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Before
After
Navigation Retrofit (Retooling) for a virgin E38Bettie came from the factory with the Top HiFi stereo option that included a DSP processor/amplifier, 14 speakers and a Pioneer 6 CD Changer. I had been reading about guys who installed the BMW OEM Navigation system in their E38/E39 for a year or so before I began to really study what this project wil cost and how hard the work is. Here is a summary of the process I went through to find the parts, install them and troubleshoot the instalation.

Step 1: Searching for parts: There are a few decisions that you need to make before you begin to search for and purchase parts, these are: 1. Which version of the Nav computer do you want to use. There are two that you should practically consider, MKIII (CD based) and MKIV, (DVD based). Although you could install the MKI and MKII computers it is foolish not to have the faster computer and they are compatible with all model years of the E38.

2. Which display screen / tape cassette unit do you want? There are two to choose from, the 4:3 and the 16:9 (aka Wide Screen).

3. Which Radio model. Martin Bishop of www.bimmernav.com fame found that a new generation radio (top unit in photo) from an X5 would allow for an Aux input and for the addition of a Sirius Satellite Radio receiver BMW option. Pretty sweet and a lot of guys went that way. The older radio is on the bottom in this photo. Model numbers for these radio are: C43BM-US for the older US spec radio that has a 17 pin connector with round pins in it and C54BM for the New Gen world wide compatible radio that has 16 pin connector with flat pins. This is the one that allows Aux inputs and will support Sirius Satellite radio option if it is the most recent version

Step Two: Purchase the parts needed: Well after 6 weeks of searching Ebay.com I didn't find anything that I need, but I did find two major parts I needed at ebay.de (german). I bought a MkIII Nav computer (NaviRechner auf Deutsch) and the On-Board Monitor Radio module over the past few weeks. Combined with the On-Board monitor/radio controller/tape deck module I got from Mark Wong a fellow regular at www.bimmerforums.com E38 forum, my Nav retrofit kit is getting there slow but sure.
By the way: From the instalation steps pdf file (link below)for Nav and Wide screen is from the BMW EBA CD-ROM and according to it, there are three wiring harnesses needed for a virgin retrofit. You can download a copy of this installation pdf here:E38 Nav Installation Instructions
1. The Main Audio Harness connects the Radio/Nav/DSP/CD changer to the On-Board Monitor/radio controller/tape deck.
2. The Navigation Connecting Lead connects the Nav to the OBM/Car Power and i-Bus. And 3. The Supplimental Navigation Harness: connects the nav to the light control module for reverse logic and ABS controller for speed pulses.

I finally found a Main audio harness on eBay UK, for an E38 with Nav so I bid on it and WON! This is the key part that I was looking for, so I am now ready to start.

Step 3: Installation: I dove into my car's interior and trunk to get at everything this weekend (Memorial Day) which gave me an extra day to work on it), and got most of the system done!!

Here is what I did so far:
* Removed all speaker wiring from the Nav/HiFi harness I got from the "Navman" in the UK off eBay.uk
* Removed old stereo system hardware and mounting brackets in trunk
* Removed Rear seat, deck trim and subs to access wiring harness

* Pulled back Bettie's Top HiFi wiring harness to the rear door from trunk to compare and modify with the new harness and to remove the radio and CD wiring that is no longer needed.


* Re-built my OE and Nav harness into one to keep my existing speaker wiring.
* Laced new combined harness together with fabric tape
* Reinstalled harness from rear door to trunk (sorry this photo is sideways)
* Ran new combined harness from rear door to console, (involved removal of Driver's seat and Nearly total removal of center console to gain access.



Here is a diagram fromt he Installation Instruction that shows the path for the Harness
* Removed old and installed new equipment carrier in center console. This is a metal frame that acts as the mounting bracket for the On Board Monitor module, the HVAC control panel, the Switch Panel and the Cup Holder. Speaking of the cup holder, now is the best time to replace this assembly if yours is shot!

* Installed GPS antenna on rear shelf
* Installed OBM radio, DSP Amp and Nav computer hardware components in trunk to new combined harness and fired things up.
* Got video display with OBC, Radio, Nav, Clock, and CD on screen.
* Reinstalled console and trim, reinstalled driver's seat.
* Reinstalled subwoofers, rear deck trim and rear seat.
* Nav hardware still lying in my trunk awaiting another day off....The next coulple of weeks led me onto a troubleshooting process that finally was narrowed down to the Radio module from Germany are not the same as a US spec version. I could receive AM but FM would not work properly and I ended up wasting $350 on the radio module I bought from eBay.de I was able to test and then purchase a US spec radio module from a local friend who was upgrading to the New-Gen radio module from www.bimmernav.com, and this worked fine BUT it was not compatible with my CD Changer.
Turns out that the CD Changer control interface was modified from Pioneer's control bus to an iBus in the 99 facelift upgrade.
Older Pioneer bus (sometimes refered to as PI bus or P-Bus) CD changers won't work with radios produced after 9/98. Another $350 for a used i-Bus controlled CD Changer from Bavarian REcycling fixed this issue but man!, I was gathering a lot of hardware that I couldn't use!

Once the Radio and CD changer worked, I buttoned up the trunk trim by cutting out the hole out for the Nav Computer and tidied up all the wiring behind the trim panels.

Overall my report on this project:
It required lots of crawling around and interior disassembly work with TIS instructions that are woefully inadequate to actually get things removed or reinstalled. This took a lot of my time up by trying to pull things apart that needed one or two more screws removed to come loose!!

Wiring harness work was not as hard as it could have been because I studied schematics and connector pin outs for months in preparation of this work. I could have saved some time if I had just left the old harness in place without removing some of the wires no longer needed, but it was a real rats nest and anyone trying to repair or maintain this car after I no longer own it could ever figure out...

Buying the BM radio and Nav computer from Europe added complexity that I would not take on a second time. I had trouble with the German AM/FM BM radio not workingin the US. Turned out that I had to buy a second BM radio from a US model E38, so beware.

Love the new look of my console and I love using the Nav and or just watching the maps follow me around!

Appendix:
These parts worked for my 1998 (prod date 9/97) E38 known as Bettie

Part No Description Price
65528372598 or -386303 On Board Monitor housing w/cassette
65528569564 On Board Monitor LCD display
65528372594 or -375942 On Board Monitor Wood trim
All three above as one piece used for $400.00

65104102060 On Board Monitor Radio (from a 2000 MY used)$150.00
65906908529 MkIII Nav computer used $342.00
51478177689 Cover (Nav trim frame) new $8.50
61128377432 Connecting Lead, Nav Prod 9/97-9/00 new $35.60
61128377434 GPS Antenna cable new $25.00
65908375944 GPS Antenna new $85.60
51131934160 Grommet (Antenna mount) 2 ea. new $0.48
64221356171 Expanding Rivet (Antenna mount) 2 ea. new $0.98
61131378987 Mounting Clip, plug connection, black new $0.88
65908360725 Bracket for GPS Antenna new $4.51
51168175064 Function Carrier, On Board Monitor new $80.00
65128375189 On Board Monitor Radio bracket new $12.75
65128352488 Basic Carrier (you may already have this) $15.84
61120007573 On Board Monitor Cable used $350.00
65128370535 Radio Supporting pin (you may have this) $0.51
65908369053 Support Bracket, Nav Computer new $22.67
51168177695 On Board Monitor Support (you may have this) $4.19

Still missing:
61120007576 Adapter lead Nav / On Board Monitor (Reverse signal and Speed pulses)

Notes:
1. The On Board Monitor Radio module that I bought from Germany never worked right in the US market, so I bought another one from a 2000 750. That�s the part no. I listed above.

2. The new radio worked fine except, that my Pioneer 6 CD changer needed to be swapped out for a newer model that supported I-Bus instead of the Pioneer P-bus version that was OE in my 1998 model year. Had I found a radio module that was
from my same vintage, this would not have been necessary, however these radio modules are a bit like �hen�s teeth� so I took what I could find.

3. There are three parts listed that I did not need because they were already installed in my car. Bettie had the TOP hi-fi stereo option with DSP and CD changer, so this may vary in your case.

4. The Adapter Lead for Nav at the bottom is not priced because I have not purchased this lead yet. It consists of two wires and a ground. The first comes from the LKM to give the Nav a logic signal when the car is in reverse. The second is from the ABS controller to send speed pulses to the Nav when you are moving. My Nav is working fine without these connections, but it may be that they are helpful for accuracy I don�t know. I may install these wires someday.

Parts lists for the retrofit from Kevin 1998 740iL with Hi-Fi and DSP (build date 5/97):

4:3 Monitor; 65.52.8.374.914B
Monitor housing 51.16.8.175.064
Nav/Audio harness; 61.12.6.910.486 (E38)
Mark III computer; 65.90.6.908.529
Mark III cmptr brkt 65.90.8.369.053
Trunk Mount Radio; 65.12.8.371.380 (older type, not sirius)
Radio Bracket; 65.12.8.375.189
SES Voice Recognition module 84.41.6.913.352.9
SES Jumper Cable; 84.11.0.029.707
GPS Antenna; 65.90.8.375.944
GPS Ant. Cable ext. 61.12.8.377.432
GPS Antenna Mount 65.90.8.360.725

Once installed, I upgrade the NAV software to 3 1/63 with no problems. With the help of the good folks here at the forum, I was able to complete my project,even though at times I thought I was going to pull my hair out. Thanks again John, Brian and Silber98.....Kevin