Nav firmware is easy to update, so this will be the least of your worries with a new unit, and won't add any value to it, except perhaps telling you that it's indeed a MKIV and that it's been working recently (i.e. since v29 was released)

Yes, MKIV will run Australian maps, which are CD-based.

No, they are wrong about MKIV.

Given the information the dealer has given you so far, I'd do some more research before going ahead, as this is a fairly big and complex DIY project you're taking on...

Contrary to the previous post, you have 90% of what you need for nav.

To add nav you need
1. GPS antenna
2. Navigation computer + mounting brackets
3. Wiring loom to plug nav computer into TV tuner

TV tuner is mounted in the spare wheel well, nav goes on the LHS of the boot, just in front of the tailight, under the window

You may need to change the trim panel - compare your car to one with nav.

And the GPS antenna mounts inside the spoiler on the tailgate - fitting the GPS antenna will be the hardest part - unless you are lucky and already have the antenna fitted...??

You may also need another loom that connects to the light control module (LCM) and instrument cluster (IKE) to deliver the wheel speed pulses and the reverse signal. There's a cheat way around this to remove the hassle of running cables the length of the vehicle: connect to reverse light, and radio TAA tacho signal - both available in the boot already.
Or this loom may already be fitted..?

Anyway, start by downloading and reading the retrofit instructions - available on this website somewhere - they show you the wiring required, most of which you already have.

Jochen

Thanks for info so far. So far I have on the way a MK4 unit, GPS antenna & a frame to mount the unit into. BMW Oz seem to be the most accessible source for the rest of what I need at about $500-$600.

I would really prefer not to run any cabling the length of the car but if I have to then so be it. BMW say that they sell a small loom that attaches to the main loom in the rear and that is all I should need, we will see. After the main bits arrive and I have fitted them I will roll into BMW Sydney and see what I am missing and buy the bits from them.

I have seen a few retrofit guides on this and other sites but they all seem to involve fitting the full loom and monitor, etc. I hope that whatever BMW Sydney have is simply plug in or with adequate instructions.

The next thing I will need is a CD map, BMW Oz want $330 for it which is not too unreasonable I guess but I would prefer to buy it on ebay or somewhere else for less!

I have seen a few maps on eBay but they seem to be mainly V12 do not seem to be for E53 X5. Any clues here would be greatly appreciated!

Again, thanks for all the replies.

__________________
PC

04 X5 3.0D
Sydney, Australia

I assume you've looked here already?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...39&hg=65&fg=95
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...39&hg=65&fg=50

Yep I did this install on my 2006 model all I needed was an arial and the cable lume....call BMW give them your vin number for the correct lume and away you go.

Great info thanks to all, I will be starting this project in a few weeks as all the various parts come in and have ordered a USB interface for the NavCoder so I will post here with progress.

I will have to try to find a NAV V12 or 13 CD as I have not found one of these yet, if anyone has any idea where to get one other than paying full price from BMW Australia I would be grateful to hear from them, thanks.

__________________
PC

04 X5 3.0D
Sydney, Australia

PC_X5 If you need to code/retrofit the NAV into the vehicle control system let me know after you fitted it all up I can help you with this Plus I have Map 12 at work too if you need it.

Cheers

Bourdo

Thanks for that, I am just gathering all my bits first then will go for the install in a few weeks. From what I can see the install should be fairly straight forward as I already have thew 16:9 screen with TV installed.

I will stay in touch.

__________________
PC

04 X5 3.0D
Sydney, Australia

Ok, the retrofit is done and it was fairly easy, for those with an Oz facelift X5 (mine is a 3.0D Feb 04 Build) that came fitted with the 16:9 monitor with TV but no Nav, it is a fairly easy install.

First you need the following:

BMW Nav Computer Mk 2,3,4 - $725 (RRP ~$2000)

I bought a used Mk4 DVD on eBay for 450 Euro (inc GPS antenna - they forgot to deliver the Antenna which was only 10 Euro! bugger! & delivery $20 Euro) from a regular Nav seller in Lithuania. It took about 3 weeks for delivery and the unit works ok. His ebay name is nikkin777 (how funny is that! I wonder where he gets them from?.......) and he has excellent feedback.

Below are all the bits you can get from your local BMW (Australian) dealer, I bought my bits from Alto BMW Sydney. The BM- at the start of the part number is specific to Alto and not part of the original BMW part number.

1 x PN BM-65908385987 Bracket Nav Kit - $21
This is for mounting the Nav Computer into then fitting to the frame in the rear. It does not come with nuts and bolts (you need 4 of these nuts and bolts).
1 x PN BM-61126919758 Nav Loom - $54
There are 2 different retro looms available, this one was for X5 built after 01/02 I think, the other one was for X5 before 01/02.
2 x PN BM-07129902389 Nut Nav Kit - $1
For the GPS Antenna mounting.
1 x PN BM-65908381206 GPS Aerial - $95
Only has about a 12 inch cable, need the extension!
1 x PN BM-61128377434 GPS Aerial Cable Extension - $88

Total ~$260 + Mk4 Computer $725 = $985. If you need a MAP CD for Australia, the dealers sell them for about $350 otherwise you can use a copy if you have one from another BMW or wherever you can get it.

You will also need 4 x nuts and bolts to bolt the frame into the housing above your CD stacker behind the rear left panel in your boot. A few cable ties are useful too.

Tools required are a philips, a flat blade, a set of Torx bits and a basic socket set.

Procedure

- Remove the boot cover to expose the spare.
- Remove the lefthand side cover in the boot (where the CD stacker is)
- Remove (3 x nuts about 10mm?) the black plastic cover thing in on the boot floor on the left in front of the CD stacker.
- Locate the 3 plugs for the wiring harness and plug your new loom into those.
- Route the loom cable around the back of the frame.
- Remove the spoiler, pull the inside black plastic trim at the top of your rear door towards you (it snaps off), remove 2 x rubber grommets on the left and right inside top of rear door.
- Remove the 5 x Torx screws holding on the top of the spoiler (2 under the grommets, 2 below them and one in the middle). This will only remove the top fibreglass section of the spoiler, there is nmore to remove.
- Remove the 2 nuts on top of the inner spoiler housing to give the inner spoiler housing some room to move but do not pull it off as you might break the TV antennas mounted there, you can disconnect the water spray jet hose on the left to allow you to easily lift the left hand side of the spoiler housing up to mount the GPS antenna.
- Mount the GPS antenna on the 2 x upright bolt shafts on the left, screw it down using the nuts you purchased from BMW, the GPScable exits towards the rear of the car.
- Remove the flat rubber grommit next to the GPS antenna (on the right).
- Route the GPS Cable thru the hole and plug with the attached cable plug.
- Attach the GPS cable extension lead.
- Remove the rubber boot on the left between the door and the car body.
- Feed the lead thru the door frame to the rubber boot between the door and the car body.
- Good luck getting the damn cable thru this rubber boot! I cut a section of coat hanger about 12 inch and attached it to the GPS connector (on the lip so it pushed the connector) and then taped it tightly and pushed it thru the rubber boot.
- Refit the rubber boot between the back door & the car body.
- Remove 1 philips screw in the rear left pillar plastic (about on the same level as the top of the rear left CD cover/trim)
- Pull the rear left plastic pillar housing forward and at the same time pull down on the roof lining to get access to where the GPS cable is exiting the car body into the roof lining.
- Route the GPS cable down the pillar and into the back of the GPS computer frame.
- Put everything back together.
- After sliding the Nav computer into its bracket it will click into position then plug in the 2 connectors & the 1 GPS lead into the nav computer. You will hear it buzz and whirr and the lights will flash.
- Mount the bracket into the frame with 4 nuts & bolts.

You are now finished. Whilst there seems like a lot of steps they do go fairly quickly, by far the most difficult and time consuming job is mounting the GPS antenna and routing the cable down to the Nav computer.

Also, refitting the centre plastic inside at the top of your door. When you remove it the metal stay clips come out too and stay on the plastic piece, best to remove the metal stays and pop them back in the holes in the door then pull up the left and right plastic pieces on the corner of the door a bit, bend the middle of the large centre plastic you are refitting and lock in the left and right ends into the corner plastics, then get under it and line it up ready to push/clip home.

When you open the car door, you should now see a BMW logo on your TV , you will now need a Nav CD and will need to calibrate the GPS unit. You may also want to update to the latest OS 29.1 or whatever, if you have this CD just pop it in and it will boot and install the new OS. I have yet to fit my Oz CD but presume that it will work after calibrating the unit, which I have read somewhere requires you to sit the car out in the open for 30 minutes with the ignition on?

After reading all the Nav Retrofit PDF’s on the web, I was relieved that my car was soooo easy with all the connectors and wiring largely in place. I was also pretty happy to save a few gorillas on the $3500 BMW Sydney quoted to supply parts and fit!!!

__________________
PC

04 X5 3.0D
Sydney, Australia