so you mean that even your DVD player would not turn on at all without the remote, no lights on or anything??

Yes. Nothing would show up without remote.

You need to switch on the screen first then you will see some button LEDs in the DVD player.

WOW>>> this is the dumbest system ever, especially since its a BMW one would think they were smarter. OK thanks Hazee because i have spent hours testing and retesting and checking wires all over the place and it turns out, its just a DEAD BATTERY IN THE REMOTE!!!!! The only way you can turn anything on with this system is by the remote, you must first turn on the Screen/s then the power to the DVD player will come on. You cannot manually power anything on. So if you loose the remote or have a dead battery, it will not work! Pretty dumb!. Anyways....now ya know.
Good luck and hope this helps other people in the future.