I am SOOOOO happy!
) ) )Sorry for creating a new thread on this old topic, but I want to share the joy with as many people as I can.
BEFORE...
AFTER...
I bought a new full ribbon & LCD screen kit from here - http://www.akspeedo.com/bmw-lcd-pixel-repair-shop.php - It cost £39.99 inc p&p.
Then I followed the excellent instructions for dismantling the radio, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKYk0zWSse4&spfreload=1
Then I followed AKSpeedo's video tutorial on fitting the new bits, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i65nCb ... WW3HARKSuw
And guess what? It worked first time!!!!!
I've read some horror stories about people spending ages trying to fix the dead pixels and failing - and to be honest, I tried various methods of cleaning up & re-using the original ribbon connector, with no success. Anyway, I bit the bullet and bought the full kit. It arrived within 48 hours. It was REALLY well packaged (AKSpeedo is clearly someone who takes a pride in his product). I fitted it and tested it - WOW - SUCCESS FIRST TIME!!!
A WORD OF WARNING...
Do not attempt this if you are a bit of a bull in a china shop. The whole job is only to be attempted by people like me - OCD and a complete fussy fiddle-ar$e. You need patience and extreme accuracy (especially when lining up the new ribbon cable with the contacts on the motherboard). I took photos and made notes from start to finish, which made re-assembling the head unit a bit of a doddle.
But, boy, what a sense of achievement when you turn it on and it works!
Final photo - a pic of the electrical contacts after I'd cleaned them up (I used cellulose thinners, as my wife's nail polish remover wasn't strong enough to remove the hardened crud covering the contacts). It's vital that you clean these 100%...
