An update on my newly bought sexy friend.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Wow that is a lot of bread for bluetooth. On top of that is installation and coding. I would say pushing a cool $G when all said and done. I don't know. Dice Media Bridge sounds very good at this point. You get bluetooth, and a whole lot more for a whole lot less money.

My programming was $100. That puts my install at around $700. A lot for BT, but if you're the kind of person who likes OEM and that fits in your definition of done 'right,' then you might feel- like I do- that it's worth it.

It also depends on what kind of car guy you are. If you go through a lot of cars, a spend like this won't return on the near term sale. It's like putting a pool on a house. You spend $30-50k but only get back ~30% on the sale of the house. Like a car mod, you get return by using it for a long time. No one 'pays you back' for car mods when it's time to sell.

I still have my first car I bought 26 years ago- a 1975 2002. My E39- 12 years. My wife's E46- 10 yrs. The E53 before this one- 7 years. I expect I'll have this one for as long as it takes to die. If I keep it for 10 more years and can use BT every time I drive it, I'm happy to spend the money to have it done the way *I* feel is 'right.' But that's the world through my screwy lens. Everyone else is welcome to use and enjoy the BMW experience with their own.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Yep. This was the death knell. From SIB 84-13-04.

I love how they give false hope. You would think in a $86K car, Bluetooth would be something they would put in, even in 2004.

I remember when the New CTS 3.6DI 4 came out in 2007, it was supposed to be the most technologically advanced system designed. When the first batch rolled off the line, no option for BT, only through OnStar??? Hmmm, people were in such an uproar, GM allowed those with earlier productions to obtain a BT module for free and bypass OnStar.

I was looking on e-bay for a unit, but looking at all of them, it looks like they are all made in early 2004. So those won't work either.

AWESOME!!!

[TwinTurboGTR]

Yeah I concur with Prop. I mean I was going to go the MediaBridge route, but heard that the BT is iffy and can't use the steering controls. Although the iPod function is kool, I'd rather just tether an iPod using an Aux cable than using Mediabridge, just because of the BT reason.

Just like when I see aftermarket single din Headunits in our E53's, I cringe. unless they custom made that box to fit that tiny door, it looks out of place. Sure that headunit has everything and can do cool things, but looks out of place. Like putting trash can twin exhaust on a M5.

[SlickGT1]

Personally I am with Prop as well. Just saying there are options. I too would just get the BT module and retro fit it.

Honestly, this is the first time I was made aware that BT is not functional in some of the Xs. Sort of a shocker really.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Someone is selling the entire Nav unit on here. I think it is JST. He has got EVERYTHING for $1000.

yeah I pm'ed him, if it really is plug n play i'd def consider it. I just keep hearing that you need to do a retrofit harness though?

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Personally I am with Prop as well. Just saying there are options. I too would just get the BT module and retro fit it.

Honestly, this is the first time I was made aware that BT is not functional in some of the Xs. Sort of a shocker really.

Bro, I thought I said us 4.8is'rs were gangster!!! lol.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

yeah I pm'ed him, if it really is plug n play i'd def consider it. I just keep hearing that you need to do a retrofit harness though?

I don't think so. The wiring is all there, it should be PNP.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

yeah I pm'ed him, if it really is plug n play i'd def consider it. I just keep hearing that you need to do a retrofit harness though?

In the E39's of the era with MKI-MKIV (MKIV=DVD-based), a factory navigation harness was different from the radio-only harness. I know of many folks who did the factory retrofit when the E39 was still in production. The navigation harness was a few $100 bucks then- probably $500, now- and had different plugs for the rear to the navi computer and radio as well as at the front to the new navi head unit. The only PnP that I know of is from the 4:3 navi to the 16:9 screen and the MKII-MKIV upgrades. I know bc I did them in my E39 about 9 years ago.

IIRC, those without DSP need to consider that all navi units are DSP. Those parts- DSP amp and harness- need to be considered when upgrading a non-navi E53.

Now all of this E39 reference may be nonsense, but I think it is beyond reasonable to consider that the head units and navi components are the same (with a slight pixel difference for viewing in the E53) through the concurrent production runs of E39 and E53. I think you'll find that you have to replace the factory radio harness with a factory navi harness for the E53 conversion as well. If the $1000 sale includes this harness, and the brackets for mounting the hardware in the front and the rear, you have a good deal. If it's just the front and rear units, expect to purchase around $5-600 of additional hardware to 'look' and 'feel' like an OEM install.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

In the E39's of the era with MKI-MKIV (MKIV=DVD-based), a factory navigation harness was different from the radio-only harness. I know of many folks who did the factory retrofit when the E39 was still in production. The navigation harness was a few $100 bucks then- probably $500, now- and had different plugs for the rear to the navi computer and radio as well as at the front to the new navi head unit. The only PnP that I know of is from the 4:3 navi to the 16:9 screen and the MKII-MKIV upgrades. I know bc I did them in my E39 about 9 years ago.

IIRC, those without DSP need to consider that all navi units are DSP. Those parts- DSP amp and harness- need to be considered when upgrading a non-navi E53.

Now all of this E39 reference may be nonsense, but I think it is beyond reasonable to consider that the head units and navi components are the same (with a slight pixel difference for viewing in the E53) through the concurrent production runs of E39 and E53. I think you'll find that you have to replace the factory radio harness with a factory navi harness for the E53 conversion as well. If the $1000 sale includes this harness, and the brackets for mounting the hardware in the front and the rear, you have a good deal. If it's just the front and rear units, expect to purchase around $5-600 of additional hardware to 'look' and 'feel' like an OEM install.

Well my car has DSP, I guess that helps.

So you basically confirmed my belief that my X5 doesn't "have all plugs and wiring for nav already", and that if I were to get a 16:9 monitor, brackets, BM53 radio, and MKIII or IV navigation computer, I'd still need to run the proper wiring harnesses as well as gps antenna to have working navigation.

I don't want to clog the thread so you can pm me if you know more about retrofitting nav into an X5 that was not factory equipped.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I don't want to clog the thread so you can pm me if you know more about retrofitting nav into an X5 that was not factory equipped.

Don't want to clog either, but for those curious, TriX5's thread from 2010 is one of the best guides for the DIY retrofit and the related challenges.