Use extreme caution!
 

I just killed my wife's X3's nav system (which is a Mark IV DVD-based system) trying to upgrade it. Here's what happened:

1) I downloaded the image file using the above link.
2) I burned it using Alcohol 120% version 1.9.2 at 8x (the lowest I could go - 1x was not an available option) on a good-quality CDR using the default options.
3) I booted up the nav system, then went to the back of the car, ejected the nav data disk and inserted the disk I'd burned. Since there was a message on-screen saying there was no disk (which appeared when I ejected the nav data disk) and asking me to press "OK", I went back to the front and pressed the right knob. At no time was the key turned off.

At this point I got the expected black screen with orange text saying "Note: CD-ROM in navigation computer, Loading software" but did NOT get the white and blue screen that usually follows showing the progress bar. Instead the screen went black and stayed that way. I've done about a dozen nav upgrades over the years, starting with my 2001 330xi, in 3 different BMW's so I've seen all sorts of things happen. I decided just to let it ride and that perhaps the update was occurring anyway. I stood at the back of the car waiting to see if the disk ejected for about half an hour, then gave up and hit the Eject button.

Fortunately, the update disk did eject so I was able to put the nav data disk back in. It would have been kind of embarassing to take it to the dealer with the pirated update disk in it! I also went back to the front and hit the right knob for good measure in case it was waiting for an "OK", but nothing happened. After letting the car sit long enough for the DVD drive to power down I turned on the ignition, but the nav screen is still black.

I guess we'll take it to the dealer with a mysterious malfunction to have them repair it under warranty. I will NOT be trying to update my Z4's system, at least for a while. The X3 DVD drive is MUCH more accessible, and if I got a disk stuck in the Z4's drive I'd have to disassemble a major part of the car to get at the drive to try to remove the disk. (I know this since my nephew once stuck some sort of disk he'd burned into the drive and killed it so that the nav system would not work nor eject the disk.)

It's clear that several people have used the same file for a successful update, and I've had success many times before with other versions. However, I'd urge great caution until a larger number of successes is seen.

same thing happened to me when i upgraded to v25 a few months ago :dunno:
i freaked out!
black screen!!!!!!!!
no worries
i reloaded v24
everything went fine
and reloaded v25 one more time (im stubborn)
and everyting went fine

so if your lucky you can reload v25 and it should be alrite...
let us know how it goes

When upgrades go wrong...
 

Hi All,

Just downloaded the V26 upgrade, burnt at the lowest speed I could in Alcohol 120% (8x), and my Mk4 upgrade went fine..

But just to say if you trash your nav system, don't worry, as I've had the panic attacks a number of times, when upgrading my Mk3 in my other car, all the way from V17 to V25..

I've had the black screen, and also when the nav computer disappears from the system altogether, and you get the menu with the blue background, and the horrible chunky orange text, and no navigation option, and also a stuck CD..

In all cases where an upgrade has gone wrong, I've simply turned the car off, and left it for 15 mins, re-burnt a CDR, gone back to the car, and tried again. Worked everytime...

When the CD got stuck, there was no need to goto the dealers to get it removed. The solution is to press and hold the eject button on the nav computer, until the light on the eject button stops flashing..about 2 mins, and then let go of the eject button, and immediately press it again. The nav computer then ejects the disc.. re-burn, and try the upgrade again

NavMan

V26 on eMule if anyone wants it
 

ed2k://|file|BMW.V26.Alcohol120Image.rar|143699795|697FAC 791F5FE01C18B6F2C9F9CDAC3A|h=H6AOIGNCLZOCMPAVKC5PW JJWMECTPDRN|/

V26 on Mk3
 

Has anyone tried the V26 upgrade on a Mk3 yet? I know some people have said not to try, but on another forum I read that it does work, and the upgrade went OK, but they had a few problems with the software after 2 mins of use..

Just wondering if anyone else has upgraded a Mk3 to V26, before I go out and upgrade mine..

My Mk4 upgrade on my other car went fine..

NavMan

Just completed the update exactly as instructed on this website on my '05 X5...worked flawlessly. As for my concerns regarding metric/imperial...no problem...handled in the Settings menu.

Very happy with results...big difference. Map now has the high-end Acura/Lexus look it always needed. Especially like being able to Disable Icons. Big thanks to all those who made it available here. :thumbup:

I updated. I'll be honest, it looks fricken amazing. I showed it to a bunch of folks, and they agreed. BMW rocks now.

I loaded my 2005 X5 and my 2004 X3 without any issues. Road tested both and everything is fine. A successful install for both vehicles.

MJM

Just updated mine! Looks great!!!

Thanks!

i concur
update successful
its BITCHEN