E39 Japan navigation system: DVD format hacking

[fritz.hu 2]

Hi there,

I have an E39 530i with the Japanese Mk II DVD navigation system. I also have a DVD containing its software, maps and voices - the one you get along with the car.

I would like to dissect this DVD and see if it is possible to load NZ maps and voices on there. It will likely be a laborious process, but probably worth it...

Can anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't work?

Cheers

[jimbo01 0]

Hi there,

I have an E39 530i with the Japanese Mk II DVD navigation system. I also have a DVD containing its software, maps and voices - the one you get along with the car.

I would like to dissect this DVD and see if it is possible to load NZ maps and voices on there. It will likely be a laborious process, but probably worth it...

Can anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't work?

Cheers

Pretty cool if you could - upgrading the nav unit is serriously expensive.

[hotwire 352]

Can't claim to know for sure but would highly doubt that being possible as each unit reads a totally diiferent format disc

[jochen 4]

Hi there,

I have an E39 530i with the Japanese Mk II DVD navigation system. I also have a DVD containing its software, maps and voices - the one you get along with the car.

I would like to dissect this DVD and see if it is possible to load NZ maps and voices on there. It will likely be a laborious process, but probably worth it...

Can anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't work?

Cheers

Here's the process to do it:.

OS:

1. Determine the operating system on the nav

2. Reverse engineer the operating system to see how it loads maps and voices

3. Write your custom code to remove any specific japanese restrictions

4. recompile and load into the nav

Map:

1. Reverse engineer the map to determine the nature of the proprietary map format

2. Obtain a NZ map, do the same reverse engineering as shown in step 1 for the NZ map

3. Extract the NZ map data

4. Compile the map data into the format understood by the jap nav

Voila!

So: how easy is the above?

Well, depending on your knowledge of operating systems, programming languages, ability to reverse engineer, and the range of compilers at your discretion, the task ranges from very difficult to blooming impossible.

Honestly, just buy the original thing

[Tristan 338]

the task ranges from very difficult to blooming impossible.

Honestly, just buy the original thing

^Haha

OT: How much would it cost in total to have the nav totally converted to NZ?

Better to just buy a Garmin or something?

[JaseNZ 53]

^Haha

OT: How much would it cost in total to have the nav totally converted to NZ?

Better to just buy a Garmin or something?

Drop in a Dynavin unit.

[jochen 4]

^Haha

OT: How much would it cost in total to have the nav totally converted to NZ?

Better to just buy a Garmin or something?

Cost can be less than $1000

Better to buy a Garmin? No way!

[daveandharry 0]

Cost can be less than $1000

Better to buy a Garmin? No way!

Hi, I'm looking for an original or copy DVD for a Jap import e39 with the Mark II navigation system. My car came without the DVD and as a consequence I can get into the navi menu or service menu to turn on RDS and change other options. Can anyone help with a copy - they often get chucked out so I'm hoping someone has one they could send or copy for me.

[briancol 3]

PM Flyrat.

He converted his Jap E39 to Kiwi maps and will probably still have all the original DVDs