 750iL - mauijim 2005-03-08 23:41:49 (668 views)
    • Actually, Circuit City did my install, too, though I had to be there - DavidC 2005-03-09 02:39:27 (745 views)