I suppose this is timely even if this thread is 5 yrs old. The good news is the the USA is getting the updated rtti system europes had for about a year. Traffic info is delivered via the built in telematics data link rather than crappy fm channels. The info is suppose to be more up to date, covers more roads and more detailed.

Expect to see this in the next gen x5 next year. Not planned for the current e70.

I have an MK4 and recently inserted a 2009 map DVD. The SW is 4-1/60, so it does not have the perspective mode. With the new(er) disk I gained the ZIP code search ability in addition to City field.

Also, now I have a greyed out TRAFFIC INFORMATION as part of the available choices. I understand that the disk might have the Traffic info coded into the files, like traffic icons or something for the next generation cars (MOST) but I thought if the present hardware was not capable of reading that info, that option would not even be present.

which brings me to the nagging question, how to enable the greyed out option? Will the sirius module with a paid traffic subscription activate that option?

I recently activated the time synch between in car clock and the GPS clock, so the car is capable of reading satellite info and apply it to the car settings...

Is it capable of reading the sirius traffic info and display it on the Nav? I don't know...

Anyone with a sirius module who can try a $4 traffic subscrition to test it out?

this is for E53 models...

Traffic info is not supported on the e53 for usa cars.

Also youre better off posting e53 questions in the e53 part of the forum

you are right, i should have - i just didn't want to start a thread that was already started... i will try to move it...

btw, would you happen to know why it is not supported for US models?..

Simply had not being rolled out. Rtti in the USA until the new system arrives uses clear channel fm broadcasts.

I have been searching the web to see the technical information on the format of the data that is being transmitted. Needless to say, that I could not find anything usable... :(

It seems that the older generation BMWs in Europe have using the TMC via BM54 radio (dual tuner in later iterations of the BM54 model line up), and the rest of the world is using the BM53 radio, which is single tuner... But, the BM53 unit is capable of accomodating the Sirius radio, while the BM54 is not... And the Sirius people are also broadcast the traffic information... which the BM53 might or might not be able to utilize...

To have the TMC or RTTI or whatever it might be called, a car would need at least:

1. Disks that contain the TMC data (check)
2. Radio unit that is capable of getting the TMC info off air (either FM, like classic station in UK, or perhaps Sirius)
3. and the signal should be in compatible standard for the the whole thing to work...

4. Service needs to be subscribed to...

And still, nobody had pulled it off, which brings it back to the original point - it is not possible...

However, I have heard numerous times "not possible" from a dealer, just to find out that it indeed can be done: I was told no TV function is possible by factory means in the US spec cars - I had a TV working in the car (before digital signal), I was told, no Bluetooth possible in the cars before certain year, and I saw even a '98 model year 7er with factory BT, can't remove the "Accept" screen from Nav screen, I have it taken off, can't do this, can't do that... and some things are doable...

Hence I am still hoping that with the right combination of hardware and software and provided signal we might be able to pull it off... and I am willing to pay for the subscription as $5 a month is well worth the time saved on the road and spent with the family...

BMW have never used or have no plans to use traffic info from Sirius in any of their navigation systems.

USA uses clear channel via fm radio, only on CCC or CIC navigation systems

There has never being traffic info on older mk1,2,3 or 4 ibus navigation systems in the USA.