Help! SatNav beginner needs your expertise...
 

Hi folks. I've just registered as this seems to be the place to come for BMW satnav help.

Anyway, I have just acquired a 330Ci from 2001 with the mkIII 5:4 satnav (the one that uses CDs and isn't widescreen). It came without a disc, the dealer obviously isn't bothering his backside and has refused to help, so I've been trying to locate one myself, but that's not why I'm here....

I decided that, whilst I wait for the right disc to appear on Ebay or wherever, I'd update the satnav to the latest version. That's where it all started to go wrong.

I created a KeyCD using the recommended Windows-based clone software, and also a BMW NAV v31 disc. I turned on the ignition as far as to get power, inserted the disc into the satnav and things started okay - it said it was loading software. Then it went blank on the screen.

After giving it around 15 minutes, I tried ejecting that disc and putting the KeyCD in - didn't make a difference. I noticed that the navigation menu item is no longer present, incidentally. I then gave up and found this site, with a recommendation made on another topic to try going to an older version of the software, so I found a copy of v21.1 and again cloned it using the recommended clone software.

I repeated the previous process, but this time there is no suggestion that anything is happening - no message in the screen, and the only sign of life from the satnav is the little red light below the eject button, which was blinking regularly on a repeating pattern. Again, ten minutes of this and I decided enough was enough and turned off the ignition. And back on, discovering that I can't get that cd out.

Help!

All I want to do is to get it back to how it was, so that I can use a satnav disc (once I get one for GB & Eire) - I'm not even bothered about having the latest version of either software or maps - just something that works and doesn't render my 330's satnav 'bricked'...

Can anyone help, please? Pretty please?

Thanks,

John

Soo... the MKIIII in your car is a piece of junk... It hates burnt CD's and rarely ejects them...

My recommendation: Start upgrading the system in pieces. The swap to an MKIV DVD based system is super easy, just unplug the CD drive and replace it with a DVD one...

When you're ready, you can then easily upgrade the BM53 radio and radio up front to a widescreen.

One of the experts, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you can use the MKIV with an older radio and non-widescreen, right? You just need a newer radio to recognize the widescreen...

Umm, well, I don't think upgrading things is cost-effective, really. I just want to get what I have working. If that's possible.

Any suggestions as to:

(a) how to remove the cd?
(b) how to reset the satnav unit so that it will read a software disc?

...or any other tips?

Thanks,

john

1) ign. key in pos.1
2) driver side door open
3) push and hold eject button until CD comes out (can take up to 60 sec.)

Usually works

..then flash the unit with a WORKING disc burned in MODE2 FORM1. This is CRITICAL for MkIII units. May I guess that you have used MODE1 disks?


///M

I'd buy the legit upgrade disc from BMW. Its cheap ($15), and I'd rather not play around with CD-Rs on a $500 drive... Does the v.32 disc contain the MKIII software also?

So you don't think the satnav unit is broken - just needing re-flashed?

What is this 'mode 1'/'mode 2' business? I used a CloneCD image I downloaded - how would I know if it's mode 1 or mode 2?

I agree, I shouldn't have messed with it, but I did and now I hope I can get this existing CD out and restore it back to working somehow...

Probably not... This is a standard error when modifying firmware for the MkIII. Take a look here: http://http://www.xoutpost.com/elect...-mode-2-a.html



///M

I love reporting good news - I tried a number of things, some of which I recall and some of which I don't, but after a hugely long wait (30 minutes) all of a sudden the little flashing led stopped flashing and the screen refreshed and the update started. So, after another ten minutes of that, then a reboot and a key cd, I'm up and running!!!! Yay!!!!

Now all I need to do is to procure a GB+Eire 2008.2 cd :)

That's good news, but I was never really worried about the unit being bricked :)
You should however do a re-flash of the software if it didn't load in about 6 min. This because of the high possibility that you had read-errors in your first flash attempt. This can cause your unit to suddenly hang or other strange behaviour at the most inappropriate time... (when traveling)

///M

I might do that - but I'll wait until I see that I have a problem :-)

Now, I'm a happy bunny having just won the complete 2008.2 genuine Navteq Europe CDs (9 in total) for £37. I reckon having up-to-date maps with the car probably adds more than £37 to its resale value, and as they're genuine I can have a clear conscience too :-)

john