The technicians are wrong. BMW switched to the MKIV nav computer in 09/2002. You have a DVD-based MKIV navigation computer. It is confirmed by both your date of manufacture and the version and DVD logo on the face of the drive.

Why do you think that you do not have a DVD-based nav computer?

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SOLD
2000 E38 750iL Highline Edition, Upgraded with the lastest 2006 X5 Electronics
MKIV Navigation, 16:9 Display, Bluetooth, TV/Video with Backup Camera, Sirius, and Aux Input

It will read both CD maps and DVD maps as well as the CD OS update disk. It will NOT play DVD movies!

the technicians looked at the part number on the drive and its a cd drive. the reason i found this in the first place is because trying 2 dvd satnav disks from other 3 series bmws didnt work but the cd in mine works fine.

the drive does have the dvd logo on the front so i think im well within my rights to believe its a dvd drive.

there is actually a bmw advisory it seems that advises the dealers that some mk4s actually have cd only drives (eg left over mk3 drives) in them but thats besides the point as far as im concerned since it says dvd on the front - theyve clearly placed a mk4 plastic front on a mk3 cd drive and hoped no-one notices.

also bmws excuse seems to be that the dvd logo means that it "has dvd capable hardware" - think thats what they called it. i fail to see how the rest of the satnav couldnt handle a dvd and wouldnt expect to see for example dvd logos on a tv just because its "capable" of connecting to a dvd player.

This is very interesting. Can you post the part number? I am still not believing it, because your screen displays the latest MKIV operating system ("4-1/00"). No other computer could read and load that version of the OS. Can you try activating perspective mode too. That would further prove that it is a MKIV. Now, you very well may have a MKIV with a bad laser that will not read DVDs. But, I am 95% sure that it is a MKIV.

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SOLD
2000 E38 750iL Highline Edition, Upgraded with the lastest 2006 X5 Electronics
MKIV Navigation, 16:9 Display, Bluetooth, TV/Video with Backup Camera, Sirius, and Aux Input

I concur, I suspect the DVD laser has had it and it will now only read CDs, I've seen this before, if the car has any warrenty left get the dealer to change it, as it does not do what it says on the tin.

I agree with brian, it has 4-1/00 loaded so the hardware is that of a mk4.

As for BMW mounting a cd only reader in a mk4 dvd case i'd say this is totally bogus, the dealer will try anything to get out of this as it will cost a fair amount to fix (a replacement drive) if the car was advertised as DVD NAV then the 1984 sale of goods act kicks in as it's "not fit for purpose", demand a replacement or a total refund.

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Sept 03, M3, Silver Grey. Retro-fits: Modded Mk4 DVD Drive, OEM Bluetooth, VR Control, Rainbow Speaker Upgrade, Sony SOT Amp, HK Sub, CCFL, Intravee II, NightMode.

it does have the perspective as ive already enabled that.

it was just advertised as normal satnav professional - no mention of dvd and i didnt question since it had dvd on the front, otherwise yes the law would of been very clear that they had to replace it. since it works fine with cds and they claim it is only a cd drive i cant have it fixed under warranty.

i cant remember the part number - i just took their word when they said it was a cd drive only, but it had the chassis number of my car on it so it as it was when it came from germany.

isnt the drive in the boot just that - just a place to put the disk, with the actual satnav system somewhere else in the car or is the whole satnav computer actually within the metal box that houses the disk drive? i would of thought that the satnav computer itself which is certainly mk4 was upfront somewhere probably behind the screen?

bad laser on the drive was what i was hoping when i first found that it couldnt read dvds since that would be covered under the bmw warranty.

its hard to get anything out of bmw customer services - they just try and direct everything to the dealer so at the moment im trying to get the dealer to deal with bmw since bmw should be refunding any costs to me or the dealer i think.

Well that sort of confirms that it is a mk4.

Yes, but BMW advertised the as from Sept 2002 all Pro nav systems for the e46 would now have DVD drives.

Nope, the bit you put the disc in is the Nav computer, the screen at the fron is just a dumb box, all of the navigaition and dsiplay drivers asr run from the nav computer.

Unless you have the extended warrenty or have just bought the car I doubt that the dealer would change it warrenty, you can use the Map cd without any problems, the dvd is just the uK and europe combined the cd of the UK has the same data as the dvd.

Ask the dealer to take a proper mk4 out of a car they have on the forecourt and say that will be acceptable to you, they can then take it up the BMW UK.

HTH

P.S welcome to the forum.

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Sept 03, M3, Silver Grey. Retro-fits: Modded Mk4 DVD Drive, OEM Bluetooth, VR Control, Rainbow Speaker Upgrade, Sony SOT Amp, HK Sub, CCFL, Intravee II, NightMode.

thanks for the welcome and thanks for all the help everyone

that would be brilliant if someone had where i could find that, since that pretty much gives bmw no leg to stand on.

had the car for a month now and has bmw 1 year warranty (bought from bmw dealer as bmw approved used car)

last time i looked they didnt have any e46 3 series or old 5 series with satnav system so couldnt suggest trying another at time

Mk4 is fitted to the following cars:

3-series E46
5-series E39
7-series E38 (mainly Mk3s but you might see one with Mk4)
X3 E83
X5 E53
Z4 E85