If you plan on purchasing the VERY COSTLY ($2,100) Navigation option on the MINI, DON'T!!!

I suggest you read this first:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=119125


If you have already purchased and paid for the Navigation system, you may be entitled to a refund soon.

 

If you're going to continue with your "One Louder" campaign, you may want to erase posts such as the one below before your legal council (or worse, MINI's advocates...) finds them:

Or, at the least, put the word "Search" in your subject line.

~Neal

 

That's a pretty bad system if you can't start typing words and start getting businesses. Heck, I can do that with a little free POI program on my phone (via an online database). Type sta and starbucks, staples come up every time. I use it all the time when I travel. Were the older Nav systems like that too? I'm really glad I didn't opt for it now. It's a nice gizmo and all, but if you really want the best gizmo with new features it's not this one. This unit is probably 4-5 years old. And don't think for a minute they're gonna fix it either. There aren't but a few thousand of these running around out there, most owners don't care if it's fixed or not. If it were an iPod bug it would be fixed. US Mini Cooper, no. We all know gizmos like this are going the way of the CD changer, but that's probably 4-5 years away and it will a gradual phase out because some people will still want one.

 

I think people thinking about buying the navigation system at a premium price, of $2,100, should be notified that it DOES NOT WORK, period. The fact one part works, does not relieve the fact that the most important part of the system, doesn't work.

WHEN mini fixes the problem, then we can change the post. But for now, you should NOT purchase this system.

 

Funny, I don't consider Pep-Boy Detection as the most important part of the system.

That said, I'd be happier if the system did have that ability.

~Neal

 

Pepboys was just used an example. There are tons of other specific places I can't find either.

As far as not getting the system right now, I'd still get it. I like the way the nav works and the way all the car's settings are integrated. The way the radio, mp3, etc display on it. I'd still get it, but not based on there advertising of 6 million searchable POIs. That's BS. I can't search them.

 

What are the names of these "tons of other specific places" that you are not able to search to?

Yeah, I think the "NAV System" is misnamed. It's really an extended in-car display system.

I appreciate what Birdman is trying to accomplish. I'd like to have full functionality in the navigation software's search system. But I don't know that he's going about things in the most constructive manner. Threatening to sue, spamming multiple forums with childish rants filled with misspellings and RANDOM capitializations, making direct statements about what consumers should or should not do, etc. Were I a producer of a product, this behavior would give me *less incentive* to assist the consumer who has the problem (as I wouldn't want to reward such behavior from my customer base). The folks who presented a logical, rational argument and tried to work with me to achieve the goal would be the types of consumers I'd be more willing to reward.

But I'm not a producer of a product, so take my opinion for what it is.

~Neal

 

I agree with Minidrivr. There's nothing actually wrong with the nav system per se. It's the way that the Point Of Interest (POI) data is set up on the map data disc that's the problem.

For one, it is lacking in many common places that should be there (such as Pep Boys, etc.), but the real problem is in the way the POI data is organized on the DVD. It's currently broken down in to more than a hundred different categories and if you don't know the EXACT category the POI you are looking for is in, then you can't find it as there's no way to do a search of ALL the categories at one time.

That's definitely a flaw in the system, but one that's easily fixable by the map data provider (assuming they want to fix it that is). In fact if you look through the thread that Birman pointed everyone to above, you'll see that I'm well on my way to having a fix for the problem simply by incorporating a "SEARCH ALL" menu on the DVD that will allow you to do exactly that.

I agree that for this expensive of a system I shouldn't have to hack the map data DVD in order to make it work as it should, but I wouldn't through the baby out with the bath water either. It's still a really nice system that works great at routing you to unknown destinations.

 

Office Depot, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, a dry cleaner down the street from me. Longs drugs, to name a few I've checked on.

They might be in there, just haven't found the right category. And spending more time sitting in the car trying to locate one instead of just hitting 411 on my phone and getting an address is kind of a moot point. The POIs just aren't very usable without knowing what category and many are in the wrong categories (all of those Pepboys locations for example are categorized wrong).

 

A business has to participate (read pay subscription fee) in NAVTEQ Direct Access in order to be listed in the database.

http://www.navteq.com/support/direct.html

It could constitute a substantial advertising dollar to a chain with a lot of units. It's really not a proven advertising medium yet. My guess is that many larger chains are holding out for further market studies...or maybe the current market studies don't prove the cost/benefit value.

 

That sucks. I could see a few of those being places that I'd want to find while out and about (Pep Boys would be the type of place I'd only think to go to after working in my garage -- really can't think of circumstances where I'd want to find one while on a road trip -- maybe to pick up a blown fuse or something...).

I'm with those hoping that this issue gets officially addressed. But I'd end up happy if there was a home-grown solution for searching for these businesses as well.

~Neal

 

Navteq simply sells the database to MINI. The firmware in the Nav system is what decides what to do with the data. All German manufacturers tend to choose to use non-Japanese hardware manufacturers for their Nav systems, and IMHO, therein lies the problem. It's no secret that BMW, M-B, Audi, etc are not as talented in writing software as the Japanese.

 

That's not necessarily true... The MINI's nav system firmware has been set up in such a way that ALL of the POI information, searching capabilities, etc. is controlled by the arrangement of the data on the map data CD/DVD. It's well designed in that respect, but the data provider (i.e. NavTeq) is the one in error here. For one, they are providing crappy/incomplete POI data to begin with, and two, they haven't structured it properly on the map disc (i.e. they haven't made it properly searchable when the nav system itself is fully capable of doing that).

I have found a solution to the second problem (and the first as well if you feel like adding your own custom POIs to the database), but the first problem really needs to be rectified by them (i.e. NavTeq). They need to get a better/more updated POI database. Maybe they have one, but MINI/BMW just doesn't pay them enough to use it???

Here's the solution I have come up with so far (it works with both 1st gen and 2nd gen MINIs):

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...&postcount=138

I feel it's a good solution but it took a LOT of work to make it happen. It would be SO easy for NavTeq to do the same thing, but obviously (i.e. since the system has been flawed in this way since at least as far back as 2002) they have expressed no interest in fixing it.

 

The Meal,
Your making some HUGE (capitalized!) assumptions (probably spelled wrong, but you know what, you know what word it is! I can't spell for nutin, no secret there! ). Unfortunitely, I sent MINI customer service some very nice, detailed descriptions of the problem, including possbile solutions. I did not request they completely re-engineer the system, replace hardware, just simply fix the POI db so it works, a LITTLE for gods sake.

The answer I got back from them was much less than satisfactory. It basically said:
I then re-sent it, and asked them to re-read and evaluate it, maybe they didn't get the point. I got NO response.

So, they put it on themselves. They had every opportunity to solve the problem. If we can solve it (as we are, read the other thread), there is absolutely NO REASON they should not solve it.

If your 1 week old car didn't start in the morning, would you put it in your garage and work on it for weeks to fix it?? NO. You would bring it to MINI to fix it. And I'm bringing my NAV to mini, and they will FIX IT.

And just for the record, I can't spell in these posts and often CAPITALIZE in them becuse I am typing faster than my fingers go, becasue I am so incensed over this. This is nothing short of an absolute CLUSTER FU___KKK!!! MINI and BMW should be ashamed and embarrased over it. And I'll ensure they they do get embarrassed if they don't fix it. And YES, I am pissed off beyond belief and will fight to the very end, TRUST ME!!

 

And to add what office stated above, I don't GIVE A HOOT who's problem it really is. I bought the car from MINI, I paid $2,100 for a Nav system and it doesn't work. THEY need to fix it. How they fix it, is there problem, not mine. And it certainly shouldn't have to be fixed illegally (breaking copyright laws) by Office, as he is doing.

 

I'm with you, Birdman. We both want the same thing (a NAV search system that gives us the ability to search on 6M POI's). If you're successful in the campaign you're waging, then I'll certainly be one happy camper. However, I'd also be happy if T.O.M.'s fix works (although I'll probably be $40 less happy, if that makes sense). I'm not thrilled about how you're going about making things happen, but if the ends justify the means then I'll be just as appreciative as anyone else.

Best luck, and thanks,
~Neal

 

You won't only be $40 less happy, you will also be about 40 hours (minimum) less happy!! And, you could also be fined, or go to jail for following T.O.M.'s directions. How happy will you be in jail? (the bright side is, you mini's nav will work!! ).

And like I said, I don't like the way I have to go about this either. I would love to have received the appropriate email from mini:

Gee, was that difficult??? When they see the letter they will need to have drafted to the NY supreme court justice explaining there side of the story, I suppose they will recon they should have just fixed the problem in the first place.

 

And the MINI Nav goes on, unfixed!!

Anyone get an update from MINIUSA?

 

Sounds like you're a very angry man... Birdman, that is.

Anyway, it isn't something I'd get worked up about, and although I don't really like how Birdman is yelling and being a generally angry person, without people like him, $#!7 doesn't get changed.

Who knows, maybe one day MINI will have a decent NAV due to some legal mumbo jumbo. But I thought BMW/MINI was known for their horrible navigations? Ah, well. I'd say, "You get what you pay for!" but that doesn't apply here. Shucks.

 

Let me get this straight. Instead of posting the actual reply, you post an interpretation of the reply as if it is a quote. No offense, but your credibility just went down the drain. You have also left yourself wide open for litigation by doing that.

 

my system works great. i use it all the time. but then again, i've never tried the POI function.

BTW ... i've tried POI on other GPS systems, on loaners, rentals, etc. ... and find them to be universally rather poor. businesses go under or they move, etc. ... i've pretty much given up on POI. i don't miss having it on my mini 'cause i never use it.

low-tech solution to hyperventilating posters: a brown paper bag to breath into.

 

Yes, PLEASE sui me for a post in an internet forum, that states an incomplete and indirect quote!!!

And your opninion matters why?

The only opinion that matters here is, MINI's.

But just a question, you folks that defend MINI for a system that does not perform as advertised, let me ask you WHY? just curious?

 

We aren't defending MINI for system that has FAULTS. We are disturbed by your attitude, not about what you don't like about your MINI, but toward every poster here who dares to challenge any of your assumptions and declarations. Now, how about providing the actual quote? Oh, I know. You don't give a crap about what we think......

 

But the system does work as advertised, people have shown how you can can find businesses based on the POI feature. The fact that it doesn't work in a fashion that YOU consider appropriate isn't a failure of the system to perform as advertised, it's a failure of the system to perform in a user friendly fashion.

 

Mr. Birdman. With your attitude, I am suprised that you got any response from Mini. Maybe you didn't? The way you are acting, I wouldn't try and help you. The NAV works. Nothing is perfect. There are a lot of silly posts here and yours are some of the worst. I find this forum great for answering questions and it helped me when I had a question that the dealer could not help with. I got the answer here and passed it on to my dealer. I am amazed at how many folks are so upset over minor issues. I have an 07 MCS and am very happy with my dealer, the car, and service. Delivery was just as promised. Maybe my comment about satisfaction will offset some of the negative postings here. Grow up, Mr. Birdman.