TMC function
 

My 2001 X5 4.4 sport has the 2001 Nav CD ( Mk 3 ) .The TMC doesn't work on the Sat nav.I read that you have to have an up to date version of the Nav CD for the TMC to work.Does it only work with the current version that BMW sells? If not which version could I get away with to get my TMC active. :thumbup:

Since nobody else asked, what's TMC?

Stands for Time Machine Control. It's right next to the flux capacitor. Seriously, I was wondering the same damn thing. Mr. Wizard? You out there?

JV

I cant remember what is stands for but is Traffic .... .... What it does is when you are using the Sat Nav if the TMC is turned on it tells you of any hold ups so you can go around them and not get stuck in traffic !

how do i know if i would have this? sounds pretty useful down here in so cal.

I believe the TMC function is only available in the European market. I'm also not sure what it stands for, but the T definitely stands for Traffic ... perhaps Traffic Monitor Control? :dunno:

It has been out in europe for some time and just been released in the uk.I think the info comes from radio stations If I could work out how to post pics on here I will take some so you can see what you are missing Maybe that is why your cars cost nearly half the price of ours in the uk LOL

Tmc
 

it stands for traffic management control, the later nav versions in europe not sure about US receive travel bulletins and update the Nav map with travel delays/accidents if there is one on your route it will flag up a warning and if pos. offer an alternaye route. Works well as long as travel news is up to date. i have come to areas that the nav thinks are blocked only to find it cleared some time ago.

Jet

I TMC not in any of the manual the cars come with. I'm no wizard......but it stand for TRAFIC MESSAGE CHANNEL. Works via radio signals in UK.
Hope it helps

You have to have a TMC enabled disk AND a TMC enabled Radio Pack such as the BM54. The 54 has a dual tuner, one of which is dedicated to the station selected as the TMC broadcaster. In the UK, this is Classic FM.

A non-dual tuner radio pack WILL work, but the TMC will only operate if the radio is tuned to the TMC broadcaster.

Not sure if the Mk3 Navi has the TMC facility. Damned useful bit of kit though - like the UK Trafficmaster service on steroids.

Yep, it's the dogs! If you get a later 2005 BM54 it's improved even further with Dynamic Routing. This feature takes the TMC data (length and time of delay, bad weather, closed roads, roadworks, faulty traffic lights, etc.) and assesses all traffic and route options. If a quicker route is found it automatically reroutes. Of course it's only as good as the TMC data source, which is generated from vehicles fitted with special transmitters, traffic monitoring cameras, etc. There tends to be a 10 -15 minute delay i.e. some traffic incidents aren't reported in time and sometimes they show as still present when they have cleared.

Still it's a lot better than standard radio broadcasts, and it's saved me being sat in major traffic jams on many an occasion :thumbup:

TMC is transmitted primarily in Europe
You need a TMC enabled CD or DVD from VDO-Dayton
I don't think Navteq offer TMC on their CDs

For the UK you need the second one down here :-
http://www.vdodayton-shop.com/start....=18&ShowLand=1

note the TMC/Itis Logo

Your TMC icon is Green when tuned in Red when not and black if there is no service or the CD does not have TMC codes

Most of you BMW guys will have either a BM24 or BM54 radio both usually have dual tuners one tuner automatically locks to the TMC transmitter
In the UK it is Classic FM.

The later BM54 offers muting for messages as normal and dynamic routing.

If you are unlucky enough to have a single tuner Radio then it must remain tuned to the correct station to receive broadcasts but CD or tape can also be used instead.

It is a brilliant system offering look ahead information and on several occasions has provide me with almost an instant voiced warnings of something that can only have happened a few minutes earlier the nav screen automatically switches to provide information on the problem it shows when the last exit will be in miles and you have the option to divert

How can you tell if you have bm54 or bm24?

TMC rocks. If only they would include speed camera's in it...

Hey that's a really good idea! I never thought of that, it would work even better than having them on the DVD, cos they would always be up-to-date. There would be no need for any kit/disk updates - just turn it on via classic fm, etc.

Come on BMW/ITis holdings :cool:

The problem is updates with CDs or DVDs only come out every 6 months if they did hold Gatso info you could never be 100% sure about that new one just put up around the corner and static info is useless for mobile camera vans.

Carx offers te ability to use the Nav screen to warn of such devices but again this depends on how uptodate the DB is, the one I use is very out of date and for some reason warns me of a non existent 60MPH camera each time I go over the River Severn!

That's why the TMC would be so good - it's dynamic and up-to-date. ITis holdings could get the DB from someone like roadangel or whoever supplies the db, maybe even the pocketgps team ;)

You could have an extra category in TMC for speedcameras and upon connection the speed cameras download with the rest of the traffic updates. Not sure how well this would work re. performance - there are a LOT of speed cameras in the UK!

Oops yes I forgot The traffic camera codes could be transmitted by the Radio Broadcaster but that would take up a lot more bandwidth and would have to be fairly constant as there are lot more fixed and mobile cameras around than the travel related incidents unless the Nav Comp could cache say 50 miles worth of info

The Nav OS would certainly have to track a lot more objects as well

The whole Nav Comp would probably grind to a halt, it struggles now drawing the maps hence the loss of detail with the latest OS releases.

I would imagine somewhere in a model office or developer land VD0-Dayton Navteq and ITIS holdings have dabbled with it though

Which version map cd would this be and can it be downloaded

any of you using TMC with the new Perspective mode (SW v.27) and see any varning signs?

Yes - we have some major roadworks on one of the Motorways close to us - I get the warnings on screen (red bordered if they are on my route, grey if not) and the alert screen - Also get the delay flow arrows showing the length and direction of the delay.

I've got a Sep 2004 M3, with sat nav / tv etc.. My radio has TMC, and the dual tuner etc, but I haven't seen a "dynamic routing" option? Is it listed in sat nav menu somewhere? Or does it "just happen" automatically?

When driving around I get the usual message pop up on the screen telling me of "incidents" on my route..

What do you mean about "muting for messages as normal and dynamic routing" as you said above?

Thanks,

navMan

Dynamic Routing is in the route preferences menu, along with short route, fast route, use motorways, etc. If you don't have it then you will using the Divert option which requires a manual response - I wasn't at all keen on this cos the system would quite happily provide a divert around a 2 minute delay, and then send you on a much longer route with even longer delays. There is no intelligence behind it - with dynamic routing available and enabled, the system does not present the divert screen as it is all automatic.

It was only introduced on the X5 late 2005, so I guess you won't have it on a 2004 M3.

I replaced my early 2004 BM54 with a late 2005 BM54 and the dynamic routing option appeared. It's strange that it is a radio tuner upgrade required and not a new NAV unit, but that's how VDO have implemented the solution. I personally would have thought that as long as you can get TMC, then how the NAV software handles the traffic scenarios is down to the MKIV, but apparently not.

I got my new BM54 from ebay for about £340, but they can be cheaper if you get an older unit, but you must make sure that the version you buy supports dynamic routing.

Oh, and don't downgrade the OS (V27 - V26, etc.) or the ETA goes screwy and the dynamic routing cannot work without a recode.

My NAV is used primarily for traffic avoidance - I know my way to work (most mornings anyway) but it's a long, very busy journey with multiple opportunites for delays. I like the idea that I'm getting the quickest possible route at all times , even though it might not necessarily always be true! Some of the TMC data is a little 'suspect' to say the least.

Do you recall what the part number was for the updated unit? Quite fancy this facility - annoyingly, my nav was retrofitted in December 2004 so I would have hoped I would have had the latest BM54 - I wonder if I can claim an intermittent fault and get the dealer to swap it out? :) Anyone got any 'ideas' about intermittent faults I could use? :thumbup: