Z4MC - Sat Nav Problem

[GillyD]

Has anyone else had any problems with their sat nav? Mine keeps telling me that it can't read the disc and then today it just started freezing completely. Generally I've found that it will come back if I turn everything off and then back on again, but obviously this isn't wildly convenient, partic when you're heading for something complicated. Anyone got any ideas/cures?

Cheers, GillyD

[mmm-five]

Mine does it now & then (and other things like turning my around and directing me to my start-point, or diverting me around traffic and bringing me back to where the diversion started by a roundabout route, or just not routing me when I input a destination) and the only solution is to reset it by switching everything off, waiting a while and restarting - 95% of the time it works.

BMW have had a look and found nothing wrong.

I'm glad I mostly rely on my TomTom for routing and only use the BMW system when I've not brought the TomTom with me.

[tjlazer]

I had this issue with mine - it turned out the previous owner had installed a modified version of the nav software which was causing the problems. If you reinstall the software and are using a proper bmw dvd rather than a copy you should find this will solve your problems. Did for me anyway, even if it means losing the speedcamera alerts...you can buy the software if you need to, otherwise you should be able to find it with some informed internet searching - latest version iirc is v.32, all info can be found on bmw 3 series forums. Sorry I can't remember which i used now.

[Mr E Driver]

Mine does this too.
Intermittantly telling me to insert a disc when there is one in.
Telling me to take a turn when I know I don't need to and telling me I have 100 metres to the turn and then it says 0 when I have just passed the 100 metre junction.
Even though I have the latest disc with 7 character PC search when I get to the last two letters the ones I want are not there as an option.
I use a Garmin as a backup which has not failed me yet and has hotels, petrol stations, cash machines and lots more that the expensive BMW system does not have.

[physprof]

try a full reboot - disconnect battery for 10 secs or so.....take the M mobility kit out of holder, get the spanner in tool kit, three nuts off under where M kit was and pull the housing off battery - use spanner to disconnect battery terminal nearest. reconnect all.

I've twice sorted frozen / lost Assist and telephone this way ..... guess it will do similar with nav.

[mmm-five]

tjlazer said:

I had this issue with mine - it turned out the previous owner had installed a modified version of the nav software which was causing the problems. If you reinstall the software and are using a proper bmw dvd rather than a copy you should find this will solve your problems. Did for me anyway, even if it means losing the speedcamera alerts...you can buy the software if you need to, otherwise you should be able to find it with some informed internet searching - latest version iirc is v.32, all info can be found on bmw 3 series forums. Sorry I can't remember which i used now.

Mine's a genuine BMW one.

Never had a dodgy one in it as I can't see the point of having speed camera alerts that are out of date almost as soon as you receive your copy (and the only way to update them is to burn/buy a new dodgy copy).

[GillyD]

Mine's a genuine BMW one too. I do have a Garmin, and I agree it's very good, but I live in Switzerland and we have tunnels in which Garmins and Tom Toms lose their signals. I'll take it to the dealer and see if they can reset/reboot it or see if they can find a problem - it's really irritating! Overall, the unit seems very clunky compaired to the touch screen one in my VW Touareg.

[Fizgig]

silly point, but have you cleaned the disk and lazer head?

[AndrewD]

Not a silly point at all. However, yes, the disc is clean but at the risk of sounding a bit dim, I have no idea how to clean the laser head???

[GillyD]

Arrgh, didn't realise my other half was logged on. Anyway, sunnyish afternoon in swissyland so off for a drive!

[0836whimper]

This is common problem, my M3 reads an '08 aftermarket disc (with speed cameras etc) fine, but struggles with others. It's doing it at the moment, irritating. I think it's the type of disc and amount of data on it. For some reason zooming out can cause a crash etc.

There is laser unit replacement option which is supposed to cure this, cost is £40 from the same chap who provides me the discs. Requires some simple soldering and there is a DIY guide on the website. I may go down this route, or just lob the '08 disc back in.