OS on iDrive?
#1
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Does anyone know what OS the iDrive system uses?
Or is it based on flash memory? SSDD?
Has anyone attempted to get inside there to see if
we have the ability to add/delete stuff from the iDrive
system?
I would be interested most in deleting the atrocious
navigation system and installing something like Google
Maps on my car or a better navi software app.
It would be even better if we could get:
![](http://www.quest-qld.com/images/Linux-penguin-huge-704931.jpg)
As the base OS for iDrive
Or is it based on flash memory? SSDD?
Has anyone attempted to get inside there to see if
we have the ability to add/delete stuff from the iDrive
system?
I would be interested most in deleting the atrocious
navigation system and installing something like Google
Maps on my car or a better navi software app.
It would be even better if we could get:
![](http://www.quest-qld.com/images/Linux-penguin-huge-704931.jpg)
As the base OS for iDrive
![Big Grin](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/biggrin.gif)
#2
Members
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: So Cal
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2010 535i, Sports Package, Nav, Prem Sound
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The early 7 series with the first generation I-Drive (2002/2003 I think) had an I-Drive running on Windows CE. The e60 I-Drive (CCC type) runs on VxWorks, which is a popular real-time operating system.
#3
Members
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: So Cal
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2010 535i, Sports Package, Nav, Prem Sound
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I've read the CPU is a Hitachi part. I would assume that the OS was loaded on some kind of PROM memory and/or Flash memory.
VxWorks is a pretty solid OS, some of the NASA space probes use it.
VxWorks is a pretty solid OS, some of the NASA space probes use it.
#4
Senior Members
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Near Vancouver
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 Titanium Silver 550i, with all the bells and whistles!!
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It can be hacked...I have seen a post somwhere (X5world or m5board, can't remember) where both the startup splash screen and the background pic used in the 3D map were changed.
#5
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by sleeper50' post='839805' date='Apr 7 2009, 07:11 PM
It can be hacked...I have seen a post somwhere (X5world or m5board, can't remember) where both the startup splash screen and the background pic used in the 3D map were changed.
![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
Can you post a link if you can find it? I'm going to try to search
for it right now...
#6
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Any coders on e60 that would be willing to work with me on this one?
Would be fun to try to change the splash screen then move onto
other fun changes in the iDrive system on the e60
pm me if interested.
Would be fun to try to change the splash screen then move onto
other fun changes in the iDrive system on the e60
pm me if interested.
#7
Senior Members
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Near Vancouver
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 Titanium Silver 550i, with all the bells and whistles!!
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by ynottony' post='839820' date='Apr 7 2009, 05:23 PM
Woot, just what I wanted to hear ![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
Can you post a link if you can find it? I'm going to try to search
for it right now...
![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
Can you post a link if you can find it? I'm going to try to search
for it right now...
![Doh](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/doh.gif)
m5 board splash screen
x5 world splash screen
I really don't know if the Mark IV software in the e39 nav unit is similar to iDrive or not
![Think](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/think.gif)
Hope this helps, it would be good to hack into the e60 iDrive software though, keep us posted.
#8
Senior Members
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '04 530d Executive, all options except sunroof and comfort seats
ECU remapped by ZipTuning to 260+bhp.
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I've looked into this myself.
The OS is stored on a 64MB flash chip with no flash fail-safes!!! This means that when flashing and something goes wrong, your CCC is trashed.
Flashing can be done thru the fiberoptic plug in your glovebox. However, reading the current flash is not possible via this connection.
Also: The entire OS is one compiled program, so there's not really something you could change except for the entire OS image.
The OS is stored on a 64MB flash chip with no flash fail-safes!!! This means that when flashing and something goes wrong, your CCC is trashed.
Flashing can be done thru the fiberoptic plug in your glovebox. However, reading the current flash is not possible via this connection.
Also: The entire OS is one compiled program, so there's not really something you could change except for the entire OS image.
#9
Senior Members
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 55 525D Sport
Full Black Leather
Visibility Pack
Media Pack
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
'The OS is stored on a 64MB flash chip with no flash fail-safes!!! This means that when flashing and something goes wrong, your CCC is trashed.'
if it goes wrong cant u just flash it again?
if it goes wrong cant u just flash it again?
#10
Senior Members
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '04 530d Executive, all options except sunroof and comfort seats
ECU remapped by ZipTuning to 260+bhp.
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by russdx' post='840395' date='Apr 8 2009, 05:00 PM
'The OS is stored on a 64MB flash chip with no flash fail-safes!!! This means that when flashing and something goes wrong, your CCC is trashed.'
if it goes wrong cant u just flash it again?
if it goes wrong cant u just flash it again?
You could always reflash it yourself if you open up the CCC and get an external programmer and a flashing clamp suitable for that flash chip, but that's also quite expensive and not a job for the faint-harted. (And it's way harder than just flashing it with progman)