My current project - Retrofit iDrive

[AnubisZed]

Just a little update.....
I've not mentioned this before but I've had problems with the sat-nav, to be precise the receiving of GPS signals.
I first noticed this about a month after I'd fitted the iDrive, we'd gone away for a few days and set the sat-nav up for the route in readiness but didn't actually use it as my wife's iPhone was connected to CarPlay. While there though I switched over to it and noticed we were in the middle of the North Sea, which was odd as I wasn't swimming at the time!! :?
Anyway moving forward, I assumed the GPS antenna was bad so as I had a spare I tried that, still the same. Now you can get into the hidden menu and check your GPS signal, it was reading 14 satellites but no GPS signal, unplugged the wire and it showed "Check Antenna " and no satellites so must have been reading from the antenna to some degree.
Getting hold of genuine e89 antennas isn't easy or cheap, so as I didn't want to pay out too much for a hunch I got hold of a E90 shark fin antenna to try that. Well to cut a very long-winded story short I've tried this E90 one and it now shows a 3D Fix so all is good. Just got to find a way of either fitting it inside the grill on top of the dash so you don't know it's there or getting hold of an E89 one and fitting that.

This is another one of those "although I'll probably not use it, I want it working properly" items in the car, I don't like things that don't work!

 

[Mojito]

Hi Dave,
Always like your "although I'll probably not use it, I want it working properly" updates

When I followed your lead and did my iDrive retrofit, I had a similar issue.... except my car appeared to be in Africa :lol: I had fitted the inexpensive GPS receiver everyone seems to use on Android installations under the dashboard grill and couldn't get a GPS lock. It may well be a different cause, but I did find a solution. You've probably tried something similar already, but just might be helpful to someone. It's under my thread "Another E89 iDrive Retrofit":

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=124184&start=15

There are two posts on the thread which are relevant to this problem. The first shows my initial solution mounting the GPS receiver on the dash. It worked well, but I wasn't pleased with how it looked, so came up with a neat hidden installation under a modified grill. It's worked faultlessly for 8 months now and I think is exactly the same GPS receiver as you originally used.

I'm interested to see how you fit the Sharksfin - I nearly bought one too
Cheers Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

Just a little update.....
I've not mentioned this before but I've had problems with the sat-nav, to be precise the receiving of GPS signals.
I first noticed this about a month after I'd fitted the iDrive, we'd gone away for a few days and set the sat-nav up for the route in readiness but didn't actually use it as my wife's iPhone was connected to CarPlay. While there though I switched over to it and noticed we were in the middle of the North Sea, which was odd as I wasn't swimming at the time!! :?
Anyway moving forward, I assumed the GPS antenna was bad so as I had a spare I tried that, still the same. Now you can get into the hidden menu and check your GPS signal, it was reading 14 satellites but no GPS signal, unplugged the wire and it showed "Check Antenna " and no satellites so must have been reading from the antenna to some degree.
Getting hold of genuine e89 antennas isn't easy or cheap, so as I didn't want to pay out too much for a hunch I got hold of a E90 shark fin antenna to try that. Well to cut a very long-winded story short I've tried this E90 one and it now shows a 3D Fix so all is good. Just got to find a way of either fitting it inside the grill on top of the dash so you don't know it's there or getting hold of an E89 one and fitting that.

This is another one of those "although I'll probably not use it, I want it working properly" items in the car, I don't like things that don't work!

Out of interest did you try the aerial outside the car rather than in the dash?

Most GPS aerials require a power feed up the cable to power the electronics around the aerial..just wondered if they got their sums right?

 

[AnubisZed]

.......

I'm interested to see how you fit the Sharksfin - I nearly bought one too
Cheers Kevin

Thanks Kevin for that, good point on the metal grill, hadn't even entered my mind on that possibly being the problem, I'll check it out

There are 2 other antennas that stick upwards on the shark fin, can't remember exactly what they are for but as I don't need them I've snapped them off (tested afterwards and it's all good still). I'll follow your lead on that and cut the grill and mount it under there, as I've not got a speaker then it should work fine without issue.
I'll post up when I've had time to have a play with it.

 

[AnubisZed]

Out of interest did you try the aerial outside the car rather than in the dash?

Most GPS aerials require a power feed up the cable to power the electronics around the aerial..just wondered if they got their sums right?

To be honest, no I didn't :?
As for power-wise, yeah probably not, hence why the proper BMW one works fine.
I'll get it work, one way or the other 8)

 

[AnubisZed]

.......

I'm interested to see how you fit the Sharksfin - I nearly bought one too
Cheers Kevin

Thanks Kevin for that, good point on the metal grill, hadn't even entered my mind on that possibly being the problem, I'll check it out

There are 2 other antennas that stick upwards on the shark fin, can't remember exactly what they are for but as I don't need them I've snapped them off (tested afterwards and it's all good still). I'll follow your lead on that and cut the grill and mount it under there, as I've not got a speaker then it should work fine without issue.
I'll post up when I've had time to have a play with it.

Kevin, spot on bud
I've followed your method and cut a hole, then cut a little bigger one :rofl: covered it in speaker fabric and perfect, full 3D Fix achieved
Everything back in and fully functional :driving:

Oh and a top tip, having a new battery helps things work properly :rofl: (nothing to do with the GPS though)

 

[Mojito]

Hi Dave,
Excellent news - just pleased to have been able to throw something back your way after all the help you gave me

 

[birdy_z4]

Dave

How did you get on with the DAB installation as interested to get his installed in my Z4 either before or after a combox upgrade

How can I check if I have the MOST lines ?

What other parts would be needed?

Cheers

Carl

UPDATE

Almost there with the iDrive install video, just had to do some more videoing for added value

So I've also got another project for it, well more of an add-on actually and that is factory DAB module, already coded and I've got all the parts just need to find the time to actually fit it (hopefully this coming Friday) and I'll have that option as well.
Apparently you can add the DAB module to any Z4 that has the MOST lines, you just need the parts and they are not expensive

 

[AnubisZed]

Dave

How did you get on with the DAB installation as interested to get his installed in my Z4 either before or after a combox upgrade

How can I check if I have the MOST lines ?

What other parts would be needed?

Cheers

Carl

Hi Carl,
Well, so far, I haven't! I did a temp fitment to test it and it didn't see the module, I'm presuming that it'll require the MOST line coding and that can only be done using an ICOM hooked up to ISTA software. I do have all of that but I didn't have the opertunity at the time to try it out and I've not got back to it since.

As for what's required...
DAB module
Module bracket
MOST line
MOST Y line
DAB antennas

As for how to check if your MOST line is active, remove the headunit and unplug the MOST line. If there is light coming from one of the lines then it's an active MOST.

Hooe that helps.

 

[birdy_z4]

Thanks Dave, do you have any part numbers at all ?

Thanks

Carl

Dave

How did you get on with the DAB installation as interested to get his installed in my Z4 either before or after a combox upgrade

How can I check if I have the MOST lines ?

What other parts would be needed?

Cheers

Carl

Hi Carl,
Well, so far, I haven't! I did a temp fitment to test it and it didn't see the module, I'm presuming that it'll require the MOST line coding and that can only be done using an ICOM hooked up to ISTA software. I do have all of that but I didn't have the opertunity at the time to try it out and I've not got back to it since.

As for what's required...
DAB module
Module bracket
MOST line
MOST Y line
DAB antennas

As for how to check if your MOST line is active, remove the headunit and unplug the MOST line. If there is light coming from one of the lines then it's an active MOST.

Hooe that helps.

 

[AnubisZed]

Thanks Dave, do you have any part numbers at all ?

Thanks

Carl

OK, well this isn't quite set in stone, so I'll give you the proper numbers and the ones I got.....

Corect numbers;
DAB module = Now there are a number of different modules throughout the years, so starting with the earliest up to the latest;
65129119354 (09/01/2006 - 05/16/2006)
65129119355 (09/01/2006 — 03/02/2007)
65129119357 (03/01/2007 — 10/05/2007)
65129119359 (08/01/2007 — 04/09/2009)
65129176958 (03/01/2008 — 03/19/2011)
65129216459 (03/01/2010 — )

Bracket
9136696

Bolt
9902932 (M5 x 14) x3

Nut
9904022 (M6) x4

Antennas;
L-Band (above interior light)
9123784
Band-III (inside rear bumper right side)
9123995

I haven't found the part numbers for the correct cables from the antennas to the module.

Now for the non-original parts I've got;
(Module and bracket are the correct ones, the bracket was bought brand new)
Bolts
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160855087619?var=460101909138

Nuts
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150792649468?var=450073161423

Antenna
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32965392859.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dQKQnrQ

Antenna twin adaptor
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DHLNJMZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

MOST line (size is dependent on where you run to)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32800354112.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dttX0Uf

MOST Y line
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32749056944.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dttX0Uf

I think that about covers all of it

 

[birdy_z4]

Dave your a star, many thanks

 

[birdy_z4]

Dave will you be doing a VID on the Combox and DAB installations ?

Thanks Dave, do you have any part numbers at all ?

Thanks

Carl

OK, well this isn't quite set in stone, so I'll give you the proper numbers and the ones I got.....

Corect numbers;
DAB module = Now there are a number of different modules throughout the years, so starting with the earliest up to the latest;
65129119354 (09/01/2006 - 05/16/2006)
65129119355 (09/01/2006 — 03/02/2007)
65129119357 (03/01/2007 — 10/05/2007)
65129119359 (08/01/2007 — 04/09/2009)
65129176958 (03/01/2008 — 03/19/2011)
65129216459 (03/01/2010 — )

Bracket
9136696

Bolt
9902932 (M5 x 14) x3

Nut
9904022 (M6) x4

Antennas;
L-Band (above interior light)
9123784
Band-III (inside rear bumper right side)
9123995

I haven't found the part numbers for the correct cables from the antennas to the module.

Now for the non-original parts I've got;
(Module and bracket are the correct ones, the bracket was bought brand new)
Bolts
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160855087619?var=460101909138

Nuts
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150792649468?var=450073161423

Antenna
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32965392859.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dQKQnrQ

Antenna twin adaptor
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DHLNJMZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

MOST line (size is dependent on where you run to)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32800354112.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dttX0Uf

MOST Y line
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32749056944.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dttX0Uf

I think that about covers all of it

 

[AnubisZed]

Dave will you be doing a VID on the Combox and DAB installations ?

Yes that is my intention, although I've not filmed anything for the combox and I've not really started the DAB, and I already have at least two other videos to finish first, so it won't be for some time yet

 

[birdy_z4]

Noted where did you get the combos to mild connector / adaptor looking on eBay they are pretty expensive

Thanks

 

[AnubisZed]

Noted where did you get the combos to mild connector / adaptor looking on eBay they are pretty expensive

Thanks

For mine I just bought a genuine one, but since then I've found out that the VW 26 pin connector does the same job, so I've tried one of these on a customers car and it was perfect...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265171215863?hash=item3dbd6fa5f7:g:Z~kAAOSwDOpb2YIu

 

[birdy_z4]

Thank you Dave

Noted where did you get the combos to mild connector / adaptor looking on eBay they are pretty expensive

Thanks

For mine I just bought a genuine one, but since then I've found out that the VW 26 pin connector does the same job, so I've tried one of these on a customers car and it was perfect...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265171215863?hash=item3dbd6fa5f7:g:Z~kAAOSwDOpb2YIu

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Noted where did you get the combos to mild connector / adaptor looking on eBay they are pretty expensive

Thanks

For mine I just bought a genuine one, but since then I've found out that the VW 26 pin connector does the same job, so I've tried one of these on a customers car and it was perfect...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265171215863?hash=item3dbd6fa5f7:g:Z~kAAOSwDOpb2YIu

Is it possible to do a hybrid of taking the Android screen and hardware and fitting it to the OEM flip up module?

So, removing the oem screen from it’s housing, and then replacing with the android screen and associated electrical gubbins.

I bet you have thought of the same idea, just wondering if it would fit at all?

 

[AnubisZed]

Is it possible to do a hybrid of taking the Android screen and hardware and fitting it to the OEM flip up module?

So, removing the oem screen from it’s housing, and then replacing with the android screen and associated electrical gubbins.

I bet you have thought of the same idea, just wondering if it would fit at all?

Oddly enough, yes I have thought of thus, as well as a guy in the US and another somewhere in Europe. We all discussed it at some length and the biggest stumbling block is that the control and power for the up and down motor is from the same pcb as the screen, so somehow you'd have to find the correct circuit and then build som sort of new pcb to retain the flip action. We decided it simply wasn't worth it, and assuming that why the Android screen was built to way it was. Someone may come up with ut eventually, you never know.
Personally, for what I use it for anyway, I find the addition of the MMI box enough on a day to day basis.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Is it possible to do a hybrid of taking the Android screen and hardware and fitting it to the OEM flip up module?

So, removing the oem screen from it’s housing, and then replacing with the android screen and associated electrical gubbins.

I bet you have thought of the same idea, just wondering if it would fit at all?

Oddly enough, yes I have thought of thus, as well as a guy in the US and another somewhere in Europe. We all discussed it at some length and the biggest stumbling block is that the control and power for the up and down motor is from the same pcb as the screen, so somehow you'd have to find the correct circuit and then build som sort of new pcb to retain the flip action. We decided it simply wasn't worth it, and assuming that why the Android screen was built to way it was. Someone may come up with ut eventually, you never know.
Personally, for what I use it for anyway, I find the addition of the MMI box enough on a day to day basis.

Interesting, presumably there is some simple logic: if power on activate motor for x micro seconds and vice versa. etc.

An Arduino Nano could be programmed to perform this function on the motor.

The reason why I am interested is, the screen units seem quite easy to source, where as the whole retrofit for OEM requires finding some pretty rare items, like the cage mount for the Navigation DVD unit.

I guess part of the issue with trying it, is that you are left with a pile of expensive parts which no longer work for either solution if it does not work or fit!