There shouldn't be issues disconnecting the battry. Just turn the car off and unhook the battery....

Disconnecting the battery is not necessary.
You'll disconnect the power of the MK4 by removing the two plugs as mentioned in my decription.
You may use four adequate nails instead of using the radio removal tool.

Press the nail heads outward and it depresses the latches to allow the nav to pull straight out. Pull the antenna wire straight off. Swing the 2 latch levers to the side and the big plugs come out. Pry the cover up at the back and lift it off. The drive is held with 4? small Torx screws (T7 or T8) IIRC. There are also 2? ribbon connectors to carefully unhook. Then reverse to install. Run the OS V32 disk if needed.

Z4 replacement completed
 

Many thanks to everyone on the forum for previous posts and especially those that helped me directly. Some tips for others who are considering embarking on this job and have a BMW Z4.

1. The instructions here are invaluable as you'll need to remove the centre console entirely to get the DVD player out. This is the biggest part of the job, once you've got the DVD player out the process is relatively straight forward.
2. Before you start make sure you have time. It took me 1/2 day just to get the DVD player out.
3. BMW saw fit to secure the centre console with about 12 screws that are all different sizes. If you don't have a Torx screwdriver set (star shaped) then you may want to think again. I got most of the screws out without on but had to admit defeat for one set and go buy one.

Summary - it 'aint easy! But if you are DIY minded, have the time and balk at the idea of paying a dealer to do it good luck!

I have a DVD M3 4.6 drive that reads CDs but not DVDs.

I ordered 65 83 9 241 764 from from bavauto.com for $112 but they sent me a DVD M3 3.5 drive which I think is 65839237706

The 3.5 drive seems to be working in my MKIV. But it won't eject the DVD.

Is it possible to get the M3 4.6 drive?

Nice DIY, im having a bash at this as we speak. I noticed that the heatsink pad on the processor seems to be a load of shite, so im going to add my own heatsink paste before putting the shielding back on.

Anyone else noticed this?

Question about DVD Unit Replacement
 

Great DIY w/Pics. I'm going to go the DVD unit route. The part number is #65839241764 thru Husker BMW. I'm replacing an the unit in my MKIV 03 325xi. May be a stupid question, but will I have to reinstall my software, i.e. v32? Do you know if this unit will read back up map copies?

Thanks,

J

No you wont have to reinstall any software, just power the unit back up when youve reinstalled the hardware and you will see the nav option in the menu screen once again.
Backup copies are very temperemental in my experience. I replaced the laser in my unit hoping that my intermittent copied disc would be flawlessly readable, but its still a bit sketchy. If youre going to run a copied disc you must burn the iso at 1x speed as far as i know, or it probably wont work.

confirmed!

Seems perfectly logical to replace faulty thermal paste.

Note: don't lather it on thick, it's not butter on crumpets :rofl:.

You need enough of a coating to fill the microscopic recesses in the faces you are pressing together. That's what our Mechanical dept. thermal expert says anyway.