Brief description of components

The aerials supply signals for the aerial system:

• FM aerial 

  The FM aerial receives radio stations and traffic information in the FM (VHF) range (FM stands for "Frequency modulation"). The number of FM aerials installed in the aerial system varies:

  • R55, R56

    3 FM aerials: (FM 1, FM 2, FM 3)

    For space-saving reasons, the FM 4 aerial does not exist physically. The FM 4 aerial is formed from the HF signal of the FM 1 and FM 2 aerials by way of heterodyning. This improves FM reception.

• AM aerial 

  The AM aerial receives radio stations in the SW, MW and LW ranges (SW stands for "short wave"; MW stands for "medium wave and LW stands for "long wave").

• TV aerial 

  The TV aerials receive analogue or digital television signals.

• DAB aerials (Europe version) 

  The DAB aerials picks up high-frequency signals (digital signals) from the radio transmitters (DAB: Digital Audio Broadcasting).

  Different DAB aerials are used for radio reception:

  • DAB L aerial (frequency range: L-band)

    The DAB aerial is used for reception in urban areas.

  • DAB III aerial (frequency range: III-band)

    The DAB aerial is used for regional reception.

• GPS aerial 

  The GPS aerial picks up navigation signals transmitted by GPS satellites (GPS: Global Positioning System).

• Telephone aerial 

  The telephone aerial is designed for the GSM mobile communication network and for other services, e.g. CDMA. (GSM stands for "Global Standard for Mobile Communication"; CDMA stands for "Code Division Multiplex Access")

• Emergency GSM aerial 

  The emergency GSM aerial is installed in vehicles with TCU (TCU stands for "Telematics Control Unit")

  An emergency call can be transmitted through the emergency GSM aerial if the external telephone aerial is not working, because of an accident, for example.

• SDARS aerial (US version) 
  • R55, R56

    High-frequency signals (digital signals) from satellites and stationary aerials for terrestrial reception are picked up by an SDARS aerial on the vehicle. (SDARS stands for "Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service")

    An aerial cable routes the signals to the satellite tuner.

The individual aerials are integrated in the aerial system as follows:

• Aerials in rod aerial 
  • R55, R56

    Depending on the vehicle's equipment specification, up to 6 different equipment versions are possible.

• Aerial in the rear window 
  • R56

  Conductors pressed onto the heated area of the rear window act as aerials. The heated area connections for the heated rear window are decoupled from the aerials by rejector circuits.

• Aerials in side window 
  • R55

    The television aerial (TV 2) is integrated into the rear right side window. The following aerials are integrated into the rear left side window:

    • TV aerial (TV 1)
    • DAB aerial (frequency range: III-band)
    • FM aerial (FM 2)
    • FM aerial (FM 3)
    • VICS aerial (VICS 2) for Japan navigation system
• Aerial amplifier with aerial diversity for FM 

  The aerial amplifier compensates for losses that occur in the aerial line. The aerial diversity function makes available the signal from the aerial with the best reception to the radio.

• Compensator 

  The compensator equalizes losses in the telephone aerial wire. The compensator can be retrofitted at the customer's express wish to improve reception.

• Suppressor filter 

  The suppressor filter suppresses interference from the rear window aerials in the additional brake light wires. Filter circuits in the interference suppression filter are designed to suppress conducted interference. The interference suppression filter is located in the positive and earth cable of the auxiliary brake light.

• Rejector circuit for heated rear window 

  The current to the conductors in the rear window is fed through 2 rejector circuits. The rejector circuits act as throttles to reduce the transmission of interference pulses in the aerials from the vehicle electrical system.

  A rejector circuit is integrated into the earth wire on the left-hand side of the rear window. An identical rejector circuit is integrated into the positive (+) wire on the right-hand side of the rear window.

  • R55

    A rejector circuit is located in each split door, above the rear window.

  • R56

  The rejector circuits are located in the tailgate under the rear window.

• TV aerial amplifier 

  Each television aerial is connected to a TV aerial amplifier. The TV aerial amplifier compensates for losses that occur in the aerial line. The TV aerial amplifiers are powered remotely by the video module.

  • R55

    The TV aerial amplifier for TV 2 is integrated in the aerial amplifier for AM and FM. The TV aerial amplifier for TV 1 is installed at the right-hand C-pillar. The TV aerial amplifiers are connected to the video module.

  • R56

  The TV aerial amplifiers are integrated in the AM and FM aerial amplifiers.

• Coaxial cable 

  The coaxial cables carry high-frequency signals, e.g. between the aerial amplifier and the radio.

• RAD_ON wire 

  The RAD_ON wire carries the "Radio on" signal. The RAD_ON wire switches on the aerial amplifier with aerial diversity and the AM/FM aerials.

• Radio, M-ASK, CHAMP or CCC 
  • BMW "Audio" radio, BMW "Business CD" radio, BMW "Professional" radio A MOST bus is fitted for the BMW "Professional" radio and higher.
  • M-ASK or CHAMP: Multi-audio system controller or multimedia platform The M-ASK is fitted with option "Business Navigation". The menus are displayed on the Central Information Display (CID).

    In the US version, the Central Headset and Multimedia Platform (CHAMP) is operated as the BMW Professional radio instead of M-ASK. In contrast to M-ASK, CHAMP does not have a navigation system.

  • CCC: Car Communication Computer

    The CCC controls all information and communication systems. The menus are displayed on the Central Information Display (CID).

• TCU: Telematics control unit 

  A transmitter/receiver module (transceiver) with its own SIM card is installed in the TCU (SIM stands for "Subscriber Identity Module").

• VM: Video module 

  The video module is the central receiver unit for the picture signals from the TV aerials. In addition, the video module is a selector switch for the video sources. All TV aerial amplifiers are powered remotely by the video module.

• IBOC: Digital tuner US (US version only) 
  • R55, R56

    IBOC is an FM tuner that can receive additional digital information (IBOC stands for "In-Band On-Channel").

    IBOC performs the task of the conventional tuner. This means the tuner function of the conventional tuner is coded inactive.

  • SDARS: Satellite tuner (US version only) 

    SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) facilitates digital radio reception via satellite and terrestrial reception via stationary aerials