Why do some cars have.....

[royclark]

In SSP 326 page 73 , you will find a diagram of a rear windscreen of a saloon ...

Module 3 = GPS/antenna for GPS navigation R50

In table in heading 'Available in market version' it says RoW ...

But R50 is shown on MMI basic+ Navigation flow diagram ref page 69 and you have MMI High ...

Perhaps in some situations R50 is used, EG do you have factory fit bluetooth/phone module?

You see on saloon part diagram if select sharkfin it has remark 'GPS,GSM', if select the item same as module 3 in SSP it has remark 'GPS' ...

Perhaps if car not have phone prep (the one which connect to sharkfin) and only nav then perhaps the windscreen module is used ...

Sharkfin is £20+ more than a window module ...

So what is my sharkfin for ?
2009 3G Avant.
I have dvd satnav
Phone prep - never used it, I don't have a mobile phone.

[gupsterg]

So what is my sharkfin for ?
2009 3G Avant.
I have dvd satnav
Phone prep - never used it, I don't have a mobile phone.

Your sharkfin is for GPS/GSM signals ...

@Others

Firstly post 6 of this thread contains info on a SSP / Parts POV for a Saloon and please be aware that SSP is on a MMI 2G iteration POV ...

Next from service guide POV ... I looked at headings below:-

Aerial system basic (up to week 35/08) ... this covers MMI 2G Basic & Basic +
Aerials for MMI (up to week 35/08) ... this covers MMI 2G High

The radio, telephone and navigation system aerial R52 is always installed if a telephone is fitted. If a navigation system is also fitted, the GPS aerial R50 is not required on the rear window.

SDC code R52 cross's with the sharkfin, SDC code R50 cross's with the window module, I must also add the R numbers have relevance when you look at the vehicle in the context of what chassis/equipment fitted ...

So this explains why richball65 has a sharkfin ...

Secondly an Avant does not have the windscreen setup of a Saloon as show in the SSP, my view is after cross ref'ing stuff an Avant will have sharkfin if it has nav or phone prep or both ...

Next I started looking into MMI 3G (A6 2009+) ... I've seen posts where they say MMI 3G Low is equivalent of MMI High thus had a CD changer, NAV, etc, etc...

But looking at this brochure Link:- MY2009 it seems there was what they call A6 Standard spec extract from page 13 below :-

MMI Radio Plus, including
– FM/AM radio
– 10 speakers
– Single CD player
– DSP sound system
– 2x SD memory card readers

Which does not include SAT NAV ref page 41

MMI 3G SAT NAV.jpg

Also it does not have CD Changer, view text above and page 43 ..

MMI 3G CD Changer.jpg

Then you have SE spec, ref page 15 ...

Mobile telephone preparation – Low
(see page 45 for details)
Technology package – Low,* including:
– DVD Satellite Navigation system
(see page 42 for details)
– 6-disc CD changer
– Colour Driver’s Information
System (DIS)

So now you do get phone prep and DVD SAT NAV & CD Changer and colour DIS which std spec does not ... this for me now explains why when I've been viewing some facelift A6's the can have the red DIS couple with MMI 3G ...

SO we can see IMO that the A6 standard spec not have sharkfin either only once you go SE spec and higher it gain one ...

[Brycie]

Sorry to be the fly in your ointment Gup, but I believe my car is SE spec & I don't have the sharkfin aerial. I have Basic Plus, satnav fitted from factory, but bluetooth was not factory fitted, si I don't have phine prep (whatever that is), no phone cradle etc.

[gupsterg]

Hi Brycie you are not fly in the ointment , you just have not followed the indepth posts ...

Why I went into depth is the thread now has MMI 2G & 3G plus Saloon and Avant ...

You have no sharkfin as yours is i) only SAT NAV factory fit ii) is a Saloon ... ...
If you'd had factory BT with armrest phone prep you'd have sharkfin regardless of having or not having SAT NAV ...
If yours had been an Avant you would have sharkfin with the factory options you have ...

So for MMI 2G car's here is a table ...

Chassis	No SAT NAV or phone prep	SAT NAV	Phone Prep in armrest	Both options
Saloon	No Sharkfin	No Sharkfin	Sharkfin	Sharkfin
Avant	No Sharkfin	Sharkfin	Sharkfin	Sharkfin

So I believe same is true for MMI 3G car's ...

[Brycie]

Aah, I see. Apolovies for that, so.etimes I have trouble keeping up with/understanding the more technical posts & get myself confused

[gupsterg]

No worries ... I think I should have just done the table in the first place instead of trying to provide reference material ...

[Brycie]

You shouldn't have to dumb down your posts just to cater for dumba$$es like me . I always wondered why I never had one & was jealous of those with sharkfins, now I know why, thank you.

[gupsterg]

I've just added another column to table in post 14, just for completeness ...
And Brycie mate you're no dumba$$es when I've read some of your posts I wish I could post as eloquently and concisely ...

[MarkTM]

Unless the sharkfin has been added by a previous owner as in the case of my (nav but no phone-prep) SE

[gupsterg]

I think I'll start adding small prints/disclaimers in my posts! ...