Enabling NAV on replacement headunit - 2016 i3

[br33zy]

I just had to replace the factory headunit in my 2016 i3 with another OEM headunit. It's not the exact same model, but an 'approved' replacement part number within BMW's system. The navigation menu is now disabled. The mechanic at the dealer says it's due to some sort of hard coding in the system that 'knows' it's no longer the factory headunit. Is there someway to enable NAV? Seems there should be

 

[mojo]

Was it supplied as an official BMW part? If so, the supplying dealer should be able to assist in getting it working. If not, it's almost certainly the result of anti-theft coding. They deliberately make it hard for people outside the dealer network to overcome, to try to make headunits less attractive to smash & grab thieves. Though TBH I'm a bit surprised it works at all - I think on other German cars (e.g. VW) it simply would not work at all if transferred to a car other than the one that it was originally coded for.

 

[br33zy]

No, it didn't come from the dealer, although the mechanic provided me with a list of supported model numbers. I got it off of eBay

 

[mojo]

Ah, Ok - if your local BMW dealers are like the ones here, they will not help you then. I would probably try calling up a few local car audio firms with BMW experience and see if they can help. The coding for Nav installation and updates on the i3 is probably the same as for many other more common BMW models.

 

[jfran2]

For the cost of paying a mechanic to sort this out, I wonder if you could just purchase one of the third-party units that give you Carplay/Android Auto in your i3? I think I only paid a couple of hundred dollars for mine a few years ago. I was able to install it myself, and it works very well. Plus, I get free nav updates.