MK4 satnavS not reading map disks

[Herer]

The Mrs and I share an R53 MCS, and great fun it is too. It came with a MK3 satnav unit, which I've been hoping to replace with a MK4. I bought one from ebay via a friendly chap in Lithuania, and it arrived promptly and very well packed.

Fitting the unit is quite easy, and it seemed to work (it'd show temperature on screen, gps coordinates etc) but the gps navigation didn't work as it reported it couldn't read the disk.

So, chap in Lithuania and all credit to him, has sent me out a replacement unit, superbly packed as before. This one is running a slightly newer version of the software, but the error persists, it can't read the disks.

I've tried the CD which worked fine in my MK3, and two DVDs, but nothing is working. Now one unit may be faulty, but two with the exact same fault is a bit of a coincidence. I wonder if I'm missing something.

Resetting the modules by 30 mins of battery disconnect hasn't improved it.

Any ideas?

[Herer]

I should add that all disks tried were proper Navteq ones and not CDR/DVDRs - am i the only one to suffer this problem?

[PK5]

Silly question, have you tried changing the language? or country settings?

[Herer]

They only appear to have a language option. The first unit I installed was set to French, the second to German, so changing these to English hasn't improved the disk reading.

[rkw]

I think it's especially odd that it can't read your older map discs on CD. What exactly are the symptoms? Is there an error message or simply nothing happens?

Ask your question on this forum which has BMW satnav experts: http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/navigation-system/

[Herer]

When you select 'GPS Navigation' it says "Please wait a moment.. " for a couple of minutes then says "Error reading map CD/DVD, please check CD/DVD" or words to that effect.

MINI main dealer have had the car today. They told my wife on the phone they think it's because it's using copied disks. Not very helpful; I didn't think the 2007-01 DVD in there was a copy (though I've not tried it in my computer) besides the 2002-01 disk from the Mk3 doesn't work. I'll get them to look again tomorrow.

Thanks for the link to xoutpost.com, though I've registered I can't post or reply. Perhaps an admin needs to approve each account.

[Herer]

Final update - I had been very unlucky and had two duff Mk4s. I fitted a third and it works fine, updated the software for perspective view, the only thing missing is that it doesn't read dual layer disks but that'd be fixed by replacing the laser which I really lack the motivation to do now I've taken it in and out so many times.

With a modern perspective view and super fast navigation the MK4 really is so much better than the rubbish MK3 which appeared to have graphics from the 1980s

[DaFlake]

The MK4 can read dual layer but just requires the latest firmware to do so. There is no need to replace the laser.

[Herer]

It's on the latest firmware. Disk works elsewhere.

http://www.gpsunderground.com/forums...ad.php?p=67157

[DaFlake]

Odd, I have not had any problems with any MK4 that I have used with the latest map disk and I have done several.

[DaFlake]

OK, so I read that thread and I have to ask... Are you using a legit copy of the map data or is this something you burned? If you burned it then you will have problems for the reasons in the thread. If you bought it, then there is something else going on...

I stand by my statement. All MK4 will read dual layer with the proper firmware installed.

[Herer]

I don't think it's burned; it's got what looks like a proper label though as it's not mine, I'll have to find out, I'm still using the 2004-2 disk which came with it!

[DaFlake]

What color is the disk and where did you buy it? If you got it off of Ebay, it is likely a copy.

If you have a unit with a weaker laser it may be that if it is a copy that it can't read it.