Once upon a time, all that was required for basic maintenance on a car was occasional tire replacements and routine oil changes. There’s more to it, though, if you want to maintain a contemporary BMW with an iDrive operating at its peak.
Maintaining your BMW’s iDrive should be a frequent effort, just like maintaining any other aspect of your car, whether it’s updating your iDrive software or downloading BMW maps to the factory navigation system.
In fact, Bavarians advise performing BMW sat nav updates at least twice annually and preferably more frequently.
Go to your iDrive navigation view, open the settings menu, and scroll down to Navigation system version to check the map version in your BMW. The region, version, and year of your current map are displayed. It’s time to update if it’s older than a year. Do you have a MINI Cooper? Read more on the navigation upgrade for the MINI Cooper.
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HOW TO USE A USB DRIVE TO TRANSFER AND INSTALL THE MAP UPDATE TO YOUR VEHICLE.
You are prepared to get inside the car once you have downloaded the map update or purchased the dealer’s USB disc with the update. Put the USB disk containing the most recent map data into your car’s USB port. The navigation update mode is automatically switched on by the Control Display. Choose “OK” to launch the update. The entire upgrade process could take anything from 30 to 90 minutes. You are not required to wait for the update to be finished. During the upgrade procedure, you can continue use your car and navigation system. Go to your map and press OPTION on the iDrive controller to restart the updating process. Next, choose “Navigation data update.” Please keep the USB disk in place until the update is complete. The navigation system will restart itself after the update has been installed successfully. This ends the updating process. Please navigate to “Navigation,” choose “Settings,” “Position and version,” and then pick “Version information” to view the currently installed map version.
Next Big Thing: NBT iDrive
In compared to the earlier CiC iDrive, NBT iDrive Systems have a higher processing speed, 3D maps, and a more user-friendly interface.
By keeping an eye out for one or more of the following traits, you can determine whether you have NBT iDrive:
- Menu item for BMW “Connected Drive”
- The new NBT iDrive controller type, which has a larger knob than the CiC version (see below), will be the sort of rotary controller you have;
- The map will display “NBT xxxxx”
Choose Navigation, then click Options, then choose Settings, and then the position and version history link. choosing Check Version
You cannot tell if a system has NBT iDrive by looking at its display size because NBT iDrive systems can have displays that are 6.5 in., 8.8 in., or 10.25 in. It is always advisable to use the date of production or the user interface’s aesthetics (or both) to identify whether you have NBT iDrive.
On my BMW, how can I update the map?
Several times a year, changes to the maps are released. They are offered in the BMW Shop as a one- or two-year subscription. If you have a current subscription, you can use the BMW Update Manager to obtain the most recent refresh from the BMW Connected Drive portal and update your map data. You’ll need a 64GB FAT-32 formatted USB drive and the methods below to accomplish this.
- First, use the icon in the site top to connect into your My BMW Account. Go to “My Vehicles” by navigating.
- Choose the vehicle for which a map update is desired.
- Go to the “Map update” section. If a new map version is available, a notification will appear.
What mapping software does BMW employ?
2020 saw the release of the BMW Maps navigation system for automobiles using the BMW Operating System 7. By fusing real-time data with predicting models, the cloud-based solution accelerates route calculation and also makes it more dynamic.
Google Maps may be downloaded on a BMW.
Google Maps and BMW ConnectedDrive have launched a new service: The Internet can be used to choose the destination for navigation. An innovative partnership between BMW and Google shows how the car may be intelligently networked with the Internet and allows for the direct transfer of address information to a BMW vehicle.
What iDrive version do I have on my BMW?
The iDrive system’s navigation is a crucial component that makes getting from A to B simple. But since roads and sites of interest constantly change, it’s critical to maintain your BMW’s GPS maps updated if you want to get the most out of your iDrive.
Many of the most recent BMW models include over-the-air (OTA) map updates, which use the vehicle’s integrated SIM card to automatically download the most recent map data. The procedure in these automobiles is comparable to updating your smartphone to the most recent iOS or Android version; all you have to do is restart your car after your iDrive has downloaded the data.
For vehicles that do not allow OTA updates, a manual upgrade is necessary. Previously, updating BMW navigation maps required changing a DVD holding the map data. More newer vehicles include built-in hard drives that hold the data, allowing you to update your map by overwriting the hard drive’s contents. You can accomplish this with BMW by connecting a USB stick with the updated map data to the USB port in your vehicle.
It’s a good idea to determine which map version you need, which relies on your iDrive system, before purchasing a new BMW map. Use the settings menu when your iDrive navigation is open to navigate to “Navigation system version,” where you can see the region, version, and year of your current GPS data.
How can I tell if the software in my BMW is current?
How will I be informed when an upgrade is ready? Similar to when other new software is made available to your phone, any newly available update packages will be instantly announced as a notification on your BMW control display or on your smartphone via the BMW app.
How often do BMW’s maps get updated?
You’ll always have access to the most recent navigation map data, which is an advantage. Up to four over-the-air updates per year. When the most recent map data is available, updates happen automatically.
Is Google Maps compatible with my BMW?
Visit Google Maps in any web browser, log in using your Google userid, and then search for and select the “gear” icon. You may register your BMW with Google there by entering your BMW Assist user name and password.
Is my BMW running Operating System 7? How do I know?
All automobiles equipped with the BMW Operating Systems 7 and 8 qualify. Over 20 different BMW models total.
* Depending on the country, the vehicle’s model, its equipment, and its condition, different upgrades may have different requirements.
The hardware that is installed in your car determines whether it can receive the BMW Remote Software Upgrade. This is possible in almost all vehicles running BMW Operating Systems 7 and 8. If your car is one of them, you can quickly and easily find out. To accomplish this, choose “My Vehicle” > “Settings” > “General Settings” > “Remote Software Upgrade” from the vehicle’s menu. Use this feature if “Remote Software Upgrade” is shown.
Your BMW will always be up to date thanks to this free software update. A BMW remote software upgrade may come with new functions, functional upgrades, and quality improvements. Depending on the country, the type of vehicle, its equipment, and its state, the material may change.
You will receive a push notification as soon as new software for your BMW becomes available via the Control Display in your car or the My BMW app on your smartphone, if you have it installed. You may access the upgrade in the app or on your BMW to see what information is being updated or new features are being introduced. Make sure your car is securely parked and won’t be utilized for the next 20 minutes before the upgrading begins. Installing the upgrade is as simple as following the directions on the Control Display.
You have two options for downloading the latest software with the BMW Remote Software Upgrade: either through the My BMW app or automatically while you’re driving directly through your vehicle SIM. You will be asked to confirm the installation of the new software and to launch it after the download is finished.
The entire installation and upgrade process only takes about 20 minutes once the download is complete (length depending on your internet connection or network coverage while driving). Your vehicle is not operational during the installation. Before your subsequent journey, you will be alerted that the upgrade was successfully installed. You can now go back and view the upgrade’s contents if you like.
Due to hardware limitations, the BMW Remote Software Upgrade is factory installed; a subsequent purchase is not feasible.
Can the BMW navigation system be upgraded?
The most recent BMWs, in contrast, save the map data on an internal hard drive, which can be updated either by downloading the newest BMW maps and manually uploading the information to the iDrive, or (in some vehicles) automatically by BMW.
When your navigation system needs to be manually updated, there is no special software or programming needed from BMW. The map information is downloaded on a USB stick that may be inserted into your BMW’s armrest or glove compartment (in older models with the CIC iDrive system) (in newer vehicles). When a new map becomes available for installation on the iDrive, the system will immediately detect it. To start the installation, your iDrive controller will ask you to provide a BMW FSC activation code. You won’t need to use any BMW iDrive coding software because everything is done over the USB connector.
You’ll be all set to go after the procedure is complete. How long does it take to upload the BMW map update? Once more, it depends on your head unit and the most recent BMW navigation update download you performed. It will take longer if your map version is more dated.
For BMWs equipped with the ENAVEVO, CIC, NBT, NBT Evo, and other head units, BimmerTech provides navigation map upgrades. Available for vehicles running the Premium, Motion, Next, Move, or other navigation systems, in North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and other territories.