SAT NAV antenna... where is it?

BigCL · Post by **BigCL** » Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:23 pm

Hi all,
The satnav on my shiny but damaged 2014 Z4 has never worked since I bought it. I've researched where the antenna "should" be and came up with
1. under the bootlid somewhere
2. near the interior mirror

I can't see anything resembling a sat nav in either of those places - could anyone point me at where else I should look?

Chris

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:33 pm

Its in the plastic mount fixed to the windscreen in front of the rear view mirror..often damaged when people have aftermarket windscreens fitted...

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... 5209123783

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sun Apr 18, 2021 4:45 pm

Or just buy a new one from eBay for a tenner and ignore the existing one. I put the replacement one above the glove box on the metal (it is magnetic)

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:14 pm

pvr wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 4:45 pm Or just buy a new one from eBay for a tenner and ignore the existing one. I put the replacement one above the glove box on the metal (it is magnetic)

More accurately, the centre speaker grill, which may or may not have any speakers inside it, depending on your audio fit, is steel..

What some people have done, especially those retrofitting Sat Navs have done is pry tool that cover off and glue a GPS aerial under the cover and then run the cable inside the dash...looks a lot neater

Mojito · Post by **Mojito** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:01 am

As Pbondar mentions you can fit a replacement GPS under the centre speaker grill. Have a look at my thread - Another E89 iDrive retrofit.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=124184&start=15

In my case I had to adapt the speaker grill to give reliability, but only a forum menber would know

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:08 am

If you have replacement windscreen, does the antennae get destroyed or is it transferable across.
I have seen the connector.

BigCL · Post by **BigCL** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:38 am

Pbondar wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:33 pm Its in the plastic mount fixed to the windscreen in front of the rear view mirror..often damaged when people have aftermarket windscreens fitted...

Ahhhh - that is for cars up to 2013,mine is a late 2014. The only thing showing behind the mirror is the rain/fog sensor. Also, what is component 3 on the realoem picture?

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:49 am

BigCL wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:38 am
Pbondar wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:33 pm Its in the plastic mount fixed to the windscreen in front of the rear view mirror..often damaged when people have aftermarket windscreens fitted...
Ahhhh - that is for cars up to 2013,mine is a late 2014. The only thing showing behind the mirror is the rain/fog sensor. Also, what is component 3 on the realoem picture?

AFAIK, and according to RealOEM same position was used for all E89s for all years..

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=65_1948

3 is a US specific aerial, probably satellite radio..

BigCL · Post by **BigCL** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:27 am

flybobbie wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:08 am I have seen the connector.

Hi - do you have a picture of the connector?

BigCL · Post by **BigCL** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 1:39 pm

This is what is under the plastic surround by the interior mirror... is it the thing with 3 squares on it?

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:07 pm

I was told by my dealer that the antenna is located there!
They fitted a BMW Gen 1 dash cam to my v2016 car and the antenna for that device was fitted too close and it screwed up my Sat Nav on my first trip to Germany in the new car.

BigCL · Post by **BigCL** » Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:47 pm

Weird thing is that there isn't even that circular antenna cable in that area, so it's not like the antenna has been removed...

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:08 pm

Picture from newtis.....
It's above the interior light (according to that)

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:25 pm

That is where it is my car under the cabin lights. Is it bonded to windshield?
Does it get removed or come with new shield, i need to take a closer look.
I did silly thing, changing the wiper the arm sprung down and bullseyed the windshield in parked position.
If i get new shield i will strip out as much as i can.

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:30 pm

Instructions from newtis....

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com