petersp83
03-08-2011, 03:55 PM
I’m new to this forum and apologize in advance for some newbie type questions. I registered for the forum last fall and then had some medical issues, a death in my immediate family, and other matters arise that took up a fair amount of time for awhile. I'm back now and wanted to pose a few questions and see if I could learn from the experts.
I acquired a silver 2001 525iAT wagon in the fall. It was originally a southern car, the original owner didn’t want to own it past the 100 K mark so he put it up for sale. I got what I felt was a good deal on it and had an intermediary check it out and shipped it to me. I live on Long island I should add.
Since I got the car, I have done some routine maintenance, had some sensors replaced, put new brakes on, and had some minor body dings repaired and tinted the windows. I put a hitch on the back as I haul around a bunch of things. I picked up a sliding top armrest to swap out for the old school phone tray. Car came with the factory BMW business radio, but it being a 2001 I don’t believe it supports certain upgrades as it relates to aux inputs and the like.
Here’s a few questions, pointers, wisdom and advice much appreciated. I will give back to this forum over time.
a) Without replacing the factory look of the radio (and separate CD player behind the hidden dash door) is it possible to upgrade it some fashion to support an aux input, USB plug, ipod interface and also support satellite radio, and still allow you to control functions via the steering wheel buttons? Or is that a pipe dream and there’s no chance of supporting those features without doing away with the original looking dash radio?
If If the only way to accommodate these is to get an after market unit, is there something that is made to coincide with BMW dashes?
I e-mailed Crutchfield, and they suggest the following aftermarket package:
http://www.crutchfield.com/I-rXYEc000/EmailCart.asp?emType=0&emKey=629657
113KDCX595 Kenwood KDC-X595 CD Receiver
127SWIJACK PAC SWI-JACK JVC/Alp/Clari/Ken Steering Wheel Radio Control
Interface
700SIRKENW Sirius Direct Satellite Radio Package for Kenwood
211SC1650B StreetWires SC16 50 foot Spool 16 gauge Blue Speaker Wire
b) The winter we had was just brutal and I missed my old heated seats. The BMW I bought doesn’t have them. Is there a kit somewhere that is geared for adding in a heated seats element after the fact for BMW’s?
c) To my surprise, the rear window doesn’t have a feature to wash the windshield. My old 540 wagon did, but this one doesn’t. Similar to the above, can that be added in after the fact via an existing kit of some sort geared towards BMW’s?
I
I acquired a silver 2001 525iAT wagon in the fall. It was originally a southern car, the original owner didn’t want to own it past the 100 K mark so he put it up for sale. I got what I felt was a good deal on it and had an intermediary check it out and shipped it to me. I live on Long island I should add.
Since I got the car, I have done some routine maintenance, had some sensors replaced, put new brakes on, and had some minor body dings repaired and tinted the windows. I put a hitch on the back as I haul around a bunch of things. I picked up a sliding top armrest to swap out for the old school phone tray. Car came with the factory BMW business radio, but it being a 2001 I don’t believe it supports certain upgrades as it relates to aux inputs and the like.
Here’s a few questions, pointers, wisdom and advice much appreciated. I will give back to this forum over time.
a) Without replacing the factory look of the radio (and separate CD player behind the hidden dash door) is it possible to upgrade it some fashion to support an aux input, USB plug, ipod interface and also support satellite radio, and still allow you to control functions via the steering wheel buttons? Or is that a pipe dream and there’s no chance of supporting those features without doing away with the original looking dash radio?
If If the only way to accommodate these is to get an after market unit, is there something that is made to coincide with BMW dashes?
I e-mailed Crutchfield, and they suggest the following aftermarket package:
http://www.crutchfield.com/I-rXYEc000/EmailCart.asp?emType=0&emKey=629657
113KDCX595 Kenwood KDC-X595 CD Receiver
127SWIJACK PAC SWI-JACK JVC/Alp/Clari/Ken Steering Wheel Radio Control
Interface
700SIRKENW Sirius Direct Satellite Radio Package for Kenwood
211SC1650B StreetWires SC16 50 foot Spool 16 gauge Blue Speaker Wire
b) The winter we had was just brutal and I missed my old heated seats. The BMW I bought doesn’t have them. Is there a kit somewhere that is geared for adding in a heated seats element after the fact for BMW’s?
c) To my surprise, the rear window doesn’t have a feature to wash the windshield. My old 540 wagon did, but this one doesn’t. Similar to the above, can that be added in after the fact via an existing kit of some sort geared towards BMW’s?
I