white screen normally means no video signal.

I would suggest:

Dismantle the monitor and check the ribbon cable from screen to main unit, ensure it is seated properly in its connector. Be careful with the cable, it can be broken and damaged if handled roughly.
Inspect the cable for cracks as well.

Check the all fuses for the system - measure, do not inspect by sight.

Confirm the nav is OK by trying it in another car.

Thank you. Before I dissasemble the monitor, is there another way to:

a) provide an alternate video signal to the bordmonitor (i.e. VGA, component video) so it can be bench tested
b) output video signal for the GPS units to an external standard television or computer monitor (i.e. old CRT, etc...)

I see that others have accomplished the first one such as in this thread.

I bought this from someone on eBay and they shipped it insured. He says he will file claim so I can get my money back. I would like to know certifiably without any doubt that the monitor is not working. Also I am not sure if it is worthwhile for me to dissasemble the unit if I will be refunded or reimbursed for repair.

It's a 2006 unit (246 model) manufactured in 04/05. I bought this one since I figured it would be less likely to be broken.

What do you mean by measuring the fuse... Use a multimeter or something?

I think the ribbon cable having loose connection is very possible. The screen is white with radio on or off and I think it stays white even if i disconnect the GPS unit entirely.

I am waiting to see what my options are here first. I think I found a good reference link for dismantling the unit here.

__________________
Indy Shops:

Berkeley:
German Auto Sport

Phoenix:
Babbitt Motor Werks | Arizona Bimmer Motor Works

Reno:
Reno Rennsport

Rides:
00 BMW X5 4.4
93 Nissan 300ZXTT
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #853
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #773
84 Nissan 300ZXT 50th AE
78 Datsun 280Z Black Pearl
15 Yamaha WR250R
06 Yamaha R1 AE

Email:
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Only using a BMW device as source. The monitor uses RGB, but has sync on green (RGsB). Not many if any devices support RGsB.
Plus, you need to wake up the monitor with ibus messages, which unless you have other BMW devices or emulators on your test bench, won't be possible.

Yep. Connect a standard TV to the green output. It will have sync on it, so the TV will sync. But you will of course only see the green signal. But you will see something. Make sure the TV is a multi-system TV.

Easier is to look at all 3 signals with an oscilloscope.

Easiest way is to try in another car with a known good system


You could use the ruler, and determine the size in mm. But that won't help you. Yes, I mean use a multimeter, make sure you have no fuses with cracks you cannot see.

White = no video signals at all.

Dismantling is straight forward in terms of separating the screen from the body.


Good luck!

OK, again thank you for the excellent information. I would try GPS units in another car if I knew someone who was willing to let me test it. The two folks I approached on this forum who are local to me with NAV were not comfortable with this at all.

So... I think perhaps the TV idea is worth trying. How do I know if it's a multi-system tv? Does it have to be component input or can it be just single rca video input? Only green will work because it has sync? How do the other two channels (R,B) work? Is it something special with regards to the boardmonitor?

So on the blue connector pinout on the monitor harness (12 pin) which pin is Green? I guess I could just try each one until i see something...

So if WHITE means no video signals at all that would mean one of the following in order if what i think is least to most likely:

1) Both GPS units are not providing all 3 video signals (or will lack of only green signal cause white screen?)
2) Wiring fault in wiring loom for all 3 video signals (or will fault on just green signal wire cause white screen?) Is there a good way to test these connections with the multimeter? I was getting funky voltage readings on these wires even with car battery disconnected using multimeter in conjunction with a 1.5V AA battery. How does the 18-pin blue connector at the GPS unit relate to the 12-pin blue connector on the monitor?!
3) Problem with monitor (i.e. ribbon cable needs to be reseated - but would this not cause a blank screen?)

Another person from mp3car.com reccomended that I try powering up the display out of the car with no video input, if it stays white its definately a screen problem (makes sense), if it powers up but stays black then its not the display.

I am not sure how to do this, I assume i will need to supply a +12V and ground. Again I am unsure of the pinouts, is power supplied via white 12 pin connector, blue 12 pin connector or both!? I am thinking I might be able to accomplish this with an ATX power supply and/or computer case cables. I don't want to fry my stuff either lol

Thanks so much for your help. Any input is appreciated.

__________________
Indy Shops:

Berkeley:
German Auto Sport

Phoenix:
Babbitt Motor Werks | Arizona Bimmer Motor Works

Reno:
Reno Rennsport

Rides:
00 BMW X5 4.4
93 Nissan 300ZXTT
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #853
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #773
84 Nissan 300ZXT 50th AE
78 Datsun 280Z Black Pearl
15 Yamaha WR250R
06 Yamaha R1 AE

Email:
WE350Z at gmail

OK good news! I got refunded most of my money back, so I can try to tinker with the unit and if all else fails either buy another one or pay Alpine to fix it. Still a hassle but at least I am not getting totally hosed here lol

__________________
Indy Shops:

Berkeley:
German Auto Sport

Phoenix:
Babbitt Motor Werks | Arizona Bimmer Motor Works

Reno:
Reno Rennsport

Rides:
00 BMW X5 4.4
93 Nissan 300ZXTT
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #853
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #773
84 Nissan 300ZXT 50th AE
78 Datsun 280Z Black Pearl
15 Yamaha WR250R
06 Yamaha R1 AE

Email:
WE350Z at gmail

Look in your TV user manual & read the specs, look in the settings menu.

Single RCA should give a pic

Correct

Putting sync on all 3 x signals is redundant. The monitor only needs 1 x sync pulse. Hence sync is only on one signal.

Nearly. Standard RGB signals have sync only one one signal. If you have a TV with YUV component signal input, connect the nav G to the Y terminal.

Blue connector:
Pin assignments at plug connector X1313

Pin Type Description / Signal type Connection /
Measuring notes
1 E Voltage supply terminal 30 Fuse F56
2 Not used
3 E/A I-bus signal line I-bus connector
4 Not used
5 E Navigation video signal, green On-board monitor
6 E Navigation video signal, blue On-board monitor
7 E Navigation video signal, red On-board monitor
8 Not used
9 A Audio signal AF+ Radio
10 M Ground Ground point
11 Not used
12 M Ground for LC monitor On-board monitor
13 Not used
14 M Shield On-board monitor
15 M Shield On-board monitor
16 M Shield On-board monitor
17 Not used
18 A Audio signal AF- Radio

Possible. But I thought you said the Mk2 was working before you changed units? Thus highly unlikely that the Mk2 failled.

You may have not fitted a connector properly, or fitted the wrong connector. Refer to http://wds.west.lv/release/en/index.htm for full wiring diagrams.

'funky' is not a technical term that I can relate to when discussing voltmeter readings. You would be best to describe what you were doing in a more factual and accurate manner if you want people to help you.

Depends on what pins were making contact....

I have no experience with this diagnosis method.

Refer to the WDS for wiring details.
If unusre, don't do it!

Thank you for the very thorough reply. Sorry for the ambiguity. Pinouts should be very helpful. I have a TV with component inputs. I will try some of these troubleshooting tecniques. I agree I dont think its the nav units (same behaviour with MKV reinforces this but doesn't prove it), I think there is something going on with the monitor. I really don't see how I could be plugging the wiring in wrong the connectors only fit in one way and everything is color coded.

I had trouble finding this info in the WDS... any idea what nav unit, wiring loom and 16x9 unit are listed under?

__________________
Indy Shops:

Berkeley:
German Auto Sport

Phoenix:
Babbitt Motor Werks | Arizona Bimmer Motor Works

Reno:
Reno Rennsport

Rides:
00 BMW X5 4.4
93 Nissan 300ZXTT
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #853
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #773
84 Nissan 300ZXT 50th AE
78 Datsun 280Z Black Pearl
15 Yamaha WR250R
06 Yamaha R1 AE

Email:
WE350Z at gmail

Nav unit:
Complete vehicle - body - Audio, video and navigation - Navigation

Wiring loom: you can search by function (eg navigation). Then you look at pin numbers, wire colours, connector numbers, and start following cables through the car.

16x9:
Complete vehicle - body - Audio, video and navigation - Navigation - Location display - On-board monitor xxxxx

Awesome, thank you so much. Sounds like Alpine charges $320 to repair the monitor, I would also have to pay to ship it all the way to NJ tho. Gunna take a stab at myself first. Maybe it's something simple. If all else fail i can send it in or try a local electronics repair shop. I still need to prove that the GPS units work and that the screen doesn't

__________________
Indy Shops:

Berkeley:
German Auto Sport

Phoenix:
Babbitt Motor Werks | Arizona Bimmer Motor Works

Reno:
Reno Rennsport

Rides:
00 BMW X5 4.4
93 Nissan 300ZXTT
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #853
88 Nissan 300ZXT Shiro #773
84 Nissan 300ZXT 50th AE
78 Datsun 280Z Black Pearl
15 Yamaha WR250R
06 Yamaha R1 AE

Email:
WE350Z at gmail