Originally Posted by UKenGB

On some (mostly non US) X5s there is an AV In and AV Out socket mounted in the rear of the centre console, ideally situated so that rear seat passangers can use them. But there is a lot of confusion surrounding their exact spec. I have been trying to get to grips with the AV input and this is what I have discovered.

First of all, the AV input to the TV can be selected from the AV button next to the sockets or from the front TV screen, the AV option is one below Programme 1 (and/or above Programme 30). The TV format for this input is set independently to other inputs. IOW, for TV reception you specify the country you are in and this will set whether it uses PAL, SECAM or NTSC. The reversing camera is ALWAYS NTSC and this AV input can be set to either of the above 3 modes without affecting TV reception.

Next, you will not get a picture if the car is moving. I have been variously told that it needs to be in P and/or with the handbrake on. The latter is certainly not true, but the former may be, I didn't check it myself. Just make sure it's in P when you test anything.

Now we come to the socket itself. This is NOT a 4 way AV type 3.5mm jack socket as stated elsewhere on this forum and also by my BMW dealer. I really couldn't see why they would use a 4 way socket as this would carry Composite video, left and right audio plus ground and this didn't make sense as the TV tuner only has a MONO audio input.

In fact I have ascertained that it is a regular stereo jack, but connected for Video and Mono audio. So Tip/Ring/Sleeve is Audio/Video/Gnd. Now maybe it's just me, but this seems totally barmy, being completely non standard and not even stated obviously so that the correct lead can be used. In fact I can only assume you are meant to make your own as I know of nothing else that uses this configuration. But maybe that's just my ignorance and there's lots of kit that does.

Anyway, once I set the AV input to the correct format (I used PAL as that's what the iPod was set to) and arranged the correct connection, I had video on the front screen and MONO audio. Not ideal, but at least it is doing what it is supposed to, despite BMW's best efforts at keeping it all a secret.

Of course there is still the question of why BMW thought MONO audio was acceptable, but I'm afraid I cannot answer that.