Sat Nav MKIV Very Strange Question? - Page 2

scourtaud23 · #1 12-18-2017, 11:56 AM

The joys of google, I've burnt a CD and I'll be trying it later today. At this point this is for style more than substance since I'm contemplating going MKIV ou Eonon/Seicane/... or all in with the NBT retrofit.

My main concern is the auxiliary heating operation.

brucemillar · #2 12-20-2017, 03:07 AM

Well here is my not very scientific feedback on my own findings.

Copied ebay discs are a lottery in the MKIV unit.

I suspect that the main two reasons are:

1) Quality of the physical media = poor/cheap
2) You have no control over how it was burned or what was burned (source data). = Poop in = Poop out.

Firmware:

The MKIV was not designed to run the latest v32 "hacked" firmware with Speed Canera Alerts, 7 digit Post Code - Day & Night Mode etc:

1) It simply overloads the system as it continually reads from the disc in an effort to keep the latest image on the screen.
2) This results in the head unit freezing with a variety of errors. The most common being "unable to read the disc" That is not a lie, It is actually unable to read the disc.

TMC:

This places a massive load on the system as it is constantly being updated via the radio then converted into map data, then displayed. As you enter built up areas, this update process swamps the nav system that is also attempting to deal with all the other "hacked" updates. = The system re-boots and keeps re-booting as it cannot keep pace with all the data being thrown at it.

Solution (this worked for me)

1) Use only OEM discs (firmware and Map) no hacks.
2) Turn off TMC (it is a great feature but is a killer when it gets busy)
3) Give up and use a TomTom or Garmin - Better maps and more reliable + touch screen and speed camera's etc are all in there.

I want the OEM screen and do use it for radio, music etc. But the Map system is antiquated and prone to hangs (just when you need it most) and that is with OEM discs and Firmware.

scourtaud23 · #3 12-20-2017, 05:49 AM

I'm with you on most of it. I'm even on MKIII...

I'm pondering options and since I've got DSP, most of them are a pain :
- Upgrade to MKIV and BM54 to get aux input
- Splice into the CD Changer for the aux input and use a silent CD to keep DSP alive.
- Get a Grom Audio box : 250$ excl. delivery
- Upgrade to an android system : 300 to 800$ apparently excl. delivery and its not that simple.
- Go all in with an NBT retrofit : 1200 to 1500$ depending on parts cost and not that simple
- Give up........

Android and NBT are an issue since my sat nav is used to control the axiliary heating (I'm hoping to get a remote but I don't know if it would work without the nav).

I did download more recent maps and burned one on a good quality CD and will see how it holds while driving. I do remeber trying the modified CD with speed cameras a few years back and it did not work well in an MKIV mini nav.

brucemillar · #4 12-20-2017, 08:20 AM

My thinks is that the easiest way to retain things like Auxiliary Heating - Radio Display etc is to simply fit a TomTom or Garmin Unit and just not use the OEM nav. This means we have two screens which I did not really want as I like the OEM look.

However the Nav is simply not up to today's standards and tweaking it is simply introducing more issues that it cannot cope with.

Has anybody run a MKIV with Genuine BMW V32 and the latest maps without it freezing or spewing errors?

brucemillar · #5 12-21-2017, 01:40 PM

Well I have now run for several days and several hundred miles without a single 'nav crash' or "unable to read the CD error". No re-boots and no freezing of the buttons. In fact, it is fair to say, it is working as designed. I am running OEM V29 firmware from BMW Navigation Files @ neiloakley.com I am also running OEM BMW Maps with no speed cameras and no TMC.

I will try switching on TMC (I am in the UK) just to test if it causes any of the issues mentioned above.

If you are having issues with the Nav freezing, unable to read discs, re-booting etc. Then I would suggest that you first off check that you are NOT running hacked firmware. V32 with Speed Camera's and 7-Digit Post Code simply would not work on my MKIV. I am convinced that this is down the disc carrying way too much data for the MKIV system to process. I could physically hear the Nav Drive struggling to read with a hacked disc. By changing to the OEM Disc it is very noticeably quieter (Yes I did lie in the boot with the wife driving, no I am not making this up) I also tried several different V32 discs on "high Quality slow burn discs" None made any real difference as the issues would always return.

I have opted to run with the OEM Discs and use a Snooper for camera alerts.

bcredliner · #6 12-21-2017, 02:06 PM

I've been running the MK IV for many years with V32, never had a problem. BMW nav unit is cumbersome to use and very dated technology and maps. In the middle of installing state of art android system though it is has become the imaginary horrible plug and play installation project come true.

brucemillar · #7 12-21-2017, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I've been running the MK IV for many years with V32, never had a problem. BMW nav unit is cumbersome to use and very dated technology and maps. In the middle of installing state of art android system though it is has become the imaginary horrible plug and play installation project come true.

Are you running the hacked V32 or the OEM?

IF money were not an issue I would do as you are doing and rip out the OEM unit. The radio is a pain (failed output transistors) Installed BT module after I had an aux lead installed, but that is also not straightforward as it very rarely remembers the pairing for devices, meaning you have to re-pair every time you get in the car. I just gave up.

It had gone way past it's sell be date, and had done so when it was launched. Mercedes are not much better with their OEM nav systems that do not have speed camera's (because they are illegal in Germany) struggles to download music, when you want it to etc.

They should just sell the car with a tablet.

bcredliner · #8 12-21-2017, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucemillar

Are you running the hacked V32 or the OEM?

IF money were not an issue I would do as you are doing and rip out the OEM unit. The radio is a pain (failed output transistors) Installed BT module after I had an aux lead installed, but that is also not straightforward as it very rarely remembers the pairing for devices, meaning you have to re-pair every time you get in the car. I just gave up.

It had gone way past it's sell be date, and had done so when it was launched. Mercedes are not much better with their OEM nav systems that do not have speed camera's (because they are illegal in Germany) struggles to download music, when you want it to etc.

They should just sell the car with a tablet.

Not the OEM version.

A Grom or Mediabridge might be something to consider. I had a Mediabridge for many years that offered some of the more recent features. Not a difficult install and never had a problem with it. I also had the Sirius option for the Mediabridge