NAV Software out...

[V-10 4 Me]

I was on roadfly and saw this. I wonder what Auto-Zoom does?

I just did this - and it was well worth the effort. I was on 3-1/20
and the new software is much better. Note that 3-1/20 is NOT "version
20" it would actually be V17 or older. V21 should take you to 3-1/61
(or 1/60?).

Note that V21-1 (3-1/62?) is supposed to be out and adds auto-zoom.
V22 is said to be out as well. V21 is the newest I could find.

Steps:

1) go to http://www.edonkey2000.com/ and download the eDonkey program

2) run it and look for "BMW update" - you should find the V21 (newest
there) or V20 files and download them. This could take HOURS
depending on how many other folks are trying to get the files.

3) Also look for "BMW Key" and download the key CD image - V21 does
not require it - but if you upgrade from older software it will. This
image can also be d/l'd from the BMWNAV YahooGroup file lib.

4) Download CloneCD from
http://www.elby.ch/en/products/clone_dvd/index.html

It is "nag ware", but should work fine long enough to burn the CD
images

5) Unzip the files you get from eDonkey and burn them onto good
media. Everyone says to use 1x, but I don't know if it matters or
not. When CloneCD asks, tell it to make a data disk.

6) You can read/browse the V21 (or V20) CD in Windows after making
it, you can't read the key CD. Check your discs before trying the
upgrade. The key CD will have very little "burned" on it and not be
readable. The V2? CD will be mostly full and readable in Windows.

7) Turn on your car and go to the NAV screen - or set up (I don't
think it matters)

9) Eject your NAV CD and insert the V2x one you burned. If you used
good media and a good burner, it should take about 6 minutes. The
first part of this has a progress bar.

10) Once it is loaded, the system will eject the CD and ask you to
remove it. Do so and click OK and the system will reboot

11) If you have older software, after the bootup it will ask for the
key disk. Insert it and in a few minutes the system should finish
booting.

12) Put your NAV CD back in and you are ready to go.

The new software removes the "OBC and Stereo" option - where you
could see the station/CD info and the OBC at the same time. It also
goes from 3 color choices to 2. Neither of these are a big deal and
the split screen more than makes up for this.

The only "hard" part about this is waiting for hours while eDonkey
finds the files and they slowly trickle in. Once you have them, leave
a copy in the "incoming" directory and leave eDonkey running from
time to time so that others can pull a copy (or parts of it) from
your PC.

Lots of good NAV info here:

http://members.roadfly.com/csauerbry/navfaq.htm

If anyone has access to V21.1 or V22, please let me know :-)

[JFB]

I noticed the "auto-zoom" reference too. I am running 3-1/62 and I have not noticed any auto-zoom function. My guess about what it means is that as you approach a destination that you input into the GPS, the map view scales down to a more relevant size.

[Noka]

My 03/03 build cam with DVD MK-IV rev 4-1/12 as seen on NAV settings screen. Anybody with a later build have a later s/w rev?

Also, anyone know how (when) one gets a "free" update to the NAV DVD(CD)?

Rgds,
Norm

[Digi]

Noka, the updates come out about every 6-8 months. You can go to the NAVtech site, and look at a particular region. In the second or third paragraph, under the paragraph header, it will have the latest release number/year. Although they should send you a free one at the next upgrade after the one delivered with your car, you may need to call NavTech and remind them when the next version is out, and it has been 6 months or more.

I am running the latest version, and I have no idea what zoom feature he is talking about. He did get several enhancements from version 17.

[Noka]

Digi: I'll have to call NavTech (or dealer) and get some details. NavTech site appears useless, as it only mentioned maps 1-8 for N. America (CD-based) and appears to have nothing for DVD-based systems or anything about free upgrades, etc.

Rgds,
Norm

[JFB]

Digi

I wonder if the auto-zoom feature is found in the MKIV only? It would be cool if the map scale would zoom in as you neared the destination.

With the latest NavTech CD and the upgrade to version 21.1 (3-1/62) the GPS will not read some of the earlier saved destinations from the address book. You have to delete them and enter them using the new settings.

Have you noticed, too, that if you enter a street address it does not appear on the destination side of the split screen. Sometimes the unit does not recognize the exact location of the street address (just the block it's on). You have to go back to the destination input screen to get the address.

It would also be nice if there was a way to link the phone and address data, so that if you were headed to a destination and wanted to call ahead, the info would be right on the screen and you could just dial with a touch of the button.

[JFB]

Norm

I got the update CD from NavTech about a year after I bought my car in August 2001. Last month, on the 2 year anniversary of my delivery, I realized that NavTech had not contacted me about any subsequent updates. If you look at their site, they have an option for European customers to register for updates. No such registration page exists for the North American customers.

I went to the page to order NavTech CD Updates for North America and ordered a new map for region 4. It arrived promptly. NavTech customer service said that I was now in their mailing list and would be contacted when a new CD becomes available. Now, why wasn't I put into the list when I bought the M5 in the first place? My impression is that NavTech is fundamentally focused on being a vendor to the manufacturers, and the customer service directed toward retail consumers seems like an after-thought.

My guess is that it won't be any different for the DVD updates.

[Bokke]

Guys - I have been getting "flyers" from NAVTech in July of every year trying to get me to buy the latest version of the software and the only way they would know who I am is from the initial purchase. I wonder if the "delivering dealer" has anything to do with this I would venture to suggest that is probably the case.

Jim - thanks again for the help on Saturday. What was the name of that AV shop in Arlington?

Philip

[Noka]

... trying to get me to buy the latest version of the software ...

I assume you mean "NavTech data CD" because the s/w must come from BMW or be dowloaded to burn a CD to install it - separate CD from the data.

Anyway, time will tell if I am on their DB.

Rgds,
Norm