CCC-navi, replace DVD reader with SSD ?

bamsefar · 02-15-2013, 02:18 PM

I wonder if it would be possible, for the older CCC based navigation, to replace the old DVD-reader, with a SSD that holds all information. It would for sure be faster, however I wonder if all 3 nav discs (for Europe) can be stored at the same time ? Has anyone tried to just replace the DVD drive with a SSD ?

pinky_and_me · 02-15-2013, 07:32 PM

It's different type of hardware, I doubt the head unit has the ability to control a hard drive.

bamsefar · 02-16-2013, 01:16 AM

Well the idea is to simulate a DVD drive with a SSD. The DVD drive is most likly a standard DVD drive with either PATA interface or maybe SATA (I would guess PATA). Now that is a standard which I do not think even BMW would change... So replacing a DVD with a SSD that uses the same electrical inteerface should work, at least for one DVD - maybe even more, but that I would not count on.

pinky_and_me · 02-16-2013, 06:44 AM

CD/DVD-ROM devices usually use ATAPI (and the ones that have other interfaces usually have an adapter built-in) which is not something hard drives support.

You can get more details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA#ATAPI

Quote:

ATAPI devices are also "speaking ATA", as the ATA physical interface and protocol are still being used to send the packets. On the other hand, ATA hard drives and solid state drives do not use ATAPI.
ATAPI devices include CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives, tape drives, and large-capacity floppy drives such as the Zip drive and SuperDisk drive.

bamsefar · 02-16-2013, 08:34 AM

Yea, that why there are adapters to simulate the interface, like:

http://www.memkor.com/en/products/cf.../142atapi.html

So - again - anyone tried a SSD solution that works instead of the optical DVD drive. I can not see the interface as a problem, just that a converter/adapter is needed. Someone has already done that so...

scaramanga · 02-25-2013, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamsefar

Yea, that why there are adapters to simulate the interface, like:

http://www.memkor.com/en/products/cf.../142atapi.html

So - again - anyone tried a SSD solution that works instead of the optical DVD drive. I can not see the interface as a problem, just that a converter/adapter is needed. Someone has already done that so...

Would be v interested to hear if this is possible!

rck_e93 · 03-02-2013, 04:16 PM

Has anyone seen info on exactly what the CCC unit uses to talk to the DVD drive? Like others, I'd be interested in replacing the DVD with something more reliable. I hope the CCC used usb as it is easy to emulate, but I doubt it.

From what I've seen the CIC units are not very impressive, so I'd prefer to improve the CCC instead of wasting money on a CIC unit.

MountainStone · 03-02-2013, 04:24 PM

Count me as interested in this possibility. The DVD drive cannot be turned off if the disc is inserted, so mine has been spinning constantly for 5 years and 50K miles. I expect it will die any day, and I'd love to go to a more robust and reliable solution. Also, I can hear my DVD drive spinning and I'd love to eliminate that noise in the cabin.

Frosty · 03-03-2013, 03:56 PM

VERY interesting... will watch this thread

~Frost

madbim · 03-24-2013, 09:24 AM

anyone have a drive to take apart?

RimasRS · 03-24-2013, 10:36 AM

I think would be much easier and better CCC replace with CIC you would get everything updated. The price should be about the same

madbim · 03-24-2013, 09:57 PM

If someone could take a picture of the connector on the DVD or CD drive I can get started on seeing what is possible.

pinky_and_me · 03-25-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbim

If someone could take a picture of the connector on the DVD or CD drive I can get started on seeing what is possible.

Looking at this DIY http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346876 it seems that there are 2 ribbon cables going into the drive. The picture after the connected drive shows the 2 connectors (the bigger one on top and the smaller one of the left)

madbim · 03-25-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinky_and_me

Looking at this DIY http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346876 it seems that there are 2 ribbon cables going into the drive. The picture after the connected drive shows the 2 connectors (the bigger one on top and the smaller one of the left)

Thanks for the link, I'll see what I can come up with.

madbim · 03-31-2013, 06:22 PM

Can anyone get me a picture of the ribbon cables that connect to the drives?

pinky_and_me · 03-31-2013, 08:53 PM

Here is an image of the bigger cable:

http://picpaste.com/pic2-vBppFzDE.png

timmahh · 04-01-2013, 10:06 AM

FWIW, I had a 2004 TL w/ dvd based nav as well, but it had a PCMCIA card below the drive in the trunk. I tried using an 8GB CF + CF PCMCIA adapter, and it didn't work. Perhaps a true PCMCIA drive would have worked.

I posted some info about the CCC a while back, here is the thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526586

madbim · 04-01-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinky_and_me

Here is an image of the bigger cable:

http://picpaste.com/pic2-vBppFzDE.png

Exactly what I needed, thanks!

madbim · 04-25-2013, 09:01 AM

Anyone have a broken dvd or cd drive? A non functional CCC unit would be great!

JstSqzd · 05-30-2013, 08:00 PM

I've got a broken DVD drive, I'd be interested in trying this out

madbim · 05-30-2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JstSqzd

I've got a broken DVD drive, I'd be interested in trying this out

PM me.

pedxing · 06-08-2013, 04:46 PM

My apologies for cross posting, I'm a noob and can't create threads yet. I'm a new owner of an 2007 e90 335i with iDrive (CCC). Just purchased 2 weeks ago with only 38K on the odo and in beautiful shape except for the nav not working. THe rest of the iDrive was fine, bluetooth, entertainment, etc. When putting in the nav CD though, it wouldn't recongnize it. So it appeared to be just a simple dvd player issue and I got one from an online parts dealer (new). get BMW parts.com or something.

I followed a DIY on this board for replacing the dvd player that was based on a service bulletin...it said no recoding was necessary for just the dvd player swap. Everything went fine...got the old one out with minimal effort and put the new one in. Then I went to turn it on to test before buttoning up all the trim and I got the following:

The iDrive screen shows the BMW logo for several seconds and then it goes to a black screen. Then it repeats itself. It seems to be in a boot loop or something. I've tried with the car off as well as with the engine running just in case it was a battery issue. A generic code scanner on the OBDII shows no codes thrown. So basically, nothing with the iDrive is working right now. Radio, bluetooth, nothing happens and nothing is displayed on the screen except for the BMW logo.

Anyone have any ideas?

I left the battery disconnected for a while and reconnected it. Nada. Also tried the manual reset method (press eject on both the CD and DVD and then press the radio power/volume knob). Oh, the dvd eject does work...I can hear everything turn on and it will both accept and eject the disc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

02-15-2013, 02:18 PM	#1
bamsefar Let's Rock ! 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: BMW 335i xDrive (F30) 2013 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	CCC-navi, replace DVD reader with SSD ? I wonder if it would be possible, for the older CCC based navigation, to replace the old DVD-reader, with a SSD that holds all information. It would for sure be faster, however I wonder if all 3 nav discs (for Europe) can be stored at the same time ? Has anyone tried to just replace the DVD drive with a SSD ?
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02-15-2013, 07:32 PM	#2
pinky_and_me Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 294 Posts Drives: N54 335xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	It's different type of hardware, I doubt the head unit has the ability to control a hard drive.
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02-16-2013, 01:16 AM	#3
bamsefar Let's Rock ! 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: BMW 335i xDrive (F30) 2013 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	Well the idea is to simulate a DVD drive with a SSD. The DVD drive is most likly a standard DVD drive with either PATA interface or maybe SATA (I would guess PATA). Now that is a standard which I do not think even BMW would change... So replacing a DVD with a SSD that uses the same electrical inteerface should work, at least for one DVD - maybe even more, but that I would not count on.
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02-16-2013, 08:34 AM	#5
bamsefar Let's Rock ! 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: BMW 335i xDrive (F30) 2013 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	Yea, that why there are adapters to simulate the interface, like: http://www.memkor.com/en/products/cf.../142atapi.html So - again - anyone tried a SSD solution that works instead of the optical DVD drive. I can not see the interface as a problem, just that a converter/adapter is needed. Someone has already done that so...
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03-02-2013, 04:16 PM	#7
rck_e93 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	Has anyone seen info on exactly what the CCC unit uses to talk to the DVD drive? Like others, I'd be interested in replacing the DVD with something more reliable. I hope the CCC used usb as it is easy to emulate, but I doubt it. From what I've seen the CIC units are not very impressive, so I'd prefer to improve the CCC instead of wasting money on a CIC unit. Last edited by rck_e93; 03-03-2013 at 07:42 PM..
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03-02-2013, 04:24 PM	#8
MountainStone Private First Class 21 Rep 105 Posts Drives: 08 335i Sedan Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tejas iTrader: (0)	Count me as interested in this possibility. The DVD drive cannot be turned off if the disc is inserted, so mine has been spinning constantly for 5 years and 50K miles. I expect it will die any day, and I'd love to go to a more robust and reliable solution. Also, I can hear my DVD drive spinning and I'd love to eliminate that noise in the cabin.
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03-03-2013, 03:56 PM	#9
Frosty Colonel 779 Rep 2,638 Posts Drives: M240i - 2021 - 6MT - Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	VERY interesting... will watch this thread ~Frost __________________ M240i Coupe (6MT) (2021: 6/2021 build ) Accord Coupe (6MT) (2017) 335i Coupe (6MT) (2007: 9/06 build SOLD 8/2016) Prelude (5MT) (1995)
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03-24-2013, 09:24 AM	#10
madbim Private First Class 32 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 08' E90 335xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (0)	anyone have a drive to take apart?
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03-24-2013, 10:36 AM	#11
RimasRS Colonel 85 Rep 2,438 Posts Drives: BMW X3 SD Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	I think would be much easier and better CCC replace with CIC you would get everything updated. The price should be about the same
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03-24-2013, 09:57 PM	#12
madbim Private First Class 32 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 08' E90 335xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (0)	If someone could take a picture of the connector on the DVD or CD drive I can get started on seeing what is possible.
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03-31-2013, 06:22 PM	#15
madbim Private First Class 32 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 08' E90 335xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (0)	Can anyone get me a picture of the ribbon cables that connect to the drives?
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03-31-2013, 08:53 PM	#16
pinky_and_me Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 294 Posts Drives: N54 335xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	Here is an image of the bigger cable: http://picpaste.com/pic2-vBppFzDE.png
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04-01-2013, 10:06 AM	#17
timmahh ghey 483 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	FWIW, I had a 2004 TL w/ dvd based nav as well, but it had a PCMCIA card below the drive in the trunk. I tried using an 8GB CF + CF PCMCIA adapter, and it didn't work. Perhaps a true PCMCIA drive would have worked. I posted some info about the CCC a while back, here is the thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526586 __________________ 21 G05 > 20 G05 > 17 G30 > 14 F30 > 08 E90 Last edited by timmahh; 04-02-2013 at 11:44 AM..
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04-25-2013, 09:01 AM	#19
madbim Private First Class 32 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 08' E90 335xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (0)	Anyone have a broken dvd or cd drive? A non functional CCC unit would be great!
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05-30-2013, 08:00 PM	#20
JstSqzd Enlisted Member 1 Rep 31 Posts Drives: '08 335i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I've got a broken DVD drive, I'd be interested in trying this out
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06-08-2013, 04:46 PM	#22
pedxing Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i e90 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	new owner, please help My apologies for cross posting, I'm a noob and can't create threads yet. I'm a new owner of an 2007 e90 335i with iDrive (CCC). Just purchased 2 weeks ago with only 38K on the odo and in beautiful shape except for the nav not working. THe rest of the iDrive was fine, bluetooth, entertainment, etc. When putting in the nav CD though, it wouldn't recongnize it. So it appeared to be just a simple dvd player issue and I got one from an online parts dealer (new). get BMW parts.com or something. I followed a DIY on this board for replacing the dvd player that was based on a service bulletin...it said no recoding was necessary for just the dvd player swap. Everything went fine...got the old one out with minimal effort and put the new one in. Then I went to turn it on to test before buttoning up all the trim and I got the following: The iDrive screen shows the BMW logo for several seconds and then it goes to a black screen. Then it repeats itself. It seems to be in a boot loop or something. I've tried with the car off as well as with the engine running just in case it was a battery issue. A generic code scanner on the OBDII shows no codes thrown. So basically, nothing with the iDrive is working right now. Radio, bluetooth, nothing happens and nothing is displayed on the screen except for the BMW logo. Anyone have any ideas? I left the battery disconnected for a while and reconnected it. Nada. Also tried the manual reset method (press eject on both the CD and DVD and then press the radio power/volume knob). Oh, the dvd eject does work...I can hear everything turn on and it will both accept and eject the disc. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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