I am looking into purchasing a 2001 X5 for my daily driver. I have found a nice one locally but has one potentially serious problem. The factory navigation system does not work. Also, the stereo only works for literally 1-2 minutes and then shuts off. Is this a common problem in early X5s? Is this an easy fix? If not, would it be easy the replace the factory nav/headunit with an after market piece "non-nav?" The owner said the dealer quoted him four thousand dollars to replace the computers? I don't really care about having the NAV but I need the stereo to work.

Thanks!

I am looking into purchasing a 2001 X5 for my daily driver. I have found a nice one locally but has one potentially serious problem. The factory navigation system does not work. Also, the stereo only works for literally 1-2 minutes and then shuts off. Is this a common problem in early X5s? Is this an easy fix? If not, would it be easy the replace the factory nav/headunit with an after market piece "non-nav?" The owner said the dealer quoted him four thousand dollars to replace the computers? I don't really care about having the NAV but I need the stereo to work.

Thanks!
Yes, you could install an aftermarket head unit and completely bypass the factory nav/stereo setup. However, you might be able to source the needed replacement parts on ebay or another forum and get your factory system running again. I would suggest checking out www.x5world.com where they have a ton of information on the factory setups and how to diagnose the problems. Getting the factory system operational might not be much more expensive that adding an aftermarket setup-and might actually be cheaper.

check this out on x5world
So it's bad! I've taken the mk4 out of my car and put it into his while I try and revive his mk3. I had same symtoms, started upgrade (v26) and then the screen just went black. Stayed like that for ages. Then the disk wouldn't come out. Eventually figured out how to get the disk out, held the eject button for about 3mins, the light went out, then press eject and the disk *should* pop out. See here http://www.x5world.com/articles/all-...ion-drive.html (http://www.x5world.com/articles/all-bmw/navigation/12212-tips-removing-stuck-cd-navigation-drive.html)

I have an 01 X5 as well but without the navigation. Built in nav is cool and all, but it is just so much easier to buy one without the nav and put in your own portable gps. What color X5 you looking for, I have a pearl-beige metallic one for sale. I'd even throw in a Garmin GPS to go with it :)

If you do opt to fix the nav or replace it, just make sure to factor in a pretty good budget for it. Either way there is alot of work involved, if you put in an aftermarket radio you have to bypass all of the current wiring. If you put in an OEM it would probably have to be coded, so add in an hour of labor at the dealer for this.