The POI system works fine if you are able to figure out what category things are in. Normal stuff like food and fuel are easy. It's the oddball stuff that you can't figure out where it might be categorized that leads to trouble.

 

So, what she said is bs then?

Those of you that have the factory nav, you haven't had to update your discs? as a mandatory thing?

thanks

 

I emailed Navteq about that back in April and their response was the following:

Thank you for contacting NAVTEQ. The latest disk for your 2007 Mini Cooper S is version 2008.1which was released last month. This can be ordered online at http://www.navteq.com by clicking on the “Store” link or over the phone by calling the number listed below. We are open M-F, 8AM-6PM Central Time. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

NAVTEQ
Customer Contact Center
888.628.6277

Since their website still doesn't list it, I think you have to phone them to get the update.

I haven't updated mine. It's not mandatory, or necessary unless you are one of those people who always like to have the latest versions of things.

 

Ok , last question. is this picture the current look of the factory nav unit?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1338/...1001bf.jpg?v=0

I've also seen pics of one that looks a bit different and am not sure

 

Yep, that's the R56 nav screen.

 

Yep, the Nav is the same, although there's some screens that only come with certain features. The picture in your post is the display for the parking distance control.

Here's one showing a navigation in progress:


The root menu at night:

 

thanks, and the navteq discs are definitely what Mini uses?

is this the old nav unit? I even saw it in the , oh, its the cabrio book that they gave me (they were out of cooper ones). Is this the cabrio nav unit?

http://littlemini.us/builder/img/bra...r/DSCN4885.jpg

 

Yeah, it's definitely a NavTeq disk- it's printed on there.

That picture is of the older style Nav unit, the cabrio switches over to the newer (R57) platform spring of 2009.

 

Oh yeah, and the European Union just approved the sale of NavTeq to Nokia.

 

I didn't read through all 6 pages, but if it's been mentioned, flog me later...Garmin's main U.S. site has a woman sitting in a Mini looking at her Garmin GPS....thought it was nifty there sport.

 

I have a 03, updated my map disc and software, now its like 3d and is like all current idrives....my gallery has a photo

 

I live in Atlanta so it is a MUST HAVE for me!! I can get around accidents with the real time traffic plus I love the audio, a/c, etc. intergration. I am a man who hates stuff that messes up the look of a car. I am mostly stock and love the look of the intergrated nav.

 

I've read through this entire thread and will probably order NAV when I order my MINI. The reason is purely based on the way they integrate all the other functions for the car. We have NAV in our Honda and it's terrible. We had it in the Civic before that and it was terrible as well. They are always out of date no matter how current your DVD. We do enjoy having a large screen to see what is on XM etc. I intend to get a portable unit as well. Sounds silly but when you have had both I think most will agree the factory NAVs are really terrible compared to the portable units. I hate to spend so much money simply for the integration of other functions but I will just save up more money. For long trips you just can't beat the functionality of the newer smarter portable NAV units.

 

Here's another spin for those trying to work around the Mini's POI:

I picked up an iPhone 3G. The Search feature via the Maps is AMAZING. I used it last weekend to search for the Jelly Belly store in Southern Wisconsin. Bang. There it was, and there was the address for me to enter in to the Mini's Nav.... (yes, I could have used the iPhone directly, but I wanted to drive hands-free and not stare at the phone).

Sad that I'd have to use a 2nd device for obscure POI searches, but the iPhone MAPS feature is darn fast and up to date. And VERY easy to use.

Once you have the address the Mini Nav does quite well!

I love the combo....

 

I have a 04 with factory Navigation and I love it!

1. It makes sport driving like a video game. I swich it to the mode that rotates the map as I drive (Driving Direction or Perspective) and I can see turns coming up before they are physically visible. Night driving with Xenon HIDs and Nav is a blast! It was VERY useful charging up Palomar Mountain as well. It's like having a copilot in a rally race. =]
2. I get to learn street names of all the streets I drive near every day.
3. I learn new routes to get where I'm going.
4. Driving downtown Oceanside is a million times easier because I can actually see which side roads cross the railroad.
5. Just updated to the 2008.3 released and it improved the graphics and added a new 'perspective' mode that is an angled 3D view.
6. Voice directions over your speakers / Voice Commands if you have bluetooth.
7. It told me to "make an illegal u-turn, if possible".

 

Did it also tell you to get your hearing checked?

Mine tells me to make a "legal u-turn."

Maybe the nav system knows Oregon law, which is different from many other states. U-turns are illegal at intersections controlled by a light and between intersections in incorporated cities.

They're legal at all other intersections and even between intersections, if you can do so safely. You must also be able to see in both directions 500 feet in cities and 1,000 feet in rural areas.

 

LOL! Probably... The muffled computer voice makes it too easy for me to hear what I want. The first time I heard it though another person was in my car and we both looked at each other in disbelief. I had another person in the car the other day that heard it too.

"Oh ya, it's possible!"

 

I like your version better, though, I have to admit. Better for those audience reactions.

I just wish we could get a British voice. Maybe they have a whole different phrase for flipping a uey.

 

We can! I'm about to hack my 2008.3 DVD to use the british voice. The voice files are there; they just need to be renamed to trick the GPS into using them.

 

I think that's for the first-generation nav system only. Even the British get the bland I-could-be-from-anywhere-that-speaks-English voice in the second-generation system.

 

Only if that anywhere is the US/Canada.

 

Yes they use the Navteq disks. You can search by any late model BMW and use those disks as well (ex. BMW X5 2007-2008 model). It will be a 2008.1 Professional DVD!!! Same as the iDrive systems

The old mini's use the high version the old BMW navigation systems (ex. BMW X5 2003-2006). Non-iDrive

 

Here is an interesting project for anyone looking to hack the NAV disks:

There is a folder with HTML code that lists what appear to be a number of POI search screens that the system may use to find POI's. The biggest weakness of the NAV system is the inability to find locations by name unless you have gotten to the bottom of the category list--which is almost always NOT the category you are looking for.

If the name search variable could be included in an early search screen, before having to dig down, it would make things easier. It can provide a list of names that match within the search area regardless of category.

My wife's new Infiniti can do that very nicely and the feature appears to be workable if the code on the NAV disks are actually used by the MINI NAV system.

Just a thought.

Let me know if you get the British voice working. My Tom Tom used to annoy my wife with the Bristish acent and would love to do it all over again.

 

I wish I had got it. Just couldnt swing the extra billion dollars to add it.

 

Unfortunately it cannot be added later from what I have been told.