I saw the youtube video showing off the new 2011 nav system. This may be a stupid question but is it possible to update my 2007 nav with a new disc to gain the better layout / menus on the new Nav? Or is that specific to that nav system?

Cheers!

 

Nav DVDs are generally specific to the series/version of the Nav system they are made for. The limitations of the 2007 system would not allow it to interpret and display the data such as how the 2011 system can and will. Make sense? As far as i know, BMW has never made a DVD-based Nav system that is upgradeable, particularly from a DVD. Minor firmware flashes, yes but they are more fixative than being able to add anything impressive. You would be looking at a costly hardware upgrade, if even possible.

Please, anyone correct me if I am way off.

 

The 2011 NAV is hard-drive based now, as the 2007-2010 was dvd based. The screen is high rez also.

 

Not so sure about that? Have you touched one? Stuck a USB stick in the supposed port in the glovebox? The demo video on YouTube is a 2011 and it is DVD based. The HD is only heresay at this point. So either it will be DVD based for 2011 or it will be only for those people who received a 2011 with nav (like us in Canada are able to) before the U.S. version that is due to be available by the new year (apparently you can order now), who could therefore possibly be getting the supposed HD based system (hence the delay for the US and not for Canada - f'ing weird!). If this is the case, I will be pissed. I pick mine up tomorrow here in Canada so time will tell.

 

FWIW, MotoringFile has been reporting for months that the 2011 Nav is neither hard disk nor DVD, but flash memory based, with maps being updated through the USB. They also said that it is completely new hardware (including higher resolution screen) and therefore upgrade of the earlier system is not possible. This would make sense because DVD-based Nav was already dropped from BMW models some time ago.

Can you post a link to the YouTube showing 2011 Nav with DVD? I found this but it doesn't discuss how maps are stored. BTW, the display does appear to be significantly sharper and higher resolution than the 2010 Nav.

 

Looks similar to the 2010 328i nav interface.

The big question, does it allow POI searches without a category? There was a multi-page thread about that limitation with the 07-10 Nav system.

 

Yeah, this drives me nuts every damned day in my 335i!!! Whatever idiot at BMW who let this design flaw slip through should be shot. It is so basic I didn't even think of such a limitation when I bought my BMW with Nav option. For sure I would not have paid for it had I known. Again, I failed to confirm if the 2011 mini would have this limitation but we wanted connected and the Nav with connected was only an extra $750 so knew we would get it regardless.

Anyway, just a few more hours and I will have all my answers!

 

This guy does a few videos on the mini:
http://www.youtube.com/user/motoring2702

I don't think there is anything specifically discussing Nav updates and such but in a few of the videos you can see the mini navigation lettering above the DVD/CD drive, which leads me to think it is DVD based, otherwise why put the lettering there? It may still be DVD based but the Nav/connected features (i.e. phone and mp3 support configs) are what can be easily updated via flash drive. Mini is touting iPod/iPhone support out of the gate, with BBerry and Android to be possible down the road... The flash may in fact be for this purpose, not map updates and such for the Nav.

I suspect that this will be the case:
- DVD-based Nav with updated interface and hopefully a more intuitive and complete menu/search system
- USB port for updating connected configuration for support of future devices (not for Nav map updates).

What do you think of that prediction?

As I said... only a few more hours to go!

 

I think this is about the best thus far?...

http://www.youtube.com/user/motoring.../3/VRbY3OYqnwM

 

That arrangement of the center stack is specific for Nav configuration and that's probably why it has the lettering (the volume control and CD drive are arranged differently in a non-Nav system). In 2007-2010, the Nav's map DVD drive wasn't even visible. It was hidden behind the panel with the volume control, which swings out to expose it. The CD drive on the console is only for the stereo. I'm inclined to believe MotoringFile's articles that say the new Nav has its maps in flash memory. At this stage, a DVD based Nav is archaic technology.

And I do hope they finally fix the POI system.

 

Fair enough, I wondered where the NAV DVD went. Thanks for that clarification.

Anyway, here's hoping that it is not DVD based. I'll confirm soon enough.