BMW Z4 Sat Nav

B

benc53

New member
Recently bought a second-hand BMW Z4 2004, but much to my regret I didn't check out the sat nav system properly. I have found the sat nav system thinks I'm driving within the North Sea. I try to reset the position of the system by manually entering an address but it always starts me off pointing in the wrong direction, therefore when I start driving it shows me driving across fields, when this really isn't the case.

I've noticed there is a global in the top-right hand corner of the screen, and I think this means that there is NO satellite connectivity.

Is there a way to hard reset the system?

Is there a way to find out whether a GPS receiver has been installed?

I'm tempted to take it to a dealer to resolve the problem, but wanted to see if I could get some help from you guys before I spend hundreds of my precious pounds.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Ben
 
If it has a GPS signal you have a green satellite in the top left, alongside the default globe/planet on the right - if there is no GPS then there is no green satellite

Sorry thats all i can input on

satnav.jpg
 
Go in the system setup and check to see how many satellites it receives. Go to setup and press menu for 8 seconds.
 
as PVR said, then if no joy and not covered by warranty I would by a GPS antenna from ebay for around £15 to see if that cures the problem. I put one in mine when retro fitting and it's never caused any problems.
 
WELCOME to the Forum. Few details about you and your Zed in the 'Newbies' sections always goes down well (and some pics). Hope you get your problem resolved :thumbsup:
 
Thank you for your replies.

I wasn't at home to try it out last night but I'll try and access the satellite menu to see if any satellites are being picked up first.

I'm assuming the following GPS antenna would be suitable for my needs?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SMB-GPS-ANTEN...s=63&clkid=5522617092960306389#ht_1796wt_1331

Does disconnecting the battery reset the sat nav? Because at the moment it is currently using the movements of the car to distinguish its location and it currently thinks I'm facing the wrong direction down the road.

I'll get some pics of my pride and joy uploaded at the weekend :-)

Thanks,
Ben
 
Here's a link to the BMW antenna ('e' bay one certainly looks the part) -

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT32&mospid=47796&btnr=65_1268&hg=65&fg=50
 
Try the battery reset as well first (leave the negative pole disconnected for 15 minutes or so).
 
I tried the battery reset and this seemed to work well. I disconnected the negative and reattached to the battery, the system reset including the date etc. It immediately found a GPS signal and the sat nav started working. I have been on a few journeys so far where I've needed to use the sat nav but it hasn't been working correctly anymore it has gone back to the same problem.

Could it be that the firmware and sat nav software both need updating? Will this proof any benefit?

Also, I've take some snapshots of the information which is displayed within the GPS secret menu accessible via setup.......

http://img831.imageshack.us/i/photosz.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/i/photo2yq.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/i/photosz.jpg

Thanks,
Ben
 
I don't think the sat nav software has been updated since the car was new, therefore if the software was updated would it pick up on the satellites which are in a better location?

I've spoken to friends about this and they have said they needed to update the sat nav coordinates on their own sat nav device for this to pickup the GPS signal.

Regards,
Ben
 
I would be surprised if this was the problem, but it's any easy thing to do yourself, just ensure you burn the disc at single speed otherwise the update will not work and it's a bugger trying to eject the CD.

You will find the update on x5world.com or whatever it's called now.
 
Hi there

I am trying to fix my GPS and searched this forum and came across this post as the closest post to my problems.

The issue that I have is that in the secret menu screen it says GPS Status: GPS Fault and doesnt read any version of the GPS system.

I have tried a new GPS antenna and no luck.

Does anyone have any other possible cures beyond upgrading the Sat Nav O/S / Software?

Thanks for the help
 
I updated the OS software last night after reading the xoutpost.com forums, and if you follow their instructions it is straight forward.

Reading through them there is a member called ccfj1 who seems to know alot about the nav system, so might be worth contacting him!
 
This is an old topic, but others may find more info useful. I ran into this same problem with my wife's X5. We went from a good working MK3 to a MK4. After installing the MK4 it would show me in the ocean, after I calibrated the location it showed me pointing the wrong direction and driving across the map as if i was in a plane (over houses, over streets, fields). I installed a neighbors MK4 and everything worked perfect.

So after firmware upgrades, known good maps (yes the correct region maps) and many reboots. It was a problem with the MK4 we ordered from eBay. I ordered one from Bavarian Auto Recycling, we paid a little more but it worked great.

So if anyone comes across this same problem, it is most likely the computer in your MK4.

Good luck!!
 
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