Upgrade of s/h Becker Map Pilot

[garycat]

I've just bought a Becker Map Pilot off ebay (2015 M054 model) for my C204.

Will I be able to update it with the latest firmware & maps for free if it has never been registered, or will I have to pay ££££ anyway as it is a 3 year old unit.

I've also seen an upgrade for £25 on ebay where the seller sends links to the files - I assume this is dodgy and I may brick the device?

 

[alanjm99]

Firmware will be free from the Becker website

I updated mine to the latest firmware, then bought the latest maps

 

[markjay]

The firmware upgrade is free after registration.

The same goes for the latest version of the PC software.

I don't know the answer to your question about the free maps update for a second-hand unit that has never been registered. All I can say is that when I bought my 2013 car second-hand last year it had a factory-supplied never-before-registered BMP and yet the free maps update was not available to me. So I just bought the latest maps.

With regards to pirated file download, these are available from varoius forums and file-sharing websites, and involve changing the unit's serial number file to a hacked SN, than changing back etc.

I wouldn't personally recommend it, but if you do decide to go down that route, then I suggest that you (a) back up your BMP before proceeding, and (b) just google it and download for free instead of paying the eBay seller for a free link.

But as said, I purchased the latest maps from Becker's website for mine, and I would not recommend mucking-about with pirated downloaded files.

 

[400ixl]

Maps won't be free as that only applies the the first so many days of first purchase rather than first registration with Becker. As mentioned, firmware etc is free.

Often the 2 year deal is better value if you want more than one update over that period. Maps are released at least every 6 months (or at least have been for the last couple of years)

 

[garycat]

Thanks for the replies.

As expected, the software update to v3.0.18 was free, but the Europe maps are €89.95. The latest map states it is 2018 V16.0 (Q2/17) so is it a year out of date and therefore worth waiting for the next release?

I couldn't see an option for a 2 year package.

 

[markjay]

The reference to Q2/17 relates to the date of the cartography info that the maps are based on.

Basically the cartography is collected by companies such as Tele-Atlas or Navteq, then sold to the likes of Garmin, TomTom, etc.

So there's always a time gap between the cartography date and the software release date, and 2018 / v16.0 is indeed the latest. The previous version was 2017 / v15.0 which was based on 2016 maps.

(Also, from memory I think you get a grace period when buying new maps, i.e. free upgrade if a newer version becomes available within x days of purchase?)

 

[garycat]

V17.0 has just been released, in case anyone is interested.

I dunno if its worth updating, given that the one I have has most of the newer roads in my area

Harman Becker Shop

 

[billjratt]

For info, I've just bought a secondhand Becker unit from "Beckers Shop" in London via Ebay. When I plugged it into the laptop and ran the Becker Content Manager program, it showed all the maps in yellow V-14 (requiring update) rather than green (latest level). I queried this with the shop and sent it back, got another -just the same! I was asked to put it in the car and read the levels displayed there(Map Pilot Version). It showed 3.0.18 14/19/00 2017Q2 which is just in the process of being superceded I believe. My point is that the content manager can confuse the issue, and I can't find a site which gives the release information history to check against. They guy in Becker shop was very helpful and gave a great service, I would recomend him.

 

[garycat]

If the Content Manager program does not recognise the map versions, it has probably been updated from a hacked version. The latest maps are €89 and only available officially from the Becker online shop so just to break even the seller must be able to get recent units for less than £110... which is unlikely.

 

[markjay]

For info, I've just bought a secondhand Becker unit from "Beckers Shop" in London via Ebay. When I plugged it into the laptop and ran the Becker Content Manager program, it showed all the maps in yellow V-14 (requiring update) rather than green (latest level). I queried this with the shop and sent it back, got another -just the same! I was asked to put it in the car and read the levels displayed there(Map Pilot Version). It showed 3.0.18 14/19/00 2017Q2 which is just in the process of being superceded I believe. My point is that the content manager can confuse the issue, and I can't find a site which gives the release information history to check against. They guy in Becker shop was very helpful and gave a great service, I would recomend him.

So why do you assume that the Content Manager is wrong? Quite possibly 2017/Q2 is no longer the latest version?

 

[markjay]

I just checked, and latest version info on Becker's website is showing the following:

European map package 2018/2019 V17.0 (Q4/2017) €89.95 incl. VAT

So it seems that Content Manager is correct?

Or were you expecting the second-hand unit to have the latest maps already installed?

 

[billjratt]

I just checked, and latest version info on Becker's website is showing the following:

European map package 2018/2019 V17.0 (Q4/2017) €89.95 incl. VAT

So it seems that Content Manager is correct?

Or were you expecting the second-hand unit to have the latest maps already installed?

I just checked, and latest version info on Becker's website is showing the following:

European map package 2018/2019 V17.0 (Q4/2017) €89.95 incl. VAT

So it seems that Content Manager is correct?

Or were you expecting the second-hand unit to have the latest maps already installed?

 

[billjratt]

The units are updated in the shop before shipping. They are advertised as 2018/19. 2017Q4 is announced but only very recently available via Manager and not yet available to the likes of becker shop as an agent tool. (end August 2018)
My original heads up was to highlight that the Content Manager does not take notice of any of the subsequent updates (Q2 etc.) that have been applied to your unit. It simply displayes the base level, the latest of which was issued in 2017 (and is level 14) . I am led to believe there will be another platform issue in 2019. The final outcome is to check what the car sees rather than your laptop (or whatever). Topic closed as far as I am concerned.

 

[nickpb]

As expected, the software update to v3.0.18 was free, but the Europe maps are €89.95. The latest map states it is 2018 V16.0 (Q2/17) so is it a year out of date and therefore worth waiting for the next release?

In my experience Becker maps are ALWAYS out of date. I had the Map Pilot in my S204 and it was a dog. Even the very latest maps weren't (the very latest). I now have a S213 with Comand, and sadly that is also powered by Becker, and guess what, it's also a dog. Slow, wrong speed limits, and maps out of date again.

 

[markjay]

I sold my BMP last year, so I no longer have it (retrofitted COMAND instead), but I have updated it to v15 which was the latest at the time, and Content Manager was showing the maps correctly as v15 and latest.

So not sure why your Content Manager would show v14 and 'update required', if you have v17 installed? Sounds odd.

 

[billjratt]

I sold my BMP last year, so I no longer have it (retrofitted COMAND instead), but I have updated it to v15 which was the latest at the time, and Content Manager was showing the maps correctly as v15 and latest.

So not sure why your Content Manager would show v14 and 'update required', if you have v17 installed? Sounds odd.

I Don't have V17 - it's just arriving now. The current level seems to be V14 + 2017Q2 . I think V17 = V14 + 2017Q4
As mentioned above, it doesn't seem as good as Garmin, (for instance) - which is odd, as I believe the original map source is common to all.
I haven't had it for long, but am aware of speedlimit discrepancies already. We'll see.

 

[markjay]

The speed camera database is a separate purchase, and I must say it worked quite well for me (driving around London and SE).

What I liked about BMP was that it could be programmed to sound an alert when speeding even if the NAVI option wasn't selected.

The maps weren't uptodate though even with the latest version.

I now have COMAND, and it's better in every way, apart from the fact that it has no native support for speed camera database.

 

[garycat]

In my experience Becker maps are ALWAYS out of date. I had the Map Pilot in my S204 and it was a dog. Even the very latest maps weren't (the very latest). I now have a S213 with Comand, and sadly that is also powered by Becker, and guess what, it's also a dog. Slow, wrong speed limits, and maps out of date again.

Yes its not the best sat nav. I normally use Waze, but I managed to find a BMP unit fairly cheap on ebay and having a built-in satnav integrated with the buttons and dash adds value to the car.

 

[CHRIS STARKEY]

Hi, I have just updated my BMP (which had the original 2011 maps on) and it now shows the software as 2.0.49.
I know there is a 3.0.18 update - is it working ok with the older maps & an improvement on the old software.

cheers
Chris

 

[garycat]

Hi, I have just updated my BMP (which had the original 2011 maps on) and it now shows the software as 2.0.49.
I know there is a 3.0.18 update - is it working ok with the older maps & an improvement on the old software.

cheers
Chris

It depends on the model of your BMP. If it is device types: 9077, M013, M041, M045, M046, M050 and M051 then firmware is v2.5.27
Harman Becker Shop

If it is a newer device types: M054, M075, M076, M083, M084, M085, M092 and M097 then latest firmware is 3.0.18
Harman Becker Shop