3rd Gen Japanese Navigation system experiments

[rkrenicki]

This is just a place for my observations and musings about my latest tinker toy.. a Subaru FM Multiplex Navigation System from a JDM BH5. I really have no long term plan for this other than to tinker with it, and perhaps it will end up in one of my cars at some point.

Here it is fresh out of the box from the slow boat from Japan.


After poking around the JDM wiring diagrams for a bit, I figured out how to power it up. I am greeted with its "System Checking" screen.


I have not translated this yet, but I assume is the whole "dont use this while driving" warning.


There is a DVD already in it. Subaru Navigation System DVD ROM Ver 9.0.


Unfortunately, there are a number of scratches on the disc. I am not sure if this is the cause, or if the DVD drive itself is toast.. but after a few minutes of it trying to read the disc, I am presented with this error. Loosely says "Please check the disc":



That is all I have so far, I figured it was a feat in and of itself that I managed to get it to power on. I did get my hands on an older Navigation DVD ROM (Version 1.0) which came in my last package, but I had put it in my storage unit so it will need to wait until tomorrow for me to try the system with that disc.

[Fuga350GT]

Wow - such an old post - I just bought a 2000 BH5 GTB etune from japan auction to import to the states. The photos from the USS auction had me like WTF is that large screen with the miniature AC control unit buttons - but this is definitely whats in there, along with the McIntosh headunit. Seems like this this is a climate control + GPS option that will not work outside of Japan, at least the GPS part of it.

are there any other resources/info I can learn about this unit? Was this an optional feature/upgrade when bought new?