Upgrading from V29 to V31, now I have blank white screen
 

Hello everyone,

While trying to upgrade the nav system in my '01 330ci from V29 to V31, I inserted the V31 disc and the system reconized it as a system disc. I hit ok to confirm and the screen went white. I thought it was a part of the process but the screen remains white and flashes occasionally. The unit in the trunk also refuses to eject the V31 disc. Now I'm not sure what to do. I just finished skimming through a 36 page thread but I still can't determine if my system is ruined. What did I do wrong? Any help is MUCH appreciated.

- canaryM

Do you have a MK3 or a MK4 Nav computer. A 2001 should have a MK3 computer. And with V29 it should be up to date. So why did you try to upgrade your system?

I'm not sure which one I have and I guess I was ignorant to the fact that V29 is the most up-to-date software for my system. Like I said, I didn't confirm to move forward with the upgrade. I just hit ok when it told me a system disc is present. I'm hoping that once I get the disc out of the unit, it will come back to life. Has anyone else gone through this?

Many people have experienced this.
You most likely have a Mk3 and have likely burnt the CD in the wrong format.
Tip: Mk4 says "DVD" on the nav drive front panel, Mk3 does not.
Mk3 is sensitive to CD format, a Mode1 CD will crash the system.

You need to eject the CD, throw it away, and burn a new CD in the proper Mode2 format. I use ImgBurn, it has never let me down, and faithfully burns the same format that the image is in. Check the mode before you burn!

For a CD that will not eject from the navigation computer, follow the procedure below:
1. Remove the navigation computer.
2. Unplug the voltage supply (blue connector).
3. Reconnect the voltage supply and immediately press the eject button repeatedly until the CD in the drive is ejected.
4. Insert a new navigation software CD and restart the installation process.

Ok, so mine is Mk3 because I know for sure mine is CD based and not DVD. I will try what you suggested, thank you very much.Does this mean that the V31 upgrade does work on my system and is not only for Mk4? Also, once I am able to get the disc out, will my screen come back to life so I can run the upgrade again in the proper format?

V31 works for 7 different nav systems: Mk1...Mk4, and NAVI01...03

But you must make sure the CD is in Mode2

Your nav currently has no OS loaded, it cannot function until the OS is loaded from the OS CD.

Ok, I'm pretty sure I screwed up by not burning in Mode2. I have my V29 disc that I know works for sure. Will that put the OS back on? If not, where can I find it? Also, will I have to take it to BMW to have any programming done for the onboard computer, etc?

Any Os disc higher than V23 contains EXACTLY the same Mk3 software version: 3-1/63

if your V29 is Mode2 then use it

When the Mk3 restarts if will have default programming loaded (7 series, widescreen with new-gen radio, Euro-mode, etc) You can leave it like this, or get it coded by the dealer to your car if you wish. Or use my NavCoder :-)

So is there any real reason for me to upgrade to V31 from V29?

If you previously had 3-1/63 loaded, then you CANNOT upgrade any higher. There is no newer software for your Mk3 available.

Once the Mk3 has 3-1/63 loaded, inserting any OS CD above V23 achievese absolutely nothing.