> The monitor says SW 3-1/63

That's a Mk3 with the last and latest SW version on it.

> In the settins menu, there is an option to change the language to GB, which i recon is british, but when selected, it just ignores it and keep it german.? Anyone have an input on this.?

Maybe it has a custom OS loaded, but more likely memory is faulty.

> Also, when i set time, limit etc. It seemes to ignore what i put in.. There is no time showing anywhere, no warning is heard when exceeding the limit i put in..

Note: you have to either set date before time - or time before date - for the clock to work. Try both ways around.

Does the time appear in the instrument cluster OK?
the clock is actually in the instrument cluster, and the nav takes the time data from the cluster and displays it on the nav.
So when you set the time it sends a "set time to xxxx" command to the cluster and the cluster adjusts its clock.
Then the cluster sends the time back to the nav and the nav displays it.
So a key check is to see if the cluster is accepting the time change.

Check if you can read the consumtption figures etc - if so then the databus connection to the instrument cluster is working.

But maybe the inability to remember/set time settings is also due to faulty memory.

Easiest way to solve would be to buy a Mk4 - enjoy much faster speeds, 3D display, and more...

> Can i update the software for this navigator.?

No, you have the last version ever made. There's nothing newer than 3-1/63

> Also, if i where to update my system, could i start with a 16:9 monitor with the current computer, and later on put in a mk4.? Or the other way around, start with a mk4 and the current monitor..

Either or, both ways work.

Thanks for a fast a good answer.



>Maybe it has a custom OS loaded, but more likely memory is faulty.


Okey.. Either way theres probably not much i can do about that.?


>Note: you have to either set date before time - or time before date - for the clock to work. Try both ways around.


Okey, havent done that.. Ill give it a go...



>Does the time appear in the instrument cluster OK?
the clock is actually in the instrument cluster, and the nav takes the time data from the cluster and displays it on the nav.
So when you set the time it sends a "set time to xxxx" command to the cluster and the cluster adjusts its clock.
Then the cluster sends the time back to the nav and the nav displays it.
So a key check is to see if the cluster is accepting the time change.


Thats the thing. The cluster does not show the time..?? I can read average consumption, average speed and temperature.. I think thats about it.. I found this a bit strange when i bought the car, but did not think too much about it..


>Easiest way to solve would be to buy a Mk4 - enjoy much faster speeds, 3D display, and more...


I would like to just buy the mk4, but i guess with the 16:9 monitor its gonna be quite expensive.....




The car was imported to Norway from USA in 2002.. At that time there was a cd player in the car. Not sure if there was any navigation.. The cd player was replaced to correspond with the european standard..

> Either way theres probably not much i can do about that.?

There's always the option of sending it to VDO in Wetzlar Germany for repair.

> Thats the thing. The cluster does not show the time..?? I can read average consumption, average speed and temperature..

Check again by setting date and time together. Observe if cluster reacts to new time request.

If you use my NavCoder software you can observe if the nav sends the correct time request to the cluster, and can thus confirm if the clock problem is in the cluster (faulty clock) or in the nav (not sending the correct command)

Hmmm..


Ijust tried to set the time and then date and oppsite, but the navigator just seem to ignore what i put in..

The cluster is showing the following thing, and only that in this order.


Black (off), temp C, l/100km, km left with current fuel, average speed.

When i enter the settings in the navigator, im not able to set time or date. In the same menu, i can not change the 12, 24 hour clock.. Set to 24 hours.

Date format can not be altered from dd.mm to mm.dd

The distans can not be changed from km to mph

Usage not altered from l/100km to mpg
Temperature can not be changed nor the memo option which has ein and aus. (German)


Also as mentioned, when entering the driving computer on the navigator, i can not set a limit value, or it ignores what i put in. Also the usage 1 and 2 is not showing anything, nor distans or timer..

Seems like there is not much i can change..

Could this be because not everything is set up between the cluster and the computer? Or is it just that my computer is not operating as it should...

where can i find the Navcoder software,? And is it easy to use.?

Thanks for all the help so far KiwiJochen..

I find it hard to believe what you say!

Can you film trying to change a setting and post a video on you tube?

When you change eg time, can you properly select the different time values?
(highlight the figure you want to change, click, turn to adjust, then click to save)

NavCoder is here:
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/k...l/NavCoder.zip

Has the car been coded to Europe?
Won't help your problem but will put everything into Euro-mode and eliminate annoying american "Accept" screen

Ill try and get a film out over the weekend.. It seeems like something is not as it should..

It seems, that you have Instrument cluster low.
You can check it easily:
LOW:

HIGH:


If you have Inst. Cl. LOW, it cannot communicate with you nav system. In this case the NAV system in your car is retrofitted, but the cluster is not suitable for the retrofit.

Here is a picture of my dash...:







And here is two videos demonstrating my cluster and computer..:

cluster:

http://ekvals.vox.com/library/video/...8e3a70005.html


Computer:

http://ekvals.vox.com/library/video/...8e47a0005.html


Any help would be much appreciated..

Your problem is very simple

Your X5 never had nav when it left the factory.

The nav has been retrofitted at some stage and is working perfectly.

HOWEVER: you have the LOW instrument cluster, which cannot deliver the necessary data that the nav wants (trip computer data, time, date etc) because the low cluster (low IKE) is not intended to be used with the nav. An X5 with factory nav ALWAYS has the high cluster (high IKE). Only the high IKE has all the data.
All the data that is not working - clock, date, trip computer, limit - is all held inside the instrument cluster and managed by the high instrument cluster. The nav is just a display and keyboard.

You only have two possible solutions to choose from:

1. Keep nav and replace current low instrument cluster with HIGH cluster then you have EVERYTHING working properly.

2. Keep cluster and replace nav with standard radio, and everything will work properly except you have no nav (but I wouldn't do this, would you?)

3. Leave as is :-)

I can show you a way to change the language into English as a work-around, which will likely work. To do this we take a standard OS disc, and replace the German text with English. The nav thinks it is German, but English will be displayed. But I recommend replacing the instrument cluster with the HIGH cluster.

An retrofit instruction exists for the E39, which is very similar to the E53 in terms of electronics. It's on the net, google for "retrofit high ike to E39" or similar and you'll find lots of info.
The high instrument cluster requires an adapter cable loom, and a new water level sensor in the radiator expansion chamber, a new expansion chamber, and then it has to be programmed to your car.