Not Just another Navigation post !!

[mccabema]

Hi folks,

I've trawled both the web and this forum for answers to my questions but have been unable to find anything relating to my navigation, nor any answers to the questions I have.

I have recently bought a BMW/Alpina B3 (2000 E46 3 series coupe) and it has what is refered to on the spec as a "Navigation System Business".

The head unit has a monochrome orange screen and the computer in the boot is a MK2 from what I can tell. (Female voice and external GPS module).

I had my local dealer search the part number (65906908310) and it came back as a navigation "calculator".

The weird thing is the same number ending in 11 instead of 10 is the MK2 Navigation computer.

Whats the difference ?

I want to install the widescreen display selling from Bimmernav and from what I can gather, this will work with a MK2 computer, which is what I think I have.

My questions are this, Do I need to install a new wiring harness between my existing headunit and the computer?

If so, is there a plug and play option for each end if the current loom is not compatible ?

Will the navigation computer I have give the right video output to drive this new display as it currently drives a small monochrome screen? Do I need to have the Navigation computer coded?

Do I need a radio module or is this already installed? I can't figure out if the current head unit has an in-built tuner or if there is a module buried in the car someplace?

Is it a rule of thumb that all navigation systems have an external radio module or were some of the early ones built with the radio built into the head unit and just the navigation in the trunk?

My software version currently reads SW 2 2/ 40. I can't find reference to this anywhere and from what I gather, the first 2 = MK2, the second =split screen and the 40 is the software version. Have I totally confused myself with regard these numbers? Am I reading the OBC version?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Mark

 

[Tom]

Can you post a picture of your navigation?

You also might want to check out http://navtv.com/bmw.htm since they offer more variety.

 

[mccabema]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I've linked to a picture of the same head unit as I have.

The Navigation computer is the same as most of the computers you would know. I'm pretty certain that it is a MK2 but perhaps a Euro version.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for pointing me to the site you mention but I really want to lose the tape option and sadly this unit has a big hole sure to never see any action.
Tapes are so 90s !!

The Bimmernav unit is

 

[Tom]

Actually we had that system from 1998-2002 in the US as well.

After 2002 they went from CD to DVD based discs.

Another thing you should know is before converting to the 16:9 wide screen is that your current system does not come with an external tuner, in order to make this work you may have to replace the entire system.

It will probably be more cost efficient to move towards aftermarket nav systems like Alpine.

 

[mccabema]

Rite, so that means this head unit has the radio tuner and there is not a tuner module in the rear of the car?

I won't recieve FM radio with the widescreen without the tuner module?

Most the pictures I've seen have the tuner module in the rear trunk but I have yet to pull the trim to see whats loaded in my trunk.

Are you saying that in order to get FM radio, I may have to upgrade to a MK3 + as the nav computer I have has no input for a tuner module?

Just to be sure !

 

[mccabema]

Tom, I had a look in the trunk this morning and here is what I found:

First off there is the cd changer and the Nav computer (Part No. 65906908310). The Nav Computer has one red and one blue ELO connector on the rear.

Here is a picture of the label on the navigation computer:

And the connectors at the rear:

Under that is a silver module that is labelled as a "BMW BUSINESS RDS" (Part No.65126901348). There are two coax cables connected to this, one standard FM size with a standard aerial connector and another thin piece of coax that runs to a GPS receiver module (Part No. 65908385141).

You can see the RDS module in the top picture under the navigation computer.

Here is a picture of the two coaxial cables connected to it.

Here is the GPS receiver:

If I've no radio module, what is this RDS module and why has it got coax connected to it for the GPS and what is obviously the antenna coax!!

I've also had a look at the rear of the head unit (Part No. 65126902804) and it has one blue ELO conector but no aerial coax !


Thanks for your help.

M

 

[Tom]

hmm, from the looks of that picture it looks like you do have a built in tuner which is good.

The only problem I see is that you currently have all your wires connected to a single plug.

So even if you get the picture to work, you might not get any sound. Plus I'm not sure if BMW even sells a retrofit kit that will work in your case.

 

[mccabema]

hmm, from the looks of that picture it looks like you do have a built in tuner which is good.

The only problem I see is that you currently have all your wires connected to a single plug.

So even if you get the picture to work, you might not get any sound. Plus I'm not sure if BMW even sells a retrofit kit that will work in your case.

I'm a little confused ! Surely I don't need any speaker wiring at the dash as the widescreen 16:9 connects to the radio tuner in the same way !?

There is no speaker connection on the widescreen display.

 

[Tom]

Sorry let me rephrase.

Currently your system has a single connector for controls/audio and navigation, whereas the newer color monitors have dual connectors. In order for this to work you will have to find someway of dividing the single connector into two.

Remember the original problem was that you have a monochrome screen, if it was color it "may" be a bit easier.

I had a pdf file that contained a circuit diagram bookmarked awhile ago but I can't seem to find it now.

 

[mccabema]

Hi Tom,

Thanks, I have a much clearer picture of what you are saying now.

I'm dreaming that there is such a harness/convertor in existence

Worst case scenario, a circuit diagram would be a gift !!

On the other hand, do you know if there would be a harness availible that is not the retrofit?

One which will connect the display to my existing computer and radio or an upgraded computer if I upgrade my MK2?

Thanks for your efforts

M