I have the 'older version' navigation system in my mini... I am starting to have some issues with the system not reading the disc. What do I do to fix this and can I just replace the dvd player with the newer version player to repair my problem?

 

Not sure about fixing the old one, but you CAN plug in the DVD based system in it's place. There's one up on Ebay now.

 

I'm having the same issues. Is that system you saw on ebay gone?

The "stealer" wants $2,000 for a new system. I tried a new battery thinking it would fix the problem, but did not work. Mine works, albeit when it feels like operating. It just keeps spitting the disc out. Sometimes when the car is warm, it works. Then again, it worked on my way to work this morning.

 

Are you in a humid area? If so, sometimes the moisture will collect on the disc and temporarily cause it to track poorly. Also, flux's in temps will do the same. do the symptoms go away when the car has been driven for a while and the electronics are operating at their normal (warm) temp?

 

Although mass-produced (pressed) discs have fewer longevity problems than one-off burned discs, it is still possible for pressed discs to have problems like delamination, etc. Sometimes different readers have different tolerances for reading problems discs.

I'd suggest taking your problem disc to your PC or Mac and using a program such as Nero (or any other CD burning program) to try making a copy of it on a new disc. Make sure to use the exact copy process - don't try copying off the files to your hard disc and recopying them to a new CD - the ISO format or disk structure may not be the same if you do it that way.

Since you are simply backing up the disc you legitimately own, it is not a DMCA copyright problem - you have every right to back up your own legally purchased software and data for use on the originally supplied equipment.

If your PC cannot read the disc, you may be out of luck. While it also would not be a DCMA problem to make a copy of a friend's 2003 map data disk, it may simply be very difficult to find another 2003 navigation system owner who can lend you a disc and the later models used the DVD format.

 

TC- thanks for the suggestion. I will try that and post my findings

Dallas- I don't live in a humid area. All electrical components operate except the Navi. When it gets to prime operating temp (warm), yes, the NAV seems to operate more frequently. However, it's not 100% of the time.

Over the weekend I bought a disc lens cleaner and scratch repairer (for the disc itself). After running the lens cleaner in the player under my passenger seat it worked immediately when starting (cold). So I thought, "problem fixed- simple" then it FROZE! I mean FROZE. Nothing for 40 minutes; stuck at the address # I was trying to punch in.

I re-started engine, nothing, not even the "Accept" screen. It just popped right back to the screen it froze at. Stopped for about an hour, restarted and thankfully it re-booted apparently and is back to the not-reading, reading routine: back to the drawing board.

My 2000 MB factory disc based NAV is bullet proof. This is rediculous. I love my MINI, but I'd rather the speedo at this point instead of this waste of dashboard space. (Okay, rant over with).