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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Sat Nav - new maps?

Could somebody please tell me if there is a cost to keeping the SatNav on a ZT/ZT-T up to date? I have heard that some in-car systems need expensive CD upgrades every now and again and (as a prospective owner) I wondered how expensive the BMW based system in a ZT is to maintain.

Thanks,
John.
John Prewer

The BMW sourced colour sat nav system in the 75 is produced by VDO. While the operating system can be updated on the version installed in BMWs, the petty huns in Munich have nobbled the version supplied to Rover to ensure upgrades cannot be applied! The maps, however, are a different prospect. These are supplied on CDs and are produced by Navteq. The latest versions of these can be purchased direct from VDO at this site:-

http://www.vdodayton-shop.com/start.aspx?action=Category&CategoryID=18&ShowLand=1

They issue new map CDs once or twice a year. I personally update our UK one every other year and last year upgraded my European ones after 4 years.

So, while it is not essential to upgrade to every new release of map, it is nice to get upgrades occasionally.

Ebay is a good source cheaper map discs – do a search for “VDO sat”. Some of the cheapest are made by TeleAtlas rather than Navteq. These are cheap because they are crap and I would avoid like the plague – Navteq or nothing!

The system supplied in the Rover also supports TMC traffic information. The map CDs for the UK that support TMC are significantly more expensive. The good news is that the TMC provides excellent real-time traffic information and offer you way around blockages. The bad news is that the operating system supplied on the 75 does not full support the service (messages a bit naff and map information limited). Upgrading to V23 of the software solves this problem, but as mentioned earlier, this cannot be applied to the Rover version….. The way around this is to purchase a genuine BMW mark III sat nav computer off ebay… Taking out the old computer and slotting in the new is a 5 minute job. Once on this route you will then starting thinking about installing a wide screen monitor and you are well into the darkside of 75 ownership.

Hope this helps

Patrick
PA Beet

Wow, comprehensive! Thanks Patrick.
John Prewer

...or do as I do and go direct to Navteq and pay 21 Euro less for the same mapping disc. http://www.navteq.com/ProductFinder?action=submitModel&MakeName=MG&ModelName=ZT&Manufacturer=22&Model=41&Year=2004

The extensive use of the same CD mapping acroos not only BMW but Renault is enlightening. The 2005 disc was a little dissapointing in the lack of updates in certain major road changes near me and specifically the lack of the M6 Toll motorway even then some time after the road has been open. Fortunately there are clearly many more updates for the 2006 mapping disc.

There are those additional improvments as indicated, but I have kept these at arms length as once bitten the 'disease' would be difficult to overcome!!

Rog
Roger Parker

I contacted Navteq to find out the cost of a new disc (old one dated 2001)for the centre console fitted (hi-line?) satnav in my newly acquired 52 reg ZT-T a couple of months ago. They quoted around £115 for the disc. Whilst my 11 year old would be delighted to have the upgrade, his low tech dad decided that the need to have the M6 Toll and a few other additions from the last 4 years or so was outweighed by other uses for the money. I dare say that I will be browbeaten into it in time.

BTW, nice to see you on the BB John. Will give you a call soon. Don't be put off by the county of residence, I don't know why it says Cambridgeshire either!

Paul.
Paul Brazier

Paul,

At the very least this bought the board back from 260bhp to talk about something more mundane!

John.
John Prewer

Talking of mundane, I have the sat nav system in my car and it presently shows me as being in the middle of the Irish sea!!! Any ideas? Is it broken beyond economic repair??
Neil T

Does it still detect the satellites – i.e. does the little picture of the top right hand corner of the screen show a green satellite. If it is still spotting the satellite then it sounds like something has failed in the computer (the CD player containing the map disc). If you go to your friendly ex Rover dealer they will look to charge to £600+ for a new unit and perhaps a modest further sum to fit it. The alternative is to get a second-hand BMW Mark III off Ebay. These come up fairly regularly as the BMW owners want to upgrade to Mark IV computers. They usually fetch about £150. Swapping out the units is a 5 minute job as the unit fitted in the 75 is a modded BMW Mark 3. The benefit of e real BMW unit is that you can get split screen (map and directions). The downside is the screen says BMW in large letters as it boots up!

Might be worth getting the local garage to confirm the computer has failed.

Cheers

Patrick

PS as a general note, did you know that he number of “stars” shown on the picture gram of the satellite, indicates the number satellites that the system has detected!
PA Beet

Patrick,
Thank you for that. Very helpful,
Neil
Neil T

For a period of time my sat nav (on the 260 so we get away from mundane things;) had me paddling around Rutland Water, although I didn't see and water ingress and other cars on the A5 didn't seem to be Amphicars!

There is a service mode which allows you to check items, but the small display on the top right of the map screen of the sky is much easier to provide a quick reference to the satelites within view. No 'stars' meant no satelites were visible even with a completely clear and wide view skywards.

I checked the connections of the system and the sat aerial under the rear parcel shelf (saloon) but found nothing wrong. It decided to settle down over the next couple of days and has not seen fit to misbehave in the same manner since.

I have seen a couple of 'specialists' in this sat nav, mainly originating as BMW specialists, but clearly able to deal with this system and offer some interesting updates such as active TMC although I am not so sure of the real value of this.

Rog
Roger Parker

Getting TMC working on the Hi-Line sat nav is easy. The system as supplied is able to receive and process TMC signals. To use this in the UK you need to purchase a “TMC Enabled” map disc. This only appears to be available direct from the on-line VDO Shop. I have just checked the site and the map with TMC now appears to be the same price as the non TMC version at 99 euros. I am sure I paid over £140 for my TMC version last year!

The TMC has proved very useful to us on a number of occasions when it has directed us around blockages.

The only downside to TMC is that the software on the Hi-Line does not support this facility very well as the messages can be a tad confusing due to wording. You also ned to listen to Calssic FM as the only carrier of the TMC service in the UK or listen to CDs and leave the radio free to focus on TMC.

There are ways around this but it drags you into the darkside of BMW Sat Nav as you find yourself upgrading the computer to get better messages and split screen display, and then upgrading the screen to the BMW Wide version to get the full benefit of the extra information to be displayed and then a new TV receiver to also enjoy the wide screen. All possible via Ebay!

Cheers

Patrick
PA Beet

Im looking for a highline sat nav amplifier part number XQC100440. can anybody help is for a 2004 54 75 cdti conn se Regards Barry
barry favell

I've just purchased a 54 plater ZT 190. Lovely car, and this talk about the Say Nav is great. But Im more concerned with eh TV tuner. Does anyone know how to upgrade the tv to allow for a freeview receiver ?
Geraint

This thread was discussed between 11/03/2006 and 05/06/2006

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