Nav 16:9 retrofit on virgin X5 '06 4.8iS, questions on harness

TriX5 · #1 03-20-2010, 09:12 AM

Gentlemen,

This board is great!! I need some help as I encountered a problem even before starting this project! Before I disassemble the car I have a few questions, I would be very grateful for your help. In return I can write up a nice how-to with pictures while doing the conversion as I am not in any great hurry to complete it. My car has the usual MID with DSP.

To give you an idea of aptitude, in the past I modified my M-class with a Euro style Nav and swapped in a CD changer with a fiber connection (I used it in Europe for a while and there was no map software for the US version). Slightly easier than this but had its challenges and in the process had to work out all the wire assignments and obtain and add pins to a couple of plugs. I swapped my own CV boots succesfully 2 years ago now but that is another story altogether.

So, back to the X5, I read the retrofit instructions and the JPuma how-to guide as well as retrofits on a few other models. Also been researching the electronic modules I need and I feel I am ready for step 1, installing the harness in the car. From the JPuma article I took the harness number 61-12-6-910-148 X5 harness w/DSP and obtained it from the dealer.

Last night I laid out the harness and tried to match the diagram in the retrofit instructions with the harness itself......... after about 20 minutes of bewilderment I decided the harness and the instructions are NOT a match. I am fortunate to have an '03 with Nav and peering in the back of it and in the back of the 4.8 (incl. a look in compartment under the spare tire but not yet removed the LH/RH cover in the trunk) I concluded that the harness is meant to replace the original harness, it is not an addition to the existing one. That fact is leaving me with some vast question marks.

Will this harness functions as-is on the 4.8? Any one done this conversion on this board?

It looks like I will have to verify all the wiring codes to make sure this is a match. I did identify the connections for the amp (if that is what is at the bottom of the trunk rack), the cd and the blue plug for the nav as well as the antenna connection. Up front there seems to be only the white and blue plug for the on-board monitor and the thin wires (see below).

There is no red plug on the harness for the nav module, however on the 03 this is simply a short cable with only two wires that plugs in just ahead of module rack in the trunk. This cable has a part number on it and I suppose it is easy to get from dealer. Is this cable what brings the ABS and reverse signals to the Nav??

What are all the spidery long wires for on the harness? The plugs are 3/4 inch square with 2 flat and 2 round pins. Are they speaker wires as one retro claims? Do I need them or can I keep original ones working?

There is a 12 pin plug about 12 inches back from the radio plug in the trunk for the BM53, I am thus far stumped where that plug is meant to go? There does not seem to be any obvious place for it, there are two plugs like that in the back but they are in use and have different color wires and pin configuration. Is that plug meant to go to the sub-woofer? (I did not remove the RH cover so could not quite see the connections to the SW.)

What other cables might I need? One person with an 06 4.4 on here said he needed a second mute wire? Also, how does one create the Aux In? I don't have a radio module yet and I am wondering where the Aux plugs in? (On the Benz I needed a short cable that attached to one of the plugs to the head unit and had a 3.5 mm Aux that was fitted under the glove compartment. How is it achieved on the X5?

I am not all that interested in TV/Video but if it is not a big job to add I might pre-wire for it. Any thoughts on that?

There are still a few other plugs I am not totally sure of, but my next step would be to disassemble the LH and RH covers in the trunk to get a better idea of what else is back there. (It was getting too late and to cold last night to do that)

Hope somebody has some idea on this as I am a bit stumped and would prefer to know a few of these things before disassembling a lot of stuff.

Thanks in advance!

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KiwiJochen · #2 03-21-2010, 04:38 PM

If you purchased a proper retrofit hardness then everything is plug and play and very simple.

The retrofit instructions show the entire wiring harness with wire colours and functions and is quite clear.

If you purchased a full factory harness (sounds like you did) then the job is much much harder.

Verify what harness you have. If you have factory harness, swap it for the retrofit harness. Otherwise, you have a nightmare on your hands...

TriX5 · #3 03-21-2010, 11:16 PM

The harness is the one in the instructions on this board but it indeed seems to be the full factory job as it includes the connection to the Amp as well as the nav.

Is the wiring on a Nav equiped vehicle very different? I do get the feeling I will need to compare this closely to the loom already in the car but it does not seem impossible. Any idea where the plug goes that is near the radio plug and are the thin wires indeed speaker wires?

At any rate I plan to strip the car during the next week or so to see whether this fits or not. Luckily I can live without it for a few days easily.

Thx for responding, this seems to be a topic very few have dealt with thus far.

KiwiJochen · #4 03-22-2010, 01:47 AM

Yes the harness is hugely different.
The retrofit instructions show the retrofit loom and if you look at the circuit diagram, you can clearly see the methodology practised by BMW. IThe retrofit loom plugs into the existing vehicle loom with minimal work required; no access to speakers in doors needed at all.

In a car without nav, the radio is in the dash and drives the DSP amp in the trunk.
All antenna wiring, CD changer wiring and audio feeds go straight to the radio
Speakers are driven by DSP amp in boot, and the loom includes all speaker wiring to all speakers

In a car with nav, the radio is in the trunk, and the connection between DSP and radio occurs over a distance of approx 2 feet.
The wiring to the front of the car is just for the monitor.

In fitting a factory loom you must strip the entire car and remove all door panels and do much more work than using a retrofit loom

Honestly, there is no benefit to be gained with a factory loom!! You just create lots of extra work for yourself.

Brian-bmw · #5 03-22-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriX5

The harness is the one in the instructions on this board but it indeed seems to be the full factory job as it includes the connection to the Amp as well as the nav...

Is the wiring on a Nav equiped vehicle very different? I do get the feeling I will need to compare this closely to the loom already in the car but it does not seem impossible. Any idea where the plug goes that is near the radio plug and are the thin wires indeed speaker wires?

The harness you bought is one of the most popular for retrofits. BMW made (or maybe still makes) a retrofit harness that is much easier. However, this was very hard to obtain and much more expensive. So, that is why many retrofitters (even for E38 and E39 retrofits) bought the X5 navigation & DSP harness for retrofits.

Here is an install guide that shows how to use the harness that you purchased. It is actually pretty easy. You can either clip off or unwrap and remove all the speaker wiring on the retrofit harness, because you will not be using any of that. There are several other retrofit postings like this one, but this was the quickest one I could find.
BMW E38 Navigation retrofit - Bimmernav BMW Upgrades

TriX5 · #6 03-22-2010, 10:32 AM

Gents - this clears up a lot of my doubts. I think the only way to know the rest of it is by taking out the seats and disassembling the covers in the trunk, then seeing where everything runs.

It is helpful to confirm how all the wiring runs. I had understood it by and large from studying the 4.8 and my '03. I guess once I have it appart I'll make a judgement on how to proceed. Seems like I could leave the existing loom in place until I get it to run.

I will post pictures and a narrative on here once I get the patient into the OR...... :-)

TriX5 · #7 03-28-2010, 11:47 PM

Started the project today and disassembled some of the trunk. Figured out where all the connections go except for those behind the LH side trim in the cargo area. (the 12 point connector indeed goes to the SW) The harness does look like it will simply replace the original harness, it has all the right connectors and the wirecolors match. If feeding the speaker wires into the doors is too much work I might just cut and splice them, might not be worth the trouble of opening up all the doors.

One small problem is causing me a headache, I am having difficulty removing the driver's side trim in the trunk, the carpeted piece just ahead of the removable cover. Can't seem to figure out how to release the cargo hook that is holding the bottom of the trim piece in place. Anyone got an idea how to release it? Probably I am overlooking the obvious....but I can't find any instruction for it either.

Thx in advance.

KiwiJochen · #8 03-29-2010, 02:04 AM

Unclip the recessed cover plate using small jewelers screwdriver, there is a torx bolt underneath

TriX5 · #9 03-29-2010, 08:08 PM

Thank you Jochen, I was indeed overlooking the obvious.

I am now done taking most of the trim out of the trunk that needs to be out. What an excessively complex design, reminds me of my 993s! Not yet opened the space for the radio as I have been in there before and I know what to do to get the radio in and connected.

At this point I can "test-fly" the system without the speakers by just hooking up things in the trunk as a dry run, but I am still short on one item, I still need the red connector to the NAV. In my 03 this short loom connects to the 3rd connector north of the amp, in my 06 there is something already hooked up that seems to run to the telephone module and I have yet to figure out what those wires are for. I'll have to hike over to the dealer and get the short harness with the red Nav connector.

In the pictures, first is the new harness. I only pictured the connections to the amp and nav, etc. Up front (and not in this picture) are the speaker wires and the white and blue on-board-monitor plugs, these are plug and play it seems apart from pulling open the doors to get to the speakers. There is nothing else up front. Further back on the harness are the plugs to the BM53 radio (elec & coax ant.) and the subwoofer.

This middle bit in the first picture is where the business is done. From left to right: the white mystery plug (attaches to the other 3 north off the amp), then the 2 CD player plugs (there is a set in the existing loom though my car presently does not have a CD changer), the 3 plugs for the amp (also clearly visible in the 2nd picture of the car), then the blue NAV connector. On the right are: one ground connector, the coax for the radio ant. and a cable for the antenna amp (?), these are in the existing loom and are simply replaced.

Next job is to wrestle the driver's seat and LH threshold covers out before disassembling the console and the MID/radio.

What baffles me is that this car's elctronics are strewn all over the chassis without any seeming logic! Question, anyone know what the white mystery plug is for?

climber1074 · #10 03-29-2010, 11:14 PM

Hey Guys,

Following along your 4.8is swap with my own! Great pics, thanks for posting.

I'm attempting to swap my nav/changer/radio out of my '03 4.6is into my '04 4.8is, which has the Business single cd system. I'm just trying to put together a list of everything I'll need to get out of the 4.6is, if anyone has some knowledge of compatible pieces, I'd really appreciate it!

Also, trying to get to the bottom of the SA555 debate and if the '04 4.8is has it?

Thanks!

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