Software update from US specs to European or Gulf countries

[fosto2]

I recently shipped my M37x, 2011 from Canada to Dubai, UAE. I wanted to load the Gulf Countries Nav Map to use the full function of my com system, the dealer told me that this is impossible as the software is different in UAE than Canada. This could be true, but also, I heard others have done it, anyone have had or read a similar situation, please help.

[szh]

I recently shipped my M37x, 2011 from Canada to Dubai, UAE. I wanted to load the Gulf Countries Nav Map to use the full function of my com system, the dealer told me that this is impossible as the software is different in UAE than Canada. This could be true, but also, I heard others have done it, anyone have had or read a similar situation, please help.

I don't know about "software" being different ... I would think that you would just have to update the map. But, this is a pure guess, of course!

I would recommend contacting Zenrin (www.zenrin.com) to see if they have any possible street/Nav maps for the Gulf - this is the company that provides the maps for Infiniti.

Curiosity question by the way, since the GPS itself keeps working normally when the car is not in the US or Canada, what do you see on the Nav screen when you drive around now?

Z

[fosto2]

Thank you for providing the contact info. since coordinates are used in the US or any part of the world can be identical, I view the map as if I am driving in Toronto Canada.

[The00Dustin]

I thought GPS coordinates were just latitude and longtitude (therefore unique no matter where you are), so I find it interesting that it shows you in Toronto. Unfortunately, I don't know how the software works or where the M is available, so I don't know if a hardware or software swap would be possible.

[JDMlove]

i shipped my M35 from USA to Bahrain, 1 year now and am looking for the gulf maps and i couldnt find one CD! i n the dealer they sell its for over 400 USD!

[fosto2]

The dealer told me it can't be done. If it is 400'and will work I am willing to invest.

[Ilya]

You're such a baller for living in Dubai. I'm a bit jealous lol.

As for the Navigation...ALL of the Navigation in the 06-07 cars is CD based. The 08+ models are all hard drive based...I don't see how the software is different. Just different data. They should be able to update your hard drive and call it a day.

[fosto2]

You're such a baller for living in Dubai. I'm a bit jealous lol.

As for the Navigation...ALL of the Navigation in the 06-07 cars is CD based. The 08+ models are all hard drive based...I don't see how the software is different. Just different data. They should be able to update your hard drive and call it a day.

That is what's I told them, they still insisting that is not possible. I am sure that I should be able to download the software myself, I did the same for my VW Abd BMW.

[Ilya]

You're such a baller for living in Dubai. I'm a bit jealous lol.

As for the Navigation...ALL of the Navigation in the 06-07 cars is CD based. The 08+ models are all hard drive based...I don't see how the software is different. Just different data. They should be able to update your hard drive and call it a day.

That is what's I told them, they still insisting that is not possible. I am sure that I should be able to download the software myself, I did the same for my VW Abd BMW.

You could do that but my guess is the hard drive is hard to get to and the system is in a proprietary FAT format...unless you know what you're doing you may not be able to alter it.

[The00Dustin]

You could do that but my guess is the hard drive is hard to get to and the system is in a proprietary FAT format...unless you know what you're doing you may not be able to alter it.

OK, two things here...

1) FAT is an old, non-proprietary format. The first statement would have been more sensible without said acronym.

2) Even TiVo doesn't use a proprietary format, and everything they have sold from the start included an HDD. Infiniti probably doesn't even build the navigation system, and the company that does probably didn't build their own file system. It is pretty likely that they use a linux-based or obscure OS and file system, and it could be encrypted or encoded to prevent people from mucking around with it (which, much like TiVo's encryption would likely be easy to overcome, much like the copy protection schemes used on the old NAV DVDs [which I only assume are easy to overcome given the number of posts on this forum about stealing copies of that]), but the real reason you can't do anything to it yourself if you are a DIY-er is because there aren't enough M's for anyone in the real hacker community to have one to want to mess with (unfortunately, I'm not in that community, I'm not even in the modder community).

For the record, I know a guy who had never used Linux who modded his TiVo following directions online to decrypt it, replace the HDD with a bigger one, add a second HDD, and add networking (to pull the unencrypted video to any computer where there was software readily available watch and/or to re-encode it). This was an old TiVo, but it was do-able by simply following directions online, which is all a DIY-er needs. I would never have done this to my TiVo unless I had the same model and someone pointed me at the info that they found on their own. That's due to a difference in personalities, not capabilities.

I don't know if fosto2 is a DIY-er or a hacker, but assuming he's a DIY-er, if he can't do it, it probably isn't due to the file-system in use on the HDD or difficulty in accessing the HDD (considering that he has done the same with VW and BMW). Assuming he's a hacker, I hope he posts a DIY.

[Ilya]

You could do that but my guess is the hard drive is hard to get to and the system is in a proprietary FAT format...unless you know what you're doing you may not be able to alter it.

OK, two things here...

1) FAT is an old, non-proprietary format. The first statement would have been more sensible without said acronym.
.

I meant proprietary format on a FAT partition. You would be able to mount the HDD (slave it), but after that...it's anyones guess what kind of files are being stored there...what format they are in, etc.

[The00Dustin]

I meant proprietary format on a FAT partition. You would be able to mount the HDD (slave it), but after that...it's anyones guess what kind of files are being stored there...what format they are in, etc.

Gotcha, but to anyone who might be so bold as to actually try to find out, be warned that in the TiVo example I gave, hooking the HDD up to Windows would mess up the TiVo (because of something Windows automatically does to the drive). I don't know if it was FAT or some other format, but using Linux was the only way to hack it without killing it (since the "I know a guy who had never used Linux" portion of my post presumably didn't make that clear).

[saparda]

bump for the OP

did you find a solution for your problem? as i also have a 2008 G coupe US!, maps inside HDD and cant find someone who can change the maps!

[fosto2]

I am still looking, no solution other than changing the whole head unit, which the dealer is refusing to even order for me..

[JDMlove]

it is that important to get the GPS?!! every year i go to UAE, and i never needed a GPS!!

even though u get lost!! the GPS Wont help you that much specially i n Dubai since the road get changed every 2 or 3 months!

if you insist getting GPS download Navigon or TomTom in your smart phone and call it a day!

[GenericM35]

I wouldn't mind if my navigation constantly showed Toronto. It's an amazing city

On a serious note, I would call Infiniti Canada and tell them about your situation. They should be able to help you, since you purchased the car from them...