Hi All

Just did an install with the following items:

05 MINI Cooper S
Standard stock CD HU
XM Commander tuner box only (it's compatible per blitzsafe)
BMW-MINI/SLD 00 Blitzsafe adaptor

Error message: NO SDARS

Goes through startup OK. Sirius msg then channel 1, them XM Radio. Then NO SDARS.

I've measured 12VDC on the 3 pin flat connector RED and BROWN wires coming from the car and 12VDC on the Tuner power plug (the square 4 pin where the power plug goes when the tuner is used as an XM commander setup. The only one I haven't checked is connection on the back of the head unit. I'll do this later if a quick fix doesn't appear :-)

All connections seem fully connected. The tuner works in another installation and was working 5 minutes before being installed in the car.

When I'm done and it's working I hope to post all the part numbers used for this install. I move the Commander tuner box between the car and a sailboat and home stereo.

I've also posted this question on the Blitzsafe forum.

Thanks!

Rockymt98

 

The problem you are having is a communication error between the interface and the tuner. If the fuse is good inside the interface and none of the white plugs are disconnected on the board, then it may be a problem with that interface. That part yield a very very low defective rate, so I am really surprised. Out of the thousands we have sold, only a very small percentage have come back to us. I suggest returning it to the place of purchase for an exchange. If they give you any problems tell them to contact me.

 

Thanks Marc,

I was really surprised it gave me trouble and I suspected that it was a rare problem when I couldn't find anything on the web about the problem.

I checked the fuse it was fine. What's strange is if I unplug the whole adaptor with the HU set to XM as an input and it shows the NO SDAR count to 20 plug it all back together it will start working. It continues to work until I shut the car off. When I start it back up the NO SDAR is back.

I'll return it for exchange. Will update after reinstalling.

Thanks again

Rockymt98

 

Sent the suspect adaptor back. Got the new adaptor in. Same exact problem.
I'm not convinced it isn't the adaptor again but I have no way to troubleshoot the problem logically without some kind of documentation on pinouts, data, operation sequence etc......The tuner was working fine 5 minutes before I put it in the car with the adaptor. Hope the original adaptor didn't kill the tuner. I have no way to double check the tuner today without driving 1.5 hours to plug it back in the boat.

Is there anyone out there that has successfully installed in a Sat radio ready MINI an XM-RVR-FM-001 tuner (XM commander) with the XM Direct BMW MINI adaptor? Both the vendor I bought it from and Blitzsafe say it will work.

I have documented the entire process with pictures etc. If I ever get it to work I'll post them here with all the part numbers etc.


Rockymt98

 

Update:

Sent both the tuner and the adaptor to Blitzsafe at their request. Potentally it's a problem with the tuner but we couldn't sort it out in the field.

It works intermittantly with the adaptor. Works all the time as an XM Commander.

I'm posting all this with hope that the info will be of value to someone else with similar problems. I apologize if I'm getting obnoxious :smile:

 

FYI:

The problem turned out to be caused by a hardware/firmware change made by Terk in the tuner. That model no longer communicates reliably with the Blitzsafe adaptor. Only the XM Direct tuner or older models of XM Commander will work with the adaptor.

Rockymt98