I remember reading in the past people were able to change the voice on their navigation systems, to a british voice or person yelling....

Has anyone tried it on the new minis with Nav?

 

Nobody?

I thought everyone was doing this??

 

birdman, if my mind isnt failing me it requires creating a new dvd with the new voice. I do not know what is required in this and whether it would change from system to system. I know that the UK has been adding traffic cams as POS locations via creating a new dvd. I am interested in this as well so i will look around a bit and report back

im assuming you have read this? https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=35168

 

That is for Nav in the 1st gen MINI, not for new Nav system in the R56. On MINI2 forums, R56 Nav owners in the UK have complained about the American voice, so even they do not have British voice unless it has changed recently.

I'm assuming you have an R56, because you posted on the R56 forum. If you have a 1st gen MINI with a DVD Nav, all you need to do is upgrade the firmware to a recent level and voice is a selectable option in the settings menu.

 

While I was waiting for my R56 to come across the pond, I did all the research, and put everything together to change my R56 Nav voice to the British voice.

But sadly, yes, once I realized that the nav system was different, I shelved that idea. Plus, I'm starting to like the voice of Generica. My friends and I have named her Cortana.

Ok, I have no friends, I named her Cortana.

 

At least it's better than the that "Get away from the doors, you idiot, or I will crush you" voice used on the DC Metro system.

 

A friend tells me (and yes, I actually have a friend) that Cortana's voice has an Indiana accent. Anyone agree or disagree? I've never travelled to them foreign parts.

 

The accent is probably from where ever the nav manufacturer is. Who makes this unit, anyone know?

I am/was aware the older models had the ability to be changed. The question is, can the new onces!!

Somebody's got to have a hack???

 

What language selections are in it by defaut?

 

I dated someone from Indiana and she didn't sound like that.

 

Thanks for that, you made me laugh.

 

In the older Nav, the firmware installer CD includes many languages, and 3 are loaded according to the region code set at the factory. For USA, the default selections are US English, GB English, and Spanish.

I think how this voice hacking originally came about was that when BMW started to make firmware updates, people were able to obtain the installer discs and see what files were on it. Then it is easy to swap voices by renaming the files. What needs to happen now is that somebody gets hold of a firmware installer disc for the new Nav system. However at this point it is not clear whether sound files for British voice even exist at the moment.

 

But what voice selections are available in the R56?

 

Anybody have a firmware installation CD for the R56?

 

rkw is right. The first gen had it a bit easier also because they had the X5 crowd, if memory serves, with the same or similiar NAV and were able to use some of their ISO's and firmware upgrades. Does anyone know if this nav software is being used elsewhere by BMW? I thought I heard the 3 series. also, the UK had their NAV released before us with quite a few quirks and were promised a firmware upgrade soon after the US launch. I will poke around on MINI2 and see if they ever got those discs.

 

Familiar, that's a good sign. The fact that they "promised a firmware upgrade". That means it is definitely possible. Some nav units can't be upgraded/changed at all.

My quesiton still remains though, what are the default language selections that come with the car? English, German, French....? just curious what they ship it with....

 

errr I will have to check on my lunch, unless someone else chimes in.

 

Nobody has a setup CD yet? ;-)

There is suposed to be a NAV/Voice upgrade CD (fix) out, someone needs to get a hold of that CD, as I bet it has the voices on it.

WE NEED BRITISH VOICES!!! ;-)

 

You should post the question on MINI2, and ask R56 owners in the UK whether they get a British voice. Last I saw they only had an American voice, so it is quite possible that no British voice exists yet.

 

if they are just mp3 files wouldn't you think most BMW NAV's use the same type of commands? turn left, exit the highway etc? I am not sure how it is set up but do we need british voices for this particular NAV?

 

Familiar,
It's not for functionality, it would be just for the "fun" of having a british babe talk to you...

 

o no i understand. I meant do the voices have to be specific to this particular nav. trust me i want a UK babe too

 

LOL!!

Well, the voices recordings I'm sure could be "stolen" from another system (old model...) and long as all the new words/commands exist. But you would obviosuly have to re-arrange them / format them to fit into the new setup CD. I'm sure somebody in the UK will do this. They will #1 get hands on a CD from somebody who works in factory. #2, not want to hear an american voice. That would surely drive them nuts, especially around the 4th of July!! ;-)

 

I want:

Jewish Mother
Tony Soprano
Maybe Silvio
Tarzan
Mr. Robinson
Donald Duck
Jack Kvorkian
Captain Kangaroo
PDiddy
Sarah Vaughn
Courney Love
Beavis and/or Butthead
Bart or Homer Simpson
Marge Simpson
Southpark Characters

 

Don't laugh, they have all of those and more in some of the systems. I've even seen a "Screaming" voice.

The voice Screams: MAKE A RIGHT TURN!!!!! LOL, histerical!!!