e39 M5 – Sat nav upgraded from Mk2 to Mk4

The M5’s native navigation system is incredibly slow and ugly. All the graphics for the computer and radio functions look rather 90s.

old graphics

I had acquired a widescreen unit for the front of the car, but this didn’t really improve the on-screen graphics, and the navigation was still so very slow.

Widescreen :)

The navigation computer is a MkII CD based device in the boot.

MkII computer

I acquired a MkIV DVD based system on eBay, so pulled the fuse for the nav system, hauled out the out unit. They are both the same physical size, but the new MkIV unit has an additional connection (see below in red).

rear of both nav computers

It turns out that this is for the GPS aerial. In standard form the car has a “Trimble” GPS module to which the GPS aerial connects. This information then passes to the nav computer along the main wiring. The MkIV computer has its own on-board GPS module, so I needed to locate the Trimble unit, and move the GPS aerial connection. This connection can be seen in the centre of the photo below. I tried to highlight this in red, but perhaps a different colour would have made matters clearer!

trimble unit

This done, it was time to get the new computer in place.

MkIV

I popped the nav system fuse back in, switched on the ignition and waited. Immediately I got the nice ~BMW~ logo on screen that I am familiar with in the 330d. Next the interface came to life looking significantly improved. The only issue seemed to be that the car thought it was somewhere up north.

The GPS service menu (accessed by going to ‘SET’, moving the cursor down, then holding down ‘MENU’ for about 6 seconds) told me that there was satelite inteference. I wasn’t sure what to do at this point – I knew I had connected the GPS cable correctly, and there’s not much else that can go wrong! I nipped back to the laptop to do some research, returned a couple of minutes later none the wiser, but did find that the car had found a couple of satelites. It still thought it was up north though! Still, about five minutes later I was greeted with this display:

position known!

Bonus! Lo and behold, the map system is now nice and spangly, with the added bonus of it even knowing where I am!

nav map

tidy boot

Nice and smart in the boot too. Overall – *so* much better than before. It is really quick too – maybe I need to do the same in the tractor!

20 comments so far

  1. ged hill on June 10th, 2009 14:06

    Hi, Brilliant idea and brilliant article. I own a 2001 e39 se would it be possible to fit the same system as you? If so what parts would I require? And how do you remove existing unit, in my case it will be radio/cassette player and six stack cd player. Yours Ged hill.

  2. Neil Mukerji on June 10th, 2009 14:10

    I’m afraid that if you don’t already have a TV display of any sort in the car, the operation is rather more complex. As I understand it, you need to fit an additional loom to carry the picture signal to the front of the car. This isn’t impossible, just requires a lot more labour.

    Then you need the screen, TV tuner, separate radio module and the GPS receiver – and of course the TV and radio aerials. I’ve never done the whole job myself, but there’s a fair bit about it on various BMW forums.

    Good luck!

  3. thamir on June 14th, 2009 07:39

    Hi, I own a 2001 e39 se would it be possible to fit the same system as you? If so what parts would I require? And how do you remove existing unit, my car with sceen 16:9 & MKIII….how can built this drive (dvd Mk4)? same time can play Mp3 cd in this nav. (dvd)
    & thanks

  4. Neil Mukerji on June 15th, 2009 19:10

    Hello,

    I’m afraid you can’t play MP3 CDs in the DVD drive – that drive is only for navigation information disks. If you’ve already got MkIII nav and a 16:9 screen, you should only need a MkIV DVD drive, and it should be plug and play. Hopefully you’ll be able to realise some value in your old MkIII drive on eBay too!

  5. dennis gregory on July 30th, 2009 20:57

    hi. just read your up grade looks good i would like to do same. but at 70 year old i’m a bit slower. so could you email full instructions for changing over also when you found the airial conection what did you do did you run wire from trimble to the exra fitting to arial in red hope this all makes sense thaks for your time dennis

  6. Neil Mukerji on July 31st, 2009 08:08

    Hi Dennis. To give full instructions I’d have to dismantle it and refit it as I can’t remember the details, and I’m afraid I can’t say when I’ll have the time to do that! I guess going slow is probably the key here, so just take your time and refer to my photos above. Good luck! :)

  7. dennis gregory on July 31st, 2009 12:05

    hello neil. thanks for your reply i will give it a try. thanks dennis

  8. Pat George on August 28th, 2009 19:32

    Hi Gents, I too have3 had probs with my nav, I have my mk 4 used on CD but has developed fault.it is telling me to put map disk in. even when disk is in it tells me to put it in. i have no nav display at all. dont know where to go for updates or new computor mk 4. not sure about buying sec hand.anyway i have system plugs adrift doing checks. anyway gents any ideas.

    pat uk

  9. Neil Mukerji on August 29th, 2009 11:44

    Hi Pat. I guess the first thing you need to do is ascertain whether it is the DVD disc or the computer drive itself that is at fault. Do you know anyone else with a disc you could temporarily swap with? There are of course ‘backup’ discs available on eBay.

    If it turns out that that drive itself is at fault, swapping in a replacement should be easy enough; although I appreciate the cost of sourcing that replacement won’t be very pleasant.

  10. Paul on November 5th, 2009 23:22

    Hi, ive done everything you said , however do i need a GPS aerial, for the little gold nipple you highlighted? i ask because i cant get any satelites at all??

  11. Neil Mukerji on November 7th, 2009 19:25

    Hi Paul,

    I’m afraid I did this such a long time ago I can only really refer you to the article. If you had a MkII system previously, you should have a Trimble GPS receiver tucked away. I have circled this in the 5th photo on this page. You need to disconnect the GPS aerial from there and plug it into the new MkIV unit.

    I hope this helps!

  12. Shaun on January 31st, 2010 23:08

    I am wondering if you can help me connect a mk4 BMW sat nav which I got on ebay to my 730d 2003 BMW…it came without cables..no suprise..but can I get a connection cable? one that will plug into the two scokets of the navigation system an then to the v flat plugs in the boot side..

  13. Neil Mukerji on February 1st, 2010 11:59

    Hi Shaun,

    Did your 730d have MkIII nav before? If so, it should just be plug and play. If not, the situation gets rather more complicated. I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the plug arrangement in the boot of the 7 series, so I’m afraid I’m not confident I can help at all. Sorry!

  14. Peter Locke on November 15th, 2010 17:10

    Hi Neil,
    Very impressed with your upgrade of Sat Nac MK2 to Mk4.
    I have a 1999 350d with the Mk2 small screen Sat Nav.

    With your comversion to the MK4 Wide 16.9 screen,
    did the TV picture still display ok on the wider screen without distortion?

    Regards
    Peter

  15. Neil Mukerji on November 15th, 2010 19:09

    Hi Peter,

    Thanks for the comment. It turns out I was fortunate enough to have a TV tuner module that supported both 4:3 and 16:9 ratio outputs, and it converted correctly as soon as I changed the monitor. I don’t know though how you could tell in advance, but as I understand it, it’s easy enough to source a 16:9 compatible TV tuner module from the likes of eBay and perform a simple swap.

    Good luck!

  16. Peter Locke on November 15th, 2010 21:10

    Hi Neil,

    Thanks for reply.

    When you replaced the 4:3 unit with the 16:9 unit was it just a straight slide in exchange as the 2 plugs on the smaller screen unit are at the rear of the unit whereby i think they are on the side of the larger screen unit.It certainly seems to fit ok from your pics.

    Regards
    Peter

  17. Peter Locke on November 15th, 2010 22:02

    Hi Neil,

    Thanks for quick reply,does the 16:9 display unit just slide in as a replacement for the 4:3 display,as i think the 2 plugs fit on the left side of the larger screen unit rather than the rear as for 4:3 Unit.

    Although they seem to slot in ok looking at your pics.

    Regards
    Peter

  18. Neil Mukerji on November 15th, 2010 22:33

    Hi Peter,

    Sorry – I thought I’d taken better photos. I’ve just trawled all recent posts near this one and can’t find the answers you’re looking for – I guess you’ve already tried the same.

    In any case, I don’t recall there being any problem with the physical connections at the front of the car at all. I do remember that the car’s TV module initially rolled the screen for a bit – see the comments on this post.

    Cheers,

    Neil.

  19. Peter Locke on November 16th, 2010 14:27

    Hi Neil,

    Thanks for the info and links. Atleast now i’ll be able to adjust the 16:9 screen for better viewing if required.

    Not sure when i’ll get down to carrying out the modification, since i’ve got to research Ebay first and sort out the finances.

    I found an excellent link for the E38 Bmw 7 although pretty useful for other BMW models http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/

    I expect you’ve seen it.

    Thanks for help
    Peter

  20. Stefan on January 19th, 2012 22:46

    Hi there, today I have upgrade my sat nat mk2 with a mk4. I have cd changer in the boot factory fitted, my new unit has cd changer as well…but I cannot use it. I already disconnect my cd changer from the boot, but still didn’t recongnize the new cd changer. And…. my new mk4 has the same manu as the mk2, what do I have to do to get a new menu? any upgrade? I forgot to mention, in the boot I have as well the CD Navigation system.