Cellular Phone - Aftermarket Transceiver Precautions

GROUP 65
Radio and Accessories

Bulletin Number
65 07 93 (3864)

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Feb. 1994
Product Engineering

SUBJECT:
Portable Telephone/Aftermarket Transceiver Use in BMWs W/O External Antenna

MODELS:
All

Situation:
The operation of aftermarket self-contained portable cellular telephones (not connected to an external antenna) used inside the passenger compartment of a BMW may cause interference and control unit malfunctions and faults.

Correction:
Customers should be advised not to use this type of portable cellular telephone transceiver (or any other non-integrated transceiver, e.g. ham radios, VHF radios, CB) while inside the passenger compartment of a BMW vehicle without the use of an outside antenna.

Note
That the current BMW cellular phone systems use an external antenna, and do not apply to this restriction. BMW may offer a portable (handheld) cellular telephone transceiver in the future; however, this unit would be provided with an external antenna system compatible with operation inside the vehicle.

Telephones carried in a BMW vehicle should be in special-purpose bracketry or securely stowed. Handheld portable phones without external antenna connections must be switched in the "OFF" position, not in "STANDBY" mode.

Note:
The wording of the clear windshield decal will be changed to read as follows:

Important:
Installation and operation of non-BMW approved accessories such as alarms, amplifiers, radios, radar detectors, wheels, suspension components, brake dust shields, telephones (including operation of any portable cellular phone from within the vehicle without using an externally mounted antenna) or transceiver equipment (e.g. CB, walkie-talkie, ham radio, or similar) may cause extensive damage to the vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere with the vehicle's electrical system or affect the validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. Refer to your owner's manual and see your authorized BMW dealer for addition information."