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Map Update

3289 Views 18 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  hans.olbrecht
Has anyone managed to update the map on the iX?
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I believe you may get a notification about the availability of the updated routes or software version. Isn't that so?
Evidently not, the map is out of date in the car as confirmed by the dealership but I have had no update prompts. It was only by chance that I looked on the website and it said there was a newer version. The download manager is terrible, it took multiple efforts over several days to download the update as the app kept crashing. Once downloaded and verified, transferred to a USB stick and put in the car. Nothing! Having to resort to going back to the dealership to get them to update the map.
Evidently not, the map is out of date in the car as confirmed by the dealership but I have had no update prompts. It was only by chance that I looked on the website and it said there was a newer version. The download manager is terrible, it took multiple efforts over several days to download the update as the app kept crashing. Once downloaded and verified, transferred to a USB stick and put in the car. Nothing! Having to resort to going back to the dealership to get them to update the map.
Hi. Where do you find the map updates and versions on the website?
Well, registering my ID, I saw that the update of the map should be go over air.
Looking in the car, the map was from Q1 2021 (old).
Going on the website (Loading...) and registering.
Linked my car with ID-number.
I see the message that my map is outdated.
Downloaded it from the site. It is about 30 GB.
Now I will look for a USB-C stick to put it on.
Will try to update this evening.
Strange that it was not going aver air...
Hi. Where do you find the map updates and versions on the website?
Go to The BMW Official Website | BMW UK

login, select your vehicle and the map data, I think.
Once you have the map on the USB, its simple. Insert the USB in the central usb port of the car, a message will come up "There is a Map Update, would you like to install it?" click "Yes". Wait 20 minutes and its finished. Did that in january and it worked fine.

When it comes to the BMW Download Manager it kept crashing all the time. It got the following advice which worked for me (I am on a Macbook Pro):

  • Open the Font Book (Applications → Font Book)
  • Use: File-menu → Restore standard fonts → Proceed
Hi Jan, I did exactly that and verified the file before loading it onto the USB, but when I put it in the car, there was no such message, even after waiting for several minutes.
Once you have the map on the USB, its simple. Insert the USB in the central usb port of the car, a message will come up "There is a Map Update, would you like to install it?" click "Yes". Wait 20 minutes and its finished. Did that in january and it worked fine.

When it comes to the BMW Download Manager it kept crashing all the time. It got the following advice which worked for me (I am on a Macbook Pro):

  • Open the Font Book (Applications → Font Book)
  • Use: File-menu → Restore standard fonts → Proceed
Just read your comment about the download manager, what a strange solution, but useful to know, thank you.
Thats strange. If I remember correctly there was some feature in the download manager to extract and save the file to the USB rather that copying the raw file to the USB. Did you you do something like that ?
One other thing I read is that the file is only valid for the car that was selected when you logged in with your BMW ID to get the map, but you probably already did that :)
The format of the USB should be NTFS eller ExFat (for Windows) or FAT32 (for MAC) I was told. Could be a source of error if different.
Has anyone managed to update the map on the iX?
Yes about a month ago need to do it on a pc via connected drive. You will need a usb-c 32gb drive. Takes about 4 hours to create the update just plug it in and it updates, no progress status but I got a message saying the plugged in drive didn’t have an updated version meaning it was updated !!
Thanks for the tips.
I downloaded yesterday, then saw hat you need a USB-stick with more then 32GB.
Could not copy the whole raw data on the disk, so I extract everything to a 64GB.
It was too late to try on the car.
Will see tomorrow.
Why don't the maps download over the air like with a Tesla? This whole download to USB business feels like 1990s.
Using a USB means you have ALL the changes for the region on a regular basis, how much does Tesla update and how often?
Using a USB means you have ALL the changes for the region on a regular basis, how much does Tesla update and how often?
Tesla updates on-board maps every year, I believe, but as long as the car has a data connection the maps are live OTA and current as of that day (Tesla uses Google Maps). Stored maps are only used when there is no cellular or wifi data connection.
Complete disaster.
The update took more than an hour and after that the navigation did not start anymore.
Only after 2 days I had navigation again but the speed indications were no longer correct.
System rebooted twice.
Now the navigation no longer works.
Lucky that you can see waze with android car or carplay
Just an update for anyone who lands here (like me): if you have BMW ConnectedDrive then the car will automatically download map updates via the SIM car that's installed in the car. There are no extra data transfer costs: it's all included in the ConnectedDrive services.
Just an update for anyone who lands here (like me): if you have BMW ConnectedDrive then the car will automatically download map updates via the SIM car that's installed in the car. There are no extra data transfer costs: it's all included in the ConnectedDrive services.
Thanks for your reply.
The automatically update works only for 'regional' aspects. The main map looks to be update manually by USB-stick.
In my case, and I see in other post that also other people struggled with this problem is not supported USB-stick whatever the raison.
Have good luck with your car.
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