550i Navigation problem

Today I have a major problem with my two month old 550i navigation. I live on the east coast and I looked at my screen this morning and it had me in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean off of the coast of Connecticut. I was on Route 3 going into the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City. After numerous ejecting the DVD and stopping and starting the car I realized that it was not going to change my current position. When I got home tonight I was in Upstate New York but really in Northen Jersey. As I drove home it moved me closer to the shore and I finally reached land when I got home!!
I have not been drinking. The car Nav wise would not see where I was and would not reset itsef to the correct position.

I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with the Nav on this car? Obviously it is something that is either DVD disc related or I drive related. If anyone has had a similar issue or idea for a fix I would love to know. This really sucks for me as I was leaving on vacation early tommorow for a trip to Canada and was depending on the unit for most of my trip. Thanks for reading all ideas accepted and respected!! Is there a way to restart the Nav or Idrive besides shutting the car off?

The easiest answer I can provide you is to take it in for a CIP update. This happened to me in September 2005.

Ah, after re-reading your post and seeing your dilemma try this. Disconnect your battery for a few minutes and reconnect and see what happens. I think someone suggested this method before.

So today I took it in to the dealer, they tried to re boot it and tried a different DVD.
NADA.
They are now saying they need to replace the whole antennae system. Now after going through THREE tyres and a Navigation system in 2 months I am not a happy camper, not to mention that BMW are HORRIBLE at making timely appointments for service issues. Time to rethink this car and the service program. Second thoughts on the car for me, never had any trouble with the last car in 5 years wish I would have kept that 540i.

Originally Posted by jiio

The easiest answer I can provide you is to take it in for a CIP update. This happened to me in September 2005.

Ah, after re-reading your post and seeing your dilemma try this. Disconnect your battery for a few minutes and reconnect and see what happens. I think someone suggested this method before.

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

So today I took it in to the dealer, they tried to re boot it and tried a different DVD.
NADA.
They are now saying they need to replace the whole antennae system. Now after going through THREE tyres and a Navigation system in 2 months I am not a happy camper, not to mention that BMW are HORRIBLE at making timely appointments for service issues. Time to rethink this car and the service program. Second thoughts on the car for me, never had any trouble with the last car in 5 years wish I would have kept that 540i.

I do not think that you need a new NAV system. Did they even try to update the software? A software upgrade will fix your problem. It is a known defect and there is a fix.

Originally Posted by jiio

I do not think that you need a new NAV system. Did they even try to update the software? A software upgrade will fix your problem. It is a known defect and there is a fix.

Software update will do the trick.

Unfortunately they said the software was up to date

I think I found out my tyre problem though... This is for the 2006 550i BMW


Recall Date:
MAY 30, 2006
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NUTS WHICH SECURE THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT TO THE FRONT WHEEL HUB MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OVER TIME THE NUTS COULD LOOSEN AND THE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT COULD BE DAMAGED.
Consequence:
VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD COMPROMISE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT NUTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FREE

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Software update will do the trick.

Park you car, delete all address and destinations. Go to pan mode and try to pan. It happens to me and it solved it that way. Hope it helps.

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

Unfortunately they said the software was up to date

Do this. Go to the Entertainment settings and look for the "Logic 7" or "Surround Sound" menu option.

Which is it?

If it shows "Surround Sound" than you are at CIP 21.x or later which is pretty current. If it says "logic 7" you have older software.

Pan mode and try to pan? Sorry? explain please why I need to erase everything and what pan is?

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

Pan mode and try to pan? Sorry? explain please why I need to erase everything and what pan is?

When the nav map is in the left window, there are icons to the left. The one with the cross hairs is pan mode. When selected, you will have a cursor on the map that can be moved via the iDrive controller to manually select destinations.

ok, where did you get this fix? and why do I need to erase all 40 of my addresses?

I erased all my addresses, Moved the cursor in pan mode. The car still says it is in the ocean. I will try to get an update although the Dealer says I am up to date. Thanks for all the tips. I say faulty work is the culprit.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

When the nav map is in the left window, there are icons to the left. The one with the cross hairs is pan mode. When selected, you will have a cursor on the map that can be moved via the iDrive controller to manually select destinations.

I burned the CD for the update. I already have perspective on the Nav system, came with the car. I do not have Surround on the menu. After I burned the CD I put it in the DVD player and all it did was say insert DVD. No update was granted and nothing happened. I check the CDR and it checked out fine. So maybe I missed something here. Thanks again to everyone for all your tips and help. Car goes back Monday, I will update this thread and find out why the SATNAV is completely down.

I have to share one last thing which I though to be HILARIOUS. I called BMW roadside assistance. I told them I needed help with my car and to come and get me. They saw my position as 126 miles due East of Scarsdale New York in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in about 1200 feet of water according to my Google search of Lat/ Long.
She was not amused.
It was the only funny moment in the saga so far.

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

I burned the CD for the update. I already have perspective on the Nav system, came with the car. I do not have Surround on the menu. After I burned the CD I put it in the DVD player and all it did was say insert DVD. No update was granted and nothing happened. I check the CDR and it checked out fine. So maybe I missed something here. Thanks again to everyone for all your tips and help. Car goes back Monday, I will update this thread and find out why the SATNAV is completely down.

I have to share one last thing which I though to be HILARIOUS. I called BMW roadside assistance. I told them I needed help with my car and to come and get me. They saw my position as 126 miles due East of Scarsdale New York in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in about 1200 feet of water according to my Google search of Lat/ Long.
She was not amused.
It was the only funny moment in the saga so far.

BMW is always thinking ahead. They gave you run flats so you would have room in the trunk for the inflatable canoe.

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

I have to share one last thing which I though to be HILARIOUS. I called BMW roadside assistance. I told them I needed help with my car and to come and get me. They saw my position as 126 miles due East of Scarsdale New York in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in about 1200 feet of water according to my Google search of Lat/ Long.
She was not amused.
It was the only funny moment in the saga so far.

THAT's funny!!!

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

I burned the CD for the update. I already have perspective on the Nav system, came with the car. I do not have Surround on the menu. After I burned the CD I put it in the DVD player and all it did was say insert DVD. No update was granted and nothing happened. I check the CDR and it checked out fine. So maybe I missed something here. Thanks again to everyone for all your tips and help. Car goes back Monday, I will update this thread and find out why the SATNAV is completely down.

I don't think you quite understand what the software update entails. The update is to be done by the dealer and it takes several hours. Sometimes it can take two days.

A few days for an update? wow thats a big update! Does not sound very economical for BMW.

Originally Posted by jiio

I don't think you quite understand what the software update entails. The update is to be done by the dealer and it takes several hours. Sometimes it can take two days.

Originally Posted by DROPCALLBABY

A few days for an update? wow thats a big update! Does not sound very economical for BMW.

The update takes about hour or 2 without issues. I think they can update 6 cars at one time. It can take a couple days if they run into issues. They just move onto other cars they can get out that day and come back to yours later which is why some folks have had to wait a couple days.

Yes, the s/w update on our BMWs is ridiculously long. It must run at about a hundred BAUD or something--very strange.

Ok the car is in its 6th hour of upadate at the dealer now. News at 11.

Oh, and if there is any problem or interruption during the update, they have to start all over from the beginning!

I sure hope the update fixes your problems.

They said your car was updated--what changed there mind?

Ok update, The car did not take the software update. Two areas could not be programmed. The service department are not happy campers. I am not happy either. They are talking new nav system and computer now. Is this right for a three month old car? I am told it is not.

How many times did they try to update the car-ONCE? I hope they tried at least 2 times. Sounds like they dont like to work and take the easy way out!

What areas did not take the update?

Like others have said, it can take up to two days b/c the software sometimes does not take the first time. I agree with booyah, your dealership does not know what it's doing.