WHITE SCREEN
 

I just picked up a new 16:9 boardmonitor manufacture date 04/05 and MK4 DVD GPS manufacture date 12/05 to replace a original dead 4:3 bordmonitor and functioning MK2 CD GPS. I am getting a WHITE screen, radio works fine as it did on the old monitor. I get a WHITE screen with the MK2 hooked up as well.

What is the problem? How can I test everything?

white screen normally means no video signal.

I would suggest:

Dismantle the monitor and check the ribbon cable from screen to main unit, ensure it is seated properly in its connector. Be careful with the cable, it can be broken and damaged if handled roughly.
Inspect the cable for cracks as well.

Check the all fuses for the system - measure, do not inspect by sight.

Confirm the nav is OK by trying it in another car.

Thank you. Before I dissasemble the monitor, is there another way to:

a) provide an alternate video signal to the bordmonitor (i.e. VGA, component video) so it can be bench tested
b) output video signal for the GPS units to an external standard television or computer monitor (i.e. old CRT, etc...)

I see that others have accomplished the first one such as in this thread.

I bought this from someone on eBay and they shipped it insured. He says he will file claim so I can get my money back. I would like to know certifiably without any doubt that the monitor is not working. Also I am not sure if it is worthwhile for me to dissasemble the unit if I will be refunded or reimbursed for repair.

It's a 2006 unit (246 model) manufactured in 04/05. I bought this one since I figured it would be less likely to be broken.

What do you mean by measuring the fuse... Use a multimeter or something?

I think the ribbon cable having loose connection is very possible. The screen is white with radio on or off and I think it stays white even if i disconnect the GPS unit entirely.

I am waiting to see what my options are here first. I think I found a good reference link for dismantling the unit here.

Only using a BMW device as source. The monitor uses RGB, but has sync on green (RGsB). Not many if any devices support RGsB.
Plus, you need to wake up the monitor with ibus messages, which unless you have other BMW devices or emulators on your test bench, won't be possible.

Yep. Connect a standard TV to the green output. It will have sync on it, so the TV will sync. But you will of course only see the green signal. But you will see something. Make sure the TV is a multi-system TV.

Easier is to look at all 3 signals with an oscilloscope.

Easiest way is to try in another car with a known good system


You could use the ruler, and determine the size in mm. But that won't help you. Yes, I mean use a multimeter, make sure you have no fuses with cracks you cannot see.

White = no video signals at all.

Dismantling is straight forward in terms of separating the screen from the body.


Good luck!

OK, again thank you for the excellent information. I would try GPS units in another car if I knew someone who was willing to let me test it. The two folks I approached on this forum who are local to me with NAV were not comfortable with this at all.

So... I think perhaps the TV idea is worth trying. How do I know if it's a multi-system tv? Does it have to be component input or can it be just single rca video input? Only green will work because it has sync? How do the other two channels (R,B) work? Is it something special with regards to the boardmonitor?

So on the blue connector pinout on the monitor harness (12 pin) which pin is Green? I guess I could just try each one until i see something...

So if WHITE means no video signals at all that would mean one of the following in order if what i think is least to most likely:

1) Both GPS units are not providing all 3 video signals (or will lack of only green signal cause white screen?)
2) Wiring fault in wiring loom for all 3 video signals (or will fault on just green signal wire cause white screen?) Is there a good way to test these connections with the multimeter? I was getting funky voltage readings on these wires even with car battery disconnected using multimeter in conjunction with a 1.5V AA battery. How does the 18-pin blue connector at the GPS unit relate to the 12-pin blue connector on the monitor?!
3) Problem with monitor (i.e. ribbon cable needs to be reseated - but would this not cause a blank screen?)

Another person from mp3car.com reccomended that I try powering up the display out of the car with no video input, if it stays white its definately a screen problem (makes sense), if it powers up but stays black then its not the display.

I am not sure how to do this, I assume i will need to supply a +12V and ground. Again I am unsure of the pinouts, is power supplied via white 12 pin connector, blue 12 pin connector or both!? I am thinking I might be able to accomplish this with an ATX power supply and/or computer case cables. I don't want to fry my stuff either lol :)

Thanks so much for your help. Any input is appreciated.

OK good news! I got refunded most of my money back, so I can try to tinker with the unit and if all else fails either buy another one or pay Alpine to fix it. Still a hassle but at least I am not getting totally hosed here lol :)

Look in your TV user manual & read the specs, look in the settings menu.

Single RCA should give a pic

Correct

Putting sync on all 3 x signals is redundant. The monitor only needs 1 x sync pulse. Hence sync is only on one signal.

Nearly. Standard RGB signals have sync only one one signal. If you have a TV with YUV component signal input, connect the nav G to the Y terminal.

Blue connector:
Pin assignments at plug connector X1313

Pin Type Description / Signal type Connection /
Measuring notes
1 E Voltage supply terminal 30 Fuse F56
2 Not used
3 E/A I-bus signal line I-bus connector
4 Not used
5 E Navigation video signal, green On-board monitor
6 E Navigation video signal, blue On-board monitor
7 E Navigation video signal, red On-board monitor
8 Not used
9 A Audio signal AF+ Radio
10 M Ground Ground point
11 Not used
12 M Ground for LC monitor On-board monitor
13 Not used
14 M Shield On-board monitor
15 M Shield On-board monitor
16 M Shield On-board monitor
17 Not used
18 A Audio signal AF- Radio

Possible. But I thought you said the Mk2 was working before you changed units? Thus highly unlikely that the Mk2 failled.

You may have not fitted a connector properly, or fitted the wrong connector. Refer to http://wds.west.lv/release/en/index.htm for full wiring diagrams.

'funky' is not a technical term that I can relate to when discussing voltmeter readings. You would be best to describe what you were doing in a more factual and accurate manner if you want people to help you.

Depends on what pins were making contact....

I have no experience with this diagnosis method.

Refer to the WDS for wiring details.
If unusre, don't do it!

Thank you for the very thorough reply. Sorry for the ambiguity. Pinouts should be very helpful. I have a TV with component inputs. I will try some of these troubleshooting tecniques. I agree I dont think its the nav units (same behaviour with MKV reinforces this but doesn't prove it), I think there is something going on with the monitor. I really don't see how I could be plugging the wiring in wrong the connectors only fit in one way and everything is color coded.

I had trouble finding this info in the WDS... any idea what nav unit, wiring loom and 16x9 unit are listed under?

Nav unit:
Complete vehicle - body - Audio, video and navigation - Navigation

Wiring loom: you can search by function (eg navigation). Then you look at pin numbers, wire colours, connector numbers, and start following cables through the car.

16x9:
Complete vehicle - body - Audio, video and navigation - Navigation - Location display - On-board monitor xxxxx

Awesome, thank you so much. Sounds like Alpine charges $320 to repair the monitor, I would also have to pay to ship it all the way to NJ tho. Gunna take a stab at myself first. Maybe it's something simple. If all else fail i can send it in or try a local electronics repair shop. I still need to prove that the GPS units work and that the screen doesn't :)

I tried tapping pin 5 to an RCA cable that i connected to the Y terminal of two different tv's component inputs... no image.

You said YUV, these terminals both read Y (Green), Pb (Blue), Pr (Red).

I don't think either is multi-system.

I still have not yet proven that:

a) boardmonitor is bad
b) gps units are good

I need to find someone who will let me test at least my gps units in their car. I am thinking I might just crack the monitor open and take a look. I would really like to prove one way or another that the monitor itself is bad before sending it off to Alpine.

I just took the metal top cover off the monitor unit. Right away I notice the two ribbon cables are off their little plastic holding pegs. Though they still seem to be solidly connected to the two white plastic input receptor things.

I'll try removing them, swabbing with some alcohol and then reseating the cables.

Question: does this need to be done on the screen side as well?

Thanks!

I doubt it.

Whe the monitor is originally delivered, the screen and body are supplied separately.

The installer must assemble the two, and connect the ribbon cable

Thus the ribbon cable in the main unit would have been touched be human hands, but the cable in the screen would never have been touched and should still be good.

Well I just reseated them and I still have the same white screen. I am guessing the unit is defective in some other way.

Just wondering if it's worthwhile dissamebling the main screen and inspecting the PCB perhaps reseating that cable (if that's even possible).

Looks like it's going to cost $350.00 to get it fixed :(

Sorry again for the long post and multiple questions:

I tried once more, and even tried having only one ribbon cable or the other connected. Looks the slightly thinner (26 pin) one on top supplies the video. When I disconnect that the screen is completely blank. Disconnecting the bottom one seems to render the controls useless so I am guessing that is the ibus one.

I'm still not convinced the monitor is dead. I wish I had another way to bench test the unit. No one is going to let me test it in their car, I'll be lucky if someone will even let me plug my GPS units in.

Is it worth it to try and run three taps for RGB from the GPS harness connector to the monitor harness? In WDS "RGB Signals (Without VID Video module)" gives the pin mappings from the 18-pin GPS blue harness connector to 12-pin monitor blue harness connector I am just at a loss for how I can test this without having another car w/NAV available.

Are the wires that originate from the GPS side the same color if they terminate on the monitor side? This is what I was trying to prove with my multimeter and was getting strange voltage readings with the car battery disconnected and looping a 1.5V AAA battery across various pins (i.e. I was getting >1.5V readings on pins that should NOT have been getting supplied any voltage).

One last thing. If you pull the GPS unit - should the screen go blank or should it be white? Is there ANYWAY to test the harness out with just a multimeter or is this only possible with a oscilloscope? I just want to test for continuity I would think since I have 2 GPS units and the likelihood of both being bad is very small.

Lastly either I am assuming I did something wrong trying to tap the green channel to the Y input of my TV's or they are not multi-system (or was that just required for regular RCA video input?)

And this cable inside the screen housing is what you are saying is NOT worth reseating, it looks like it is clamped down pretty well anyway. I don't see any point in dissambling the screen portion if it won't do me any good either - though I have heard of some resistor or other component "melting" in here. Apparently from doing a little searching it should be fairly obvious is this is the case.

Will any oscilloscope suffice? I was looking at some local ones on craigslist, most of which are ancient and huge as well as some USB based ones like these:

Link 0
Link 1
Link 2

If you want to ship the screen and nav drive to me in Michigan, I'll slap them individually into my X5 and see if they work or not. It'll take me all of 5 minutes to prove it out one way or another. And the shipping back and forth would be a lot cheaper than buying a scope.

Did you try swapping just the monitor with the MK2?
As UCrewX5 suggested its very quick and simple to test on another X5 with nav, if you can find someone.

thats the problem i cant find anyone. If i could i would test both my gps units. Hard to beleive no one in PHX metro will step forward....

Ask around on Bimmerboard.com as well for any E39/E39 owners in your part of the world to help you.

Honestly, the quickest easiest way to test is to fit the units in a known working vehicle.

If you are not familiar with oscilloscopes and the correct waveforms for video signals then you will struggle to understand what you are seeing, and you will struggle to drive the oscilloscope

Keep hunting for a friendly BMW forum member within your town or within a couple of hours drive from your town.

Yup i posted on those forums. You are right about testing on known working vehicle. Doubtful i will find somone willing to test the monitor but gps def possibility. I will keep looking hopefully I can find someone. Would be a shame to waste more money without knowing for sure.

OK - Update... Kind of Good News:

Spoke with Alpine Electronics of America in Allendale, NJ today. They told me that as long as my screen is not completely dead they will repair the unit for $150 and warranty the repair for 90-days. Even if a PCB needs to be replaced. I just need to pay shipping to them. They can ususally fix them withing 24 hours but have a 5-7 business day turnaround. If nothing is wrong with the unit they will send me the unit back without cashing the check (Thanks for the offer tho UCrewX5!!!)

The guy mentioned they are repairing one unit right now that has the same problem. I have no other way of testing the monitor so I will probably just send it in this week.

I am still trying to find someone with a X5 or M5 that will let me test the GPS units, tho they are probably fine. I am scouring the other boards trying to find someone. Which models came with nav? All of them?

So worst case scenario I should have a fully functional 2006 model DVD GPS System for less than $900 total and I should be able to sell the old CD GPS unit on eBay.

I suppose it's possible the monitor is fine and i may lose the money shpping the monitor to Alpine, but it really seems like its the culprit. I just wish I had a way to to tell for sure. If GPS units test out fine then I will pretty much be convinced. I suppose its possible the wiring harness could still be bad but this seems highly unlikely.

I think I finally found a local that will help me test the GPS units!!!! Thanks to bimmerforums! The test vehicle is a 7/1999 production 740. I'm guessing MKII/4x3 like my X5 (was). If these babies boot up I will be pretty confident that its the monitor and I should be good to go for hopefully <$200.

Actually at least 1 more 7-series person has stepped forward now :) They have 16:9/MK4 and the old 4x3 and MK2!!!! Perfect! Now I can test both my GPS units AND verify my wiring on my X5 so I should be able to tell exactly whats up.

I'm really surprised, that nobody knows the problem of the white screen.
I have 16:9 units for X5 and also for E38/E39. They are different. The monitor part has a different part no. and the casette unit has also different part no. in case of E39 and X5.
E39
monitor: 65 52 6 934 415 (old partno.:65 52 6 913 385)
unit: 65 52 6 928 389
X5
monitor: 65 52 6 934 416 (old partno.:65 52 6 915 517)
unit:65 52 6 988 771

If you mix the units (eg. E39 unit with X5 monitor), you will get white screen. I don't know the exact reason, but I had the white screen problem 2 times, and both were because of mixing the units.
Check the part numbers. The monitor's parts number is on the back side, so you have to push the eject button to check it.

Bombolo

This unit supposedly came from a 2006 X5, part #'s

65-52-6 980 246 & 65.52-6 988 771 (little sticker) on metal top cover
65-52-6 934 416 on back of screen.

Thanks to Nathan @ Babbitt Motor Werks in Mesa, AZ my NAV system has finally been diagnosed. It is my screen as suspected. Both my MK2 and MK4 worked in my X5 with a spare 4:3 screen he had laying around, we also tried the units in a 740 and they worked there as well. I would certainly reccomend this shop to others in the Phoenix/Mesa/Tempe/Scottsdale area.

Shipping my unit to Alpine in NJ with a check for $150 in the morning.

Got my screen back today $150 for the repair and $12 shipping via USPS. I think they overcharged me by $25 but I am just happy the damn thing finally works!

Glad you are fixed now. I have used both types of wide screen monitors in my e38 and never had a white screen there. I am currently using an X5 unit.

Part #: 6590 6 969 263-01
Manufacture Date: 12-05
HW:1.0/SW:6.0

:iagree:
please upload full pin-out pic,or white connector pin-out only.