Issue with my Z4's navigation

usurp · 09-15-2009, 04:17 PM

Hey guys, I've got a strange issue with my GPS. It isn't finding any satellites its always searching. Is there a way to reset the GPS or something? Could it be there is a cable loose or something?

When I go into the hidden settings menu this is what I get for the GPS

psygnosis · 09-15-2009, 07:36 PM

It's not uncommon for the GPS antenna to go bad for whatever reason. Mine is on the way out, the S/N ratio numbers are all under 5 and heat seems to effect it making it loose the signal.

usurp · 09-16-2009, 02:02 AM

Is it a easy fix? I mean if i bought the part myself could I install it? It gets REALLY hot in Kuwait so if heat kills it then I understand how that happened.

vividracing · 09-16-2009, 01:08 PM

The GPS antenna on my Z4M went out as well. Had it replaced under warranty by the dealer. As for install, I know it involves removing the headliner (took the dealer a day to do).

usurp · 09-23-2009, 11:48 AM

Ok just an update. A few day after i posted the car battery died. I replaced it awhile ago and the gps started working again finally. Not sure if the weak battery was the cause or if it was The action of disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it which would have cause a hard reset of some sort that got it working.

vividracing · 09-23-2009, 12:00 PM

Hmm... not sure.
Either way, if changing the battery did the job, consider yourself lucky; just saved yourself extra time/money!

pvr · 09-25-2009, 03:07 AM

I would not remove the headliner anyway. A new GPS antenna is $10 from eBay and you can clip it next to the airvent on the metal bracket inside the dash.

That is where I put mine on the previous Z where I retrofitted the OEM satnav system.

acvr4 · 10-22-2010, 09:49 PM

Think I mine might be starting to go. I lost satellites last Sunday on the way home, and to night on my way to get my Niece a her college - what a pain luckily I have GPS software in my iPhone.
I'll have to check it out

ManoSpeed · 10-23-2010, 04:10 AM

All I will say is I'm glad my M has all the options available except the navigation.

psygnosis · 10-23-2010, 10:53 PM

I replaced my GPS antenna with this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160492431145 looks exactly like the one I had.

It was easier then I thought it would be to replace. I just popped off the dome light then removed the visors. The plastic had enough flex that I didn't have to remove any more.

Nhopkins1394 · 10-25-2010, 11:02 AM

I was wondering what caused my NEW Nav system to stop working.
We just had a new Kenwood DNX 6960 Nav/sat.radio/DVD/Bluetooth/rear camera installed.

We had it installed for LESS than 24 hours. We drove to Canton and the Z4 spent the day in the sun (88degrees).
Got in to come home and the satellite would not hook up to a satellite. Just kept searching.
Got home and cycled the ignition switch and it began working just fine.
Top down the whole way, ie no A/C
Could the heat from the sun have caused the glitch?
Hasn't happened since.
The Nav antenna is lying on the black interior dash close to the windshield in the center of the car so it has a direct upwardly view of the sky.

09-15-2009, 04:17 PM	#1
usurp Private 7 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (0)	Issue with my Z4's navigation Hey guys, I've got a strange issue with my GPS. It isn't finding any satellites its always searching. Is there a way to reset the GPS or something? Could it be there is a cable loose or something? When I go into the hidden settings menu this is what I get for the GPS __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0l, SMG, M Seats, Eisenmann exhaust and Hardtop.
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09-15-2009, 07:36 PM	#2
psygnosis Major 23 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: '04 Z4 3.0i Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	It's not uncommon for the GPS antenna to go bad for whatever reason. Mine is on the way out, the S/N ratio numbers are all under 5 and heat seems to effect it making it loose the signal. __________________ Straightaways are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2009, 02:02 AM	#3
usurp Private 7 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (0)	Is it a easy fix? I mean if i bought the part myself could I install it? It gets REALLY hot in Kuwait so if heat kills it then I understand how that happened. __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0l, SMG, M Seats, Eisenmann exhaust and Hardtop.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2009, 01:08 PM	#4
vividracing 689 Rep 6,854 Posts Drives: E90 M3, F30 335i, F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arizona iTrader: (14)	The GPS antenna on my Z4M went out as well. Had it replaced under warranty by the dealer. As for install, I know it involves removing the headliner (took the dealer a day to do). __________________ Travis Williams Shop ALL BMW G80 \| G82 Parts Here! 480.966.3040 ext 318 Travisw@vividracing.com PM, Email, or Call Directly for aggressive BMW Member Pricing
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09-23-2009, 11:48 AM	#5
usurp Private 7 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (0)	Ok just an update. A few day after i posted the car battery died. I replaced it awhile ago and the gps started working again finally. Not sure if the weak battery was the cause or if it was The action of disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it which would have cause a hard reset of some sort that got it working. __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster - 3.0l, SMG, M Seats, Eisenmann exhaust and Hardtop.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-23-2009, 12:00 PM	#6
vividracing 689 Rep 6,854 Posts Drives: E90 M3, F30 335i, F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arizona iTrader: (14)	Hmm... not sure. Either way, if changing the battery did the job, consider yourself lucky; just saved yourself extra time/money! __________________ Travis Williams Shop ALL BMW G80 \| G82 Parts Here! 480.966.3040 ext 318 Travisw@vividracing.com PM, Email, or Call Directly for aggressive BMW Member Pricing
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2009, 03:07 AM	#7
pvr Private 17 Rep 95 Posts Drives: F85 X5M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I would not remove the headliner anyway. A new GPS antenna is $10 from eBay and you can clip it next to the airvent on the metal bracket inside the dash. That is where I put mine on the previous Z where I retrofitted the OEM satnav system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2010, 09:49 PM	#8
acvr4 Private First Class 3 Rep 198 Posts Drives: 3.0Z4,VR4,Vehicross.Touareg Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Think I mine might be starting to go. I lost satellites last Sunday on the way home, and to night on my way to get my Niece a her college - what a pain luckily I have GPS software in my iPhone. I'll have to check it out
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2010, 04:10 AM	#9
ManoSpeed Private First Class 24 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Elk Grove Village, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [8.00]	All I will say is I'm glad my M has all the options available except the navigation.
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10-23-2010, 10:53 PM	#10
psygnosis Major 23 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: '04 Z4 3.0i Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	I replaced my GPS antenna with this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160492431145 looks exactly like the one I had. It was easier then I thought it would be to replace. I just popped off the dome light then removed the visors. The plastic had enough flex that I didn't have to remove any more. __________________ Straightaways are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-25-2010, 11:02 AM	#11
Nhopkins1394 Accountant, 1st Class 8 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0si Roadster, Black Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irving, TX where the Cowboys used to play! iTrader: (0)	Bad navigation antenna I was wondering what caused my NEW Nav system to stop working. We just had a new Kenwood DNX 6960 Nav/sat.radio/DVD/Bluetooth/rear camera installed. We had it installed for LESS than 24 hours. We drove to Canton and the Z4 spent the day in the sun (88degrees). Got in to come home and the satellite would not hook up to a satellite. Just kept searching. Got home and cycled the ignition switch and it began working just fine. Top down the whole way, ie no A/C Could the heat from the sun have caused the glitch? Hasn't happened since. The Nav antenna is lying on the black interior dash close to the windshield in the center of the car so it has a direct upwardly view of the sky.
	Appreciate 0 Quote