X5 E53 2005 Head unit TV option no channels
 

Hi all, I recently replaced my nav head unit and all works well except for the TV option. Before I could tv scan and it would bring up my local tv stations. Now, with the replacement it does not bring up anything just some normal options. I will get a picture and post it up. Anyone have tv issues?

Feels like a coding issue.

I just set mine to open IPTV pro and use Azeroth since it gives me 38k channels but the subscription is 10 USD a month.

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photos
 

Here are my photos and options. My head unit that I took out had digital services available.

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Might also add that I have no sound at the moment and I suspect that is because my radio amp has failed. But that should not affect the tv signal unless my tv module has failed too. But if the tv module has failed I wouldn't get the option to do a search.

Replaced head unit was purchased from US. Maybe they are different to European models.

Yes they are, radios have different frequency ranges depending on geographical location. I would have to believe the same applies to over air tv frequencies.

PS. What I did was on an Android head unit, not the factory one.

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So you are talking about the nav module in the trunk? It has different coding regarding country variant (Euro, US, Canada, Australia).

My nav module in the trunk works fine as the nav maps came up all good in Australia. Just dont see why the tv option would give this sort of response. Not sure why I am seeing indian language in the guide…that is weird. What if my antenna is poor and it is not getting a signal? Perhaps, that could be confusing the display. I am trying to diagnose without pulling out the rear modules although I will need to do that to replace the radio amp. Have tried the trick of removing fuses 72,73 but that didn’t work for me.

Darn, I just read this….

From September 2004 the Analogue Tv module was replaced with the Digital/Analogue hybrid version, so if your car was built after 1st September 2004 you shuold have the digital version. The digital versions of the tuner usually sell for much more.

So, my bad….it looks like I purchased too quickly…..Darn.


Correction…….this only applies to the module (tuner) in the rear I believe, not the head unit.

My understating is the part in front is effectively a remote for the actual radio. With any luck you are just having a coding problem and you need to tell the heat unit that the radio has the digital function. Do you have coding tools?

That would make a lot of sense. I have an odb 2 diagnostic tool that can clear error codes but I am not sure it can do that.

I have a fall back as I managed to track down the ribbon cables that were damaged in my original head unit. I have since put a new lcd screen in that one. So, I will repair that one and put it back in. It will not fix the no sound but I have a replacement dsp amplifier on the way. By the way, can the odb 2 tool tell me if my radio dsp amplifier is working or not? I dont seem to read about that option in other threads with no sound.

Anyway, it is a quick swap. By the way, I did not disconnect the battery when I replaced the head unit. I just turned the ignition off and removed the key.

ok, update. I swapped over the ribbons with the old unit and put it back in. As soon as I connected the connectors it retracted the front screen. All good. Now turned the key on and started engine and I get a complete white screen. Oh, also the power on button doesn't come on when I push the left volume control. Maybe I need to wait for a while for things to adjust. I remember I had a complete white screen before many years ago and fixed it with ejecting the nav CD and putting it back in again. Anyway, I will see what happens.

update: the edge connector of one of the ribbon cables is not making a connection I think. I pulled the head unit out and will look in due time. In the mean time I have the replacement back in and the nav is working fine. Have purchased some diagnostic software (that only bmw had at one stage) and will use that to see if i can program it. Might also help with my other issue of no sound.

How did U go with this?

ribbon board connector
 

So, I was looking at the nav head unit I took out. I managed to purchase some replacement ribbon cables that connect the screen board to the main board. However, when the last two pins of the second cable deteriorated and I was trying to put the original ribbon cables back I damaged the pins on the connector and broke the end off the small part that pushes in to hold the ribbon cable in. I have attached some photos below showing 1) the new ribbon cable less the thin white sticky part that I will put back on the ribbon; 2) the connector that clearly shows damage at the end; and 3) the broken push in locking clip that jams the ribbon against the pins. Now on one side I count 25 pins and on the other 26.

Anyways, I need to reach out and see if anyone knows what type of connector this is?

thanks

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Ok, I just may have put the ribbon cables in backwards according to this picture.

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I will post again soon.

My issue is I keep losing connection to the TV module so about 10% of the time I have a TV listed on the nav screen and then nothing for the remaining........

No idea why?

Is that a replacement head unit where this intermittent is occurring?

So, in other words the head unit is detecting no module at times. Perhaps an intermittent connection/connector or signal not getting back. Program coding can cause odd isdues. I had a right headlight that kept going to low beam warning and the main beam would not come on. Was working on my radio and disconnected the battery for a time. When I reconnected the system had a restart and the headlight now works.

Yep someone ripped all the original equipment out and another owner sourced replacement gear. So now CD changer has no audio, TV module comes and goes and I get screen flicker sometimes.....FM radio works....no AM at all.

Nav works fine though......

It's a mess

BMW I think used to code the head unit to the specific vehicle with the various modules. It prevented someone stealing the head unit and putting it another car. Then the only people back then that could code the vehicle was bmw and they would find out. Sounds like the coding of your head unit. That is what I am thinking about mine. My issue with the radio now is that when the car starts up all the speakers on both sides work fine then a short time later only the left side works. When the right side works at start up it is clear and crisp. New amp and tested with new radio module. I am now leaning towards the coding issue.

Bimmercode can set most of these types of coding.

It let me add the function to raise/lower the Rolls-Royce hood ornament to idrive for crazy example (of course it didn't also add the hardware). I did see similar options in the idrive for TV etc so if certain things never worked that's a good place to start.


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I struggle to know what software to use....do I buy ISTA? BIMMERCODE?
A Foxwell scanner?

I already have a Launch scan tool.....things missing though like programming the doors to lock when driving off. Basic stuff yet complicated stuff is in there like adjusting airbag suspension, relearning gearbox shifts, VANOS relearning etc

Foxwell won't code bimmercode works on E70 not E53 [emoji853]


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Solved. You can swap out the head unit from a similar year/model with no need for coding. My issue was at the back with the bm53 module gone faulty and the radio amp. Only realised recently I was getting water in the rear compartment. Went through three radio amplifiers before I realised. Now everything works fine and I am getting on to cleaning out the drain pipes for the sun roof or whatever. Thread solved.

New nav unit, navigation works well. New (second hand) radio amplifier and upgraded bm53 module and radio and stereo works good. Now back to the tv module. Will try swapping out head unit again and post up any result.

Update, TV strange symbols finally solved. Duh, I have a new hybrid TV module as my lower cargo area under the spare wheel got flooded after our cyclone. Silly me forgot to put the car cover on. Some leak from the constant heavy rain overpowered the car. Blew out my suspension module. radio module (again!), tv unit, towing module, etc. Why they put all these important electronic parts at the lowest part of the car is a mystery to me.

Anyways, back to the tv screen. The weird symbols in my original post is that I didn’t have the region setting through a menu option set. Found it out on the new unit.

Now, all solved.