Official BMW 2011 maps - worthwhile? - Page 2

Terry Kennedy · #11 08-27-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Kennedy

So, I'm wondering if anyone here bought the 2011 maps and can comment on their quality compared to 2009 and 2010?

I purchased the 2011 maps fom TeleAtlas, since they have a 30-day return policy. It turns out that the map data on the "2011" discs is from May, 2010. TeleAtlas customer support was very nice and gave me an RMA to return them for a full refund. They also said that the 2012 maps will be built from maps with a date closer to the release date. Apparently part of the problem is that once the maps are mastered onto DVDs, there are a number of back-and-forth passes with BMW for approval and possible corrections. So there will always be some delay. Also, BMW sets the price for the maps, not the map supplier.

Here are the disc versions and data dates for the 2011 and 2010 maps:

Code:

2011 disc 1 - built 2010-05-19, map data 2010-05-11, IPD data 2010-05-10
2011 disc 2 - built 2010-05-25, map data 2010-05-07, IPD data 2010-05-25
 
2010 disc 1 - built 2010-01-04, map data 2009-11-05, IPD data 2009-12-28
2010 disc 2 - built 2010-01-04, map data 2009-11-09, IPD data 2009-12-28

Sponsored Links

Jon509 · #12 10-03-2011, 04:15 PM

Why are there 2 discs for the 2011 NAV DVDs?

Is one disc for the U.S. and one for Canada?

Thanks!

jon in Chicago

Terry Kennedy · #13 10-03-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon509

Why are there 2 discs for the 2011 NAV DVDs?

Is one disc for the U.S. and one for Canada?

The MK IV nav computer can't reliably read double-layer DVDs. So the map comes on 2 single-layer discs. Disc 1 is Canada and eastern US (to the Mississippi River, give or take) while Disc 2 repeats all of Canada but adds the US west of the Mississippi and Mexico.

Jon509 · #14 10-04-2011, 04:29 PM

Thanks, Terry...

How will setting up a trip from, say, Chicago to Denver work with the new 2-disc setup? Will the trip be "processed" through to the destination, and will I be prompted to insert a new disc when I reach the edge of the map coverage area as I travel?

I like to use my Nav for keeping track of miles to destination, as well as ETA at destination...

Thanks!

Jon in Chicago

Terry Kennedy · #15 10-04-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon509

How will setting up a trip from, say, Chicago to Denver work with the new 2-disc setup? Will the trip be "processed" through to the destination, and will I be prompted to insert a new disc when I reach the edge of the map coverage area as I travel?

I don't know how it works on the TeleAtlas discs. On the old NAVTEQ CDs (the whole US was on 1 DVD, so it didn't affect that), the other CDs had major highways for the whole country, and a somewhat higher level of detail (but nowhere near complete) for slightly out-of-region areas.

A good portion of the size of the data is info about each road - speed limits, turn restrictions, 1-way, and so on. Even on an out-of-region disc, you'd still see the map image with roads, rivers, etc. but most roads would be shown in gray, not brown, as the GPS just knew them as features, not roads. If you turned from a brown road onto a gray one, you'd get a blue "Correct dest. guidance not available" overlay on the map, and if you were currently being guided by the nav, it would announce "You are not on a digitized road".

I assume that something similar happens with the TeleAtlas discs. I'm traveling now, but when I get back to New York I'll pop in the West DVD and see what happens.

Sponsored Links