I've got a fitted BMW GSM carphone in a 1998 540i. As recommended by
someone, I bought a SIM card and stuck it in the slot without pressing it
from the credit-card-sized holder they come in. After getting it the right
way up the phone seemed to accept the card. However, it just displays
"Searching" for a few minutes and then gives up.

I don't know where to start troubleshooting this. Incompatible card (phones
usually tell you though), faulty phone, disconnected aerial...?

I am in the UK and the card I bought was Virgin Mobile.

Has anyone else in the newsgroup got one of these phones?

"Dan Buchan" <danbuchan (AT) email (DOT) com> wrote

Check the obvious like fuses and aerial present and connected, but my guess
is that you have bought a SIM on a network that only uses the 18-1900MHz
band and the cars phone only works on 900MHz band.

Look in the menus to get a display of active networks.

If you can see them get a card from O2 or Vodafone! (or borrow a mates).

<turtill (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Seems you can get a Vodafone SIM free online so I'll try that. Thanks.

"R. Mark Clayton" <nospamclayton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote

Genius. The manual says it works on 900MHz and Virgin uses T-Mobile who use
1800MHz. In fact, in case anyone else wants to know, it seems only Vodafone
and O2 are 900MHz. T-Mobile and Orange are 1800. Shame I'm on 3 and my
card only works in 3G phones.

I got it to show Cellnet but then did a search and it just sat there so I'm
not sure if it was remembering having previously used it. I've ordered a
Vodafone card online (they're free!).

"Dan Buchan" <danbuchan (AT) email (DOT) com> wrote

Not the only reason it's a shame...

Initially, but don't you have to top up...

In article <iaklq2lcecd8ufcu06ksmsgdp6da3im8hu (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>, says...
Is your current 540 wired for it? I bought a (the only!) suitable
handset from ebay for around £30 a few months ago, works great (although
only 2 features don't work: incoming caller display & something to do
with not draining the battery if you leave it in place for extended
periods when the car is not being used - there are the things you use by
NOT buying the handset with the BMW-installed phone software).

--

jeremy
['01 BMW 530iA SE Touring]

R. Mark Clayton wrote:
3 are great. Best rates, decent staff in their shops and decent
customer service. I was on T-Mobile for a long time. What a bunch of
shits. Phone choice was a problem on 3 at first but not any more. I
got the Sony K800i last upgrade and it's my favourite phone ever.

That could be a problem. I went for Virgin because they come with free
airtime that lasts indefinitely and you never need to spend money to
continue receiving calls. In the past on other networks you had to keep
topping up to receive calls, and the minutes you bought had an expiry.
Total con. Could not find out from Vodafone's web site whether this is
still the case.

On Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:37:52 -0000, "Dan Buchan" <danbuchan (AT) email (DOT) com> wrote:


Analogue systems have been switched off now - the only one that worked was
either O2 or Vodaphone.

Virgin use the T-Mobile higher frequency transmission masts and Orange also use
the high frequency signals too. O2 & Vodaphone run on the lower frequency band
but not analogue any more.

I used a Nokia CAR-K kit and holder for my 6310i and have now replaced this with
an aftermarket 6230i holder and convertor lead £55 from mobilefun.com (might be
co.uk)

I also junked the original armrest ans it totally useless as the phone unit in
the boot - left the aerial as too lazy to swap and use a sitcky one on the
windscreen

Vehicle 97 740i



Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen
hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote:
This one should be OK, it's GSM, now known as 2G.

ISTR the ones without a phone had a huge and rather useful storage space
inside the armrest. I wonder if there is anything inside the phone one
or if it's just wasted space?

On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:40:22 +0000, Dan Buchan <danbuchan (AT) email (DOT) com> wrote:


What you got was two long narrow storage spaces for a few pens/pencils and or
maybe coins (dash holder is pretty good at that).

I swapped the centre console for the standard NO PHONE one and have not
regretted it as one can collect a shed load of junk in there - much better than
your pocket or floor.



Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen
hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK