Sat Nav MKIV Very Strange Question?
 

Folks

I think I may have lost the plot here?

Last week, I was attempting to fix an issue with MKIV Nav (now resolved).

But here is the thing...

I am sure, I put a genuine BMW Map, in the drive and then by mistake (I forgot there was a disc already in there) I put another map disc in the drive. That map disc has been accepted and is working but keeps freezing the unit with "error reading disc"

Am I mad here? Is it possible that I could have two discs in the drive but only one working and being able to be ejected?

For the life of me, I cannot find my original genuine BMW disc anywhere? I know I did install it in the drive. I am now convinced that it is still in there.

Before I reach for the screwdrivers, can anybody tell me if what I am thinking has happened is possible? I can only imagine this scenario, if the original disc is somehow stuck, but allowing the next disc to slide underneath it and still be read.

Failing this explanation, the disc fairies have crept in and had it away with my original disc, under the cover of darkness. I have tested my sanity by counting fingers and toes and all three of my testicles.

Thoughts folks please?

It has happened to me in a 2005 Mini convertible (MKIV too) but it didn't work at all, didn't eject, screwdrivers and patience were required...

Thank you. Assuming we are both not mad? Then you may have confirmed my theory. I shall take the covers off and have a poke around.

I've seen this too - but usually only in changers though (removed 7 discs from a 6 CD unit once). Not mine, I hasten to add!! :rolleyes:

I guess it's possible that the missing disc is in there but it's highly unlikely the unit would eject etc.

Let us know what you find! Oh, and check the other jewel-case or sleeve for the missing disc! ;)

I did check the case/sleeve and also pulled the car apart. I also tried blaming my wife. That usually gets her searching to prove her innocence. She also drew a blank.

I shall update when I get it apart tomorrow.

It souldn't take too long to be sure if it in or not, the unit is nicely accessible on the X5... (Its was under the passenger seat in my MCSC)

Well it was/is not inside the unit!!. But it did give me the opportunity to clean the laser with Isopropyl and my air line.

My madness is confirmed. I have somehow managed to completely lose a Genuine BMW Map Disc, that I had in the car and in my hands?

I needed this to prove my theory that copied discs cause errors and do not read correctly as well as cause the nav to freeze on the buttons.

I have also read that using hacked discs with Speed Camera's etc can cause the same issues.

I have now gone back to V25 Firmware with No TMC Maps and No Speed Camera's but still on copied discs. I shall update on my findings.

Insanity is a valid defense...

At least now you're sure. As for the bugs with copied discs, you've interested me in trying to find maps CDs to at least have one that shows roads where I am so if I do find them, I'll give it a try and see if they work correctly.

As for the genuine disc, I'm quite sure it'll turn up someday.

We call it a "senior moment" over here. Don't worry, I'm having more and more of them too.. :nanana:

Copied discs does cause the slower readings and I can hear the laser pickup do "search" a lot more (I can hear this because the DVD drive sits just behind my right ear on my MCoupe). But even using OE Genuine BMW Map discs, the laser pickup unit eventually gave up and start giving me that "errors" and won't read it properly (had a couple of Genuine BMW Maps and both behaved the same). Had it repaired a few weeks ago and now working perfectly, but I hadn't tried a copy disc to see how well it reads it yet.

The joys of google, I've burnt a CD and I'll be trying it later today. At this point this is for style more than substance since I'm contemplating going MKIV ou Eonon/Seicane/... or all in with the NBT retrofit.

My main concern is the auxiliary heating operation.

Well here is my not very scientific feedback on my own findings.

Copied ebay discs are a lottery in the MKIV unit.

I suspect that the main two reasons are:

1) Quality of the physical media = poor/cheap
2) You have no control over how it was burned or what was burned (source data). = Poop in = Poop out.

Firmware:

The MKIV was not designed to run the latest v32 "hacked" firmware with Speed Canera Alerts, 7 digit Post Code - Day & Night Mode etc:

1) It simply overloads the system as it continually reads from the disc in an effort to keep the latest image on the screen.
2) This results in the head unit freezing with a variety of errors. The most common being "unable to read the disc" That is not a lie, It is actually unable to read the disc.

TMC:

This places a massive load on the system as it is constantly being updated via the radio then converted into map data, then displayed. As you enter built up areas, this update process swamps the nav system that is also attempting to deal with all the other "hacked" updates. = The system re-boots and keeps re-booting as it cannot keep pace with all the data being thrown at it.

Solution (this worked for me)

1) Use only OEM discs (firmware and Map) no hacks.
2) Turn off TMC (it is a great feature but is a killer when it gets busy)
3) Give up and use a TomTom or Garmin - Better maps and more reliable + touch screen and speed camera's etc are all in there.

I want the OEM screen and do use it for radio, music etc. But the Map system is antiquated and prone to hangs (just when you need it most) and that is with OEM discs and Firmware.

I'm with you on most of it. I'm even on MKIII...

I'm pondering options and since I've got DSP, most of them are a pain :
- Upgrade to MKIV and BM54 to get aux input
- Splice into the CD Changer for the aux input and use a silent CD to keep DSP alive.
- Get a Grom Audio box : 250$ excl. delivery
- Upgrade to an android system : 300 to 800$ apparently excl. delivery and its not that simple.
- Go all in with an NBT retrofit : 1200 to 1500$ depending on parts cost and not that simple
- Give up........

Android and NBT are an issue since my sat nav is used to control the axiliary heating (I'm hoping to get a remote but I don't know if it would work without the nav).

I did download more recent maps and burned one on a good quality CD and will see how it holds while driving. I do remeber trying the modified CD with speed cameras a few years back and it did not work well in an MKIV mini nav.

My thinks is that the easiest way to retain things like Auxiliary Heating - Radio Display etc is to simply fit a TomTom or Garmin Unit and just not use the OEM nav. This means we have two screens which I did not really want as I like the OEM look.

However the Nav is simply not up to today's standards and tweaking it is simply introducing more issues that it cannot cope with.

Has anybody run a MKIV with Genuine BMW V32 and the latest maps without it freezing or spewing errors?

Well I have now run for several days and several hundred miles without a single 'nav crash' or "unable to read the CD error". No re-boots and no freezing of the buttons. In fact, it is fair to say, it is working as designed. I am running OEM V29 firmware from BMW Navigation Files @ neiloakley.com I am also running OEM BMW Maps with no speed cameras and no TMC.

I will try switching on TMC (I am in the UK) just to test if it causes any of the issues mentioned above.

If you are having issues with the Nav freezing, unable to read discs, re-booting etc. Then I would suggest that you first off check that you are NOT running hacked firmware. V32 with Speed Camera's and 7-Digit Post Code simply would not work on my MKIV. I am convinced that this is down the disc carrying way too much data for the MKIV system to process. I could physically hear the Nav Drive struggling to read with a hacked disc. By changing to the OEM Disc it is very noticeably quieter (Yes I did lie in the boot with the wife driving, no I am not making this up) I also tried several different V32 discs on "high Quality slow burn discs" None made any real difference as the issues would always return.

I have opted to run with the OEM Discs and use a Snooper for camera alerts.

I've been running the MK IV for many years with V32, never had a problem. BMW nav unit is cumbersome to use and very dated technology and maps. In the middle of installing state of art android system though it is has become the imaginary horrible plug and play installation project come true.

Are you running the hacked V32 or the OEM?

IF money were not an issue I would do as you are doing and rip out the OEM unit. The radio is a pain (failed output transistors) Installed BT module after I had an aux lead installed, but that is also not straightforward as it very rarely remembers the pairing for devices, meaning you have to re-pair every time you get in the car. I just gave up.

It had gone way past it's sell be date, and had done so when it was launched. Mercedes are not much better with their OEM nav systems that do not have speed camera's (because they are illegal in Germany) struggles to download music, when you want it to etc.

They should just sell the car with a tablet.

Not the OEM version.

A Grom or Mediabridge might be something to consider. I had a Mediabridge for many years that offered some of the more recent features. Not a difficult install and never had a problem with it. I also had the Sirius option for the Mediabridge