Playing movies in E70

KREED_X5 · #1 01-07-2011, 05:01 PM

Was wondering why I wasn't able to play a DVD movie in the DVD drive. I have a few friends with DVD drives in their cars and they can play DVD (only while parked). I couldn't even play a movie parked. Is this a feature blocked by BMW and a way for them to get you to purchase the entertainment package? I guess the DVD drive is solely for the Navigation?

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3Series · #2 01-07-2011, 05:08 PM

If you have a DVD changer in the glove box, put the DVD in there. If not, it won't work.

The center console's DVD slot is for navigation only.

KREED_X5 · #3 01-07-2011, 05:11 PM

Thanks, I'll try it when I get home today. Not sure if my changer is DVD or CD only. Are there any markings on the changer that notes which type it is?

blue dragon · #4 01-07-2011, 05:38 PM

Yes, my changer in the glove box clearly says DVD on it. You can also play DVDs on the RES if you have it.

KREED_X5 · #5 01-07-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Yes, my changer in the glove box clearly says DVD on it. You can also play DVDs on the RES if you have it.

RES = Read Entertainment System??? I don't have that option.

gerrypd · #6 01-10-2011, 09:58 AM

Mine plays on the Idrive screen but I have a 2011. I do not know if it makes a difference what model year you have.

black_fx_35 · #7 01-10-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KREED_X5

RES = Read Entertainment System??? I don't have that option.

Rear Entertainment System - sounds like you don't have that either though...

masq · #8 01-12-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KREED_X5

Was wondering why I wasn't able to play a DVD movie in the DVD drive. I have a few friends with DVD drives in their cars and they can play DVD (only while parked). I couldn't even play a movie parked. Is this a feature blocked by BMW and a way for them to get you to purchase the entertainment package? I guess the DVD drive is solely for the Navigation?

I have an 07 model as well, and probably have spent more time on trying to get video to the front seats for this MY E70 than anyone else on this board so far.

The DVD drive you're asking about is for the nav only, and learned from reading a couple other sources that the nav DVD player doesn't even have the decoders to play movies even if you hacked up the wiring. If you have the rear seat entertainment, it'll have a dedicated DVD player for video below the rear climate controls.

I actually looked at every possible way to hack the system to play DVD's from the RSE DVD player to the i-drive screen/after market screen and came up with a few problems:

1. the funky screen size of the i-drive screen would make movies look like crap.

2. that i-drive screen is incredibly difficult to remove.

3. tapping the rear DVD player signal to the i-drive screen is almost impossible, without risking damage to the VERY expensive factory video equipment. instead, I was going to build a custom screen enclosure to just play the video on an after market screen, but the RSE DVD player isn't your typical DVD player with a simple A/V output that could easily be tapped. I tried splicing in to the main wiring harness that leads to the rear screen and found that the harness wiring is actually made up of 6 signal wires that are magnetically insulated -- brown, blue, orange, red, yellow, and green. This wire runs along the left side of the rear screen. There's another harness wire that goes in to the screen, which carries switched power -- white, blue, and white/brown. This wire runs along the right side of the rear screen.

I'm not giving up on my project to add video to the front seats, but it definitely seems like it won't be accomplished by hacking up the factory equipment.

KREED_X5 · #9 01-12-2011, 04:07 PM

What about just doing:

7 Inch Car Rearview Mirror Monitor (XM-710) - China Car Rearview Mirror Monitor, Rearview Mirror Lcd Monitor, Rearview Mirro Monitor in Car Audio & Video

Car Rearview Mirror TFT-LCD Monitor (CY-RV060A) - China Rearview Mirror TFT-LCD Monitor, TFT-LCD Monitor in Car Audio & Video

A friend of mine has an Audiovox brand that fits over his rear view mirror.

masq · #10 01-12-2011, 04:38 PM

Already considered, and decided I wouldn't do a rear view mirror monitor. Aside from being a cop magnet, I wouldn't want to lose the ability to look back while the video is on. I also think the viewing angle of having a screen there isn't as good as having a screen at the dash level.

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