BMW ditching navigation DVDs for 2009

[LeMansX5]

In a surprising move, BMW has decided to get rid of the navigation disks in their iDrive system in all the 2009 models. The maps will be preloaded into the navigation systems and for the people picking up their car in Europe through the European Delivery program, they will have both European and U.S maps loaded.

Basically, when you pick up your car at the BMW Welt, you will have access to the European maps and as soon as your car gets to the VPC in the U.S, the BMW techs will switch it back to the U.S navigation map. So no need to carry a DVD around or borrowing it from someone else.
If for any reason you would like to receive any future map updates, you will have to take your car in at a BMW authorized dealer and for an extra charge, the maps will be updated.

We're not sure what was the reason behind this decision, but as soon as we hear more information, we will let you know

[jamesboags]

Following Mercedes ? or Vice versa.. although for Mercedes in Europe you get the Nav on the Hard Disk as defaukt and a DVD for other regions.

[bimmer_buachaill]

Are you quoting a press release or are you really surprised?

[LeMansX5]

Its was expected after this earlier news

[Meiac09]

Won't this make updating difficult? Dealers will probably charge a couple hours labour to leave it plugged in!

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by Meiac09

Won't this make updating difficult? Dealers will probably charge a couple hours labour to leave it plugged in!

There will be high speed USB port.

[X5 Meister]

Apparently a re-installation, should it be needed, is done from a 2 DVD master set and consists of 15 GB of data which takes 107 minutes of programming time. Definitely far from high speed I'd say.

http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...rt-number.html

Originally Posted by Meiac09

Won't this make updating difficult? Dealers will probably charge a couple hours labour to leave it plugged in!

[Barney Rubble]

just moving more stuff away from the end user and back to the dealer, a bit like the NAV SW can't be updated on the new systems.

[Imola.ZHP]

Hopefully someone will gain access to the program and share it...

I'm going to guess that this does NOT mean the prices will come down on navigation units, though, IMO, this means they should...

Not sure I'll order my next BMW with navigation though, the aftermarket units are getting so good for such little $$. Then again, they wont have internet access like the OEM units will soon have...

[BabyMakingWeather]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

We're not sure what was the reason behind this decision, but as soon as we hear more information, we will let you know

I think that part is obvious when you look at the number of pirated maps being traded.