Thanks everyone, 2 hrs on forum,upgrade done!

[bmwmedic]

I have used all the bmw forums but this one is really a gold mine, and really clear.
I started on this forum last PM and today, after about three hrs total or research, I donloaded the new OS version and burned a new disk and key cd on my mac laptop, and upgraded from v21 tov 63!!!
I learned I had a mk iii on this 01 530 I bought recently, and realized I had the orig version nearly, got the new one and it all went perfect first time!. Just burned it with toast on 8x, and voila. I don't think I have had something like this go so smooth, you all must give great directions, and yes, the screen looks clearer and more user friendly, but I spent very little time with the nav so far.
Now, I need to know how to reset the nav volume cause the neighbors think I am hiding a very loud woman in my garage, god the nav is loud(it was kike that before upgrade) I haven't had any luck with the service menu but I'll keep trrying
also I want to know how to put BU camera on screen and how to add aux for ipod and a simple external sat radio. I can keep searching but any tips ot leads appreciated
Again, thanks for such a great resourch so well done. This forum is the same forum engine underneath as most forums, but brighter,cleaner, more pleasent to use
tom

[ccfj1]

Welcome to the forum Tom,

Glad you have your nav upgraded

Nav Volume
The Nav voice volume is not set by the volume control in the menu (under setting (or set), the one with the bar and the voice saying "louder/quieter" ) in the system setup, so setting it to anything here is a complete waste of time... (unless you want to mute the radio when being given a voice command).

This is for setting the amount of attenuation of the radio in relation to the value of the navigation voice.

You can set the loudness of the navigation unit in two places.

1: via the TP option on the radio, get to the TP volume button and set the volume up or down as required, this will set the TP volume (traffic news etc) AND the Sat Nav voice volume (this is in the Navigation manual, that came with the car.)

Note:: TP Volume: Traffic Patrol
Provides adjustment for traffic report minimum value. On some vehicles this setting can affect the NAV volume. (on mine it does)
Refer to Service Bulletin B84 02 03.

OR

2: Via the secret menu, and setting the GAL value.

Use the Radio service menu (the link is to a pdf file).
http://tinyurl.com/3c4poa

Note:: GAL: Speed sensitive volume control.
The speed sensitive volume control can be adjusted from level 1-6 using the 6 preset audio buttons. Radio volume increases more at level 6 and less at level 1 (road speed dependent).

Strictly speaking you should not use this to adjust the Nav voice, as it's for adjusting the radio's speed sensitive volume control only, but as a side effect it adjusts the Nav voice as well.

I used the TP option and it has now fixed the Nav voice volume. (mine was too loud).

Confusing I know and not logical, but that's the oddities of software engineers.

BU Camera
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/173122

External sat radio
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x3/s...r-install.html

Ipod or AUX info (look under the stereo heading).
http://www.xoutpost.com/

Hope this helps

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

how to put BU camera on screen

Connect to existing BU-Cam input of factory TV tuner.
If no tuner fitted, consider fitting one (adds AC-IN and AV-OUT capabilities if fitted)

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

how to add aux for ipod

Either
a) emulate CD changer
b) add to tape deck audio lines
c) use TV tuner AV-IN and then watch movies as well (I did this)

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

a simple external sat radio.

BMW sat radio only interfaces with the Mk4 nav, I believe.

[bmwmedic]

Thanks guys for the info. The service menu eluded me last pm , select button doing nothing; but today I found the info for pre 9/01 cars so I will try that(info buttom). Mine is early 01.

I have seen reference to two tv modules? any informative tv links? I don't really feel the need to watch tv or movies but I would like to know the minimum to support BU cam.
On the Sat radio, I really just need a good aux input. On our e46 I just did the aux connector for my son and he loves it, but we upgraded his HU ( to get the aux socket)so he has in dash cd and trunk cd. Like his car originally, with cassette in dash I can't casually kill my trunk changer for a Dice or equiv cause that would leave me w/o cd, which I am not ready for. an aux would allow simple ipod AND simple $100 sat tuner, like the kind you can take out and plug in to another car or the house
SO it boils down to an aux input. and I have seen the reference to using the cassette inputs OR a later radio BM53 ver?? that has the aux socket.but with nav one cannot JUST change the radio can one? And use existing mkIII etc? PnP to my sys? Oh now I remember. I have seen ads for widescreen upgrades, folks say i"ts PnP for your 4;3," but I have a cassette behind mine not cd.IS THE player (cass or cd) SEPARATE FROM THE SCREEN ITSELF? Someone was selling one with cd, could I PnP that to gain cd then use my cd harness to gain access to my system?? Help!! And does that mean mine is not valuable seconedhand cause it has cassette attached??

you see, too many ? to ask you guys to answer, lord, someone needs to write a book summary and we all can just pay a few bucks each and not be allowed to post ? until you've read it!
So to summarize
1 minimum modules to support BU cam
2 simplest aux socket
3 some source of info on the big picture of the system, like the inbred connection between radio and nav, and the screen / HU . whixh is central
sorry, enough
thanks tom

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

I have seen reference to two tv modules? any informative tv links? I don't really feel the need to watch tv or movies but I would like to know the minimum to support BU cam.

The OEM TV module gives you TV & AV-IN & AV-OUT & BU-Cam.
Without a TV module you have to add other non-OEM devices to achieve a backup cam function


SO it boils down to an aux input. and I have seen the reference to using the cassette inputs OR a later radio BM53 ver?? that has the aux socket.but with nav one cannot JUST change the radio can one?

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

Yes, you can change just the radio tuner. It's in the boot beside the CD changer on the E39.

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

And use existing mkIII etc? PnP to my sys?

New.Gen radio was designed after the Mk3 finished production. So only the Mk4 nav fully supports all functions and features of the New Gen radio.
If you use it with Mk3, you may not get all functionality.

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

Oh now I remember. I have seen ads for widescreen upgrades, folks say i"ts PnP for your 4;3," but I have a cassette behind mine not cd.IS THE player (cass or cd) SEPARATE FROM THE SCREEN ITSELF?

The on-board monitor (screen+keyboard+Tape/CD) is plug and play from 4:3-tape to 16:9-CD or 16:9-Tape

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

Someone was selling one with cd, could I PnP that to gain cd then use my cd harness to gain access to my system??

Yes, On-Board Monitor is plug and play.

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

And does that mean mine is not valuable seconedhand cause it has cassette attached??

No. Value will vary country by country.
Some people need 4:3 screens for repairing broken ones. Some people want 16:9 and don't care if it has tape.

> 1 minimum modules to support BU cam
TV module + backup cam itself

> 2 simplest aux socket
New Gen Radio with Aux-In function

> 3 some source of info on the big picture of the system, like the inbred connection between radio and nav, and the screen / HU .

The BMW system already does all of this. Your question here is unclear.

[bmwmedic]

Wow, you guys are too generous with your time and help, thanks.

First, I had some difficulty accessing the service menu but I have twice reached the tp setting and it's no help. With tp set to -9 and gal at 1 or 3 the nav voice screams at me. Nav vol under menu/gps/settings just says "louder/softer" in the SAME volume at any setting as the bar moves to right. The tp setting does vary the radio volume as I change it, soft but clear on lowest radio vol click at -9 TP, but if I back out, remove key, then go back to nav and she still screams at same level.??
next software
(BTW NAV VOL IS SAME AS BEFORE UPGRADE)

Now I am at 3-1-63 BUT I have seen reference to FIRMWARE VERSION.
My "software version" per service menu is 11-99 crap! I forgot! 42 ? maybe
well it was 11/99 something so what is that and how do I upgrade it? do I need to?
OK I just searched this forum for "firmware" and apparently what everyone talks about upgrading like I just did is the firmware, the 3-1-63 business. I thought there was just that and new map software to upgrade.
Sooo
do/can we upgrade whatever is 11-99 ?? software referred to in the service menu and will it possible help my volume situation? or do anything interesting?
Any other volume ideas? Do you ever suggest pulling power?, maybe shorting power source lines to pull out capacitance? (common manuvoer on e46 radio)

As to my other questions and your replies, I am now thinking swapping out for widescreen w/cd and then using my CD changer plug to add Dice/ipod as that would also give me aux (dice has aux) for simple $100 sat unit I can move inside the house or to other car (nice benefit since one has to pay for each receiver and that way I can pretend it's a money saving install!
As to tv, I have no desire to watch video, just BU/ (+poss front) cam. BUT, I would really love the internet, now THAT would be excellent.
Actually I saw a reference to iphone screen on nav, that would just about do it.

My last question was me free-associating. I meant an explanation of the functional layout of the radio/nav system. Is the nav computer in charge and handling display of radio data?, or is the box behind the screen something that integrates the two? How is video data formatted inside the thing?
Anyway thanks again for your help. All I need right now is to fix the volume and then I will DL and read manual and try to master and enter some addresses and become good with using the nav easily, I suspect that will take a while. The other stufff I can browse for it whenever. TV module Hmm My iphone on the screen!..
As soon as I can unmute my nav, I'll leave you guys alone for a while, thanks tom

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

First, I had some difficulty accessing the service menu but I have twice reached the tp setting and it's no help. With tp set to -9 and gal at 1 or 3 the nav voice screams at me. Nav vol under menu/gps/settings just says "louder/softer" in the SAME volume at any setting as the bar moves to right. The tp setting does vary the radio volume as I change it, soft but clear on lowest radio vol click at -9 TP, but if I back out, remove key, then go back to nav and she still screams at same level.??

Set TP to 0 and try adjusting Nav Vol in the Settings menu. If it makes no difference, you have either a hardware fault in the nav, or the software has gone stupid. A full reboot 8battery disconnect, wait 15min, then reconnect) may help.

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

Now I am at 3-1-63 BUT I have seen reference to FIRMWARE VERSION.

3/1-63 is the latest firmware version. There is nothing newer

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

My "software version" per service menu is 11-99 crap! I forgot! 42 ? maybe
well it was 11/99 something so what is that and how do I upgrade it? do I need to?

You were looking at something else other than the nav. Maybe radio module, video module, or the on-board-monitor. Doesn't matter, as whatever it was, you cannot change it.

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

Is the nav computer in charge and handling display of radio data?, or is the box behind the screen something that integrates the two? How is video data formatted inside the thing?

Yes, the navigation unit generates all the graphics for the screen, and sends RGB video to the LCD display. Think of it as being like your home PC: a computer (nav), a display (monitor LCD) and a keyboard (monitor buttons) and a mouse (monitor rotary knob)

[bmwmedic]

Hello again. Thanks Jochen for all your time and knowledge, it is a big help.
First off I have reset TP to 0 and to -9 and while the radio vol gets lower as I chnge the TP, it does not affect nav. So, I will try power down and hope that helps
Thanks for stating the obvious in a polite manner. OF COURSE its the radio software version, (and it is 11-99 42) I guess it is never the source or fix for problems, and is not messed with.
So, I am increasingly intrigued with the tv or should I say video options. I don't care for tv but internet thru my iphone sounds great. So how do I gain a video access point w/o spending $1000 for bme tv module, that is too much and I hate to pay for tuner if I don't need to. Oh yes a tuner would give me wireless access thru remote rf modulators, OK so any cheaper video inputs, w or w/o tuner. what device say from the computer world could be hacked to convert ntsc or video to rgb and piggybacked into monitor? what have folks tried? any leads, as the tv sticky was not helpful. one third party brand was down and the other had only a few models covered.
thanks,
I'll drive muted for now, and let you know about the next fix on the volume.
Tom
Oh yes, remember my ? about cass or cd with the monitor? I see lots of monitor ads THAT DON'T EVEN MENTION WHICH MEDIA player IS ATTACHED?! Does everyone assume it is cd if it is a MKIII nav, because most were cd? The pictures don't help cause they are usually closed.

[bmwmedic]

OK nav-tool looks interesting!
$350 for 2 inputs, at least one is auto on for camera

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

OK so any cheaper video inputs, w or w/o tuner. what device say from the computer world could be hacked to convert ntsc or video to rgb and piggybacked into monitor? what have folks tried? any leads, as the tv sticky was not helpful. one third party brand was down and the other had only a few models covered.

Try this:
http://www.logjamelectronics.com/soundvidbmw1.html

Or this:
http://www.car-interface.com/car-int...ts.php?mode=55

Or the original TV:
http://www.bimmernav.com/BMW_TV_Navg...tructions.html

Google is your friend here. Search for "BMW video interface"

Originally Posted by bmwmedic

? about cass or cd with the monitor? I see lots of monitor ads THAT DON'T EVEN MENTION WHICH MEDIA player IS ATTACHED?! Does everyone assume it is cd if it is a MKIII nav, because most were cd? The pictures don't help cause they are usually closed.

Don't assume anything. Always ask.