I have a 2008 G37S, bought the first week they were available. Finally, Zenrin (which is now Navteq) has put out a map update for the hard drive based navigation.

To get this, you have to purchase an activation code online from Navteq for $190. By itself, this is a little high. Ford DVD updates cost $150 retail, but you can get it on ebay for $90. And the installation is automatic when you put the disc in.

After getting the code you have to go to a dealer who has the computer to do the update. And not all dealers have this computer. Crest in Plano does not. Grubbs in Ft. Worth does. They charge $150 to take the hard drive out, plug it into the computer and run the program that does the update. A human is involved for maybe 5 minutes.

What a rip to charge $340 for a map update. After getting the nav option that probably costs $2000. I can get a nice new Garmin nuvi for that, and it is easier to use too.

 

Why do you need an update this soon?

 

This Nav update rip is old news. Anyone who doesn't know this is a profit center for Nissan and the dealer is sleeping. How many new roads and addresses do you think are being added, especially now when most home constructors are on hold and most commercial construction has tanked as well?

 

What do you mean so soon?

You know the maps that came with it are probably at least a year old. And now I have been in it for another 19 months. That is 31 months. And I live in north Texas where there is a lot of building going on. So there is about a 10% change in the maps I would think.

Who wouldn't want the latest updates if they were reasonable?

 

from what I understand is that you dont need the activation code from Navteq. You only have to go to the dealership. Am I wrong?

 

That's correct.

I can see why you might have wanted the update but for the average person, updating it more than once every three years is unnecessary. Personally, I think it's poor product placement on Navteq's behalf to charge that much for a software update which also requires installation fees. Infiniti and Navteq could have come up with an easier, cheaper, more effective way of distributing the software. Why should we have to pay hundreds of dollars more for a HDD installation than a DVD disk?

 

It's one of the downfalls of owning the G. ****-poor profit scheme that results in the owners getting ripped.

 

There is no reason this update cant be made to run through the cd-rom\DVD drive. They lack the programming skills.

 

To update the NAV, they do not have to take the hardrive out. They use a usb to CF adapter to update the software from a laptop. This is total ripoff as it's a plug and go software update, no labor involved other than clicking on some buttons.

The process is outlined in the TSBs regarding the radio stations presets not sequencing right and the IPOD disconnection issue.

 

are you serious >?? that cable and software exists ??

 

The attached pic is from ITB08-037b which can be found on infinitihelp.com The procedure is not a big deal to cost 150 bucks. Infiniti customer service really sucks IMO especially as they try to rip off their customers in this manner.

 

I remember a sales rep telling me that they can just update the nav with a flash card later on down the road -- come back to the dealership and they'll update for free -- in several years... I think I remembered correctly. lol

 

I wouldn't take a sales reps word for anything at an Infiniti dealer. Unless you see it in writing, it's meaningless. My dealer didn't even know an update was out until I told them about it. Way to be on top of things.

 

My dealership service dept. hinted to me that if one were to go directly to them rather than navteq that they provide one free DVD nav upgrade during the warranty life of the car.

 

somebodys gotta come up with a DIY..im' sure getting those CDs wouldn't be expensive...where all the computer gurus that were trying to upgrade the HDD?