Mk4 Navigation unit Removal.

A

Airbrake

Member
Hi guys. Ive had to re-register having not being recognised on here after a long absence.

As the title says my Mk4 navigation system has packed up and needs replacing. Im trying to find out any top tips for removing it as its not as straight forward as you may think. The unit will not slide straight out from between the seats. Can any body who has done this give me some clear clues as to what screws/panels need removing to get the unit out.

I have searched before asking but cannot find the answer.

Thanks in advance any help is appreciated.
 
You need to take the entire rear centre console section out.

http://www.zen167109.zen.co.uk/Alpine%20CD%20Changer%20Installation.pdf
 
Thanks for the link. I had just found the same one about an hour after posting.
The dealer yesterday was really helpful having given me the bad news about how much a new unit would cost and suggested under his breath to try the unusual internet options. He said that the DVD navigation unit is not coded to the car and is a straight swap. However, having made a few calls today there is a query about getting a new unit to boot up with the software etc. I do have a V32 software disc which I know works so I assume that once a new unit was in it would be a case of letting it boot up with my current software disc?
 
Software version is not important here to get it to work, and updates can always be done later.

On my satnav retrofit, I think my nav unit came from Germany for just over £200.

Check international on eBay, and check for BMW X5, X3, Z4, Range Rover, Rover and Mini as they are all the same units.
 
If you're comfortable with electronics, you can maybe replace the laser pickup.
That is the part that is likely to fail (worn laser diode)

That's this thing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-MK4-Navigation-DVD-M3-5-Laser-Optical-Pick-up-/160763924802

I'm sure there are shops around who can do this for you also.
 
Thanks again.
I've just bought a new DVD drive including laser unit for €138 inc postage. The car is a 03 plate so will start with that, won't take the centre unit apart until I get the part as I will forget how it goes back together.
 
Here you can find a very good guidence (in german language - you can use translate.google.com):

http://www.zroadster.com/forum/index.php?threads/bmw-z4-e85-ausbau-mittelkanal.86165/
 
Today I managed to remove the Nav Unit. Thanks for the links shown on here, I also found this thread which was a big help with the actual pictures.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8407&hilit=help+removing+center+console+storeage+box

The biggest problem I had was removing the fold down door to the central stowage deptment containing the Nav unit. It was very very firmly attached, and I'm lucky nothing broke. After numerous times reading the directions and looking at the pictures it was a case of eventually using brute force and hopeing nothing snapped.

I am now looking at sending the mk4 Nav unit away for repairs. Having paid the dealer £196 to tell me the unit was broken and nothing else, they have assured me that the DVD drive and laser are working and it is the motherboard that has failed, so it's not a simple case of swapping out the DVD unit or laser reader.

I will be posting it on Monday so if any body has any recommendations who I can send this to I will be posting it to a chap in Birmingham who was helpful on the phone and appeared to know what he was talking about.

Thanks again. Cheers.
 
Took mine out today to remove the stuck DVD disk :headbang:

Will be doing a write up on how to remove the disk from the drive when the normal reboot method doesn't work . :headbang:
 
An update for this. When the dealer told me the Nav unit had packed up I started looking at the options, as they quoted me over £2500 to replace it.......yes that is over £2500. Needless to say I said no thanks and walked. The rolling day I called them back to clarify exactly what was wrong with the unit as they had charged me £196 fir fault finding and diagnosis! The guy told me that it was a motherboard fault, and not the DVD drive or laser reader which are common reasons for failure.

At this point I became suspicious as I had tried to reboot the software my self when the original fault occurred and was getting messages from the Nav unit as it repeatedly failed to update. This indicated to me that the motherboard was fine and not broken.

Long story short... My Nav unit is now working having spent £60 including return postage. The fault was a dirty laser, totally unimpressed with the local dealer trying to charge me £2500.
 
I would go bac o the dealer and ask for a refund for miss diagnosing. If you paid on your credit card you could probably claim back on that if the dealer won't budge. It's what I would be doing.
 
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