10-19-2018, 10:29 AM | #1 |
New Member
1
Rep 19
Posts |
Nav system updates $250?? Other options?
Bought a 2015 328 from a dealer a few weeks ago. It had the nav system in it. As I'm sure people know, it basically sucks, voice input is useless, inputting an address is painful, etc. So I got to wondering if the system just needed the latest software/firmware update to improve it. My wife (her car) brought it in for a minor repair to something broken when we picked it up (taillight) but they didn't have the par at the time. She asked about the update and they said it was $250! Another shocker, I'd call it nickel and dimeing, but that would be way too nice. Plus, they didn't know if that was just maps or OS upgrades as well.
So I can buy a $100 GPS from TomTom and get free lifetime upgrades but a (originally) $47k car they jam you for $250? VERY disappointing. Glad I wasn't the sucker that shelled out the $2k to get this. Enough whining, anybody know if there is a way to do and OTA update, or download one and use a flash drive for cheaper? Or do I just lean my phone up against the screen and let Google do it? |
10-19-2018, 10:48 AM | #2 |
Private First Class
57
Rep 105
Posts |
Download the BMW Connected app, it lets you send addresses directly from your phone to your car (google maps > click share > send to BMW Connected > send to car as message)
I haven't updated my navigation software, but 90% of the locations I send to my car work without issue (exceptions being if a major interstate or road is closed for construction) |
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 11:10 AM | #3 |
Colonel
1996
Rep 2,499
Posts |
That $250 will not buy you any more functionality on the nav system. It's just a software update for your car which would be done for free if you needed to service something. If you figure out something that you can complain about that they can use to update your car, they'll update your car. But again, it will do nothing to update your Nav. Generally speaking, carmakers don't add drastic new functionality to a car's nav after the initial release. They usually just add bugfixes and small enhancements to improve current functionality.
If you're having trouble with your system, have you tried using the handwriting capability to enter text and numbers? I find this works pretty well. Also, if you learn the various voice prompts, I find voice entry works very well. You just speak your destination and it finds it pretty well. You just have to speak concisely and put small pauses in between the street name and city and state. There is an online software update you can download for free and update yourself: https://www.bmw.com/en/footer/software-updates.html But that just updates your media (USB, Bluetooth, Mobile Phone) software. Map updates you can purchase for $50 from various 3rd party resellers (don't pay BMW for the map updates). |
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 11:18 AM | #4 |
New Member
1
Rep 19
Posts |
Thanks, I'll try that. I have a call to the service rep. Now, they gave us a loaner. One of the SUV's, not sure of the year, but newer. So I got in this one and it worked great. I could hit the mike button, say navigate to (address) and bang, it started navigating to the right address. I'm sorry, but that is how a $2k nav should work. Mine will NOT do that. and no, I am not going to do the phone link thing. I have the app, I've done it. Yeah it works. But really? I can buy a freakin' Toyota and don't have to do that. They cannot bill themselves as a high end vehicle and then tell you to use your personal phone to make something work. Not acceptable.
But I do appreciate the replies. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 12:39 PM | #5 | |
Brigadier General
1598
Rep 3,752
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 12:47 PM | #7 | |
Banned
4479
Rep 10,473
Posts |
Quote:
1) BMW did not start giving free OTA updates until the NBT EVO System in Model Year 2016. Your 2015 does not qualify for any type of free nav database update. 2) Dealers do not give a free nav database updates for pre-2016 cars when you have other services. If one does, they are eating the costs as BMW charges them for a new FSC Key Code. 3) The FSC Key Code in your car determine what future navigation database will work in your car at no charge. In pre-2016 models, that is for the nav database installed in your car at the time it was built. The $250 is for a new FSC Key that allows the system to run the newer nav database. 4) one can find FSC Keycodes for their vehicle on the net for various prices as well as the map databases. To be clear, those are technically not legal 3rd Party sellers but pirated software which could potentially end up getting you in legal trouble for using copyrighted software and a stolen database. Not saying to do or not do anything, just making sure you have the facts in your decisions. |
|
Appreciate
1
blankito50.50 |
10-19-2018, 12:52 PM | #8 |
Major General
2460
Rep 5,445
Posts
Drives: F30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Stevenson, WA
|
FWIW... I bought an FSC code for $50 which allowed to me download 2018 maps onto my 2014 iDrive.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 04:40 PM | #10 |
Major General
2460
Rep 5,445
Posts
Drives: F30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Stevenson, WA
|
Based on what was said above... as long as it has Pro Nav - I would say yes.
Pretty sweet feature. It was a PITA to download and load my own maps. I think it was 25 GB of data... took weeks to actually accumulate all the files in my spare time. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 07:01 PM | #11 |
Brigadier General
1598
Rep 3,752
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 07:23 PM | #12 | |
Major General
2460
Rep 5,445
Posts
Drives: F30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Stevenson, WA
|
Quote:
BMW Connected Ive paid no fees whatsoever to use this app. Ive used it to locate my car multiple times, lock/unlock, cool down/ventilation in addition to the Send to iDrive feature mentioned above. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 08:26 PM | #13 | |
Brigadier General
1598
Rep 3,752
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 09:11 PM | #14 | ||
Private
51
Rep 72
Posts |
Quote:
I would say if you want to update the firmware, do it yourself with a USB stick. It is really easy to do. Just don't expect any major changes, it's mostly bug fixes but the dealership will still charge you at least an hour to do it. For the maps, you won't get any new features, but you'll at least have the latest data. Pay 50$ online to get the code and do it yourself... |
||
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2018, 09:40 PM | #15 |
Private
54
Rep 62
Posts |
That's rather odd. In at least my 2017 330i and I'm pretty sure my 2015 328i the navigation software updated automatically over the air. I don't think it did it in my 2013 320i.
I would be driving and it would ask me if it was ok to restart the system to apply the updates. Have you checked or waited to see if it updates over the air? I didn't find the voice input too bad but the manual input was indeed rather brutal. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-20-2018, 11:46 PM | #16 | |
Major
513
Rep 1,452
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-20-2018, 11:52 PM | #17 | |
Major
513
Rep 1,452
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-21-2018, 12:17 AM | #18 | ||
Banned
4479
Rep 10,473
Posts |
Quote:
The fines for pirating software under the digital rights laws are MUCH more severe than a speeding or noise ticket including BOTH Criminal and Civil Penalties. The United States Copyright Act holds someone guilty of illegal reproduction of software subject to civil damages of up to $100,000 per title infringed, and criminal penalties, including fines of as much as $250,000 per title infringed and imprisonment of up to five years. Will you get caught? Who knows what will happen especially when car is connected up to computer at Dealer. As stated, all BMW owners are adults and can make their own decisions, but they also deserve all the facts in making that decision, especially with incorrect and misleading info in thread. |
||
Appreciate
0
|
10-21-2018, 05:12 AM | #19 |
Captain
238
Rep 878
Posts |
My connected sub has expired and I can’t do anything like locate or unlock the car, he’ll when I have the phone in the car the connected bit doesn’t even recognise anything.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-21-2018, 10:48 AM | #20 | |
Major
513
Rep 1,452
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-21-2018, 10:51 AM | #21 | ||
Banned
4479
Rep 10,473
Posts |
Quote:
That is not what we are discussing here so your post, except last line, is #FakeNews |
||
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Tags |
navigation |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|