I recently bought a 2003 Cooper S (with JCW tuning kit). I love it, but the one thing I can't stand is the nav system. This thing can't get me to the corner store and back. It's slow to react, so it tells me to turn right about 800 feet after I've passed the street, and it consistently gives me ridiculously inaccurate directions.

I'm thinking of ordering a new DVD for it, but I'm wondering if this will solve the problem or if the system itself is just not very good.

Does anyone have experience with this? Any advice?

 

Since it is telling you instructions too late -- consistently --- unless it's due to revised road layouts where you drive, a new disk isn't likely to help. Sounds like it is having trouble determining your position. It may need recalibration. I'm not sure how that's done on 2003, but it's generally fairly easy.

 

It may help to update the Nav firmware. There have been numerous updates since 2003, some to improve performance. You'll want to install a new version anyway to get improved graphics and automatic dismissal of the startup warning screen.

Here are some general instructions about how to update: http://mini.mdsbrain.com/?p=183. The newest firmware version is v31, and a link to download can be found here: http://www.x5world.com/navigation-sy...available.html

 

Thanks. Do you know if I can do this with a Mac?

 

What CD burning software do you have? The v31 image linked in the x5world thread is .nrg (Nero). I believe that Toast supports nrg image format. This is assuming that you can uncompress a rar file.

If you are unable to do that, the mdsbrain blog has a link to an ISO image of version v27. The changes since v27 are mostly bug fixes for particular models of BMW cars. You probably won't lose anything by using version v27.

When you burn your firmware CD, you should use the slowest speed with a good quality disc. The Nav units are known to be finicky about reading firmware discs.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'm nervous about doing this, since I don't have a clue what .nrg or Nero or ISO mean.

 

I have 2006 Cooper S with version 26.1 ( believe) of the Nav software. SW: 4-1/60. On my current version I am unable to terminate guidance in full screen mode and when I switch to split screen mode, if I try to terminate guidance it sends me to the directions input screen. Me dealer is clueless and tells me I need a new map disk. I see lots of mentions about new versions available on X5world.com. None of them work. Does anyone know where to get them?

 

X5world has been changed to Xoutpost.com. Go there and find the navigation section and download the V32 firmware. I recently updated my 1/40 to V32 and it worked like a charm.

 

Thanks for your help. Question for you. Does BMW and mini use the same software for their Navs. The v32 upgrade I found says its for a BMW. It points me to a megaupload.com website with the following file:

NAV_SW(v32).rar
File description:bmw v32 software
File size:97.54 MB

Its this the correct version to use in the Mini Cooper?

 

Yes, it works. I downloaded "ImgBurn" software to burn onto a DVD-R and it worked great. Extract the .rar file with something like WinRAR, and then burn the extracted file(s) onto a DVD-R using ImgBurn at the slowest speed (mine burned at about 3.4x I believe). No problems whatsoever.

 

Thanks! Your instructions worked perfectly. I was able to install the upgrade with no problems. I see that the software version under settings now reads: SW 4-1/00. On the down side, I have yet to notice any changes besides that. I was hoping that I would now be able to terminate navigation from full screen mode. I was also hoping that when I terminate navigation, it would stop displaying directions.

 

Have you enabled Perspective view yet? That is what sold me on it really, it actually gives it an updated look as opposed to the birds-eye view. Only downfall is that in perspective view regular street names are not shown, but more major routes are.

 

yes i have. I like it better that way too. I could barely read the street names before anyway.