HELLO Need some help with my radio/navigation system. This past weekend while cleaning the car the screen on the radio went out, (white screen with the occasional thin black lines) I also noticed that there is no power were you insert the cd for the navigation, I can not eject the navigation disk (not sure if that is a related problem, though I think it is). The 6 cd changer ejects with no problem. I just purchased the car last week (2001 740i sport Orient blue extorter with the 2/tone interior blue/white looks better in person then some of the photos I had seen before). Let me also add that you can hear music threw the speakers even though I'm guessing on what station I'm on, also that the radio audio goes out every 3-4 minutes I have to turn it off and then back on to hear the radio, this is getting to be a pain in the rump. Also the tapes get stuck and cant eject them, even when it was working properly. So I'm thinking it might be better off just getting a new, used ebay etc head unit if that is the problem. I have the 4-3 screen size not sure if its a mark 3 or mark 2 ? let me know if the mark 4 16-9 wide screen is worth the extra cost and trouble to install and download new software etc ? Any help on what to fix were to buy would be appreciated. Thanks George.

I Am Going To Try Again And See If Someone Can Help Me On This Issue. Thanks

I really have no clue, but if you can't eject your cd/dvd from the trunk, I would personally be looking for a loose connection somewhere along the line. I wouldn't go buy a new head unit just yet.

Maybe nobody has chimed in on this thread yet because of your screen name ... there is no M7, some people are touchy on this subject. ;)

You might also want to try posting in the audio/electronics section of the forum.

Good luck!

Sounds like you have a highline model, nice, congrats! Make sure to post some pics when you get to enough posts. :)

I had the same problem. My radio would cut out every 3 or 4 minutes, would have to turn it off then back on for another 3-4 minutes of play. Anyway what I found out was that the radio is wired thru the Navigation unit, the unit your disc is in, whatever it's called. I called BMW and a new one'll set you back $500+. I found one on e-bay for $70. Took it down to BMW and they installed it and downloaded the newest navigation for $70. You can probably do it your-self but since they gave me the newest version of the Nav software for free I figured it'd be worth the $70 to have them do it.
Hope this helps...

I had the same problem. My radio would cut out every 3 or 4 minutes, would have to turn it off then back on for another 3-4 minutes of play. Anyway what I found out was that the radio is wired thru the Navigation unit, the unit your disc is in, whatever it's called. I called BMW and a new one'll set you back $500+. I found one on e-bay for $70. Took it down to BMW and they installed it and downloaded the newest navigation for $70. You can probably do it your-self but since they gave me the newest version of the Nav software for free I figured it'd be worth the $70 to have them do it.
Hope this helps...

I appreciate your info on this issue. What i like to know is, did your screen go out like mine did? and is there a way that i would be able to look at the navigation disk holder myself and try and diagnose (fix it) by myself without going to the dealer?

Check the I-bus cable too on the Nav unit. It may have come loose.

my 740 is nav-free. i think there was a similar post on bimmerboard recently... cheers

:)

I appreciate your info on this issue. What i like to know is, did your screen go out like mine did? and is there a way that i would be able to look at the navigation disk holder myself and try and diagnose (fix it) by myself without going to the dealer?


Yes, my screen went blank. The Stereo would cut out every few minutes and I'd have to turn it off then back on and I'd get a few minutes out of it again. Go talk to a Service Mgr at your local BMW, that's what I did. Those unit cost $500-$700 new. The Serv.Mgr I spoke to suggested I look on ebay. Sure enough, there were a couple on there, I think I paid $70. For whatever reason, BMW routes the stereo through the Nav unit and either your Nav unit went bad or the part that controls your stereo went out. My guess is the Nav unit is fried since your screen (as mine did) went out as well. The unit does pull out, it's next to your CD changer in your trunk. If you've got the know-how, see what you can do. To me it was easier to pay the dealer the $70 to install it and be done with it.

Good luck, WR