Just replaced LCD screen in Nav monitor!

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by rebouch1

Toadhall1248 - thanks for the tip....after installing 3 different screens with the same results, i went ahead and followed Texaspaul's post on the link you provided. These are the only additional tips that I have:
1. Follow Texaspaul's recommendation and take a pictures of all the screws before you adjust. I made a lot of adjustments initially to see what the screws did to the screen and I really lost myself, so I had to reset them all back to the picture I took before I started.
2. Use a mirror (my wife held it so that when I was adjusting the screws I could see what it was doing to the screen. You still have to put it in the "normal" position to ensure that the viewing angle is good from the driver/passengerseat.
3. The screws that seemed to work for me was a combination of the 2nd from the bottom of the left screw set (4 screw row) in Texaspauls and the 3rd and 4th screws from the bottom on the right screw set (6 screws in the row).


It just takes patience and small adjustments to each of the screws to get the result.

Just a question. I haven't needed to do this, but can't you just mimic the positions from the old screen you took out or is it different on the original screen where you can't see the adjustment pots?

[rebouch1]

I wish it were that easy, but unfortunately the adjustment screws/pots are on the circuit board of the radio and not on the screen itself. It looks like the only adjustment screws on the back of the screen may be for horizontal and vertical position adjustments.

[e39devo]

For those of you who received dim screens, can you post which vendor you got it from?

[YervArhocho938]

Been a while since I’ve posted!

My 04’s screen had dead pixels like many here. I’m grateful to all those who’ve contributed to this thread, and especially for the PDF instructions.
And I watched this video which has some useful information:

https://youtu.be/-jRorExbnqI

I bought a 51U unit listed on eBay for ~$100 which said the unit was “New (other)” and specifically for E53. When it arrived after about two weeks, the part number label on the back upper right was removed, with some remnants of the sticky part remaining. It looked like a refurbished unit rather than new.

I proceeded anyway. The disassembly and replacement worked out okay except the smaller clip on the two wire cable broke when I removed it to re-route the cable (see below for the reason).
The viewing angle was not correct though. Probably a unit for an E39. I contacted the seller and he said that he wanted to work things out, suggesting it might be a bad unit. After reading through the 200+ comments here, I decided that was unlikely, just the wrong part. So I suggested about a 30% refund. He came back with an even larger refund, asking that I not leave negative or neutral feedback. I agreed and I’m happy enough with the display, until it needs replacement again.

My tips:

1. The trim piece on my nav display has three clips along the bottom (at 15, 50, 85 percent along the bottom edge) and two on the top. The PDF says two + two, I think.

2. After reading through this whole thread, I didn’t see anyone mention that you can *insert a cassette tape about two-thirds into the unit to keep the display from closing up*. Easier than removing the fuses or trying to remove everything quickly, if you have a cassette!

3. Be careful to note the *path* of the four cables that clip into the back of the circuit board. I ran the smallest cable, which comes from the LCD along the outside edge. When I tried to re-assemble, the two plastic shell pieces wouldn’t fit together. I ended up having to remove everything and re-route that cable on the inside. In doing so, I broke the smallest two pin connector in half. It still works, fortunately.

4. With the ribbon cables, I used my fingers to loosen the clips, rather than a tool. I tried small screwdrivers, pliers and some plastic tools from my computer toolkit. I found using fingernails to be the least likely to break the clips.

5. I decided not to adjust the screws to change the viewing angle. It’s not perfect but I can still see it in the sunlight from my normal seating position. I don’t use the navigation function. Too many road changes since the last updated map.

Thanks to all those who’ve posted good information!

[zboost]

Originally Posted by toadhall1248

It is unlikely that you have received two displays that are faulty, simply that the bordmonitor needs to be adjusted to bias the electronics correctly to provide a bright clear display with the correct viewing angle. These screens are not individual to each model. They are produced for a variety of LHD and RHD and must be adjusted to suit the vehicle. (normally done on the bordmonitor assembly line)
I have searched high and low without any real success on the internet to find a correct procedure for adjusting the bordmonitor but it seems the manufacturers consider it a state secret.
The only way I have been able to adjust my screen is trial and error. Use a dim environment and adjust the pots one at a time to see the effect while viewing the screen in a mirror.
There is a partial description of how to do this by TEXASPAUL on Bimmerboard.com Adjusting 16x9 BoardMonitor (Very Long)
Good luck, and if you do come up with a decent method, please post it back here.

Thank you for the tip and the link. I've been wondering for months what's the "culprit" with the dim replacement screens. Now I get it, you need to adjust the potentiometers when you put new screen.
Anyway I've managed to just restore the blue to mine original screen. It had yellow haze, all I did is take the monitor out and clean and reseat the ribbon cables. Hopefully it will last and will not replace for now.

[demian5]

Sometimes my 2003 x5 widescreen works (with 3 big dots) and sometimes its all white. It seems to be temperature driven.

Any ideas?

Ribbon cable?
NAV unit in back?

Link to same issue?

Thanks!

[amancuso]

Could be a bad screen or the nav unit in back. Take a pic of the three dots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gtiownr]

Just swapped mine out and it looks great! Though, we had to pull it back apart and rig it up to fix the horizontal plane. Very happy w/ it and color/brightness looks great!

[GarageGuy]

I just recieved my SHARP *BR51U Display and installed it.
It works and looks good but unfortunately the picture is about 5mm too far to right side now
I guess this can be adjusted with the "H-POS" screw on the back of the display.


Is there any procedure to adjust this without removing and build the screen back in after every adjustment on the H-POS screw ?

[gtiownr]

My son and I put it back together w/ out all the covers. He helped me support the screen while we plugged it in. Then I would look at the screen and then adjust the screen until it looked centered. There is a link somewhere in the this thread to another thread/forum that explains how to do this but I cannot find it...