Rear DVD Specification
 

Hi, I'm waiting for the 08sd MSport and am thinking about including the rear DVD option.

Is there a document detailing its functionality?

Specifically will it play AVI's (Divx & Xvid)? Does it accept USB input? Or can it only take 'true' DVDs, e.g. Mpeg2.

Set top players can be purchased for £30 which support Divx, Xvid and Usb, etc. so the technology is clearly not expensive and its incredibly useful (e.g. convert films to avi (takes approx 700mb rather than 7gb), keep them on my hardisk and then copy them to a fast USB stick when needed and insert into the player)

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Also, does anybody know anything about the new TV option that was announced with the 2008 model?

Ah, do you know what this new TV option comprises?

No, all I know is;

To enhance comfort on long distances to an even higher standard, the wide range of attractive options on the 2008 BMW X5 gives the driver and his passengers supreme freedom of choice and enjoyment. An additional option being introduced in the 2008 model year is a TV function for on-board entertainment of the rear-seat passengers. As an alternative to the DVD video programme, this system allows the transmission of TV signals to the 8-inch folding flatscreen monitor on the centre console.

I suspect the TV option will just be the regular terrestrial channels. I also doubt the BMW DVD player will allow you to do things like have a USB drive, whilst these things are very easy to do BMW seem incredibly bad at adopting new technology for the entertainment systems.

I think you should check out the postings for the RES problems before considering getting one. There's an ongoing issue with the DVD players failing on the 07's and it's a hit and miss fix depending on your dealer. I'm not discouraging anybody from getting this option. I just hope they they would have this fixed for the 08's so people would not have to go through the same headaches that the 07 owners did. I already knew that there was an issue before I took delivery of my E70 but I was hoping that it was not a widespread problem. Guess what, 2 days into driving the E70 and the DVD player failed. The only reason why I got this option is I like everything factory installed. The design was not that great either. You cannot access the center console when the monitor is down so I end up having the monitors upright all the time. Not very safe since I have 2 kids that can easily lean or sit on the monitor and crack the stand. I also have 3rd row seats so if my kids are sitting in the back, they cannot really see the monitor. I could have gone with the Invision system with the headrest monitors. I might just do it and end up having 2 systems with 3 monitors and I can play 3 movies at the same time. Talking about poisoning your kids with too much TV. But when on a long road trip, well worth it.

Thanks for the advice.

I also generally prefer factory fit but will need to weigh up these problems against aftermarket installs. I didn't realise the centre console was unusable when the screen is down.

The option in the UK is expensive, it's approx £1,300 which is crazy considering I paid less than this for my 40" Sony HD KDL-40W2000 TV.

I'm not aware of any aftermarket options though to compare to - I've specced the comfort seats so I understand there's an issue in having the screens in the back of the headrests. Since I'm also getting the panoramic sunroof I can't see where else a system could be installed.

What I definately want to avoid is a portable solution that has wires draping all over the place, e.g. between the player and screens and to the cigarette lighter as a power supply.

Any idea on aftermarkets that work with the panoramic sunroof and comfort seats?

Check out this thread http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e70-forum/...light=invision

I'm not sure if they have any recent solution for comfort seat headrest but you might want to ask this company. According to this old thread, they don't have any at the time. Not much choice if you have panoramic moonroof. Either get the factory or the aftermarket headrest monitors. I also went with the factory since I'm leasing the car and the cost of the RES is residualized. I'll end up paying for the full price if I get the aftermarket ones. I heard some good things about Invision so it's worth checking into. They're based in US so I'm not sure how that would work for you. Last time I checked, it will cost $1800 USD for the E70 solution. Good luck.

Personally, even though the factory DVD has shortcomings, I prefer it over the 3rd party system which IMO is very ugly. The headset monitors look terrible. This is of course just my .02

Let me know...I am here for ya! :thumbup: