Team-BHP - BMW navigation worth it?

I recently purchased a pre-owned BMW X5 (F15, 3rd gen). The inbuilt navigation in it is really outdated and hardly useful. It obviously doesn't have CarPlay. While currently I am making do using Google Maps on my mobile, it would have been great to have a usable inbuilt navigation. The current navigation system is 2013 version and doesn't recognize any of the locations inputted.

On speaking to the BMW service advisor, he said it can be updated for a price of 9K INR. I'm wondering whether it is worth it. Does anybody have any idea/tips regarding this?

PS: I am in Mumbai, if it helps.

Not at all and IMHO, that applies to all "inbuilt" navigation systems by car manufacturers. Google Maps is the best and offers up-to-date information, routes & traffic data. My smartphone fits perfectly in the cupholder with the screen facing me. If that's not the case with you, either rely on audio instructions or get a smartphone holder.

It's not worth it! If you plan on keeping the car, the local accessories dealer could help you with a retrofit a MMI box basis your current I-drive model!

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Originally Posted by vivekiyer20 (Post 5713087)

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Originally Posted by vivekiyer20 (Post 5713087)

The BMW maps are not terrible, especially if they are upto date. There are times that I do prefer the BMW maps to Google maps. For Example, in Bangalore, as a non local, I have been guided down increasingly narrow "Main" roads; while relying on gmaps. BMW maps, for the same run on a subsequent day, on the other hand, kept me on the real main roads. (longer, but ultimately about the same travel time. And yes, gmaps is set to minimise travel time). you do lose traffic information, but integrated map has a nice interface and its useful to see directions on the HUD.

It does not need to cost an arm and a leg to keep bmw maps upto date. it can even be free. I am assuming that you have a CIC Head unit if its a 2013 map. I had NBT on my f25. DM me if you need guidance on how to go about it.

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Originally Posted by kdp (Post 5716652)

Hi kdp - yes please. I didn't quite get what you said. Please guide me. Appreciate your help in advance.

Not worth the cost at all. Like many others, I would recommend using a phone holder and google maps instead. You may even consider MMI boxes which will get you all the modern connectivity features like Car Play and Android Auto even but will cost a lot more.

I had called BMW to ask for maps update when we brought home our pre-owned 2018 530d and I was also told that it would be a paid one.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that my iDrive 6 version as well as the maps were updated to the latest ones a few months back when I went to pick the car up from an official recall that I had got which was for the EGR cooler (and an already pending one of replacing the LTE compensator) which was all done at no cost to me. So see if you have any recalls pending on your vehicle to try your luck :p.

BMW has an autocall feature for emergency to dial the company service centre. Not sure if the location details will be collected from BMW maps. If anyone from inside know what data is collected and if BMW maps has no relation to it then it doesn't make sense to update for 9K
Some connected car features are grey areas which only BMW experts can explain. Though I am not sure if the autocall feature is valid for your car and our country

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Originally Posted by itwasntme (Post 5713627)

Check out these guys with your VIN: https://www.bimmer-tech.net/

Thanks @itwasntme but looks like this doesn't work for Indian VINs. I tried mine and it said their product isn't compatible. I have a pre-LCI 330Li (aka pre-connected car tech).

As for the usefulness of the offline maps, I would vouch for them for inter-city trips where keeping GMaps switched on through your journey drains your phone and charging it all along the trip weakens your battery. I say inter-city trips essentially since traffic data hardly makes a difference on highways and BMW maps actually have cooler visualizations of junctions than GMaps.

Most new car owners don't realize this, but pre-LCI models come with some years of free map updates (LCI anyway does OTA updates). In fact, most service partners do not know about this.

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Originally Posted by Impulsivemedusa (Post 5790486)

Thanks @itwasntme but looks like this doesn't work for Indian VINs.

Hi, it very much works for me (see screenshots below) + a fellow member has successfully upgraded to a MMI box, and happily using it for many years now:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...eries-g20.html

The issue is with the G28 VINs. Suggest you message them to manually check; I am pretty sure the head unit etc. is mostly the same just not mapped accurately in the systems.

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Originally Posted by itwasntme (Post 5790611)

Hi, it very much works for me (see screenshots below) + a fellow member has successfully upgraded to a MMI box, and happily using it for many years now:

Got it @itwasntme. I was just checking the map solution update option and that doesn't seem to work. The 330Li comes with wireless AA & ACP but no connected tech

On the topic of the thread, it looks like BMW gives offline map updates for 2 years for free and then it is charged at INR 750 per update as per Deutsche Motoren. So, the 9k seems a bit of a rip-off if it's just for the maps.