pete_C: OK, please let me know how you get on.

This is what goes in place of an MKIV in Japanese market Mini.

Someone bought a car originally slated for export but never left UK. They where enquiring on Mini2.com how to use in UK.

Any more info on that mate?

:wow:Keep us updated!

This is not it I think, but interesting.
Japanese NAV (Warning, lots of pics!!!) - MINI2 - MINI Forum

Found it:
New owner with Nav problem - MINI2 - MINI Forum

I`ve converted many Jap market BMW nav systems to standard Euro-market nav

If you want to know how to make the system 100% operational in the UK / europe, send me an email. It CAN be done, I`ve done it many times.

would like to get PM as well :)

Hi all,

the question was if this Japanes unit can replace a MK4 so that we can put maps on a CF Card? Can anyone show us the interface connector? Or a printplan/scematics?

Regards,
Max

Yes, you theoretically could swap out the Mk4 and fit the Japanese version.
But that is only worth doing if the car is in Japan, as the Japanese version of the nav only works in Japan and nowhere else in the world.

Why?

Because Japan uses special Japan-only format map discs, only available in Japan, with Japanese charcaters and Japanses voices.

Not much good for a Euro or USA user in any country other than Japan.

The Japanese nav is a TOTALLY different system, made by Alpine (and not VDO) and does NOT read any VDO map format.

Forget using the Jap nav unless you are in Japan