If your car has OEM nav and you wish to dump it and swap it for an aftermarket unit then you need the 40pin cable adapter and a 5m extention loom as all the connections are in the boot (trunk), so you need to transfer them all up front (to where the new radio will be).

The only connectors you have up front are for the dumb screen, and these are 2x18pin video/ibus connectors (do drive the screen and buttons).

I'm not sure if you know how your system works, but the basics are...

1: the screen up front is a bumb screen (like a computer monitor), it can not work independenlty of the rest of the system, it is NOT like a normal car radio set.
2: the radio module, nav unit, TV module, cd changer, phone system are in the boot (trunk), they are the guts of the system, you will need to take out all of them to replace it with the single up front unit.

3: The loom that runs and connects the system together terminates in the boot (trunk), all the units attached to it (the loom) are slave units.

4: All core units must be conected for the systme to work.

5: Core units: Nav unit, screen, radio module, TV module.

So think very carfully before you dump the OEM nav setup as its a lot of work.

Installing the new radio is NOT an easy plug and play job.

Post up pics of your setup for a definitive answer.

BTW: Dumping the OEM nav will decimate the resale value of the car come sale time, you would be better to keep the units and put them back in when you want to sell.

Be very careful when disconnecting the nav unit, if you do it wrong then its toast.

__________________
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 tips. So if the conections in the back need to be installed in the front, would they reach or do i need to buy an extention? If so, where would I get this and whats the easiest route. How do I put pictures on this forum by the way?

No.

Correct.

The aftermarket unit dealer should have (or be able to get) and extension, if he can't or doesn't know what you are talking about, walk away as you don't want a dummy working on your car.

I can't speak for the USA but here in the UK the 5m extension leads are approx £40 (about $80), and they transfer all the required wires/pins and looms (for speakers, antenna etc), up front.

UK link for loom
Official Dynavin D95/D99 5m Extension Kit for BMW E46/E39 with OEM Navigation | eBay

This is for the e46 but it has the 5m extention lead and will give you an idea of the work involved.

HOWTO: Install Dynavin E46 v5 head unit in an E46 2005 M3 w/ OEM Navigation « LemaLife Blog

for x5
Dynavin E39 Info thread - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum


Get a photobucket account and upload the pics there, then use the img (for forums) link, copy and paste into the "reply to thread" box.

__________________
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.

Brother, You are awesome! You have helped me more then those bozos selling me this stuff! Thanks again and thanks for the links. I am going to wait for the unit to arrive Just in case they accidently send me the extension i need.

No problem mate, glad to help.

Normally if you say you have the OEM nav setup, its included, but don't count on it.

__________________
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.

So, Just called the supplier and he said that the unit comes with a 6 meter extention cord. Good News!!!

here are those pictures

I discovered something yesterday. As you can see from the pictures above, I have removed the navi system. While I was driving my x5 this way and contimplating the fact that I wouldn't have a radio for the next week or so, I decided to push the volume buttons on the steering wheel. Wouldn't you believe my cd changer was working! Wow I thought, with no radio or head unit. That's incredible!!! So I thought life wad ok until I got a cd that was one song at 31 minutes long. The only way to switch cd's is to fast forward the last song of that cd and not pass the ending and it will automatically roll to the next disc. Are you guys with me thus far? Ok so I pulled over to eject that cd that was tourturing me and while I pulled out the changer cartridge the radio turned on. Now I only have radio which suck and I can't figure out how to get my cd's playing again? Any ideas??? It's going to be a very long wait for this new head unit know thatni could play something cool from a cd but not knowing how to make it work!

Hi, I had the same problem, it is to do with the button that has a picure of a tape cassette on it this on the bottom left, this button scrolls through radio/tape and cd.

hope this helps