installing oem navigation
 

I have an 04 e53 with the business cd style head unit without dsp, if I were to install the 06 oem screen nAvigation unit, would I have to do much wiring modifications? Also where is the CD on the oem nav units? Is it a separate cd changer somewhere else?

oh boy... retrofitting an OE navigation into a bimmer is a nightmare... it would be easier to go with aftermarket device...

the Nav unit is a split unit - the radio BM53/BM54 unit is in the trunk. the nav computer is in the trunk... the CD changer is in the trunk... you need to tap into speed sensor signals... the yaw signal...

it is doable... i have a factory PDF somewhere on my hard drive about the proper retrofit and the part numbers involved, including the wiring harnesses... but... why?

Some owner just like to have all the OEM options. :bustingup

A few months ago I was stuck home on a snow day and out of curiosity I looked up the main parts needed for an OEM Navigation install on reaoem. Then I looked up those parts on eBay to see what kind of $ would be involved: $1,800ish. And that's 10-12 year old equipment, mind you. Then you have the major chore of the installation which seems extremely invasive. Then having it coded at the dealer. Mercy. If someone happened upon a parts X5 and was able to get all the equipment for a very very reasonable price, then maybe.

And don't forget that he'd have to rip out the entire interior to run the cables from the back to the front...lol!! All that for an outdated system, and the screen is not a touch screen by the way.

Forget it. I'll probably just go with an aftermarket.which has a lot more options overall too. The only reason I asked is because there's a guys selling the speaker system and nav head unit from his 2006 x5. It's starting and a $100 and no bids.

Could be good for someone who has a factory system, and needs a repair/spare pieces

It is very involved, but has been done by several Xoutpost members. Here is one well documented example - http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/all...system-x5.html

Been there, done that. Not very difficult but the seats need to come out and either replace the wiring loom with the original wiring loom for a car with NAV or run the retrofit loom. Both need to be run front to back so no big difference. I opted to replace rather than add the retrofit loom. Then you have to sort out the GPS antenna in the rear spoiler. There should still be a thread in the electrnics forum on that with a lot of pics.
http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...s-harness.html
I had the car coded at the dealer, the SA simply siad: "you've been busy...."

For me it was worth it back then, now I think technology has moved on too much and there are reasonably good after market units. The problem remains what to do with the need to control some things though the MID.