BMW Sat Nav Slow Responses. FYI & Comments

DPinBucks

The other day I updated the sat nav on my 5-Series (I had to buy a 64GB USB stick because the download is  about 100MB above 32GB, but that's another story ).

It went OK but took ages.  Afterwards, it was incredibly slow to calculate a route, and some commands were so delayed they finally came 200 yards after the turn.  The GPS part is OK; the map shows exactly where I am, so the problem must be in the guidance bit.

It's still under warranty, so I booked it in to my local dealer (Sytner, who I've used for years).  However, they have just called me to say it's a brand-new problem which BMW are looking at urgently.  They have already had several owners complaining, and even restored the old maps in one case, with no effect.

Apparently it's a glitch with BMW's RTTI traffic information system.

Anyway, this post is to inform others if they're interested, and also to see if anyone else has noticed it.  I'm not entirely convinced about the explanation.  They swear it's just a coincidence that it happened at the same time I updated the data, but it's odd that I can find no mention of it online anywhere.

Comments?

un1eash

There have been reported issues with BMW connected services over the last couple of months so could be related.

rob99

They’re definitely have connected drive issues
It took me a month to add Apple CarPlay  from the store was trying since the end of January took someone from bmw support to do it manually from there end also my rtti disappeared for over a week came back the start of last week

DPinBucks

Thanks, folks.

That does make sense.  RTTI uses ConnectedDrive for its data, so it's not surprising the Sytner guy homed in on that.

I'll keep a close check.

By the way, looking at my ConnectedDrive portal, it implies that I will have to pay for RTTI after 3 years (this September).  Does that mean if I don't I won't get traffic info?  Surely that can't be right?  I've never had a sat nav system before (including from BMW) which made me subscribe to traffic info.  I thought the original purchase included a one-off license.

un1eash

One off licence that lasts 3 years. Welcome to BMW ownership.

DPinBucks

Well this is the first I've heard of it!!

I'm not exactly a BMW newbie: this is our 8th, although only the second with built-in satnav.  The other was a 54-reg 645i, and that gave traffic info for ever, with no question of payment.

For that matter, so did my Jag XF, and the add-on satnav fitted to my wife's 218AT.

Traffic info is essential.

redaprilia

A Jag with traffic info ? How did that work , I thought the system only had TMC traffic info ? Or did you change the sat nav to a model with google maps and connect it to the net .

Graham Paterson

I upgraded my maps on my 640d GC and also noticed a long delay to paint the road route white, I called BMW today who said that there is a known problem on their RTI system that "needs to be fixed by the germans".  I also find it a bit coincidental that I noticed the slow response after updating the maps but I guess we wait to see what the germans can do to fix it!  I have not been too impressed with the RTI accuracy, on quite a few occasions I have seen main roads that are solid with traffic showing as completely clear.  Maybe mine has never worked properly.

DPinBucks

TBH, I don't know if it only had TMC or not, but I believe it did.  I certainly did not touch the standard in-built system.

Whatever, it was certainly as good as my Beemer.  I had the Jag for nearly six years, and I've had my BMW for nearly three so far.  I use satnav a lot, and would certainly have noticed any major difference in capability when I switched.  The XF picked up traffic problems as quickly and accurately as the 5, and showed the equivalent of the green/amber/red warnings on the route.  It never led me into jams it hadn't already warned me about, and the way it offered re-routing options was actually better, albeit a bit insistent at times.  Both were equally good at predicting arrival times (ie, amazingly good).

If TMC is all I could get, I'd take it like a shot.

DPinBucks

Sounds like your symptoms match up with mine.  Like you, I'm not convinced the update had nothing to do with it, but I am relieved to get confirmation it's a known issue.  Also, I have noticed the delay sometimes in removing the red or amber indicators on the route.  See my post about the Jag above.

As a matter of fact, last night it worked fine; but that could mean nothing if it's a sporadic problem.​
Given the debacle over my wife's add-on to her Active Tourer (covered in another thread), I'm not holding my breath.