Hey everyone,

I found one older posting about upgrading from a CD based Nav unit to a DVD based one but it didn't seem to have an answer to the questions I have.

Is it possible to upgrade from a CD based Nav unit to DVD nav?
Is it a direct plug and play swap?
What would need to be swapped out?

Thanks.

 

From what I had read all that needs to be switched out is the actial drive that reads the Navigation Disc. So to go from a MKIII to MKIV is to swap the CD drive for a DVD drive.

 

Thanks for the info.

That's what I was hoping but I couldn't find any posts from anyone who had actually done it.

 

So, has anyone actually done this?

If so, was it just the drive swap? or what?

Scott

 

It can be done but the parts alone are very expensive. Would you like to do it and show us step by step

 

on Yahoo. There's tons of information there. Also, pm TheOfficeMaven (sp?), the unofficial NAM Nav expert.

Matt

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence Matt.

Scott,

As I mentioned to you in our PM, I've never actually swapped a MKIII (CD-based) unit with a MKIV (DVD-based) unit in the MINI before. However, from everything I've heard over the years, it is indeed a 100% plug-n-pray operation.

The ONLY thing you need to watch out for is that if you are buying a MKIV nav unit off of eBay, etc. then you MUST make sure that you get the unit that is for the i-bus and NOT the MOST unit (the MINI actually uses a k-bus, but the nav system is the same as the one for the i-bus). The reason I say this is because it might be hard to find an actual MKIV unit out of a MINI, but you can find them all over the place for the BMWs. The MINI & BMW nav units are exactly the same as long as you get the i-bus version (the firmware on the unit can differentiate between the two cars via the bus communication).

Also, if you buy a brand new one, I'm not sure if the dealer will have to code in the local stuff in for you (e.g. language, measurement formats, time format, etc.), or if you can do it for yourself (via the display screen). A used unit that comes from a U.S. spec car should just pop right in without any hassle (i.e. no trip to the dealer required).

I'm sorry that I can't give you a more definitive answer, but that's about all I know about it.

-- MIKE

Oh and BTW... The only part you need to swap is the nav computer that is located under the front passenger's seat in the MINI (or under the driver's seat in the convertibles, but all of those are MKIV units already). The 16:9 widescreen display, antenna, and all of the wiring & connectors are identical.

 

Okay, since I got some more details, I'll look into this a little deeper. Am hoping to find a DVD module used, but according to this page at RealOEM. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=65&fg=50

I would need to replace this...with one of these...Which also has this "kewl" image of the parts needed.


So, next stop, get me a DVD!!!

Scott

 

One quoted me $250 for the DVD nav unit. But I didn't follow up, so I don't know if they were just blowing smoke or what.

What's the OEM price?

Matt

 

From the (eBay) prices I've seen. You'd be lucky to get one for $650. I think most are $800-$1,000. Also, a higher priced unit should get you the latest 2006-2 map data DVD with it as well (not the older 2005-2, 2004-1, or 2003-2 versions).

BTW, it appears that those part numbers are for remanufactured units. Not that it matters, but I just wanted to make sure that you knew that before you bought one (i.e. don't pay full price for a remanufactured unit).

 

Oh and yes... From that "kewl" image, you can see that the nav computer sits inside a case. The case has a metal top and a plastic pan/bottom. It is held in with four screws.

You simply take out the passenger's seat, undo the four screws holding the case to the MINI's floor, and then lift out the entire assembly. After that, you flip it over and there are some more (smaller) screws (6 I think) that hold the plastic pan onto the metal case. Once you remove those the nav computer pops right out. It's VERY easy to remove.

I've had mine out dozens of times already.

 

OEM Prices are approx 1500$. At least thats what I'm hearing. I'm looking for cheaper, if anyone has any ideas... My unit is dying or dead... Taking it to the dealer for determination.

 

I take it your worried about the price because your 2003 is just out of warranty or your over 50k miles.

 

51,500 to be exact. I had it at the dealer in May for a GPS problem, it was resetting. Now it doesn't hold in the CD, and the system resets every now and again, giving me the Mini boot up symbol, whilst driving.

I'm hoping that since it was in at 47k, I'll get some help of some sort. Of course it was a different dealer, I just moved to New York, to make things just that much more complicated.

 

The fact that it was acting up SHOULD be in your service record. If so you can try to say that it was failing then and should be covered. I'd give that a go before buying another one.....

Good luck!

Matt

 

At the very least you should be able to get a refurb MKIII unit out of them if you have prior faults on record about your existing unit.

 

I hope so. It seems a bit nutty to spend that much just on Nav. The car is 3 years old, but 10% of the car's value to fix a faulty Nav system seems excessive. Guess in the digital age it's a fact of life as the cars get older, the high tech problems are spendy.

 

and get one of Mike the Minis (on Mini2) gizmos that lets you play DVDs on the nav screen, and be done with it! Probably cost less too!

Matt

 

Sounds like that solution wouldn't solve my problem with the broken nav. Looking at the site, it looks like it would require a newer version of Nav unit than I have. I have a 2003 MCS with the CD Nav system. Production date is in late 2002. Granted, playing DVDs on my Nav Screen would be nice, but I'd like my nav back too. Thanks for the thought, I didn't realize that feature existed for the newer minis.

 

there are a lot of ways to go.... You don't need to play the DVDs in the NAV computer. The rear video option allows you to feed a different video source into the nav display. I don't know if you need something for format conversion to fit the screen size or not though. I've been thinking about this, but haven't (obviously) put in the time yet to figure out the details. Mike's is expensive, but done! I think you could roll your own for a lot less, but it would take a lot of both time and knowledge...

Guess I'm SOL. I'm low on all of 'em!

Matt

 

It's actually quite easy (although definitely not for the faint of heart) to get the MINI's factory nav system to play DVDs.

There are quite a few ways of doing it... I put an OEM reverse camera in my MINI and then used its video module in order to hook in a DVD player (a PlayStation II thin unit). It plays DVD movies (and video games) on the factory wide screen display just fine (including playing video while in motion). All of the details can be found in a write-up I did here:

MINI Video Input

 

Do you know if this DVD based NAV unit will replace my old CD based unit? Plug and play?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=321448

(I have the movie playing NAV screen!)

 

No promises, but I think it will. Ask him for the part number, so you can cross-reference it on www.realoem.com to be sure.