NAV screen flickering or going off completely

[crystalworks]

The screen issue is likely caused by the ribbon cable going bad. They used to sell a replacement cable for it on the aftermarket. Don't know if they still do. Replacing it is kind of a pain, but doable. I've done it. Do a google search for it and you'll find plenty of info I'm sure.

[ElectroDan]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

The screen issue is likely caused by the ribbon cable going bad. They used to sell a replacement cable for it on the aftermarket. Don't know if they still do. Replacing it is kind of a pain, but doable. I've done it. Do a google search for it and you'll find plenty of info I'm sure.

Is this the brown/orange ribbon cable inside the front headunit? I did take my original unit apart, unplugged the ribbon cable from the board and re-seated it, with no improvement.


If it's that, it would mean both ribbon cables were faulty (on my original unit and the one from ebay). The ebay unit was sold as fully working, but I guess I won't know unless I connect it to another X5 and see if it still flickers.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by ElectroDan

Is this the brown/orange ribbon cable inside the front headunit? I did take my original unit apart, unplugged the ribbon cable from the board and re-seated it, with no improvement.


If it's that, it would mean both ribbon cables were faulty (on my original unit and the one from ebay). The ebay unit was sold as fully working, but I guess I won't know unless I connect it to another X5 and see if it still flickers.

Definitely test it in another vehicle first.

The ribbon cable is a very common failure. But typically it presents with fading or color issues I think. The flicker I'm unsure of. Wouldn't surprise me, but definitely test that unit in another X if you can. I found this really quickly as a guide. You've already done it so you know taking it apart is not overly difficult, just fiddly.

https://xseries-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2273

Edit: The front monitor in our E53's is just a screen being fed information from the back of the vehicle. Maybe your plugs in the back have corrosion (sunroof drains common to flood the area) or you have a loose connection? You could check the pinouts of the two plugs behind the head unit and see what does what. See what the other end is plugged into. Here you go. I'll see if I can find a connector pinout for the X18801 and X18802 to make tracing easier. But N9 is the radio unit in the trunk,