YANT (Yet Another Navigation Thread)...

[tomw]

Hi guys,

I own an e39 m5 with the MKIV nav computer and a 16:9 screen. When I bought the car it was working fine and was running version 4-1/80. It read double layer map DVDs without problems. I was reading up on xoutpost and m5board, and found out that there is a newer version (4-1/00) in the nav OS CDs V31 and V32.

Since I also wanted a custom splash screen, I used NavTweak 2.7 to customize the navboot file from the stock V32 software, replacing the original splash screen with the new one. It should be noted that the new splash was bigger in byte size than the original one. NavTweak also threw me a message while reading the original, unmodified navboot file: "error getting pixbuf from loader" when I tried to view the original splash screen. I went ahead and used the "Replace" option to change it. After the change this error message persisted, but since it was already there in the original I didn't think more of it and saved the navboot file. After applying it to a new ISO image I burned it to a CD.

And things went wrong when I tried to update the nav computer, leaving the driver's door open. In the beginning it said that it found a software CD in the drive and that it was loading the software. After that the screen went black. I never got the message saying that my system will be upgraded, nor the progress bar. However, after a minute or two the CD was ejected, so I think the update was applied. Since then, I have a black screen. No way to bring it back to life. I've been reading countless threads on m5board and xoutpost, but the problems described there do not match what I encountered. My radio and CD changer both work without problems at this point.

Funny thing is that I don't think the nav computer is bricked. It behaves differently with OS CDs (these are ejected after a few minutes with activity on the DVD drive, as if it's loading the software). If I push the OK button after they are ejected, the screen flashes briefly and goes black again. So I'm guessing it's upgrading fine and reboots at the end of the procedure as it's supposed to.

This is what I've tried so far, based on what I've read so far (all without success... ):
- Downgrade to V24 with a Mode2 CD and re-upgrade to stock V32
- Disconnect the battery's negative lead for 5 minutes
- Disconnect the data and power cables from the back of the nav computer (I have the TV module, which should then take over the 16:9 screen) -- One question here. I did not connect any other cables after disconnecting the nav computer cables. Have I missed a step here?

So I'm at a loss for the moment. If anyone has any ideas how to get this thing back up and running, I'm all ears.

A big thanks for taking the time to read this!

Cheers,
Tom.