Comment & Question about our NAV software for the beast............

FAST 5 · 5th May 2003, 23:32

Hi Guys,
I had a discussion with Rob (Triflow) pertaining to our software updating efforts on this board. I know several of you guys want & wish that the "accept" screen and its acknowlwdgment button would disappear with the upgrading of the NAV software.
The latest version, which is V21 has not done away/deleted this aspect/feature of our NAV system.
As a reminder to you guys, in New Jersey and I'd assume the rest of the counrty, its illegal to have a monitor mounted or positioned in the front area of the car's interior, where the driver can view this monitor. This is written in the NJ DMV law code book, which is issued to all NJ police officers. The ONLY WAY an auto manufacturer can get away with having the NAV screen located on the dash is with their warning statement that comes on at the very beginning of the NAV operation process. This covers BMWNA and BMWAG from any matters of liability, in the event of a collision or loss of some type.
Based on this alone, BMW will NEVER create a update type software with the accept screen being deleted, for its American market. Even if their software gets up to V50, I'd bet it (the accept screen) will still be a part of the NAV screen and its system.
Now, here's my question, it directed to my European friends,
Does your NAV software and its NAV screen have the "accept" screen, where the accept button has to be pushed, in order to proceed with use of the NAV system? Or do you guys have a software/system, where there is no such "accept" aspect that one has to go through??? If this is the case, then our European friends could send copies of their NAV software, which could then possibly delete the US version accept screen on the American version NAV system.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks guys!
Robert

XrayMD · 5th May 2003, 23:43

That's intersesting because last week when Tony (TonyS555) and I were cruising around Columbus, OH, we decided to stop and take a look at the Chrysler Pacifica. Not a bad vehicle, you can get AWD but it doesn't have stability control (it does have traction control). Anyway, it has a DVD NAV system with the monitor cleverly positioned in the dash directly in front of the driver and with the speedometer surrounding it.

Tony got in the driver's seat and turned on the vehicle...guess what? No "Accept" screen...it went straight to NAV, so there goes that theory. If they can do it...why can't BMW?

FAST 5 · 6th May 2003, 00:33

and I don't know what to make of it either, but I know how things are in NJ as far as state DMV law and its codes. Havinga display screen or in this case a NAV screen is not permitted, thtas why "some" auto companies have this acceptance screen at the beginning of the operation. Honestly, Im stumpedover what you just wrote.

Robert

XrayMD · 6th May 2003, 01:07

Before I posted that, I called Tony just to be sure because I got in the Pacifica after he had already been in it for a few seconds. He said the NAV came right up after turning the key.

The placement and appearance of the NAV screen in the Pacifica is impressive. It's shielded by the top of the dash so the screen appeared much brighter and sharper than the M5's...and you gotta love DVD based NAV instead of the 8 CD's!

kwalls · 6th May 2003, 20:13

I know this is a BMW site but I think last week's experience with my Volvo is relative to the question.

I have had a navigation software problem with my wife’s car, which was delivered in Sweden the year before. Long story short it had one minor problem (to me) that required considerable discussion with Volvo of Sweden and Volvo of Germany for resolution. In the in end it was decided that the installed software was the problem, so Volvo of Germany directed me to a local dealer to get new software.

Previously it had the 'accept' prompt before you could use the system. Not any more, it starts up with a different menu than before and goes right to the map display.

There had been some discussion that it would only process vocal commands in German but that was proven wrong after a road test. Volvo of Germany tells me that the software won't work in the US when I return but I find that hard to believe. They may want me to convert over because of the liability issue but I think it will work just as it does here.

Ken

FAST 5 · 6th May 2003, 20:24

It was an educated guess at best on my part, but I have a strong feeling that the European NAV software doesn't have the accept "mumbo-jumbo" warning speech at the beginning stage of the NAV operation. Now if only a European M5 member would validate or debunk my theory. If it is true then we just have to get a European copy of the NAV software.
Robert

atomic80 · 6th May 2003, 22:29

Guys guys guys, having the "ACCEPT" screen there or not has nothing to do with the different navigation software whether its for the US or our friends in Europe. It has to do with the mode that the OS is set in. For some reason, some folks managed to get their OS set in Euro mode while some others remain in US mode. It would be possible for folks to set their OS in Euro mode where all of your distance units would be shown in metres/kilometers rather than feet/miles. The dealership would have to use their diagnostic computers to change your OS from US mode to Euro or vice versa. It has NOTHING to do with the v21 upgrade discs. Just thought I'd clear that up for you folks.

DZeckhausen · 6th May 2003, 22:32

Quote:

Originally posted by FAST 5
[b]It was an educated guess at best on my part, but I have a strong feeling that the European NAV software doesn't have the accept "mumbo-jumbo" warning speech at the beginning stage of the NAV operation. Now if only a European M5 member would validate or debunk my theory. If it is true then we just have to get a European copy of the NAV software./B]

There is no "European copy of the NAV software." They run the same software all over the world. The car itself has a country code that effects how the NAV software functions. The ACCEPT screen lines of code are executed only on cars whose country code is set to USA.

Why not simply change the country code? It's not as simple as that. There are other parameters that change as a result of the country code being changed. For example, if the country code is set to Germany, the NAV system no longer has an ACCEPT screen, but it also displays the distance in Yards instead of Feet. I'm sure there are other funtions that change aas a result of the country code being set to the wrong country.

Some folks experienced this when their dealers hooked up their MODIC to the car while using an outdated version of the MODIC software. The car was set to the wrong country code and the ACCEPT screen vanished.

atomic80 · 6th May 2003, 23:05

Thanks DZ for filling in the blank gaps. I couldn't remember what the diagnostic computer was called.

FAST 5 · 7th May 2003, 00:19

The bottom line is, the accept screen will never be eliminated, as long as our cars are set to the US mode/spec for operation.
Dave & Jason thank you for answering this question.
Robert