Hi X5_Rob,

So either I should buy a TV Module or NavTool unit and a reverse camera.

is this correct.

-Kishore

I don't think NavTool is still available as new, but you might be able to find it as used... a TV tuner should be available as used - go for a hybrid unit, analogue/digital...

BMW Widescreen Video Module TV Tuner For E39 5 Series/E53 X5 etc | eBay

This video module is available on ebay. But I guess with this I also need to buy some harness which connects nav unit to this unit?

Do you have any idea what kind of connectors or harness I might need.

Navtool looks more easy to fix as it comes with all connectors etc...

check ebay seller KUFATEC... he might be on ebay.de... i am not sure if he has harness, but i think i bought one from him about 8 years ago... you do need a harness to go from TV module to nav computer, and that harness was the hardest piece to buy...

mine was a little too tight, so I cut it and spliced in about 2 extra feet of cable - now it is routed without being stretched...

if you decide to extend the length of your harness, you must make sure you properly shield the signal cables... but first, find the harness...

Hi TerminatorX5, do you have the part number to your hybrid tv module? Also the part number for the harness? Was all the connections for the tv module done in the trunk area?

Can you still watch tv in atsc format?

I've seen tv tuner add-on pieces for sale from china for around 100 bucks that will fit into existing tv modules, have you tried that?

Did you end up installing a rear view camera along with your tv module?

Hello Maruzo

I do not recall the part numbers, but here is a link for some of the part numbers -

TV on Nav - COMPLETED! EVERYTHING WORKS!

There have been a dozen variations of TV modules out there, but at this moment in history, it does not matter anymore, since the US has gone in digital broadcasting and the analogue had been sunsetted (sunset?).
While digital BMW module would work overseas, it would not work domestically, as we use a different digital standard (ATSC), which did not exist when the last digital tuner was manufactured (circa 2005-2010). They used Euro digital standard (I think DVB?)

so, the TV module is needed only for its AV input and the rear camera inputs - otherwise, it is an obsolete device.
I use the TV module for the AV input, where I feed the video from either of two DVD players in the headrests and a DVR that records the driving - I use a mechanical switch to switch inputs.

Also, I have the rear camera, that triggers with the signal on the PDC - this way, when the reverse gear is engaged, and the PDC is activated, the tap into PDC circuit triggers the rear camera to go on to main screen. Also, I can use the PDC button to manually activate the rear camera.

for TV in motion, there is the harness that I talked about earlier in this thread.

Here are some part numbers, but they might be outdated, I don't have notes to go along with those part numbers -

65 24 8 362 532 1 Left TV amplifier
65 24 8 362 533 1 Right TV Amplifier
65 24 8 369 471 1 Left Antenna Lead
65 24 8 369 470 1 Right Antenna Lead

61 12 8 377 436 – TV harness
61 12 6 919 758 – TV from catalog

I know this is a really old thread, but if I plan to only install the RVC do I need any of the amplifiers or antenna leads?

Thanks.

Hi Amancuso. You don't need the amplifiers or the antenna.

I installed antenna but that's because I bought an aftermarket hdtv tuner that installs into the OEM tv tuner and it came with an antenna feed.

You do need an adapter cable that connects between the nav dvd and the tv tuner.

Also you need to splice into the reverse light or the PDC, which is a pretty clever idea since you can manually turn on the camera by switching on the pdc.

My camera failed a few months ago, not sure why, could be one of the wires I connected broke off. Now whenever it's in reverse the oem screen just turns from blue to orange. LOL

Good luck with your install. It's pretty cool once it works.

Ok so the cable arrived and of course it's not the right one. Or at least I dont think so. It only has female ends. 2 blue ones, a white one, a violet one and 2 flat long connectors, a natural one and a black one. When I plugged the blue cable from the car into the TV tuner, then the white one into the TV tuner, then the blue one from the harness into the nav unit, the screen came on, but it was rolling. Any thoughts?

If image is rolling, could it be you have an analog tuner and it's receiving ATSC signals that it can't decode?