I just installed the latest software for the Nav, 29.1, and it seems to be working just fine. The forums at X5World seem to agree that there aren't any cosmetic changes, but the routing is a bit more aggressive/better.

If you want to use the straight stuff, it can be found at this link. And installation instructions can be found in the sticky at the top of this forum.
http://x5world.net/nav_os.htm

If you trust my ISO Edit skills and would like to take a shot with a version that has the US Female and British Female voices swapped, you can try at this link: http://www.filefactory.com/file/dfbe70/Nav29_Brit.zip

I take no responsibility for you bricking your Nav system. This is 100% completely at your own risk. It worked for me but may not ever work for anyone else on the planet. (I suspect it'll be just fine, but...)

It's a ZIP of the ISO image file I just used on my 04 MCS Factory Nav system. I burned it to a good CD-R with Nero, (no +RW or DVDs, etc. ONLY USE A CD-R!) and installed it on my system a couple of hours ago. Works like a charm.

Yes, it's a filename swapped hack. No navcoding needed. I simply looked through every directory onthe disc and renamed all of the gb_* files to usa_* and vice versa.

Short Install Instructions:
Boot your nav and get it up to the normal map display. Then eject your DVD and replace with the CD. The install auto-runs and eventually spits the CD out and reboots. Put your Nav DVD back in and you're golden.

Have fun folks!

-Scott

(By the way, just so it's clear... this is for the DVD-based MK IV Nav Systems ONLY. It will not work on your CD-based Nav!)

 

29-1 has been out for a while now. You can also get an ISO version from my site. www.simplymini.info

 

True dat.

But I generally wait a few weeks to make sure there are no critical issues before doing my own system.

-Scott

 

I think I have the latest and greatest software (what should the reported version be?), but what I'd really like is an updated map disc. Any pointers aside from the obvious of going to NavTeq or MINI to buy one?

 

Not really... I had a guy on MINI2 buy one on EBay (I warned him) and it was non-functional.

Safer to buy from the vendor.

 

Does this version still have the perspective view?

 

Also, I'm looking through the files and the language files are all dated 1998-2000. What's up with that?

 

Thanks, Scott!

 

It should be noted that the only reason that someone would want the "modified" version of the update is if their MINI does not have separate USA & GB languages already on their system. Newer MINIs (generally 2005 onwards, I think) tended to come with both regions already available, so you could simply select either language and therefore get the appropriate accent (with the official update disc, not modified).

However, some MINIs (mostly pre-2005) only had USA, not GB... and that's when you'd want the modified update ISO, assuming you want to hear a British accent.The latest one that would be reported on the screen is 4-1/91, which represents V29.1. Also, on the map disc, legality is clear - buy from NavTeq or MINI. Discussion of illegal sources for the map disc are not permitted on NAM.Yes.That's probably because they saw no reason to get more actors in to record new voices! The voice files are the same (of course), it's the better software programming that you'd want to worry about.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Not trying to highjack the thread, but I looked through the files again and only the sub folders have 2007 dates. All the files inside are dated 1996-2004. I'm not a programer, but shouldn't some of the program files have newer dates?
Sorry if I'm taking it to far off topic, I'm bored at work.

 

Thanks Edge! I couldn't have said it better myself.

And for the record, the routing routines ARE different. Both of my normal freeway routes were hosed this morning so I decided to give her a workout. Set to Avoid Freeways and let her loose.

The previous versions routed me through some VERY odd back streets. This one actually kept me to relatively good-sized arterials and I made excellent time. It was almost exactly the route I'd have chosen myself.

I'm quite happy with this version.

-Scott

(And for the record, after hearing both, WHO would not want the GB Female voice instead of the US Female? I mean, really now...)

 

Not necessarily. As Edge pointed out, if the file does not need to be modified, then there is no reason for the date to change. The BMW voices have been pretty standard for a long time and they work, so why make a change?

 

I get that about the voices, I'm talking about the entire disc. None of the program files are newer than 2004, only the sub folders. I'll let it go. I just thought it was strange.

 

thanks for the new one [mrs kippy]!! kiddin... KIDDIN!!

i'm burning it as an image file now.. and gonna check it ***CROSSES FINGERS*** man oh man do i love european women

 

Soo.. i just burned it as an ISO imagine... uploaded it to my navi.. the upload screen came on and what not... it rebooted, everything's fine.. but when i go into the Language option... should it still be saying:

USA E F

??

or I thought it would jsut be

USA GB

??
cus the voice still sounds like the american chick... dont get me wrong.. i love my american ladies.. but i need my european nanny to tlak to me lol

 

Voice on the nav will not change unless you hack the firmware (don't recommend) or recode the NAV for the GB voice. You can use the Nav Coder tool located on my site (www.simplymini.info). However, you will need an IBUS to USB adapter. You can get this from Rolf Resler .

P.S. Scratch that, I see that MRSkppy provided the hack. That being said, the letters on the NAV will not change as you are simply replacing the files.

 

I did the upgrade with MR. Skippy's file, and it works perfectly... i wanna introduce ya'll to my GB nanny... Fiona hahaha

 

Glad to help.

To be fair, "hacking the firmware" is really just renaming a couple of files. Any female US file gets renamed to GB and any female GB file gets renamed to US.

Honestly, I feel MORE safe doing it this way than tapping into the iBUS and recoding the nav. According to MY nav, everything is US. Locale, voices, units, etc. There's just a different wav stored for each voice clip it plays.

No additional hardware. No additional software. And almost no chance of screwing something else on the iBUS up. (Which is, as you are surely aware, almost everything in the cockpit...)

-Scott

 

Scott,

The problem with doing what you are doing is that you don't know the outcome until it is too late. Remember, this is the firware that affects the boot sector of the NAV. This means that if you screw up, you could make a nice desktop weight out of the MK4.

That being said, the recoding is probably just as dangerous but at least it is more along the "official" ways of doing it. No copying files from one area to another, just sending a signal out on the BUS to tell the nav you want to use a different voice. Also, when you want to update to a new firware, you might end u; having to redo your little trick to get the files on there again. With a recode it is permemant.

 

I just completed the V29-1 Mod, no problems with the ISO...burned it with Roxio...This was the first OS upgrade to my 03 MCS (I've owned for 3 months) The version before was V12 or 14 I forget now...Did the Brit voice too..now I want to do the NavTweak to change the mundane triangle-circle icon to a MCS image

 

I take that you've seen this:

Drive Your Very Own MINI On The Factory Nav Screen!

And this one may be of interest to you as well:

Making The MINI's Factory Nav System More Intuitive!

 

I've been away a while and am looking to update the firmware on my MY03 Nav System.

Anyone? Can a brother get a disc?

Many thanks.