Cowley spec navigation disc drive for Highline

JORDING · 9th February 2017, 11:00

Hi all,

I recently became the owner of a 1999 (T) 75 connie with nearly every toy imaginable. Upon viewing the car I looked in the boot to find the Navigation disc drive missing and just the two connectors sticking out.

I have been looking on ebay but the only ones I can find are from later Longbridge cars and look a little different.

Is there anyone that knows of an early working disc drive i could purchase or know where i can get one?

There seems to be certain BMW navigation system disc drive that looks identical but just says BMW across the front, will these also just plug in and work perfectly?

Thanks in advance.

scoubix · 9th February 2017, 12:30

You can use any of the Rover 75 drives in your car, either the so-called MkII which you car originally had, or the MkIII ones which were fitted in cars from MY2001 on. Each is a plug-n-play replacement for your original one, the only physical difference being that MkII drives such as the one you had in your car, the GPS antenna connects to a separate amplifier which, in turn, connects to the drive. On MkIII drives the antenna connects directly to the drive. So you just need to disconnect your antenna plug from that amplifier and connect it directly to the back of the MkIII drive. Your antenna amplifier can then be removed or left in the car, but in any case, is no longer used with a MkIII drive.

The MkIII drive provides much better performance than the MkII one so you're all better looking for one of those.

Alternatively those are identical to the ones fitted to BMWs of the same era (E46 3-series, E39 5-series, 1st gen X5, etc...). You can use any BMW drive as well, including the MkIV which our cars never had from factory, and use a DVD drive for maps. They provide, again, much improved performance, and use Europe maps discs on a couple of DVDs while the MkII and MkIII use a couple of CDROMs now for each major country.

JORDING · 9th February 2017, 12:43

Thank you for the thorough reply! As soon as i posted, a disc drive from a 1999 car came up on ebay so i snapped it up. I know there are better systems but i would like to keep the car as original as possible.

Thanks

pm77 · 9th February 2017, 13:33

Finding an original 1999 sat nav disc is going to be hard to find though... and probably follow reliably

JORDING · 9th February 2017, 13:41

Ive managed to get a genuine Rover disc from 2000/1 which should work in theory.

I know the navigation will be really naff and i wont probably use it but its nice to have it complete and (hopefully) working.

scoubix · 9th February 2017, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by JORDING

Ive managed to get a genuine Rover disc from 2000/1 which should work in theory.

I know the navigation will be really naff and i wont probably use it but its nice to have it complete and (hopefully) working.

You can still buy up-to-date discs from BMW and, at least, have navigational data that is up to date...if not for the software itself.
I had a MkII drive in my 75 myself (1999 Cowley-built) and replaced with a MkIII and then later a MkIV. The MkIV is very much usable still today and provides useful navigation, including vocal instructions with named highways and the likes. The MKIV latest software dates back to 2006 so clearly outdated, yet BMW navigation units have always been among the most effective ones. In fact I still prefer this MkIV system to more recent ones I had to use of late.

pm77 · 9th February 2017, 14:53

Just for info, no more CD updates after 2015 for MK II/III. The MKIV still has new updates on the DVD's. BMW will charge the earth for the discs, there are alternative methods of getting the newest software

.

JORDING · 9th February 2017, 15:07

All i wanted was to get the navigation working, its going to be a project car and then be used occasionally. If i did need sat nav i would use the TomTom i have as thats simpler and more user friendly than these older BMW nav systems, the current BMW iDrive system is very good and simple to use but it has taken them years to get right.

9th February 2017, 11:00	#1
JORDING Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Carnforth Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 2 Posts	Cowley spec navigation disc drive for Highline Hi all, I recently became the owner of a 1999 (T) 75 connie with nearly every toy imaginable. Upon viewing the car I looked in the boot to find the Navigation disc drive missing and just the two connectors sticking out. I have been looking on ebay but the only ones I can find are from later Longbridge cars and look a little different. Is there anyone that knows of an early working disc drive i could purchase or know where i can get one? There seems to be certain BMW navigation system disc drive that looks identical but just says BMW across the front, will these also just plug in and work perfectly? Thanks in advance.

9th February 2017, 12:30	#2
scoubix Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon 2.5L V6 auto Connoisseur, "Dealer Launch" LHD / MG ZT-T 260 auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Around Paris Posts: 888 Thanks: 72 Thanked 225 Times in 130 Posts	You can use any of the Rover 75 drives in your car, either the so-called MkII which you car originally had, or the MkIII ones which were fitted in cars from MY2001 on. Each is a plug-n-play replacement for your original one, the only physical difference being that MkII drives such as the one you had in your car, the GPS antenna connects to a separate amplifier which, in turn, connects to the drive. On MkIII drives the antenna connects directly to the drive. So you just need to disconnect your antenna plug from that amplifier and connect it directly to the back of the MkIII drive. Your antenna amplifier can then be removed or left in the car, but in any case, is no longer used with a MkIII drive. The MkIII drive provides much better performance than the MkII one so you're all better looking for one of those. Alternatively those are identical to the ones fitted to BMWs of the same era (E46 3-series, E39 5-series, 1st gen X5, etc...). You can use any BMW drive as well, including the MkIV which our cars never had from factory, and use a DVD drive for maps. They provide, again, much improved performance, and use Europe maps discs on a couple of DVDs while the MkII and MkIII use a couple of CDROMs now for each major country. __________________ 2004 MG ZT-T 260 - LHD - Auto transmission (the only known auto ZT-T V8) / 1999 Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur - Dealer Launch - LHD 1993 Rover 827 Coupé - LHD / 1993 Rover 216 GSi - LHD / 1975 Rover P6 3500 - LHD

9th February 2017, 13:33	#4
pm77 Gets stuck in Volvo XC70 D5 AWD Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Darlington Posts: 926 Thanks: 5 Thanked 133 Times in 121 Posts	Finding an original 1999 sat nav disc is going to be hard to find though... and probably follow reliably __________________ No Longer an owner.. but still trying to help

9th February 2017, 14:53	#7
pm77 Gets stuck in Volvo XC70 D5 AWD Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Darlington Posts: 926 Thanks: 5 Thanked 133 Times in 121 Posts	Just for info, no more CD updates after 2015 for MK II/III. The MKIV still has new updates on the DVD's. BMW will charge the earth for the discs, there are alternative methods of getting the newest software . __________________ No Longer an owner.. but still trying to help

9th February 2017, 12:43	#3
JORDING Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Carnforth Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 2 Posts	Thank you for the thorough reply! As soon as i posted, a disc drive from a 1999 car came up on ebay so i snapped it up. I know there are better systems but i would like to keep the car as original as possible. Thanks

9th February 2017, 13:41	#5
JORDING Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Carnforth Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 2 Posts	Ive managed to get a genuine Rover disc from 2000/1 which should work in theory. I know the navigation will be really naff and i wont probably use it but its nice to have it complete and (hopefully) working.

9th February 2017, 15:07	#8
JORDING Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Carnforth Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 2 Posts	All i wanted was to get the navigation working, its going to be a project car and then be used occasionally. If i did need sat nav i would use the TomTom i have as thats simpler and more user friendly than these older BMW nav systems, the current BMW iDrive system is very good and simple to use but it has taken them years to get right.