So I'm on a 3 hr trip with my friend who has a honda accord with a Nav System. I always knew his was for more superior. More options, more settings, "WAY more information. But as of the other day I was almost drooling. When you go on a road thats not in the system it actually adds the road using * * * so when you return you can follow it out. It amazes me how BMW's nav system can be so subpar when we pay 1800 for these and Honda charges about 1200.


Howard

 

But there aren't any other integrated options....

 

The Acura ones are usually $2000, but they are the best out there

 

Yeah, unfortunately japs are good at that, i was pretty impressed with the Acura TL nav. however they are not cheaper though

 

Weird, borrowed someone's new Honda van and hated the Nav (the way the voice spoke was not clear all the time). Wasn't a fan of the controls either (partially because it was all integrated with the AC and other functions). Dunno about more info as the DVD nav in the 05 Mini seems to have all the roads we've tried throughout CA as we've used it so there would be none to add. I'm sure the Mini nav could be better in some ways but it's fast, can be used while the car is moving (which helps a lot sometimes in traffic and/or when you have a passenger who can help search for stuff while you are driving), and gets me where I'm going and back

 

I'd like to have a TL in the stable (Still need a Mini too).

The TL has 5" touchscreen, and takes voice commands. Bluetooth is already standard. Displays caller ID on the screen, and you can use voice commands to place calls.

However the coolest feature is that it is linked to the climate control. Based on time of day, and direction it will compensate the drivers or passengers temp. if they are sitting in the sun

Dave.

 

FYI, you can do the bluetooth/voice command/nav phone integration on the Mini too:

http://motoringfile.com/2005/06/22/i...rket_bluetooth

Probably brings it up to the Acura nav price, but you can always uninstall it and resell if desired :smile:

Plus you can do this if you want:

http://motoringfile.com/2005/06/30/mini_video_input

I'm sure the TL nav is great, but as for climate stuff I like the controls to be independent, and prefer to adjust the temp manually

 

I'm sure the Japanese MINI owners on this forum don't appreciate being called Japs.......

Not that I'm Japanese, but I can think of similar derogatory names to call myself.

 

I absolutely hate my nav system. The other night I was trying to find a Comfort Inn hotel in a city I had never been to. I knew it was there because I was meeting some friends for a post-wedding, post-reception party. My nav system said the hotel didn't exist. I have a 2005 MCS by the way. After an hour of frustration, I finally found the place the old-fashioned way...I stopped at a gas station and asked for directions. When I got to the hotel, I asked the clerk how old the hotel is. He said three years. How often does Mini update their nav info? Apparently, not enough. I really wish I hadn't chosen the nav option on my Mini. There are after-market systems from Pioneer and Alpine that aren't that much more expensive, but are twice the quality (and I think they're voice-activated, not sure).

 

Hyper Blue,

The map disc you received with the car is probably the 2003 one. Since the hotel was built only within a year of that map disc, you have to allow for the limitations of what the Nav can do with the data it has. A 2005 map disc is out now, but you have to buy it (or... there's always BitTorrent! <cough>) for $200 or so. It sucks, but MINI is waiting to use up their stock of 2003 map discs before they start giving out 2005 map discs with new MINIs. This is even for 2005 cars manufactured AFTER the new map disc came out! Don't blame the Nav system, blame MINIUSA.

The Nav system doesn't get map updates over the air, you have to replace the disc with a newer one. I believe it's the same for all car navigation systems. The only information that comes over the air is the GPS data, which is simply where you are now.

I would be surprised if that hotel was not on the 2005 map disc.

 

The honda system you can also type in a telephone # of the place and it will find it for you. This would be a great feature on the mini nav system. And if the Mini and BMW systems are the exact same how come the BMW system says the Date/time and the Mini system says the temp.


Howard

 

Personally, I'd much rather have the temp than the date/time. I mean, I'd rather know that it's 34* and dropping and that there might be black ice on the roads. . .rather than telling the ambulance driver, "Hey, it was 7:42 PM on November 12th when I hit that black ice. . ."

:smile:

 

Talking with my dealer a while ago -- they said that the CDs/DVDs come from a company called Navteq -- that site does have MINI listed for a manufacturer choice -- but doesn't have the DVD version available to order online -- the 'newer' CD version (all 8 discs) runs $200 -- the order page for the DVD says to call -- tried to call a couple weeks ago, and was on hold forever... oh well...

*****
How to Get This Map
New updates are currently available for your navigation system, but can not be ordered from this site at this time.

To order your update please call 1-888-NAV-MAPS (1-888-628-6277).


Call Center Updates
Phone: 1-888-628-6277
*****

 

First of all, how do you know that MINI is waiting to use up their stock of 2003 map discs before giving out the 2005's? Where did you hear this? Second of all, what is "BitTorrent"? And third, why in the world would MINI do something as irresponsible as using an out-dated map disc when a new one is readily available? Do you know when the new discs came out? This is really frustrating the hell out of me. I don't believe it's asking too much for a car company to use the most up-to-date information for their navigation systems.

 

Numerous people around these message boards have called MiniUSA and they were told they were using up their 2003 stock of DVDs. It seems the version scheme for the DVDs for 2003-1, 2003-2. Where I assume -1 is the first part of the year and -2 is the 2nd part of the year. For some reason there was no 2004 dvd. Much like any company I'm sure Mini/BMW is trying to save money since they probably ordered in bulk a certain amount of 2003-2 dvds. I'm sure if you call and complain to BMW enough they might send you one. Either way I'm sure everyone agrees that 1800 dollars for a 2 year old dvd makes no sense.

Howard

 

I made acceptances of delivery contingent on receiving the 2005 disc. Was not difficult in arguing my point with the dealership - received a "We Owe".

The Miniusa policy arrogantly defies logic and is insulting to any new purchasers of Minis with navigation systems. It is analogous to purchasing the latest Pentium IV with Windows ME

Shame on You MiniUSA

 

Edge:

Have you gotten the "can't access restricted roadway" when traveling the toll road east toward town just before merging with 66 east? My direction screen goes blank with a white circle at the top of a white arrow. Seldom does the system map me using 66 and anytime I access 66 it instructs me to "perform a U-turn"
Just curious

 

the Nav system tells you to make a U turn when its not needed. For instance there is 2 entrances to my neighborhood about 400 feet from each other. If your using the NAV system to get you home it tells you to take the first right. If you miss it it tells you to make a U-turn ahead rather then taking the next right. Of course I always take the next right and it updates to tell me I'm almost home, but its a bit odd.

Howard

 

Actually there is... It just wasn't packaged for use in the MINI is all. I have a copy of the BMW 2004-2 map data DVD (which is identical in every way to the MINI's map data DVD) and it works just fine in the MINI. I was using it for many months before the 2005-2 DVD came out.

 

This isn't a problem with the nav system itself, but rather a problem with the map data that's on the DVD. MINI/BMW has no control over the map data as that's all done by NavTeq. If you upgrade your map data DVD to the latest 2005-2 version (asuming that you haven't already done so), it may just correct the problem for you.

Also... Isn't there a setting in the avoidance section that will allow you to tell the nav system to avoid making U-turns? If so, then turning that setting on might help as well. If not, then I'm probably confusing it with my Garmin unit which does have the avoid U-turns feature.

 

Happens with the 2003 dvd and the 2005 dvd. And as far as I know there is no U-Turn off option. I'll email Navteq, maybe they can fix it for 2006.


Howard

 

But.. .It is on a Honda! Yawn!!

 

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this:

maps.google.com uses content from Navteq

I hope that public use of this resource will fine tune it and result in more frequent updates to Navteq's automotive navigation customers. I also hope that this reduces the cost to the consumer

I can only hope that MiniUSA and BMW will pass on more frequent updates
at a reduced price. But I am doubtful

 

As HowardPM noted, it's become well known amongst those who read up a lot on the Nav system, and confirmed by MINIUSA. Even without confirmation, it's proven by the fact that even MINIs received TODAY still have the 2003 map discs, even though the 2005 disc has been out since April.

BitTorrent is a new way to distribute (and receive) large files over the Internet, receiving small pieces of the file from many different places. The cumulative speed of all of these small downloads is VERY fast (since they all happen at the same time). The trick is to be able to find a "seed", which is a link to the start of the file. It's great technology, but just like peer-to-peer file transfers, it can be used both for legitimate and illegal downloads. Don't blame the technology though... if that logic applies, cars should be illegal because you can use one to break the law. Here's a link to the "official" BitTorrent website, but there are many 3rd party BitTorrent programs that might perform better or have more features: http://www.bittorrent.com

Because BMW/MINI is a profit company, and they have pre-paid for all of the 2003 map discs they already have, and they don't want to eat that cost. If you ask me though, it's ALSO NavTeq's fault, because they could just as easily accept exchanges from BMW/MINI of older map discs for newer ones... but they probably aren't doing that either. Not that I expect they'd do that for EVERYONE but they should at least do it for their large corporate customers who have ordered 1000s of discs from them... to exchange new and unused discs should not be a big deal.

I agree 100%. That is why I refuse to pay for the 2005 map disc. A 2005 car should come with a 2005 map disc! However, I am still trying to get a free, legitimate copy from my dealer, based upon verbal statements from my MA, who told me we get one free update. I haven't pushed the issue lately but I will do so on my next visit.

 

I don't take the toll road onto 66 usually, I get off at 495. But, I have noticed that 66 inside the beltway is not recognized as a major road or "motorway". I have also seen reference to the "restricted" roadway with regards to 66 before.

At first, I thought this whole mess was a mistake on NavTeq's part, and it happens on both the 2003 and 2005 map discs. Then, I realized it might be deliberate. Remember that during rush hour, the ENTIRE I-66 inside the beltway turns into HOV (in the appropriate direction). For this reason, I suspect that the NavTeq map people decided to demote the road from major highway status, since you can't always drive on it when you're alone. They don't want to run the risk of directing a solo driver to go on it at the wrong time, and cause them to get a ticket. Since the Nav system does not pay any attention to the time of day nor the day of the week, it was easier just to route people in other directions. Still, a call to NavTeq to report the road as mislabeled wouldn't hurt, I guess.

HAH! You've GOT to be kidding... note my earlier point about "profit companies". There would have to be serious competition to cause that, and since there is only one OEM navigation system available for BMWs and MINIs... there is no competition. Again, if it hurts that bad... BitTorrent.