Navigation System on New 2011 535

Hey guys,

So I just bought a new 2011 535 about a month ago but I noticed that it's pretty outdated. I checked with the dealership and they said I have to pay for update. The system doesn't even recognize that the South Street Bridge in Philly is now completed (which has been this way for about 8 or 9 months now). Any suggestions on what to do? Also, how do I find out which email I have on file with bmw to start sending google directions to the car directly? How does that work exactly?

Not sure an update will help. Picked up my 2012 528i last week and punched in my address. Been in the house more than three years. Neither the residence, nor the subdivision's streets, show up on the map. Earlier this year I had updated the Navtec nav on my 2006. The updated map showed my address and the surrounding streets. Not the end of the world - I can still find my way home!

It's not bad and I am managing without an update at the moment. I just wanted to know if there was a way to find out how dated my software is or if there is something newer out already that can resolve some of those problems.

Search the board, there are many threads on how bad the BMW NAV is and has been since 2009 switch to TeleAtlas maps from NavTeq.

That's why they have to give it away.

Whatever you do don't pay for an update.

Drove a couple of 2012's this weekend in Hilton Head and neither could guide me off the island.

Originally Posted by laser

Search the board, there are many threads on how bad the BMW NAV is and has been since 2009 switch to TeleAtlas maps from NavTeq.

That's why they have to give it away.

Whatever you do don't pay for an update.

Drove a couple of 2012's this weekend in Hilton Head and neither could guide me off the island.

I think you can't drive off the island, you have to get voted off the island.......



Don't buy an upgrade. That bridge probably won't make it to the nav system till the 2014 upgrade.

Gee I didn't know just how much this would suck until I started trying addresses in my 2012 535i this weekend. I've been in a new house for 3 YEARS 1 MONTH now and none of the streets in the neighborhood even show up. Those are 4 years old at least. My Nav version is 112093.2.27 "Road Map North America Premium 2011i"- which I assume is the latest. I sent an email to BMW customer relations to complain (via BMWUSA website).

Come on BMW- you can't not care about your customers getting this- nav credit or not... John

Originally Posted by mzamel

Also, how do I find out which email I have on file with bmw to start sending google directions to the car directly? How does that work exactly?

Uh, trying calling BMW Assist from your car and asking them? I'm sure you could find a more complicated way to do it, but this would certainly work.

One of the competition (Audi? Volvo? I forget) includes free updates in their Nav packages. Hopefully one of these days BMW will feel some market pressure to do the same.

But unless you have a true cloud-based system (which raises all types of other issues with connectivity and bandwidth), any Nav database is going to be outdated the minute you buy it. If you think cars are bad, try boating. I-95 isn't likely to move by 10 feet per year, but the same is most emphatically NOT true of channels.