Crazy Dave

Hi Jason, I have just ordered one of these from dealextreme (listed in one of the reply posts). It will take a couple of weeks to show up I suspect, and while I am patient, if you are anywhere on the western side of Christchurch I would be interested in seeing it in action and even changing a couple of settings on my E39. We should probably move this off list or maybe I can give you a call. If/When mine shows up I will report on it being the same as your one or not. Cheers to all on the list Dave

Wow I learn so much when I read this forum. Ive got no idea how many antennas my radio uses except that the BM53 seems to have 1 coax going to it. However along the same lines and those of you who know these things may be able to help..... When I first got my car I tuned all the local TV stations. (09/2001 E39 touring) I have noticed recently that TV1 is not received any more. TV1 is the only Low Band VHF channel down here. All the rest are either High Band VHF or UHF. Can anyone think of a reason that I might have lost reception on that one channel. From memory the Video tuner has 2 coaxs going to it Cheers Dave

Hi Dean, I might be interested in this. I wasn't going to spend that much money because I thought I could modify an OEM unit and interface it to the car. However as time moves on, it might just be easier to put a TCU unit in. My concerns would be whether the TCU would fit into my car. (plugs and wiring wise). Cheers for you advise on the TELON line logic. I only ever played with the line with the radio already on so I will try it with the radio off. But I did expect that when I put audio (1kHz -10dBm) onto the TENF+ and TELNF- lines that I might hear it on the front speakers. I think my car was a quite high spec ed one from Japan. It is a 09/2001 E39 touring. The only electronic box that I have not identified yet is on top of the left hand rear wheel arch, but I think this may be the VICs receiver. (I just havent figured out how to get the trim off yet with out wrecking it ) Cheers Dave

Thanks Dean I found the appropriate wires (my car has the Business BM53 radio tuner) although the pin numbers were different to those that you listed. The TELM (mute) line works and mutes the radio when grounded. The TELON line did not seem to do anything when pulled up (or down) and the Phone Audio In wires with audio on them did not get through to the speakers so I suspect my car does not have these features. Pity but I might at least be able to use the TELM line on an external Bluetooth kit Cheers Dave

OK so I got into the WDS site and think Ive figured it out. Not the most friendly of wiring diagrams but I got there in the end. I found the pinouts for the 54 pin Basic Telephone interface and the wire colours match up. But I was hoping that the logic on the TELON (telephone on) or TELM (radio mute) lines might show some voltages but nothing there. Pulling them down to ground or up to 12v +ve (via a 1k res) has no effect on the radio which is what I was hoping for. I was hoping to take a Bluetooth unit and use CALL IN PROGRESS logic to mute the stereo but this is going to be more difficult that I thought. Will keep thinking about but any ideas welcome

Ive just been through the drama of finding out how brittle this tube is. I read the forum and became more disappointed. Went down to Mitre10 today and found "Nylex clear vinyl tubing 5mm" @ $1.79 per metre. Being very careful, I got the old stuff off without breaking the joiners or right angle adapters. Dip the ends of the new tubing in hot water to soften them before pushing them on. Is working fine so far.

I have always struggled to understand that WDS site. Im an electronics engineer by trade but those diagrams always did my head in. However I want to figure this out, so will go back and have another look at it. Yeah I have the Jap import version so need to track down that one Thanks for the pointer

Hi Team, Just wondering if anyone knows the pinouts to the 54 pin (3x18) connector on the Basic Telephone Interface box on a 2001 E39. I have found references to a DB25 connector but my car does not have this. I want to identify the radio mute, Mic and speaker lines with the aim to installing an off the shelf bluetooth kit Cheers Dave

Im planing on using the NavCoder software. I have wired a permenant RS232 adapter into the car on the IBUS. Have ordered Navcoder online and payed for it with Paypal - Just waaaaiting for Jochen to check his email and send me the access code.

OBD - Drivers side up in the little cubby box thing by your right knee. Has a cover that pulls off TV in Motion seems to be programming - Im just about to do my 2001 525

Im in Christchurch (or whats left of it ) Would be interested in either TCU or ULF but not in a hurry until the dealer I brought the car off fits the Nav equipment. (part of the sales agreement) Who has these units and what are they charging for them (I travel internationally a lot so are they better value from overseas somewhere) Also ordered the Reversing Camera from Hotwire tonight so I have that wee project to do. We should catch up if your ever up this way - Will let you know if I head south at all. Cheers Dave

I know your the guru on this stuff Jochen, but I was going to see how much I could figure out before bugging you with questions. The dealer I brought the car has agreed to change out the Jap Nav unit as part of the deal. I think he gets them from Grant (Hotwire) but I believe there is someone in Christchurch now doing it as well (maybe not after last Tuesdays events) So whats the go on Bluetooth? I am still searching the net for the differences between ULF and TCU but TCU seems to be the best bet for a 01 E39 Touring. However all advice will be gratefully accepted. Cheers Dave

Cheers Dean At first my browsers (IE and Firefox) could not see the diagrams on that site, however another computer worked OK Diagrams look good but does not seem to give pin numbers on connectors. Interesting that BMW would put a GPS in that could not do Southern Hemisphere. I will put a scope on the pins to find the TXD line and then feed it to a serial port to see if the raw NMEA data (which I hope it is) shows -43.XXXXX in the data string. Cheers Dave

Hi Team Just wondering if anyone has or knows where to find wiring diagrams for the E39 phone Eject Box and the GPS. Im looking at integrating a Bluetooth unit into the existing car wiring but all I have been able to figure out so far is the Microphone and Power wires coming up to the centre console Eject Box. I also want to pick off the NMEA data from the GPS unit next to the TV module (behind the rear seats in the Touring) Any help appreciated Im looking at putting a reversing camera in as I tested the Reverse Camera logic into the video unit today and it all seems to work but I am dreading putting the wiring from the tailgate to the Video unit. Cheers Dave

Actually it is all personal taste of course but I quite like the pre 2004 body styling. Even the the interior styling is quite acceptable to me. As mentioned, it is the age and to a certain extent some of the small features that concern me. Ive got to hand it to the design team, the little features in the boot space, window blinds (Jap import), spare wheel space utilisation etc must have seemed brilliant when they first came out and keep getting improved upon each year.

For those following this thread, this is the other car (the one that I consider to be a little to old) that Im looking at http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=313184489 So from all you old hands at things BMW, I welcome comments on the merits of either vehicle

Yes that is the car The E39 is also quite nice but just getting a bit old. I will take them both for a drive - that may help me decide. I had seen Conversion and went 'Wow' at the price but it might be worth it if I can push the price of the car down.

Cheers Grant, Appreciate you taking the time to reply. I am not a Beemer owner yet but joined the forum to get the inside word from guys like you. I am also looking at a 2001 525i which has already been converted over to NZ. A little older than what I would like but might get to the top of the prefered list. Cheers Dave

Hi All Ive had a good search through the forum but am struggling to find the answer I want. Im considering buying a 2005 525i wagon (E61) that is for sale in ChCh. As a Jap import it has DVD nav unit in the back and the stereo/TV is in Japan mode. Is this unit user changeable to NZ settings and is the NAV unit just a change of DVD disk? If not user changeable, are there other options to get it converted. It won't be on my short list of prospective cars if the stereo/TV stays in Japan format. Cheers Dave