16:9 Widescreen Not Same For X5s and M5s - Page 7 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

1mpowerme · 30th March 2006, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frits

Ow, terrible to hear 1mpowerme! I guess you already tried reconnecting the copper ribbon cables, just to make sure they are properly fit in the connectors?

The copper ribbon cables are a pain to get in real good and sometimes they do slip. Once when the connection wasn't so good I noticed the screen didn't even light up or at times if you shake the cable the screen would turn white.

Once they are properly seated, it seems like you get correct picture and from there I would think all the navigation buttons on each side of the screen would work. In my case they don't now. The only one that works is the right bottom knob and it will only allow me to change my scale. If I press down for example to bring up the navigation menu for more options, it does nothing.

I tried pressing the eject button too for example so I could attach the screen to the frame and that doesn't work either.

I posted a thread specifically for this problem but I'm sure no one has really had it so not much help. I went to X5World and Bimmernav to see if anything was out there and nothing either.

I'm fairly happy with my 4:3 screen, especially after I upgraded to an MKIV computer and have the V27 firmware and the latest 2006.02 DVD.

But a 16:9 screen would be nice too.

Thanks for your write up Fritz. I enjoyed the many times you said "Watch for those copper cables!"

mamsterla · 29th May 2007, 04:39

I just came across this mod this weekend. I tried it out - I can say it was tough getting the two little black grommets that hold the copper cables back into position. I just skipped the little black pins that fit into the grommets. So far things look better. I still need a good nav disk to try everything out. I am awaiting a recode and this trick did not fix my horizontal 1 pixel line that goes across the screen. It did help with the sharpness of the picture. Thanks for the people suggesting this.

-MA

Flybot · 11th March 2009, 05:04

Hello,
First post on The Board. What a huge amount of info here. Im going to pick up a Silver/Black 2000 M5 next week and have been soaking up all the info I can about my dream car. Anyway, the widescreen and Mk IV nav is first on the mod list. I already have those mods and I dont even have the car yet! The X5/E39 widescreen issue has me searching everything to try and pin down which widescreen I have. The serial numbers arent anything like what has been posted for E39s or X5s. I will do the surgery to get to the adjustments inside the screen if I have to but I may have found a simpler answer that may help. CHeck out this link from this post that shows how to access a software brightness adjustment (Link at bottom):

Posted by Jack on May 14, 1999 at 09:07:52:

In Reply to: Re: Cool Nav Easter Egg! posted by Mohammed on May 13, 1999 at 22:17:52:
go to the main nav menu, select the "set" option
then hold down the menu key for 20 to 30 seconds and it will bring you to this secret menu which has some diagnostic functions and some other cool toys.
that is just one of the many hidden features of the nav system. I haven't found the rest yet.
oh BTW on this hidden menu there is a TV option.
since european versions of the nav system can also receive TV signals I wonder if it is just disabled by software on the US version and if there is a way to hack around it. Jack

THIS IS THE LINK:
http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/t...ervicemode.htm

Not sure what version of nav this referes to, but its a lot easier than surgery. Anyone tried this?

RichardP · 11th March 2009, 10:21

Does you monitor have the surround? If so then the E39 version has almost streight sides, the X5 version is slightly curved with slightly thicker top an bottom.

E39 :

X5

Flybot · 11th March 2009, 15:33

Interesting. Well, my widescreen is still in the mail. So Ill look when it gets here in a few days.

Flybot · 26th March 2009, 00:41

Well,
It looks like I have an X5 trim ring. Its about 1/4 inch too tall compared to the old 4:3 trim. The screen works fine and is E39. In other words, it looks brightest when closed and not open like some were saying. Its from ebay, so Im sure the parts came from different sources. I guess Ill check the dealer for the trim.

By the way- The software brightness function posted 3 above works great.

tmlesko · 10th April 2009, 04:08

Where is the best source for getting a 16:9 nav screen? I have gone through 2 used 4:3 screens, they seem to have the same problem crop up, the function knob stops working so the unit becomes un-useable.

Tom L.

Flybot · 10th April 2009, 05:26

I used ebay. Ive been buying stuff there for years and have not had any problems. I would stick with US addresses though (if you live in the US). Try to confirm that it is from a E39 body.
If you want new try Bimmernav.com

ccebrun · 9th June 2009, 09:28

This was a great thread! Here is a tip for those going to do it: place a mirror facing up in the space in front of the cup holder so you can see the amount of change you are making as you turn the adjustment dials in back of the monitor.
CJ