12 replies to this topic

[BriC]

Hi,

I'm going to view a car tomorrow that is a '99 E39. It had sat nav as standard, however a 16:9 monitor has been fitted over the standard 4:3 unit. He says the Mk.2 sat nav drive is broken, and also the unit still runs 4:3 mode, as the TV module wasn't upgraded.

My question is this - what do I need to look for in order to get it running in 16:9, as I've searched for BMW E39 Screen Module in eBay, and had 0 returns. Also, will I just be able to buy a more modern cumputer (mk.3 for example) off eBay, connect it up, and be sorted, or is it not that simple?

Cheers

[DennisCooper]

Hi Bric

You should be able to get away with Mk3 or Mk4 GPS computer as they have the ability to drive a 16:9 output directly. If you are going to be dropping the cash, you might as well get the Mk4 as it's also faster in use and operation. The more experienced guys will be along for any other info too in case there's any other gotchya's to be aware of.

Cheers, Dennis!

[BriC]

Cheers Dennis.

Could someone confirm if the more modern computers are a straight swap into the older cars. Does any of the wiring need to be adapted or anything?

Thanks.

[rob-the-viking]

To upgrade from a mk2 to a Mk 3 or 4 I think you just need to disconnect the Trimble unit and connect the gps aerial to the rear or the drive. The TV tuners aspect ratio is software driven I think, so you should be able to switch it with the right software,such as navcoder. As for the screens, I've got a 16:9 in my pre facelift and it fts and works fine.

RichardP will know the score drop him a PM.

[RichardP]

OK, here's a summary :

- The MK II uses an external Trimble module, the MK III and MK IV have it internally, so to upgrade from MK II to MK III/IV you must disconnect the GPS antenna from the Trimble and connect it directly to the Nav. The Trimble is a small metal box about 3x3x1 inches, usually located right behind almost everything in the left side boot cubby hole.

- Apart from the Trimble issue, Mk II to Mk III/IV is plug and play.

- All but the earliest MK II Nav computers support 16:9 output as well as 4:3. Mk II Nav with a hardware version of 1.x I believe do not support 16:9.

- Early TV module do not support 16:9 output at all. Worse still, as all the video feed goes through them, they convert the 16:9 output of the Nav to 4:3 and you get two black lines down the side of the display, just like a wide screen TV displaying a 4:3 picture.

The following TV part numbers are 4:3 only.

4100223
6900858
6901456
6902015
6902016
6903727
6903728
8381940
8383520
8383521
8385959
8386287
8483733
8483734
0181221

The following have 16:9 support

4124836
6906923
6906924
6911221
6911222
6916136
6916137
6923268
6923418
6924749
6924750
6936759
6936096
6946423
6945298
6953002
6953003
6970581
6973091
9119653
9149315
9178796

The following are Hybrid Digital/Analogue

6126251
6908079
6956832
6962190
6962212
6966615
6966696
6988906
9112837
9118577
9126252
9147138
9147139

There may well be more part numbers, if the number differs by +1 then it may be a remanufactured unit, -1 the it's the original and the part number given is the remanufactured unit. It's quite possible that some of the part numbers are in the wrong group so don't take my word for it!

- You can by pass the TV module by unplugging the blue plug from the TV module and connecting it directly to the Nav, in some cars you may lose Nav audio unless you move some pins about in the plug.

[BriC]

OK, so I'll need a new computer and TV module.

Cheers

[Mikey_535i]

mine has the original drive and a widescreen, as said it has 2 black lines where it doesn't fit the screen, it's not annoyed me enough to spend the money replacing it as it works, when the tv stops working i may look at it then

[RichardP]

If you don't use the TV module, just by pass it by disconnecting the blue plug and connect that directly to the Nav.

[Mikey_535i]

i watch tv occassionally even with the crappy picture, mainly because i can but i will remember that for when it switches over

[rob-the-viking]

16:9 one On fleabizzle

[BriC]

Not to worry anymore, as I think I know which car I'm going for, and this one doesn't have nav anyway Cheers for the replies though!

[M5 HOH]

Not to worry anymore, as I think I know which car I'm going for, and this one doesn't have nav anyway Cheers for the replies though!

Oh, so you're going to be joing the ranks of the M5 owners then?

[BriC]

Oh, so you're going to be joing the ranks of the M5 owners then?

Certainly am! Needs to be done