Navigation Update

Despite having bought my X5d in November, I see that I'm already a year behind on the navigation dvd. In my past BMWs, I never updated the maps because of the $199 cost, but I see there are people selling the 2011 dvds for a lot less. Two quick questions:

- can we update our navigation system ourselves? The manual seems to suggest yes, but when I go to teleatlas and plug in my model, it says the dealer needs to do that.
- Has anyone used a dvd from ebay or a place like http://www.bmwnavigationmaps.com/ to update their nav maps? Any issues?

Thanks for any help.

Just ordered from "BMW Navagation Maps" the 2 disk set "Professonal" verison for my 2009 X5 35d @ $79.99. I will post update after installation and test.

Update:

Received the 2011 update disks and am very pleased. Removed the old 2009 disk and inserted one of the 2011 disks. Entered Nav Mode and got a message "new updates - wait 5 minutes then restart". Restarted after 5 minutes and Nav Mode worked as before with the new updates. Also, my old addresses were saved. New updates includes police speed traps and red light camera locations. At $79.00 a great buy.

According to their own web site, won't work for 2010's or 2011's...

If you have the Hard drive Nav you will need to go to the dealer

Originally Posted by MRV99

If you have the Hard drive Nav you will need to go to the dealer

That's a bummer, but thanks.

Or you can just get this system. (Saw it tonight on the Sugar Bowl for the first time):

So, even though the 2011 maps are out, they still built my X5 a couple of weeks ago with the 2010?

The updates should be included with the maintenance plan?


Saw that commercial...pretty funny..."recalculating...recalculating"

I have to repeat my annoyance at this, since pg 148 of the manual seems to suggest it should be something doable by the owner. Has anyone tried it?

I was told by my dealer he could sell me the discs and I could do the install....

Seems a bit unclear, but they insisted it did not require the service people to do it.

Call 'em and ask 'em...

Ard - Can you tell me what is the latest version of Navigation software AND RoadMap software your dealer was offering??
As I understand it, there are two software updates....one for Nav and one for RoadMap.
Does that sound right??
Do tell.

No idea what roadmap is.... Nav was 2010 or 2011.... if I had to gues I am saying 2011

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Is the update just a route/maps update or are the interface and graphics updated as well? I'm looking to update the Nav on my 2008 X5.

The 2010 and on Nav systems are CIC based, which means data is on the hard drive.

Dealer does this for $400-450.

or you can buy the DVDs for $9, the "FSC Activation code" for $100 to 300, and do it yourself.

The process is that the data is loaded onto the internal hard drive- the dealer can supply the data or you can load it from DVD into the hard drive.

HOWEVER. virtually ALL dealers do not know there is a 'self load' process...they are only taught the process they use. They were genuinely surprised when I pointed out the other way.

where to buy it? i will need to buy europe maps

Originally Posted by ard

The 2010 and on Nav systems are CIC based, which means data is on the hard drive.

Dealer does this for $400-450.

or you can buy the DVDs for $9, the "FSC Activation code" for $100 to 300, and do it yourself.

The process is that the data is loaded onto the internal hard drive- the dealer can supply the data or you can load it from DVD into the hard drive.

HOWEVER. virtually ALL dealers do not know there is a 'self load' process...they are only taught the process they use. They were genuinely surprised when I pointed out the other way.

Hey Ard,

Thanks for this. Amazing they don't know this since it's in the manual. Could you say where you bought the DVD and Activation code?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Tlon

Hey Ard,

Thanks for this. Amazing they don't know this since it's in the manual. Could you say where you bought the DVD and Activation code?

Thanks!

haha. Nobody reads the manual!

DVDs from my local dealer. $9 and change. they were actually pretty shocked that it was in their system, and the price.

Activation code I am hunting, prolly do it this week. Dealer wanted $290 for the code. I've seen different amounts on line, FSCmap is one of them.

Originally Posted by ard

haha. Nobody reads the manual!

DVDs from my local dealer. $9 and change. they were actually pretty shocked that it was in their system, and the price.

Activation code I am hunting, prolly do it this week. Dealer wanted $290 for the code. I've seen different amounts on line, FSCmap is one of them.

Wow, thanks, Ard for the FSC reference. You don't happen to have the DVD part number, do you? If not, did you just ask for the 2011 Nav Map DVDs? I'd love to hear what you decide to do with the code. I wrote to FSC to see what they charge. Will update when I hear.

Also looking for the DVD part number...

FSCMap is asking for $100 for the code.

Originally Posted by Tlon

FSCMap is asking for $100 for the code.

Yeah, just need to figure out how to get $100 to him!

I'll look up the part number when I get back later in the week.

Is this different than just a DVD Nav update? I downloaded a torrent that had the 2010 Nav update for my 08 X5.

Originally Posted by finagle69

Is this different than just a DVD Nav update? I downloaded a torrent that had the 2010 Nav update for my 08 X5.

The answer is in this thread. The new CIC have uses data that has been loaded onto the hard drive. Your system accesses the data directly off the DVD nav that you downloaded.

By BMW controlling the FSC key, they can control the USE of the software...they've given up on controlling copies.

Originally Posted by ard

Yeah, just need to figure out how to get $100 to him!

I'll look up the part number when I get back later in the week.

Thanks, Ard!

I've had my 2010 X35d for 2 years now with a hard disk navigation system that gives the wrong directions about 40% of the time. Each time I ask the dealer to fix it, they push it off on the map data and won't do anything.

This time 1/2012 I offered to pay the $400 to have it updated, but after having my car for 2 days, they showed me an internal BMW bulletin dated 12/2011 that said; not to do this update on E70's because it causes computer errors that cannot be fixed at this time. I find it hard to believe that could be true.

I've read the post, but has anyone gotten the dealer to or self performed the map update on a 2010 X35d with a hard disk nav system?

Side note: they gave me a 2011 535i for a loaner and the nav system had some nice improvements, like larger txt and automatic night colors on the map. These type of changes would be great if they were part of a system update.

Could be true- but would be grounds for lemon claims in most states: failure to be able to upgrade navigation maps, failure to repair software to allow feature to work, definitely impairs value.

Did you insist the work order must state "Per BMW Technical Bulletin #[ ] the upgrade feature is not functional at this time"??? I would not take the car until they documented this failure. Every month bring it back for a map update;

Interesting situation... if true

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