Navigation software upgrade for MY 06-09 for $189; worth doing?

[grasshopper]

As noted in the title, my dealership has a notice posted near the check-in counter of the shop for the nav software upgrade for around $190. I asked the parts mgr, and he said it just has the updated maps but did not know how extensive the map upgrade was. I wanted to inquire if this software upgrade is worthwhile, whether it is just a map upgrade or includes changes in operational and screen functions as well. I would greatly appreciate any input you may have. (I did search the forums but was unable to come up with the information.)

[Johnny06Rover]

It looks like the new navigation disk for 2011-2012 is now available. If this is what they are giving you, looks like you'd save 9 bucks? Since you drive a 2008 (assuming no upgrades previously) it looks like your maps are a little outdated. How has your NAV been in regards to roads in your area? If what you have now has most of the roads in your area, I don't know if I'd worry about it too much.

http://www.navigation.com/is-bin/INT...gationMenu=YES

[umbertob]

Pretty sure there won't be any substantial changes to the interface - there never were before, besides some new or redesigned button icons / shortcuts. I'd agree with the above recommendation, if you find your existing edition woefully outdated for the area you live in it may make sense to pay up those $200 (careful about the version you get from your dealer, they may be offering a slight discount to get rid of their leftover 2009-2010 discs now that the new ones are out from Navteq directly, and those are already 2 years old...) Now that LR has switched to hard drive based navigation starting with MY2010s, we may not see any more DVD updates for a few years - if at all.

[grasshopper]

Thank you for the follow ups.

Navteq site has the DVD for North America 2011-2012 listed for $199. I will make sure that this is the version the dealer is referring to. If I order the DVD, can I install it myself? Is this done by the end-user usually? If it is a PIA, I'd rather ask the dealership to install the DVD, which should not take much labor.

[rockridge]

I just ordered the 2011-2012 map update for my 2008 RRS/SC. I will update once the DVD arrives.

[umbertob]

The DVD drive for the navigation disc is under the driver's seat, it's a bit of a PITA to reach the unlock and eject buttons to remove the old DVD and slide in the new one (I find it easier to move the LH seat all the way up and forward, and reach the slot / unlock / eject buttons by feel from behind the seat, rather than trying to squeeze my fat fingers through the front), but other than that it takes 30 seconds flat to "install" the disc, I am sure even the stealer would not have the balls to charge you for that service, if you asked them nicely to do it for you when you purchase the new disc.

[grasshopper]

Johnny06Rover, I don't need the navigation often, but would like to have updated maps, just in case.

rockridge, let us know about the install when you get the DVD.

umbertob, thank you for the valuable DIY hint. I will ask my dealership about the DVD version and install, which I believe is included in the price.

[gkwait]

Johnny06Rover, I don't need the navigation often, but would like to have updated maps, just in case.

rockridge, let us know about the install when you get the DVD.

umbertob, thank you for the valuable DIY hint. I will ask my dealership about the DVD version and install, which I believe is included in the price.

Worth pointing out, that with the update you might loose the "secret" codes. I think this was reported with the 2008 discs? I have not updated specifically for this reason.

[umbertob]

Unless you own a 2006, "secret" codes don't matter. They were disabled starting with MY07.

[supark]

soooo there's no other cheaper alternatives?

[umbertob]

Plenty of used discs on eBay for 50 bucks or so, if you don't mind a 3 or 4 year old edition. Otherwise, the latest issue is going to cost you 200 bucks. It's not as if there is more than one supplier competing for your business, all these discs come out of a single source (Navteq) and are neither more, nor less expensive than updates from most other car manufacturers.

[EstorilM]

soooo there's no other cheaper alternatives?

I feel like I'm always chasing you around in here haha.. maybe because we both got RRS' a couple weeks apart.

Anyways I just went through this (as with the other posts lol) and nope, even the ones on ebay are $200!

I was lucky and got a nav disc down to $150 at my dealer, but only because they're getting the 2011 discs within the next 2 weeks. I really only wanted MY FREAKING HOME ADDRESS. Beyond that I don't care, so I pulled the trigger and got the 2010 disc today. Good news is that I saw 06 DVDs going for $99 on ebay all day long, so I might be out the entire mess for only $50! The old disc (copyright 2004!!) didn't have my home address/street/neighborhood or my moms house, which is totally unacceptable (having to pick a freaking nearby intersection every time I want to go home from an unknown location?!) so I didn't do it just to stay "up to date" with the newest... I kinda had to.

I'd suggest going this route, don't say "hey this one guy on the forums got $50 off" but more like "I know you all have to send the discs back anyways, any chance I can get a deal on the old one before you get the new ones in?" Worth a shot - nothing new was added around here in the last year, so at least I got a ~6 year jump on the old disc!

And as usual, umbertob explained something I wish I had read a few hours earlier... that thing is a PITA TO GET TO! I also realized that you've gotta move the seat back to get away from the front wiring bracket, however moving it up/down doesn't help as that platform is only for the front/rearward axis - still gotta slip the disc under the bracket and wiring bundles. Slightly nerve-racking when holding a $200 piece of plastic that scratches easily.

[supark]

lol thanks EstorilM. Yeah I'm in the same place - I can't find my current home address in my nav, and though I can use my phone for nav without a problem, would be nice to be able to use the factory one if it's not that expensive to update

[flyersfan76]

I feel like I'm always chasing you around in here haha.. maybe because we both got RRS' a couple weeks apart.

Anyways I just went through this (as with the other posts lol) and nope, even the ones on ebay are $200!

I was lucky and got a nav disc down to $150 at my dealer, but only because they're getting the 2011 discs within the next 2 weeks. I really only wanted MY FREAKING HOME ADDRESS. Beyond that I don't care, so I pulled the trigger and got the 2010 disc today. Good news is that I saw 06 DVDs going for $99 on ebay all day long, so I might be out the entire mess for only $50! The old disc (copyright 2004!!) didn't have my home address/street/neighborhood or my moms house, which is totally unacceptable (having to pick a freaking nearby intersection every time I want to go home from an unknown location?!) so I didn't do it just to stay "up to date" with the newest... I kinda had to.

I'd suggest going this route, don't say "hey this one guy on the forums got $50 off" but more like "I know you all have to send the discs back anyways, any chance I can get a deal on the old one before you get the new ones in?" Worth a shot - nothing new was added around here in the last year, so at least I got a ~6 year jump on the old disc!

And as usual, umbertob explained something I wish I had read a few hours earlier... that thing is a PITA TO GET TO! I also realized that you've gotta move the seat back to get away from the front wiring bracket, however moving it up/down doesn't help as that platform is only for the front/rearward axis - still gotta slip the disc under the bracket and wiring bundles. Slightly nerve-racking when holding a $200 piece of plastic that scratches easily.

I wouldn't say it is a paranoid thing but I have may "HOME" located at an intersection about a mile from my house. I can't seem to find a reason to actually put my real address in my car if in the slim chance it gets stolen.

My expedition can't find a family members city but it can find it a different way. In PA (Philly area) we have towns and townships. Sometimes the Expedition would only find a township and not a town. And the annoying part is that towns are more easily known than townships so in the beginning I had to guess what the next closest town was so that I could get close to where I needed to get to. Then just input by map placement. I am too knew to the Land Rover navigation system to find the quirks.

[grasshopper]

Your paranoia about not entering the exact address for "home", may have a solid basis after all. Few years ago, a news clip reported that owners of stollen cars parked in the airport lots had their homes burglarized, in addition to losing their cars, as the thieves would drive the cars to the "home" address entered on GPS to take advantage of people not being home. Since you know your own home address anyway, it is better to pick it from a list of previously entered addresses instead of labeling it "home".