Question about firmware updates
 

I am just curious, is the upgrades like v32, v31 etc part of navteq or does some other company do program them?

navteq makes map data only.

The BMW nav system is designed by SiemensVDO, and sold to BMW (and also to other car companies like Citreon, Opel, VW etc)

It is SiemensVDO that make the OS software, they make it to order - ie: if BMW orders a bug fix, SiemensVDO write the bug fix.

Then the new OS is released by BMW

So how come this site allows for upgrade download, and not navigation upgrade? Is navteq a bigger company than siemensVDO, or does siemensVDO upgrades free software?

On December 03, 2007 Continental AG took over Siemens VDO, which created this content originally). I can assure you that Siemens are a bigger company than Navteq, I can't comment on Continental though.

Carin (the heart of the M1...Mk4 nav systems) was originally made by Philips

Philips sold it to VDO, and for a while it was called Philips VDO

Then VDO sold it to Siemens, and it was called SiemensVDO

Then, as you say, SiemensVDO was sold to Continental...