Navs Gone!!

[Denis O]

I've recently been getting the "Please Wait" message on the Nav (Mk4 with non OEM Disc) and was thinking about putting it in to have a new drive and laser fitted before heading back across Europe next month. Most times, when I get the "wait" message, it eventually loads the map and all is fine but on the odd occassion the map won't load until next time the car is switched on.

Today got the "wait" message and the maps wouldn't load so went to the OBC screen and left it there. Tried to change someting on the iPod a little later and the screen had locked and wouldn't do anything. Once I got home I turned the engine off and left a couple of seconds and switched back on again to be met with a sickly light brown coloured screen and the options shown in white lettering and no Sat Nav option. It's a bit like when a computer is booted in safe mode.

I'm guessing that the Nav Computer has died and either needs a new one or new mechanism and lazer....unless anyone knows different.

Also who is the recommended repair person for Mk4 Nav computers. I've seen a guy on eBay that does the job for £149 but do we know anyone that has been used by memebers on here.

[X5Sport]

What happens after you leave the car to go into sleep mode (16 mins after switch off)? Put a legit disc in and see what happens too.

DVDs recorded on a computer are 'burned', whereas a production line disc is generated by putting liquid plastic onto an aluminium master before being cured and having the reflective layer added. Burned discs are less reliable (regardless of purpose) than stamped ones. Burned discs are also not as tolerant of the temps found in cars and more likely to suffer problems. You need to eliminate both those checks before sending your nav computer in for a new brain.

When I'm producing DVD and Blu-Ray video (legit movies from my own or customer footage) onto disc. One of the (older) burners seems to produce more problem disc copies than all the others when played back on customer hardware. No idea why, but it does happen. The disc brand can also be a problem sometimes.

[CondorX5]

Try doing a battery disconnect as well, sometimes that helps. There is also the issue of the ribbon cable behind the head unit - it works loose, check that too, and also check all other connections before writing your nav unit off....... might save you a few pounds.

[Kris2011]

Mine did this a few times. It reset itself after parking up in the services for 15 mins and leaving the car.

I'd read that a failing battery can cause some weird symptoms and so I replaced it with a Bosch Silver and it has been perfect ever since

[jaynana]

try ejecting and re-inserting teh disk, if that doesn't work try the oem disk. might fix something though not sure..

[Denis O]

Started up this morning and back to normal screen. I got the "please wait" message for a couple of seconds and then onto the Nav Map.

I'm sure this is a laser reading error and think it best to send it off for repair/replacement of the workings. £150 is worth it for the risk of getting stuck 1/2 way up an alp with no Nav.

Cheers for your replies guys.

[X5Sport]

Try running it with an OEM disc for a couple of days - it might save you £150 too.

I tried to copy an OEM disc that I had just bought from my Dealer simply to use as the in use disc, keeping the original in a safe place 'just in case' a few years back and it worked sometimes, but not others - mainly not, and that locked the system. Tried all formats (+R, -R and RW) and had same issues. Reloaded the OEM disc and never had another problem. Lesson learned.

Used, and always now do so, OEM only ever since.

[pvr]

As it is a known issue that the copied disks can cause issues such as you describe, why not use the OEM instead?

(still got an OEM for sale for £20 if you need one ...)

[CondorX5]

I'd echo that - I tried a copy as it had a lot more features than the OEM, but after a short time - a week or two - it started with exactly the same read errors. Never get them with an OEM disc (touch wood)

[jaynana]

[quote=""pvr""]As it is a known issue that the copied disks can cause issues such as you describe, why not use the OEM instead?

(still got an OEM for sale for £20 if you need one ...)[/quote]

with an ancient map?

[pvr]

Historic maps are making a come back

[Denis O]

As others have said, the problem with old maps is they are...erm....old. And £200+ for a new OEM map without all the bolt ons is nuts to me.

I've bitten the bullet and sent the nav computer to Revtronix in Bradford. They fit a new laser and turn round is pretty quick. Some good testimonials on their website.

Hopefully all will be sorted and no further issues. The fact that the non OEM disc was working perfectly for the first 9 months of it's life suggests a deterioration of the laser so a new one should sort it.

I'll report back when it's back and in the car.

Incidentally, since removing the nav computer I'm getting nothing on the screen at all. No OBC info, music source or telephone. Is that right?

[Denis O]

Nav Computer back in the car complete with new laser and no more "please wait" messages or safe mode screens so the repair seems to have done the trick.

A big thanks to Revtronic in Bradford who obviously did a good job fixing it but also kept me informed how things were progressing. They also turned it round in just a couple of hours. It left me at 11.00am on Tuesday and is back in the car by 15.00 on Thursday.

[X5Sport]

Very good. Glad it's sorted. Can't do that with the new hard drive systems...

I agree that the OEM prices are nuts, but they're all as bad as one another. The latest BMWs have a single use licence key generated from the VIN for each update. I can see some very out of date maps staying in cars. I didn't update beyond 2008 on my 2005, and the latest 2012 maps in our Mini are still two years out of date around here so no point in updating. Reporting errors to TeleAtlas/Navteq (or whoever it is that now does the OEM data) seems to get nowhere.

No wonder people either buy illicit, or get lost!!

[weirdfish]

At one time sat nav used to be a "must have" in your car, along with air con/climate, but with all the latest smart phones around, that give you up to the minute maps, ( or are at least a lot more easier to update ), I'm not so sure it's something that is a "must have" any more.
But you will always be told when you come to sell your car, "if it had sat nav it would be worth more"
Only time will tell.