installing Nav HU WITHOUT Mark IV
 

Hi guys. so I've tried doing research on this for about a year now and I have not been able to find a definitive yes or no so I'm going to ask you all... Can the Nav head unit be installed into the deck and be used without having to install the navigation system in the rear? I do not want it, or the blue tooth or the cd changer. I merely want it for looks AND potentially to hook up a reverse camera.
Can this be done?

Also, am I correct in saying that all Nav HU's have the DSP capability. Its the rest of the stereo that determinies if the DSP is an option, correct?

If I buy a Nav HU do I have to worry about some not having the DSP, as my X5 currently DOES have it and I do not want to loose it.


EDIT: I just found out you can not. oh well

IIRC, the RGB signals needed to show graphics on the HU are generated in the NAV.

You can have the head unit with the screen and no nav - but you would need to install the tv module. The TV module only outputs very basic menu graphics, if you have the nav then the nav unit takes over the graphics production. However - without either tv or nav the wiring wont be in place. It's a major undertaking to retrofit the wiring harness for either, so not worth it..

I installed the wiring harness for NAV in a 4.8iS which came to me w/o a NAV. Not too bad of a job but if you are not interested in having the NAV working, then I'd agree it is indeed too much effort.

cheers all for the responses