I have an MCS with 2/03 build date. The CD based Nav has software version 3/1-60.

Last night, after keying in a destination, I was instructed to go south on I-680, which is the correct way to go to my home. Then, it told me to take the next exit, go back under the interstate, and head back north on the interstate!

The Nav then had me exit at the very next exit, turn left under the interstate again, and proceed south on the Interstate again, and the instructions were correct the rest of the way home for the remaining 50 miles.

This has happened twice in the past two months. The other time, it told me to go in exactly the opposite direction on I-280. I just disregarded this since it was the first time this had happened.

Last night, right after I programmed my destination, I punched in "Information" to check "Route List" and it listed this extraneous loop. However, I thought I'd follow the Nav's instructions this time to see if it would correct itself once underway. Now I know it will not.

Is this typical of MINI Nav units? The CD based Nav in my new Audi has never guided me incorrectly in the 5 months I've had it. It's shaken my confidence in this unit.

Am I alone, and is there anything I can do about this? Would the 3/1-61 software upgrade cure this?

 

Happens a lot with my NAV too. One time, when I was trying to get to a Holiday Inn in PA, it dumped me in the middle of a corn field.

 

I noticed a while back some of the accuracy was off when it determined my location. This caused the NAV to think I was not on the "motorway" and had me "join the motorway" I was on.

This might be the GPS accuracy setting that was messed with during the Iraqi War.

 

This really sucks. Has this been reported to the dealers? What did MINI USA say about this?

 

The only times she has given me "Wrong" directions was when the GPS didn't have my position pinpointed properly. You should look at the little "Satelite Image" in the upper right-hand corner to see if the system has a 4-link Lock. If it does, then everything should be pretty darn accurate, if not, then the possibility of errors is greater.

I put "wrong" in quotes because they really haven't been wrong - for me - just not accurate. There have been numerous times, however, when I think she's giving me wrong directions, only to find out that she wants me to go somewhere where I'm not expecting to go. Often she'll take me on detours to turn me around and send me back in the direction she wants me to take. Because of this, I have gotten used to zooming out and getting a full view of the trip so I know better what to expect from her ahead of time.

I would recommend the firmware update - it solved other problems I was having and I haven't heard anything negative, so I don't think it can hurt you.

 

Rand McNally only $9.99

 

Sometimes I think my Nav lady is smoking something good.

I go mountain biking along Mulholland Dr in Los Angeles, a part of which is inaccessible to cars and is blocked off to traffic - so only hikers, bikers, etc..

When I get back to go home, the Nav wants to get onto the fireroad part of Mulholland... Doesn't know that's it's not really a road.

Another time, it made me get off the freeway an exit too early (heading West), then made me go North 1 mile, West another mile (to the correct exit), then back under the freeway to my destination (which I coulda gotten to just as easily by getting off at the correct exit).

All in all, I don't trust the Nav 100% ... It gets you were you need to go, but might take you for a little extra ride!

 

Hi

I havent got a mini (yet) but was wondering if the nav system was worth it. Are there any monthly fees for using it. I would think there would be as its using satellete technology isnt it ? Is it any use or should I just get a normal map ?

 

don't get us wrong, i think this thread is actually kinda jokingly how the nav gives us wrong directions sometimes.

IMO, the nav is great, I always use it as a map to find a shortcut through traffic. There are no fees to use the Nav since it's CD/DVD based

All the new ones are DVD based, so you don't need 6 CDs for all the country.
PM me if you have any q's! :smile:

 

>>This might be the GPS accuracy setting that was messed with during the Iraqi War.

Actually, the military did NOT mess with the accuracy settings during the recent war. What you're talking about is the "selective availability" option, which was turned "OFF" during the Clinton Administration. This resulted in a fairly substantial increase in "average" accuracy (from about 30-50 meters down to about 10 meters, as I recall). During the war I'm sure some folks "wanted" to decrease the accuracy, but that's not a good precedent to set for a system that the Govt is trying to encourage as a global standard. And, the reason that it's "free" is because it was paid for (and maintained) by the US Govt (and taxpayers!).

-DavidG

 

I love my nav system. We call her Edna. She uses the DVD software and has all the roads in North America (supposedly). She sometimes gets lost and occassionally advises routes with which I may not agree. However, she helps me so much that ocassionally telling me a house is on the left when it is really on the right or sending me over a cliff now and then is completely acceptable.