E46 Style Sharkfin GPS Nav on E36 - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 06-20-2005, 12:04 PM

Hey, I'm looking into rigging up an e46 style sharkfin to act as the antenna for my gps on an e36. Has anyone heard of this being done before or can anyone point me in the right direction for some suggestions on this?

Thanks.

**Dudesky** · 06-21-2005, 06:17 AM

Looks kinda iffy . . I'm guessing you could lose signal strength by using a different antenna and/or cabling than Pioneer's. But I don't know too much about this yet. I haven't seen or heard of anyone doing this, so maybe there's a good reason why no one has? If it's a matter of fitting Pioneer's antenna into the sharkfin, maybe I can help; I work in a machine shop. Definitely involves removing the headliner- not to piss on your parade, but it might be more of a PITA than it's worth.

**komodo** · 06-22-2005, 01:13 AM

Hum, maybe I could just take a stock e46 sharkfin and mod that splicing wires....

**Spieluhr** · 06-22-2005, 01:26 AM

think about the fact that you will have to drill into the top of your car or your windshield to install this thing. both of these are things i would never dare doing.

**komodo** · 06-22-2005, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spieluhr

think about the fact that you will have to drill into the top of your car or your windshield to install this thing. both of these are things i would never dare doing.

That's VERY true.........

Actually wait, I think the sharkfin is just a strong adhesive.

**Chris** · 06-22-2005, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodo

That's VERY true.........

Actually wait, I think the sharkfin is just a strong adhesive.

but you have to dril to get the wire to the sharkfin

**Dudesky** · 06-22-2005, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodo

Hum, maybe I could just take a stock e46 sharkfin and mod that splicing wires....

Well, that's what I would go with, and not any aftermarket type, b/c none of them look right compared to the OEM; the fin is thicker than the knockoff's I've seen. But if it employs some sort of coax cable you could experience some serious signal loss by splicing it?? Hard to tell w/o looking at the actual parts & connections.

Quote:

Actually wait, I think the sharkfin is just a strong adhesive.

Yea, but your wiring/cable still has to go through the roof. But you should be fine if you do it right: use a center punch to create a dimple where you want the hole, that way the drill it doesn't 'walk' while you try to drill in. Otherwise you'll scratch up the area around the intended hole. Then smooth the hole over, apply primer paint to prevent rust, and use a rubber grommet to help seal the hole and protect the wiring.

**Chris** · 06-22-2005, 05:26 AM

i still think it'd be pretty risky to do it yourself, i'd chekc and see if you can getting done at united bmw at a decent price first, it may be cheaper that repainting your whole roof if you screw it up of if you get the hole off center...this is probably one of those things that are better left to a pro so if something goes wrong it comes out of their pocket not yours...

**Spieluhr** · 06-22-2005, 05:28 AM

I would honestly rather put the antenna in a hidden spot in the trunk or something. This procedure is not worth the risk to damage your car or your pocketbook

**Chris** · 06-22-2005, 05:57 AM

have you thought of wiring it directly to your car? like how thenewer cars have no antenna because the whole car acts as an antenna? or you could hardwire your radio antenna like that and use the old radio antenna as the GPS antenna....

**Rooz** · 06-22-2005, 10:21 AM

They got some for sale here:

http://www.bimmian.com/36

**komodo** · 06-22-2005, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spieluhr

I would honestly rather put the antenna in a hidden spot in the trunk or something. This procedure is not worth the risk to damage your car or your pocketbook

Hum, I'm starting to agree....