Official BMW 2011 maps - worthwhile?
 

I just received the official notification of 2011 map availability - BMW Navigation Map Updates Store

It still seems to be on a pair of single-layer discs for some reason.

I didn't purchase the 2010 map due to numerous posts here saying it had lots of problems compared with the 2009 version.

So, I'm wondering if anyone here bought the 2011 maps and can comment on their quality compared to 2009 and 2010?

I sent Tele Atlas numerous error corrections to their map data. To date, I have not received any response from Tele Atlas (that either my observations are invalid or that the problems have been corrected). Tele Atlas appears to be a non-responsive, small, low budget outfit compared to Navteq and Google. Personally, I would stay away from these disks.

TeleAtlas was acquired by TomTom in 2008 for $4.3 billion, and Navteq by Nokia for $8.1 in 2008. Not small operations for either company.

I would hope BMW switched suppliers not only for cost of licensing, but for quality as well. I've found both systems to have their own idiosyncratic inaccuracies for the same geographical locations.

2011 Professional NAV DVD have Search by Name
 

I recently upgraded from 2009 to 2011 and now when you use the Information menu you can search by name.

You still have to drill down into the category ( i.e. Dining/Restaurants/Fast Food) but once there you can enter a few letters of the name and then search.

This is a feature that has been needed forever.

Just recieved the 2011 pair of DVD disks for North America.

Part number: 65 90 2 199 843 Region 1 and Region 2

I have a MkIV in a 2006 X3. Updated software a couple of years ago with updated High Version 2009.1 single DVD of North America.

Its been fine for the last year or so but would like some upgraded maps. The 2009.1 Navteq appeared more to be maps from 2008.

I put one of the new DVD's in and I am getting an error that it is the "wrong" DVD.

Do I have to upgrade the OS such that the GPS recognizes the new TeleAtlas DVD?

Any suggestions?

The part number you have listed is for iDrive cars with CCC, aka Professional version of the discs.

You need the High version of the discs for iBus vehicles.

Thanks cegeste!
Christmas present I just got around to...will see about returning them...

Terry,
The 2011 map DVDs are posted here in the forum somewhere. I downloaded them for free. Just search for it. They're awesome!! They have the radar traps and camera traps listed and displayed, and the dynamic traffic routing is awesome too with the new maps it all comes together very nicely.

I think we should have the same DVD/Nav system coz' I have the in-dash DVD nav in my 2008 X5 (E70). And i confirmed your partnumber is the one I am using.
It was pretty much plug n play for me. Instructions are out in the forum as well on how to set it up.

My X3 has the legacy MKIV navigation system. Last set of NAV disks I bought were NavTeq dated 2009/10 (don't recall) but they were identical to the 2008 disks that I bought with no updates to the maps. I wrote to NavTeq about the issue; they opened a ticket and closed it about a month later. So I found it a waste of money and actually would say it wasn't right that Navteq updated their disk dates and not the actual maps selling the same map disks for two years without updating them.

I gave my Nav disks to my neighbor a month or so ago; but it was a nice thought and Christmas present from my wife. I have 4 neighbors here with Bimmers. I'm the only one with an X3 (rest have 3, 5, 7 series).

I purchased the 2011 maps fom TeleAtlas, since they have a 30-day return policy. It turns out that the map data on the "2011" discs is from May, 2010. TeleAtlas customer support was very nice and gave me an RMA to return them for a full refund. They also said that the 2012 maps will be built from maps with a date closer to the release date. Apparently part of the problem is that once the maps are mastered onto DVDs, there are a number of back-and-forth passes with BMW for approval and possible corrections. So there will always be some delay. Also, BMW sets the price for the maps, not the map supplier.

Here are the disc versions and data dates for the 2011 and 2010 maps:

Why are there 2 discs for the 2011 NAV DVDs?

Is one disc for the U.S. and one for Canada?

Thanks!

jon in Chicago

The MK IV nav computer can't reliably read double-layer DVDs. So the map comes on 2 single-layer discs. Disc 1 is Canada and eastern US (to the Mississippi River, give or take) while Disc 2 repeats all of Canada but adds the US west of the Mississippi and Mexico.

Thanks, Terry...

How will setting up a trip from, say, Chicago to Denver work with the new 2-disc setup? Will the trip be "processed" through to the destination, and will I be prompted to insert a new disc when I reach the edge of the map coverage area as I travel?

I like to use my Nav for keeping track of miles to destination, as well as ETA at destination...

Thanks!

Jon in Chicago

I don't know how it works on the TeleAtlas discs. On the old NAVTEQ CDs (the whole US was on 1 DVD, so it didn't affect that), the other CDs had major highways for the whole country, and a somewhat higher level of detail (but nowhere near complete) for slightly out-of-region areas.

A good portion of the size of the data is info about each road - speed limits, turn restrictions, 1-way, and so on. Even on an out-of-region disc, you'd still see the map image with roads, rivers, etc. but most roads would be shown in gray, not brown, as the GPS just knew them as features, not roads. If you turned from a brown road onto a gray one, you'd get a blue "Correct dest. guidance not available" overlay on the map, and if you were currently being guided by the nav, it would announce "You are not on a digitized road".

I assume that something similar happens with the TeleAtlas discs. I'm traveling now, but when I get back to New York I'll pop in the West DVD and see what happens.