Navigation System: monthy or yearly cost?

[donk]

I'm planning out what i want on the new 330cic i'm going to order and really want the navigation system. But, I wanted to know if there was any type of yearly or monthly fee to use it considering that it needs a satalite to work.

Then again i'm not sure if i should be waiting for the 4 series convertible [???1]

Thanks!

 

[Fabp_330Ci]

There is no yearly or monthly charge associated with the navigation system.

However, I believe that BMW only entitles you to one upgrade DVD and after the first free update I believe you have to purchase additional ones if you want them. Can anybody verify this?

 

[Tom]

There is no yearly or monthly charge associated with the navigation system.

However, I believe that BMW only entitles you to one upgrade DVD and after the first free update I believe you have to purchase additional ones if you want them. Can anybody verify this?

That is exactly true. One free upgrade after the first year then you are on your own.

 

[donk]

Thanks! That’s good news!

I'm assuming that you can continue to use an old disc for as long as you like?

 

[Tom]

Thanks! That’s good news!

I'm assuming that you can continue to use an old disc for as long as you like?

Yeah you can continue using the old disc for as along as you like.

 

[bmwrocks]

That is exactly true. One free upgrade after the first year then you are on your own.

Did you actually do this or do you know anyone who has done this? I just spoke to BMWNA last week complaining that the DVD delivered with my '04 (in August of '03) was a 2002 version. They said that was the correct version for the delivery time of my car (which seems to be true). They refused to give me an upgrade and said I could contact navtech if I wanted an updated one for a cost. They said nothing about any free upgrade nor did the dealer whom I complained to first and where I made the call from.

I also did not ask the question.

Is this a service provided by your dealer (your particular dealer, Tom) or BMWNA to all owners?

On another note, BMW is delivering cars today with DVDs labeled "2004-2". If you call navtech (the map disc provider) they will tell you that the 2004 version of maps is not to be released until September 2004. So how is it that BMW is providing 2004 discs when navtech hasn't even produced it yet? I have been trying to get to the bottom of this with no success.

All I can think of is BMW is labeling the DVD "2004-2" when it really is navtech's 2003 disc.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[Tom]

I'm not sure if it's a BMWNA wide thing.

The free software upgrade was based on my personal experience and it was sent directly from NavTech.

 

[ger3sf]

Thanks! That’s good news!

I'm assuming that you can continue to use an old disc for as long as you like?

Naturally, businesses come and go, so an update would be due after a couple of years or so. It's like the yellow pages...after a while, the listings get stale.

 

[ger3sf]

On another note, BMW is delivering cars today with DVDs labeled "2004-2". If you call navtech (the map disc provider) they will tell you that the 2004 version of maps is not to be released until September 2004. So how is it that BMW is providing 2004 discs when navtech hasn't even produced it yet? I have been trying to get to the bottom of this with no success.

All I can think of is BMW is labeling the DVD "2004-2" when it really is navtech's 2003 disc.

Last week, I rec'd a Europe DVD that I ordered directly from Navteq for my ED trip. It was labelled as 2004-2. I hope to get the latest US DVD version (2004-2 also?) when the car is re-delivered sometime in July.

 

[dm_longhorn]

I don't have NAV but if I did... I'd look for the software online. Yes, I'm a thief. DVD burners are dirt cheap now and software is a click away.... it's just a matter of combining the two.

 

[euro-D]

Last week, I rec'd a Europe DVD that I ordered directly from Navteq for my ED trip. It was labelled as 2004-2. I hope to get the latest US DVD version (2004-2 also?) when the car is re-delivered sometime in July.

What did it cost?
Some say the European Delivery center will loan you a Europe DVD for free if you ask, but it is not gauranteed they will.
Even if they can't or won't loan you a DVD to use for the trip for free, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy the DVD from BMW in Germany than from Navteq in the US?

 

[euro-D]

I'm planning out what i want on the new 330cic i'm going to order and really want the navigation system. But, I wanted to know if there was any type of yearly or monthly fee to use it considering that it needs a satalite to work.

Then again i'm not sure if i should be waiting for the 4 series convertible [???1]

Thanks!

There are no fees now, but I think car makers are working on ways to charge monthly fees in the future.
Many plan to offer extra services like real time traffic and other types of services similar to OnStar that you will have to pay for and may be bundled together with future nav systems.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

There are no fees now, but I think car makers are working on ways to charge monthly fees in the future.
Many plan to offer extra services like real time traffic and other types of services similar to OnStar that you will have to pay for and may be bundled together with future nav systems.

BMW is now testing the idea of real time traffic info which would be sent from other BMW's(according to an article i read in a magazine)...thus you are driving on the freeway and you have you nav screen on and u can see that there was a traffic slow up ahead, the info is based on other BMW's slowing down at that point, I think, i think the article was also on this site a while back?

 

[bmwrocks]

I don't have NAV but if I did... I'd look for the software online. Yes, I'm a thief. DVD burners are dirt cheap now and software is a click away.... it's just a matter of combining the two.

You can't find the software online, but someone on here was nice enough to let me ftp an image of their 2004-2 disc and then I burned the image. It works perfectly. BTW the image is 3.7GB and it took 10 hours to ftp transfer!! Good thing computers don't have to sleep at night......