Install 2011 M navigation/phone software on 2010 M?

[TahirAhmadov]

Hi all,

Anyone knows if it's possible to install the 2011 software (not maps) on a 2010 car? Either aftermarket or by a dealer? (I asked a local dealer and they said no)

2011 has a number of improvements, particularly around phone integration. The hardware seems to be the same, at least on the outside, and logic tells me they didn't change anything drastically on the inside, so **theoretically** it should be a case of copying the files and restarting the system.

Did anybody try playing around with copying the software to/from the computer, and maybe even peaking at it? (I'm a programmer and curious about possibility of tweaking the SW).

[Encryptshun]

Welcome to NiCO. Not a hacker/programmer so I'm afraid I can't answer your question. Hopefully someone on here might have something for you.

[EniGmA1987]

I have no idea what the differences are, but if you are able to get access top the computer and copy files back and forth then why not try backing up everything that is in the car and then just trying it with the new files? If it doesnt work then copy the old files back. I would have assumed the system would be flashed as firmware to a rom inside the car or something though, not just a bunch of individual files on some nand chip someplace.

[TahirAhmadov]

I would've tried, but I'm under warranty. I don't know how to get access to the computer; I would need to take the whole car apart, potentially screwing up badly and then having to pay through the nose for Infiniti to put it back together.

There must be an easier way, I'm sure they would simply insert the compact flash and enter some special code that would enter the car into "programming" mode, question is, what's the code...

[EniGmA1987]

ya.... I dont think your ever going to get that.

The easiest way would be to find some software update for our cars (are there any?) and try to disassemble all the code and see how it gets to programing the car, then get the official software for the 2011 model and hack up some stuff to make it flashable onto your car. Which would still be a ton of work and almost certainly leave you with a completely broken computer system that will need to be replaced.

[SteveTheTech]

ya.... I dont think your ever going to get that.

The easiest way would be to find some software update for our cars (are there any?) and try to disassemble all the code and see how it gets to programing the car, then get the official software for the 2011 model and hack up some stuff to make it flashable onto your car. Which would still be a ton of work and almost certainly leave you with a completely broken computer system that will need to be replaced.

There are several updates. They are transferred from Nissan secure servers through the car and into the AV control unit on the '10 model. The '11 uses no cf slot and updates via dvd. Loading the OS backwards sounds intriguing but I bet whomever were to try this would indeed ruin at least one ($2500-$5500+ depending on trim level) AV C/U. It could probably be done, but they are completely different vehicles and I'm betting they wouldn't work properly no matter what. All of the information goes over the CAN lines and that goes everywhere (many many more places in the new model), an error in the read/transmit of the AV unit (in the middle of the network) will cause problems everywhere.

I lol'd to myself thinking what it would look like to see an older model M come in with spotty new software and a laundry list of complaints there is little chance a dealer would even look at that until the original unit was in the car.

[EniGmA1987]

Thanks for the info Steve!