Need help with Nav upgrade; my head is spinning...

[Marc Troy]

I have a 2000 X5 with, what I think is, a Mk II CD based system. It's a radio/casette/nav all combined with a small screen and the option 6 CD changer. I'd really like to upgrade it since I intend to keep my X5 for a few more years but my head is spinning after searching the forum for "nav, upgrade, monitor, etc." since I don't understand all the acronyms and arrebreviations.

Can any of you give me in plain English, a description of the parts and the source(s) that are required to accomplish the upgrade? I'd like a larger monitor screen, the ability to view maps in 3D and the ability to integrate an ipod would be a definate plus. Is it really necessary to change any wiring harnesses or do I need any adapters?

Following is a response from an ebay vendow that sells the larger monitors at a reasonable price:

It's a simple plug and play swap for your older monitor, you just take out the old monitor and put in this widescreen unit and then buy a $40 frame that goesaround the new monitor, that's it.

and this is a response I received from a vendor but at $2,800.00 to start (whatever start means...) it seems a little pricey:

"It will be about $2800 to start. All pieces are needed at once to get nav and they all work together. You would put in a retrofit harness plug in the display, nav computer and radio module in the rear compartment. All those major parts are required for it to function"

I'm not in a position to spend $2,800 at once so I may have to do it part by part if possible. There are monitors and DVD drives listed on ebay at fairly reasonable prices but I haven't seen a "radio module" listed.

Thanks - your help would be greatly appreciated!

[KiwiJochen]

Assuming you have the 4:3 colour LCD screen

You can upgrade in a few steps:

Screen only: remove 4:3 screen and fit 16:9 screen. Affects screen size and look of dashboard only. The system uses whatever version nav computer is connected.

Nav only: upgrade just the nav computer. Remove Mk2 and fit Mk3 or Mk4 as desired.

Both upgrades can be done individually or at the same time. The system works in any combination.

Radio tuner, CD changer, TV tuner*, and telephone unit* all remain unchanged
(telephone and TV are optional units)

[Marc Troy]

Wow, that's really all there is to it? Any idea why bimmernav.com would have suggested a "retrofit harness plug" and a "radio module"?

There are a few Mk4 DVD Nav computers on ebay in the $700 range and it seems that the monitors go for about $550 (far less than bimmernav.com's $2,800 to start). Other than a surround bezel and the DVD is there anything else I'll need?

[Roy in GA]

What is the OS in your car? Go to the settings screen and read the numbers in the upper right corner of the screen. Let us know. If you really have the MKII then all you need is the monitor and nav computer upgrade like kiwi said.

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by Marc Troy

Wow, that's really all there is to it? Any idea why bimmernav.com would have suggested a "retrofit harness plug" and a "radio module"?

You said previously "It's a radio/casette/nav all combined with a small screen and the option 6 CD changer."

I assume you mean you have the 4:3 colour LCD on-board monitor with that system.

So you already have nav fitted and don't need to change the cabling. Just swap the monitor and the nav computer.

bimmernav.com must have thought you do NOT have nav at the moment, in which case the retrofit loom is required.

Originally Posted by Marc Troy

There are a few Mk4 DVD Nav computers on ebay in the $700 range and it seems that the monitors go for about $550 (far less than bimmernav.com's $2,800 to start). Other than a surround bezel and the DVD is there anything else I'll need?

That's all.

[Marc Troy]

I'll gladly give bimmernav.com a try again but I was explicit when I wrote to them and told them I presently have the "radio/casette/nav system". For some odd reason, they evn suggested I needed a "radio module in the rear compartment" in addition to "adapters". I'll post the results...

[KiwiJochen]

Originally Posted by Marc Troy

I'll gladly give bimmernav.com a try again but I was explicit when I wrote to them and told them I presently have the "radio/casette/nav system".

The trouble is the text "radio/casette/nav system". describes multiple variants of the nav system, and is therefore unclear what system you have.

Do you have the "low" nav with just arrow display, non-colour screen:



Or the 4:3 colour screen ("high" nav):

[Marc Troy]

Sorry, I didn't realize there was another system available. I have the 4:3 system...

[KiwiJochen]

Then you definitely don't need a new retrofit cable loom.

Swapping the monitor from 4:3 to 16:9 is plug and play
Swapping the nav from Mk2 to Mk3 or Mk4 is plug and play.

[Marc Troy]

Thanks, KiwiJochen and Roy. Is it true that there are different variations of the 16:9 monitor? From what I've read, it seems there's either a casette, a MiniDisc or a CD mechanism behind the "door". Other than emailing each and every seller on ebay, is there an easy easy way to identify which "type" the monitor is?