Worth $250 for new Nav maps for an '08 EX?

[TimGinCentralNJ]

I believe my '08 EX has the orig map software. And it works fine...other than a couple occasions it has looped me in circles which I attribute just to being a "nav thing"--not a problem with my maps or with the Infiniti nav system itself. My '01 bmw (with an updated OEM nav system) and my new Ford have both done similar things at times.

Aside from the obvious benefit of having a new map if you live in (or travel to) an area which has changed significantly since 2008, are there any benefits whatsoever?

The cost involved is apparently $149 for the NAVTEQ maps and likely another $100 for the dealer to do the hour-long HDD software update. Personally, I'd be more inclined to do a firmware update, but I've not read anywhere that Infiniti even does those.

Thanks,
Tim

ps: Was also looking at getting my NavTraffic turned on, but have been ready very luke-warm reviews about its usefulness. Comments/experience are welcome

[googleman]

I thought about this too but decided not to upgrade. With the availability of Iphone, SIRI etc the marginal benefit does not justify the cost for me. Infiniti should seriously consider reducing the price of the upgrade.

That being said, I am also curious to know if the software update improves any other functionalities besides navigation.

[EXceptional]

What a scam.

This should have been a user deal. Buy the software and download it on to your Laptop... and then walk into the Garage and plug the Laptop into the Car.

Done.

Oh well.

[NJGuy]

Aside from the obvious benefit of having a new map if you live in (or travel to) an area which has changed significantly since 2008, are there any benefits whatsoever?

The cost involved is apparently $149 for the NAVTEQ maps and likely another $100 for the dealer to do the hour-long HDD software update. Personally, I'd be more inclined to do a firmware update, but I've not read anywhere that Infiniti even does those.

I think you already know the answer to your question.

Without getting into details, I've never been much of a fan of the factory integrated navigation systems. I typically prefer the portable units. However, I do admit that I think the Infiniti nav system in my EX is quite nice, despite it being over 5 years old.

My wife has asked me a couple of times about getting the map software updated in the EX. I've told her that it's probably between $200-$300 to get it done, and that she has to bring the car to the dealership. Since it's not hugely important to her, she usually doesn't pursue the upgrade any further. I'd personally prefer to spend that money on some other area of the car where we would benefit on a more regular basis.

[CDNicecube]

I agree that $200 to $300 is too much. Infiniti would win major big brownie points by making these upgrades and updates significantly less expensive. I have a 2010 and they already performed a system update (not a map update however) under warranty (there is a TBS about it). To be honest, I did not notice any problems with it before the update.

I was told that map upgrades now available on the market - even for TomToms - are 12 to 18 months old already when your purchase them, so you must factor that in: you are not getting an upgrade that will include a new road build in the last 12-18 months.

This is my first integrated gps. I do like the integration of the GPS with the sound system, and especially not seeing wires and a GPS unit hanging on my windshield, or having to worry about getting my GPS stolen all the time.

[ArcticBlue]

My 2011 with factory nav had many erroneous maps; I called Infiniti customer service, who connected me with NavTech. They sent me the latest map discs (easy to install in the car with the provided instructions - no dealer involvement), at no charge. Map data on the new discs indicated they were current to six months ago. I am well pleased.
Infiniti customer service is Infintiely :-) superior to my experience with that offered me by Jaguar on my previous new car purchase.

[TimGinCentralNJ]

My 2011 with factory nav had many erroneous maps; I called Infiniti customer service, who connected me with NavTech. They sent me the latest map discs (easy to install in the car with the provided instructions - no dealer involvement), at no charge. Map data on the new discs indicated they were current to six months ago. I am well pleased.
Infiniti customer service is Infintiely :-) superior to my experience with that offered me by Jaguar on my previous new car purchase.

That's interesting. I wonder if they've changed the navi system between 2008 and 2001. From all the reading I've done about updating the maps on the 2008's navi system, although you can buy the maps directly from NavTeq, the dealer uses a special interface to load them which takes about an hour. It's not a case of plugging in a new CF card (like my 2011 Ford) or inserting a new DVD (like my 2001 bmw) to update the maps.

From everyone's comments, it doesn't sound like it's really worth updating the maps in my case. The current maps works fine, so unless the new maps were paired with a firmware update which offered some new functionality, I'm not sure I see the value. I'd rather put that money towards my 60k Mile Service which I need to schedule asap.

Thanks everyone!
Tim G.

[rorischak]

I too am trying to figure out if this is worth it or not. After just getting my 2011 and the map that is in the unit is from 2010 meaning it is 3 years old now. I agree, that i am not as concerned about the age of the maps as much as i would like to know if there has been any firmware upgrades. since 2010.

[inteller]

map updates for the 08 EX is the biggest scam on the planet. Infiniti and the dealers are totally out of sync on the deal, and it has cost them lost map update sales as a result. Bay time or not, I'm not paying a tech $100 to press a download button and wait. Dealers need to figure out how to make this affordable, or Infiniti needs to toss some cash the dealer's way to make them waive the cost of upgrading. Scam Scam Scam!

[WyattThomas]

I thought about this too but decided not to upgrade. With the availability of Iphone, SIRI etc the marginal benefit does not justify the cost for me. Infiniti should seriously consider reducing the price of the upgrade.

That being said, I am also curious to know if the software update improves any other functionality besides navigation.

I'm also more interested in the firmware upgrade. Does anyone know if this is an option; I'd be willing to pay for it if I knew exactly what it did.

Just bought my wife brand new JX (both love it) and now I'm jealous of her interface. Mine is obviously more fun to drive but controls of the HUD unit in her JX are beyond comparison. More settings, more availability while driving -- scroll more than one screen, finding artist on iPod without scrolling for 15 minutes to get into the H's, etc.

Surely someone know someone that can update the maps without use of a dealer? Anyone know an infiniti technician with first-hand knowledge of the issue? I'm thinking the only way it couldn't be done is if the install required proprietary software used to upload the maps. Seeing as they changed the map updating process in 1-year, writing proprietary upload software seems like it would've been a dumb move financially and logically.

[TimGinCentralNJ]

I thought about this too but decided not to upgrade. With the availability of Iphone, SIRI etc the marginal benefit does not justify the cost for me. Infiniti should seriously consider reducing the price of the upgrade.

That being said, I am also curious to know if the software update improves any other functionality besides navigation.

I'm also more interested in the firmware upgrade. Does anyone know if this is an option; I'd be willing to pay for it if I knew exactly what it did.

Just bought my wife brand new JX (both love it) and now I'm jealous of her interface. Mine is obviously more fun to drive but controls of the HUD unit in her JX are beyond comparison. More settings, more availability while driving -- scroll more than one screen, finding artist on iPod without scrolling for 15 minutes to get into the H's, etc.

Surely someone know someone that can update the maps without use of a dealer? Anyone know an infiniti technician with first-hand knowledge of the issue? I'm thinking the only way it couldn't be done is if the install required proprietary software used to upload the maps. Seeing as they changed the map updating process in 1-year, writing proprietary upload software seems like it would've been a dumb move financially and logically.

I ran across a few older posts here where someone named "Steve the Tech" I believe (one of the board moderators/contributors) explained the update process--and the fact that although you can purchase the updated maps directly from NavTeq for $50-some-odd bucks, the interface required to update them is a proprietary Infiniti software product and must be done by an Infiniti tech.

As for any firmware updates for the Nav system, I am not aware of any which exist, but will ask my dealer today who's taking care of my 60K Service right now. My sense is, if one existed, my dealer would try to sell it to me

Tim

[inteller]

Well whattaya know, I just got an email from Infiniti offering $50 off the maps, so now it is only $200 scam to get your maps updated. I'll pass on this like I do every year when they send me this email. Until they and the dealers figure out how to mitigate the charge to push a download button I'm not buying.

[EX-KAT-35]

I ran across a few older posts here where someone named "Steve the Tech" I believe (one of the board moderators/contributors) explained the update process--and the fact that although you can purchase the updated maps directly from NavTeq for $50-some-odd bucks, the interface required to update them is a proprietary Infiniti software product and must be done by an Infiniti tech.

As for any firmware updates for the Nav system, I am not aware of any which exist, but will ask my dealer today who's taking care of my 60K Service right now. My sense is, if one existed, my dealer would try to sell it to me

Tim

My 2011 with factory nav had many erroneous maps; I called Infiniti customer service, who connected me with NavTech. They sent me the latest map discs (easy to install in the car with the provided instructions - no dealer involvement), at no charge. Map data on the new discs indicated they were current to six months ago. I am well pleased.
Infiniti customer service is Infintiely :-) superior to my experience with that offered me by Jaguar on my previous new car purchase.

So which one is it?
Infiniti made it harder?
Or is it really a user installable disc interface?
Or BOTH?

That being said I have paid for the map update since last year but need to make time to get it done.

[TimGinCentralNJ]

So which one is it?
Infiniti made it harder?
Or is it really a user installable disc interface?
Or BOTH?

That being said I have paid for the map update since last year but need to make time to get it done.

Hi Kat-

Not sure I can answer your question. I only know what I've read from doing a search here in this forum on "update maps".

From looking at Infiniti's own site for purchasing updated map software, I get the sense they may be a difference between the 2008's system (which they refer to as the HDD Navigation system) and the system used in later model years. Although you can purchase the updated maps for a 2008 MY vehicle, everything I've read here is that it still must be updated by an Infiniti tech because the interface used to do it is Infiniti-proprietary. It's possible if the later systems really do differ, maybe they are "user-updateable"....I don't know.

Tim

[meanie]

I know the nav system and screen was improved on the 2010 Gs with better clarity, touch screen and user interface. Perhaps the same is true of the EX, and that makes a difference on the map update procedure?

[EX-KAT-35]

Thanks Tim and meanie.
You're right, seems like there might be a difference in there somewhere.
I remember the later models have a smaller music storage space.
That might be where the change occurred.
Not many EX folks mod them so info is slow in forthcoming.

[inteller]

did anyone determine if Infinit offers firmware apart fromt he update or are they scamming us on that too to get any firmware updates with the maps?

[TimGinCentralNJ]

did anyone determine if Infinit offers firmware apart fromt he update or are they scamming us on that too to get any firmware updates with the maps?

I know this doesn't definitively answer your question, but I've done a lot of searching on this and have yet to run across ANY information stating any firmware updates for our Navi systems exist. Additionally, I have run across numerous posts in various forums where owners have inquired with their dealers about firmware updates for our Bluetooth modules where the owners have been told that none exist.

I guess a quick call to your local dealer is the only way to know for sure.

Tim

[inteller]

the dealer says the same thing, but these are the same idiots who first told me I had a DVD reader for my maps. If Infiniti never issued any firmware updates for the system then that is the most piss poor support I've ever seen. Even my antiquated Volvo nav system had firmware updates years after it came out and NO nav system is perfect from the factory.

[JMalinow]

All,
We have a 2011 EX35, are there upgrades available for the mapping system software?
I found what looks like an Infinity website asking for $129.00 for a 5 DVD set with new roads, subdivisions etc..

Thanks,
Jay

[ppan76]

That sounds about right. Those DVD are hard coded with the head unit serial number.

Would rather save the money and use google maps.

[dognil]

Also thinking about this offer. Google maps are good, but coverage is not available everywhere and to use google map you need to put your phone on the windshield which is not always convenient (at least for me). Did anybody do this upgrade? How long does it take?

[Rogue One]

There's already an open discussion on this topic, so I've merged the threads. The official link is here:
http://infiniti.navigation.com/home/en_ ... nitiNA/USD

[Chelsea John]

Price usually drops around this time as the 2016 edition will be out in a few months. I have a 2011 and had considered updating a year ago. Never did, one year later and apart from seeing some of the newer sub-divisions missing its got me where I need to go. $129 plus another $30 for shipping plus tax , is it really worth it ????