when did sat nav dvd start to include postcode search

[MJim]

@X5Sport - many thanks for that. Think I'll give my customer services person a call to discuss - sounds like a useful update. Great that you're pleased with the paint job!

[MJim]

@X5Sport: I called BMW customer services re the SatNav update. They told me that an update featuring RTTI has been released for the 1 series but not the X5. Either they're wrong (wouldn't surprise me) or you're benefitting from an update that still works on the X5/6 but was intended only for the 1 series? I was told that an update for the X5 satnav software is coming out in November, but she wasn't sure if this included RTTI. Do you find it better that TMC?

[X5Sport]

Although they updated the systems, I don't see any difference on the map data for this area and certainly no RTTI. The map system ID says its 2011 Premium - whatever that is - so is probably exactly what was loaded a year ago as the 2012 map isn't out yet. Remember, they offered to do a system update now, I had only asked whether the rumour about free updates was true. I do know that (according to BMW) RTTI will not be available on any BMWs built before about September/October, or at least that was the message when I did query it with BMW GB a few months back, but got a typically evasive answer as to which vehicles it would be on and when, and no it would not be a retrofit as it needed a hardware change, not just software blah blah -(the usual ....please go away as you've bought yours already type of response they are so good at nowadays....)

I would be very surprised if their systems even allowed an update meant for one range to be installed into another though.

The difference is supposed to be that the roads change colour to show which sections have slowed down and by how much. The data is athered from the Trafficmaster blue camera boxes on poles at the roadside. TMC relies on someone entering, and then updating information into a system which feeds the info out via Classic FM a bit like Ceefax. I have found the TMC system is often wrong or even fails to report anything until 10 minutes after you get stuck. RTTI should be both faster and more accurate in terms of speed data. What message info is also carried I don't know. It uses the BMW Assist system so must be via the mobile network, and hence needing diiferent hardware even for vehicles with the full package. That of course assumes that what BMW GB told me was right in the first place.

[MJim]

Many thanks for the comprehensive update!