Windshield Replacement & GPS Antena

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 4:54 pm

My Z4 is currently at the dealership for windshield replacement and I'm told that I need to get a new GPS antenna since the old one can't be reused. Problem is that these antennas are backordered for weeks to get from Germany to the US.

A) How true that GPS antenna can't be reused, and
B) What's the worst case scenario if I ask them to just reuse the existing one?

Thanks.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:12 pm

Normally the GPS aerial can be used, if removed carefully from the old windscreen..

Looks like they buggered it up, hence the call for a new one..

They probably broke it on removing it so its u/s...

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:30 pm

Thank you for the response and input. Good to know that it can be salvageable.

So can the aerial/antenna be installed later on when it arrives? They've had the car for 2 weeks already and now telling me another 2-3 weeks. No waiting that long with the car completely exposed at the service bay.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:39 pm

spielnicht wrote: ↑Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:30 pm Thank you for the response and input. Good to know that it can be salvageable.

So can the aerial/antenna be installed later on when it arrives? They've had the car for 2 weeks already and now telling me another 2-3 weeks. No waiting that long with the car completely exposed at the service bay.

Yes you can use it the GPS hides behind the plastic box in front of the mirror..so can be fitted / removed at any time..

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:58 pm

Two items are "glued" to the windscreen, one is the Rain Light Sensor (auto lights and wipers), but this is only the pad and lens and come attached to the new screen as you unclip the RLS itself. The other is the Fogging Sensor and these are a replaceable item that is stuck to the screen so would require a new one. As mentioned above the GPS just unclips from it's plastic bracket so does not require any replacement at all.
So either your dealer is pulling a fast one or someone is using the wrong terminology and calling the Ainti-Fogging sensor a GPS!!

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:33 pm

Interesting. That's what I thought as well from looking at realoem.com, but wasn't sure. I'm gonna stop by the dealer in person this week and have the conversation in person.

Thank you both for all your input.

SwissTone · Post by **SwissTone** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 3:06 pm

I can confirm as above the GPS Ariel is easy to remove and replace.

Hopefully these photos are clear enough to see the click in holder.

Btw I think OEM fitting of the GPS the cable should go to the left as per the DAB Ariel you see…”I” retro fitted OEM CIC NAV etc to mine last week, with some help courtesy of Dave - AnubisZed (who did all the hard work tbh)

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 5:04 pm

THANK YOU!

Talked to them on the phone this AM and even with your pictures, they're insisting GPS antenna is needed. I am picking up the car on Saturday with everything installed but the "supposedly" needed antenna (still on order). They want me to bring it back when the part arrives. I'm planning on showing them your pictures (since my car would be reassembled) and drilling the heck out of them with questions and justifications to try and understand why it's needed.

SwissTone wrote: ↑Tue Jun 07, 2022 3:06 pm I can confirm as above the GPS Ariel is easy to remove and replace.

Hopefully these photos are clear enough to see the click in holder

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 6:28 pm

My gps antenna has been removed twice and fitted no problem to new screens.

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:35 am

Picked up the car today and confronted them about the rain sensor and the GPS antenna. I even walked in with the NewTIS on my iPad and pointed out where only the condensation sensor had to be replaced. They pushed back really hard on the rain sensor, stating that it had to be replaced. Surprisingly (or not), they caved in very easily on the GPS antenna and even offered to cover the expenses when it actually arrives from Germany. I said thank you but still don't understand why you didn't just put my original one back in.

Anyway, to my shock, my nav was working perfectly fine on the way home. They actually reinstalled the original one. I'm dumbfounded at this point.

Screw the dealership. I wasn't shy to tell them that the only reason I bring my car here is when it's for something I absolutely can't tackle myself.

Beedub · Post by **Beedub** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 9:10 am

spielnicht wrote: ↑Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:35 am Picked up the car today and confronted them about the rain sensor and the GPS antenna. I even walked in with the NewTIS on my iPad and pointed out where only the condensation sensor had to be replaced. They pushed back really hard on the rain sensor, stating that it had to be replaced. Surprisingly (or not), they caved in very easily on the GPS antenna and even offered to cover the expenses when it actually arrives from Germany. I said thank you but still don't understand why you didn't just put my original one back in.

Anyway, to my shock, my nav was working perfectly fine on the way home. They actually reinstalled the original one. I'm dumbfounded at this point.

Screw the dealership. I wasn't shy to tell them that the only reason I bring my car here is when it's for something I absolutely can't tackle myself.

windscreen replacement is a nightmare i don't ever wish to go through again!! the mess and drama it caused on my van was actually unbelievable with at least 5 trips to get it sorted due to poor fitting pieces, if his happened to my Z id be extremely nervous. I recently started installing windscreen protection film , you can literally fire a BB gun a the screen and it with stands it, best thing I ever did! . Glad you got it sorted. my z4 gets its screen protection next week thankfully.

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:51 pm

Yeah not fun at all. Would you mind sharing more about the windshield protection film or if you have a link? I'd definitely be interested.

spielnicht · Post by **spielnicht** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 10:30 pm

I just removed the roof switch cluster to see for myself and the GPS arial is actually missing. Not sure how the car was able to pick up the signal on my drive home yesterday.

Anyway, as everyone said the GPS arial has nothing to do with the windshield replacement. What's even worse is that they made me wait 2 weeks for nothing and wanted me to wait another 2-3 weeks for it to arrive from Germany. That is so infuriating. They simply assumed that I was probably going through my insurance company and they'd make an extra $200+. I hate to know that they would have gotten away with it had it been just another regular unaware customer. If I get time this week, I am going to write BMW NA and formally complain. That's just wrong.

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