Maps update through Connected Drive Services

[kweiske]

I have a 2018 REX model and I'm paying for BMW Connected Services, which shows:

Navigation Map Updates​

With Navigation Map Updates, your BMW’s Navigation System will get the latest maps updated automatically over-the-air. Available subscription periods may differ by mode

However, in my car, my maps version shows as 2018. Is there a way to manually initiate the maps update?

 

[Mondomensch]

There’s a base map version and an (ota) update version. Can you post a photo of your map versions screen?

 

[mojo]

I'm paying for BMW Connected Services

Note that this option does not give you access to Map Updates, once your vehicle is beyond the age that map updates are provided "free" (IIRC in Europe that's 3 years, and in the USA 4 years). You specifically need to subscribe to the map updates service.

And note that although OTA map updates may theoretically be possible, on the i3 it seems to be too slow to actually work (on my 2021 car, at least).

 

[Mondomensch]

…

And note that although OTA map updates may theoretically be possible, on the i3 it seems to be too slow to actually work (on my 2021 car, at least).

A couple of months ago I purchased a new (2024) North American base map on USB stick with unlock code and installed it in my 2020 i3 by plugging in the USB stick as directed by the vendor. Just the other day, a display message popped up that the map had just been updated (ota) and would be active after next restart.

People have reported that ota updates didn’t work, but that may be associated with a very large update file size when the installed base map is many years old.

 

[kweiske]

There’s a base map version and an (ota) update version. Can you post a photo of your map versions screen?

Here you go -

 

[Mondomensch]

Looks like you have the base level ("business"?) navigation. Your version photo shows EntryNav rather than NBT system, which is immediately preceding the "NBT" systems.

From a UK retrofit site:

iDrive 4th Generation: NBT and HU ENTRY NAV​

Professional Navigation NBT:​

The term “Next Big Thing” (NBT) was first used in 2012. It has a redesigned iDrive controller, a bigger HDD, more RAM, faster processing, and optional touch functionality for the iDrive controller, among other improvements. Bluetooth and USB media are handled by NBT units. With Connected Drive, BMW Online (from earlier iDrive versions) is no longer available. NBT iDrive is available on the following car models:

...
⦁ i3 – 09/2013 – present
⦁ i8 – 04/2014 – present

Business Navigation HU ENTRY NAV:​

It’s manufactured by Magneti Marelli and it’s smaller in size compared to an NBT iDrive module. Available on the following cars:

⦁ BMW manufactured between August 2014 – May 2017

That's not to say you have iDrive 4, but rather the EntryNav navigation hardware first introduced with iDrive 4. Any map update would have to be for that hardware. I would try calling the BMW Connected Drive customer service to ask about the ota updating and map update possibilities in general for your car. You might also check with online vendors to see if they have options for your system.

I found the following post from someone with a 2 series but the same nav hardware as you (can't vouch for the vendor replying as I haven't used them):
Bimmerscene thread about EntryNav map update

I have the NBTEvo hardware in my 2020 with Professional Navigation. I've attached a screen shot of the version info from that which indicates the NBTEvo hardware version, the 2024 NA base map I installed a few months ago from USB, and the ota 2025-1 map update that appeared automatically last week.

 

[mojo]

In addition, the MyBMW app should (in theory) show you what updates are available for your vehicle. In some countries, that will link you to a page where you can buy those upgrade online.

 

[Pruden1]

I updated the maps on my 2014 last week through the app purchase. This process was meant to be via USB according to the website during purchase but after I placed the order the email confirmation from BMW stated that the update would be OTA. The OTA didnt occur and through more good luck than management I eventually worked out how to access the download for a USB update. Its a lot of data and filled my 64GByte USB stick and took overnight to download (I live in an area where my download speed is around 20Mb/sec) but once installed everything worked as hoped and the maps are now current. The price of the update was £49 that seemed reasonable to me.
Keith

 

[alohart]

I have the NBTEvo hardware in my 2020 with Professional Navigation. I've attached a screen shot of the version info from that which indicates the NBTEvo hardware version, the 2024 NA base map I installed a few months ago from USB, and the ota 2025-1 map update that appeared automatically last week.

Why did you install the 2024 NA base map? Wouldn't the incremental OTA updates have resulted in the same map data? If you explained this previously, I must have missed it.

Last week, while driving under navigation with a destination set on our 2021 U.S. i3 with Professional Navigation, the nav screen suddenly displayed a full-screen message covering up the nav map asking me whether I wanted to use new nav data now or later. I assume that an incremental map update had just occurred (2025-1? - I'll check). I chose to use these new data now which resulted in the nav system rebooting. That took long enough that had I needed to make some turns under nav, I might have not done so. This is the first time that I have seen this message while driving i3's with OTA updates for almost 3 years.

Unfortunately, BMW's nav still can't correctly route to our apartment. It suggests a convoluted route through a private entrance and road in our neighboring townhouse project which I cannot access. The route passes right by the direct turn into our apartment complex. It also usually suggests a route that's ~3 miles farther than the route that I always drive after passing by a major intersection that leads directly to our apartment. This suggested route would always take considerably more time, so it makes no sense to me. Even though I have checked the setting that implies that nav will learn from the routes that I take that are different from what it suggests, it has been a very slow learner. I've not noticed it ever learning anything.

 

[Mondomensch]

Why did you install the 2024 NA base map? Wouldn't the incremental OTA updates have resulted in the same map data? If you explained this previously, I must have missed it.

There’s a modest chance I might try to drive from the SF Bay Area up to OR and WA, and the ota updates only cover a few states (CA HI and NV in my case). Perhaps I could change that mid-trip, but I figured I might as well update the base map from the 2020 version; price included a free future additional base map update.

Last week, while driving under navigation with a destination set on our 2021 U.S. i3 with Professional Navigation, the nav screen suddenly displayed a full-screen message covering up the nav map asking me whether I wanted to use new nav data now or later.

Yep that’s what happened to me too when the 2025-1 update arrived.

Unfortunately, BMW's nav still can't correctly route to our apartment. It suggests a convoluted route through a private entrance and road in our neighboring townhouse project which I cannot access.

Have similar issues for certain locations which sometimes seems to be associated with a single point street address used for a large complex.

 

[alohart]

I have the NBTEvo hardware in my 2020 with Professional Navigation. I've attached a screen shot of the version info from that which indicates the NBTEvo hardware version, the 2024 NA base map I installed a few months ago from USB, and the ota 2025-1 map update that appeared automatically last week.

Why did you install the 2024 NA base map? Wouldn't the incremental OTA updates have resulted in the same map data? If you explained this previously, I must have missed it.

Last week, while driving under navigation with a destination set on our 2021 U.S. i3 with Professional Navigation, the nav screen suddenly displayed a full-screen message covering up the nav map asking me whether I wanted to use new nav data now or later. The incremental map update, 2025-1, had just occurred. I chose to use these new data now which resulted in the nav system rebooting. That took long enough that had I needed to make some turns under nav, I might have not done so. This is the first time that I have seen this message while driving i3's with OTA updates for almost 3 years.

Unfortunately, BMW's nav still can't correctly route to our apartment. It suggests a convoluted route through a private entrance and road in our neighboring townhouse project which I cannot access. The route passes right by the direct turn into our apartment complex. It also usually suggests a route that's ~3 miles farther than the route that I always drive after passing by a major intersection that leads directly to our apartment. This suggested route would always take considerably more time, so it makes no sense to me. Even though I have checked the setting that implies that nav will learn from the routes that I take that are different from what it suggests, it has been a very slow learner. I've not noticed it ever learning anything.

 

[alohart]

There’s a modest chance I might try to drive from the SF Bay Area up to OR and WA, and the ota updates only cover a few states (CA HI and NV in my case). Perhaps I could change that mid-trip, but I figured I might as well update the base map from the 2020 version; price included a free future additional base map update.

Makes sense! I hadn't considered that i3 owners might need to drive outside of the area covered by incremental map updates.