iDrive, GPS "No Fix" issue

[AnubisZed]

OK, so I've seen this come up a fair few times in the past on various forums. Basically you go to use the iDrive Nav and your position is somewhere totally off (ie; last time I had it I was apparently somewhere in France when I was actually at home!).
So, for those that know how to, you go into the "Service Menu" and check your Nav settings and you end up with this screen...


(Photo borrowed from the internet)
The part we're looking at is the middle line where it says "GPS status: No Fix", now this can happen with the line above stating "GPS satellites: 00" or "GPS satellites: 14" (or whatever number), but it's the No Fix that's the issue. On the map screen it'll start by the directions being off and the position on the map not being where you are on the road, and will go even more off rapidly. it does pick up from the the front and rear wheel sensors, but this isn't good enough to position you on the road.

Now I've had this for months and looked through the internet trying to find a solution that worked. The main theme to sorting it is the antenna. Now when I retrofitted my iDrive I originally picked up a antenna from a 3 series and mounted it under the grill of the dash top centre speaker position (didn't have a speaker there then) and it worked perfectly for some time. But then eventually I fitted the proper E89 one above the interior light box against the inside of the windscreen (the correct position) and it was still working perfectly.
Then all of a sudden it started playing up and lost position. On checking the settings it was showing No Fix, so this is when I started looking around for the solution. I tried the 3 series antenna again, but with no luck and even an aftermarket one, but still no luck, so I was sort of stumped as to what was wrong. All I could put it down to was a faulty GPS receiver within the headunit, and sorting that was a whole new ball game. It wasn't a major issue as I have the MMI box giving me Android Auto, and Google Maps etc, so I could still navigate my way around when I needed to, but it's one of those things that if I've got it fitted I'd really like it working properly.

Anyway moving forward to retrofitting my new amplifier system and out comes the headunit for wiring up. So as I'm fitting the new centre speaker the 3 series antenna needed to come out, and I realised I'd left that plugged into the headunit previously, so that was swapped over to the proper one. the retrofit was completed and everything was put back together. So I thought I'd see if it made any difference, no I was still in the middle of nowhere :roll:
Went to work the next day and thought I'd try something else and see if it could sort itself out. Opened Nav and it's picked up my position perfectly, had it on all the way home and it was perfect
A couple of days later, still testing it, and it started loosing my position again and all of a sudden I'm in the middle of nowhere, checked setting and No Fix again..... back to the drawing board! :headbang:

Went away this last weekend and thought I'd turn Nav on, just to see, and it's spot on again, perfect location. Used it all weekend and on the way back home and it's been perfect. Service Menu showing 14 satellites and 3D Fix :driving:





So happy bunny again (well for now anyway) and all systems working.
To sum up then, although I changed the antennas I don't think I gave it enough time to calibrate properly, so it sometimes needs a run to "sort itself out"!!
Another method to try to fix this is to press and hold the Volume button until you force a reboot of the headunit, absolutely no guarantee this'll do anything, but it's certainly easier than pulling things apart.

How to access the Service (secret) Menu...
Using the iDrive Controller
1) Call up Start (main) menu
2) Push controller in up direction for at least 10 s
3) Rotate controller, 3 notches to the right
4) Rotate controller, 3 notches to the left
5) Rotate controller, 1 notch to the right
6) Rotate controller, 1 notch to the left
7) Rotate controller, 1 notch to the right
8) Press controller once
The Service menu is now added as the last submenu to "Settings"

Hope this may be of use to someone

 

[flybobbie]

Lot of gps from first start don't know where they are.
Usually you can give them some idea like which country or lat. long. roughly at.
Being old system might take 20 minutes or more to get a fix.

Aircraft gps we had, internal memory battery failed, it reverted to the factory position down south.
Would take some time to fix it's position being a year 2000 system.

 

[AnubisZed]

Lot of gps from first start don't know where they are.
Usually you can give them some idea like which country or lat. long. roughly at.
Being old system might take 20 minutes or more to get a fix.

Aircraft gps we had, internal memory battery failed, it reverted to the factory position down south.
Would take some time to fix it's position being a year 2000 system.

The thing is though that the iDrive "should" remember it's last location. Eg; when I bought my headunit, for the retrofit, once I turned it on it showed somewhere in Manchester (where it came from). So even weeks after it was switched off it remembered it.
Now there is a way to force a location and that's in the Service Menu, under Location Input, where you can put the post code, street and house number (same as searching for a Nav location) and it'll reset the map to that point. But if your GPS isn't working then that'll soon go off.
Hopefully mine will stay working now

 

[AnubisZed]

Well, an update....

So this worked great while we were away back in April, then not long after it stopped working again. So couldn't use it in France when we went :headbang: So this has been bugging me for a while, in fact it's doing my head in!

But I've got an idea, and that could be the antenna cable where it plugs into the rear of the headunit. So the headunit was out again the other day, checked the cable plug, all seems OK, but could be internally damaged and then presses against something when inserted. Made sure it was plugged in properly and jiggled the wires around and replaced the headunit. Low and behold it's working again!! :? How long for though is another matter!

 

[Nathanio]

I'm getting this intermittently so may replace that antenna. Just not sure if it was a problem or interference between it and my dash cam (which is quite close)

 

[B21]

I'm getting this intermittently so may replace that antenna. Just not sure if it was a problem or interference between it and my dash cam (which is quite close)

Been noted that some dash cams wipe out the GPS signal…on the E89

 

[AnubisZed]

I'm getting this intermittently so may replace that antenna. Just not sure if it was a problem or interference between it and my dash cam (which is quite close)

Been noted that some dash cams wipe out the GPS signal…on the E89

This is a very good point, I'd read something about this some time ago now well before I retrofitted my iDrive. I can't remember now if I ran the GPS cable down the left (correct) side or the right side, I know for sure the dashcam cables run down the left. :?

 

[B21]

I'm getting this intermittently so may replace that antenna. Just not sure if it was a problem or interference between it and my dash cam (which is quite close)

Been noted that some dash cams wipe out the GPS signal…on the E89

This is a very good point, I'd read something about this some time ago now well before I retrofitted my iDrive. I can't remember now if I ran the GPS cable down the left (correct) side or the right side, I know for sure the dashcam cables run down the left. :?

GPS interference is a complex issue..we covered it a lot in aviation airworthiness ….so there can be several sources / methods of interference…the ECU in the camera and the switching logic can generate hash that at its base or harmonic frequencies is at the same frequency as the gps signals which are almost infinitely weak…or..any poor connection point can generate the effect of a diode / transistor that acts as a local transmitter..also interference can come up the dc power leads..hence why quite often you see a choke or ferrite bead on well designed power leads..

 

[flybobbie]

Could the dash cam have wifi or blue tooth signal effecting the gps aerial, as it's usually near camera.

 

[Nathanio]

Could the dash cam have wifi or blue tooth signal effecting the gps aerial, as it's usually near camera.

None of those on the Viofo that I have. I do have a different hardwire kit to test with it, which has a much larger choke at the cam end.

 

[flybobbie]

I have Viofo, had no problems.

 

[AnubisZed]

My dashcam has neither WiFi or Bluetooth, but it does have a wired rear cam, so two leads, one is the hard-wired power and the other being the video/power for the rear. But like I say I can't remember if I ran the GPS cable down the left or the right A pillar. I'll have to have a look

 

[acm]

Hope you track it down Dave.

It must be the season for GPS issues - about 6 weeks ago I had a huge stone hit my windscreen that was launched at me by a large truck carrying rubble from a local housing development. Autoglass were quick to come out and replace the windscreen and seemed to do a pretty good job despite the worries I had from some of the horror stories on the forum.

I wasn't until last week that I realised that the sat nav wasn't updating location and just span around a small area of the map near to where I took the hit to the windscreen. I checked the GPS sensor status screen and it was showing 14 satellites and no fix, so removed the courtesy light to take a look at the GPS antenna.

What I found was the GPS antenna board lying on the plastic trim and not clipped to the windscreen - I picked up the board and it fell apart in my hand as I tried to unplug the GPS cable. Both the FAKRA plug and socket fell off the coax connector that is soldered to the board. I couldn't say the board was broken as a result of the windscreen replacement because the sat nav seemed to be stuck in the location where I took the hit from the stone. I suspect the shock of the impact may have done the damage.

I don't have a DAB antenna in the same area as the GPS antenna, nor do I have a dashcam mounted, so no possible interference from wires or wifi - in my case it was purely a (mechanical) failure of the GPS antenna.

I sourced a second hand replacement from eBay and that seems to have fixed my problems - but it's only been a few days, so fingers crossed... :|

Cheers!
Andy

 

[AnubisZed]

Hope you track it down Dave.

It must be the season for GPS issues - about 6 weeks ago I had a huge stone hit my windscreen that was launched at me by a large truck carrying rubble from a local housing development. Autoglass were quick to come out and replace the windscreen and seemed to do a pretty good job despite the worries I had from some of the horror stories on the forum.

I wasn't until last week that I realised that the sat nav wasn't updating location and just span around a small area of the map near to where I took the hit to the windscreen. I checked the GPS sensor status screen and it was showing 14 satellites and no fix, so removed the courtesy light to take a look at the GPS antenna.

What I found was the GPS antenna board lying on the plastic trim and not clipped to the windscreen - I picked up the board and it fell apart in my hand as I tried to unplug the GPS cable. Both the FAKRA plug and socket fell off the coax connector that is soldered to the board. I couldn't say the board was broken as a result of the windscreen replacement because the sat nav seemed to be stuck in the location where I took the hit from the stone. I suspect the shock of the impact may have done the damage.

I don't have a DAB antenna in the same area as the GPS antenna, nor do I have a dashcam mounted, so no possible interference from wires or wifi - in my case it was purely a (mechanical) failure of the GPS antenna.

I sourced a second hand replacement from eBay and that seems to have fixed my problems - but it's only been a few days, so fingers crossed... :|

Cheers!
Andy

Thanks Andy,

Well currently it's holding signal, so maybe it is to do with where the lead plugs into the rear of the headunit, we'll see.

That was unlucky with your GPS antenna, I now have a spare as it was cheap enough to get one, but it made no difference at the time

As a heads-up for anyone wanting/needing a replacement GPS antenna, you can also use the one from the BMW F33/F83 as it's exactly the same. Normally comes with a metal bracket attached, but you just remove that and the antenna is identicle. It's a different part number, because of the metal bracket, 9281067, HTH

 

[B21]

Hope you track it down Dave.

It must be the season for GPS issues - about 6 weeks ago I had a huge stone hit my windscreen that was launched at me by a large truck carrying rubble from a local housing development. Autoglass were quick to come out and replace the windscreen and seemed to do a pretty good job despite the worries I had from some of the horror stories on the forum.

I wasn't until last week that I realised that the sat nav wasn't updating location and just span around a small area of the map near to where I took the hit to the windscreen. I checked the GPS sensor status screen and it was showing 14 satellites and no fix, so removed the courtesy light to take a look at the GPS antenna.

What I found was the GPS antenna board lying on the plastic trim and not clipped to the windscreen - I picked up the board and it fell apart in my hand as I tried to unplug the GPS cable. Both the FAKRA plug and socket fell off the coax connector that is soldered to the board. I couldn't say the board was broken as a result of the windscreen replacement because the sat nav seemed to be stuck in the location where I took the hit from the stone. I suspect the shock of the impact may have done the damage.

I don't have a DAB antenna in the same area as the GPS antenna, nor do I have a dashcam mounted, so no possible interference from wires or wifi - in my case it was purely a (mechanical) failure of the GPS antenna.

I sourced a second hand replacement from eBay and that seems to have fixed my problems - but it's only been a few days, so fingers crossed... :|

Cheers!
Andy

Thanks Andy,

Well currently it's holding signal, so maybe it is to do with where the lead plugs into the rear of the headunit, we'll see.

That was unlucky with your GPS antenna, I now have a spare as it was cheap enough to get one, but it made no difference at the time

As a heads-up for anyone wanting/needing a replacement GPS antenna, you can also use the one from the BMW F33/F83 as it's exactly the same. Normally comes with a metal bracket attached, but you just remove that and the antenna is identicle. It's a different part number, because of the metal bracket, 9281067, HTH

 

[acm]

That alternative part is so much cheaper than the premium priced E89 version

Was wondering about the issue you described earlier today and I got to thinking about the cable routing from the antenna to the headunit. Drawing on some of my now dated professional experience of network cabling I thought that maybe in your case the GPS antenna cable was pinched or if it has a bend that's smaller than the minimum radius. There does seem to be some credence to that supposition based upon some of the various GPS antenna installation and cable routing instructions for boats and cars that I found online.

P'raps the jiggling relieved some tension somewhere along the way :driving:

Cheers!
Andy

 

[AnubisZed]

OK, so resurrecting this thread again

Right, so I know when I'm beat, and don't mind admitting defeat when I have to.
This "No Fix" issue keeps popping up from time to time, doesn't work for weeks on end then suddenly works OK again.
If I'm in the Service Menu and pull the antenna plug out I instantly get a message saying that I need to check the antenna. So if it was a dodgy plug or wire then this would come up anyway, but it's not. It also states, when the No Fix is showing, that it sees 12 or 14 satellites, which it wouldn't if there was a plug/cable issue.
While on eBay the other day I spotted this E89 headunit for sale at a great price. I took a look at it and found that it was a DAB version as well, but the best part is that it had a manufacture date of 11/17, making it a replacement unit in another E89.
So a working GPS headunit with DAB and a very late unit (having the latest firmware), and at a fantastic price (and I mean an absolute steal!!) was too good to pass up, so it's now in my car. All I need to do now is sort the FSC codes, but everything else is working perfectly, including the DAB. I already had the DAB antennas installed for my abandoned DAB module retrofit that never worked properly, as in it "worked" and was seen by diagnostic software, but I could never get it to find any stations (I used two modules but both were the same), so that's all ripped out now and back to original.
On a side note, I'm actually amazed at how well the DAB radio keeps signal. When I had the aftermarket DAB fitted to the Android screen with the windscreen antenna it was always loosing signal, whereas this is spot on, perfect reception all the way to work (no, it wasn't "DAB/FM Following" as it was a non-FM station!).

So everything is working as it should, with the exception of NAV, Voice and Connected Drive, but these are FSC codes which I'll sort. I know the NAV is operational as in the Service menu it shows me all of the parameters as it should so So a happy bunny again :driving:

It's the little things that count, and if it's on my car I want it working properly

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

OK, so resurrecting this thread again

Right, so I know when I'm beat, and don't mind admitting defeat when I have to.
This "No Fix" issue keeps popping up from time to time, doesn't work for weeks on end then suddenly works OK again.
If I'm in the Service Menu and pull the antenna plug out I instantly get a message saying that I need to check the antenna. So if it was a dodgy plug or wire then this would come up anyway, but it's not. It also states, when the No Fix is showing, that it sees 12 or 14 satellites, which it wouldn't if there was a plug/cable issue.
While on eBay the other day I spotted this E89 headunit for sale at a great price. I took a look at it and found that it was a DAB version as well, but the best part is that it had a manufacture date of 11/17, making it a replacement unit in another E89.
So a working GPS headunit with DAB and a very late unit (having the latest firmware), and at a fantastic price (and I mean an absolute steal!!) was too good to pass up, so it's now in my car. All I need to do now is sort the FSC codes, but everything else is working perfectly, including the DAB. I already had the DAB antennas installed for my abandoned DAB module retrofit that never worked properly, as in it "worked" and was seen by diagnostic software, but I could never get it to find any stations (I used two modules but both were the same), so that's all ripped out now and back to original.
On a side note, I'm actually amazed at how well the DAB radio keeps signal. When I had the aftermarket DAB fitted to the Android screen with the windscreen antenna it was always loosing signal, whereas this is spot on, perfect reception all the way to work (no, it wasn't "DAB/FM Following" as it was a non-FM station!).

So everything is working as it should, with the exception of NAV, Voice and Connected Drive, but these are FSC codes which I'll sort. I know the NAV is operational as in the Service menu it shows me all of the parameters as it should so So a happy bunny again :driving:

It's the little things that count, and if it's on my car I want it working properly

Have you ever done an SSD upgrade in one of these?

 

[Chippie]

If it’s the HDD you mean, B21 has done it.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2045661&hilit=Solid+state+hdd#p2045661

 

[AnubisZed]

Have you ever done an SSD upgrade in one of these?

If it’s the HDD you mean, B21 has done it.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2045661&hilit=Solid+state+hdd#p2045661

I'm aware of the SSD mod, but, TBH, I've got a 64gb memory stick plugged into the USB port that gives me thousands of tracks, all with album art, that I can access far easier than the built-in drive. The advantage of the USB far outweighs the drive (HDD or SDD). I don't have a massive music collection and I love to stream as much as I can, but even my memory stick could keep me going for weeks and never repeat a track.
Saying that it would be an interesting project to do, although, from what I've read about it, it is quite complex and a bit of a headache.
Over to B21..... :wink: