Navi pointing to wrong location
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Southern California
Some MBs & Bimmers
Navi pointing to wrong location
Folks
I am completely baffled here with my erratic Navi system.
The last time I used my system was over a week ago and it worked great. Today, for kicks, I decided to give it a try and turned on the Navi unit while driving home. When the system came online, it kept on pointing me to a different location where I was.
The weird part was that while I was driving on the freeway, the Navi pointed me to a location (off road) at least 10 miles away from where I was. At that time, I thought this error was caused by a GPS failure with the satellite system.
On arriving home, I tried the Navi on my SLK and it came on pointing to the exact location. Well, the theory of GPS failure went out the door. Went back to my E's Navi, popped out the DVD disc from the Navi drive. Reset the COMAND and a bunch of other things. NO luck. Each time, when the system came back on line, the Navi's map pointed me to a location way way off where I was. To give you a perspective, I am close to downtown Los Angeles but the map pointed me to the desert east of LA (40 miles off)
I am completely lost here. Any ideas?
Many thanks in advance
I am completely baffled here with my erratic Navi system.
The last time I used my system was over a week ago and it worked great. Today, for kicks, I decided to give it a try and turned on the Navi unit while driving home. When the system came online, it kept on pointing me to a different location where I was.
The weird part was that while I was driving on the freeway, the Navi pointed me to a location (off road) at least 10 miles away from where I was. At that time, I thought this error was caused by a GPS failure with the satellite system.
On arriving home, I tried the Navi on my SLK and it came on pointing to the exact location. Well, the theory of GPS failure went out the door. Went back to my E's Navi, popped out the DVD disc from the Navi drive. Reset the COMAND and a bunch of other things. NO luck. Each time, when the system came back on line, the Navi's map pointed me to a location way way off where I was. To give you a perspective, I am close to downtown Los Angeles but the map pointed me to the desert east of LA (40 miles off)
I am completely lost here. Any ideas?
Many thanks in advance
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From: Northern NJ
2014 BMW 550i
Sounds similar to my issue, which I am going in to the dealer to have fixed this Firday.
The difference was that I was using the Nav extensively on the day that it broke. On my last route calc I just wanted to see how many more miles that I had left to get home, even though I knew the route. It was taking an awfully long time to calculate, and when I checked the map, it showed my location as being off by at least 20 miles. After I got back to NJ (I was in CT), now the map shows that I am in CT around Stamford (which is at this point about 50+ miles away), and at points was showing me in the middle of Long Island Sound. It also showed that I was getting zero sats, and showed no coordinates.
Check this out. On the map screen, make sure that you have the GPS coordinates set to display, and find out what it says. Mine is all blank, so it is using the cars internal map to figure out where I travelled. Even the compass is wrong.
The difference was that I was using the Nav extensively on the day that it broke. On my last route calc I just wanted to see how many more miles that I had left to get home, even though I knew the route. It was taking an awfully long time to calculate, and when I checked the map, it showed my location as being off by at least 20 miles. After I got back to NJ (I was in CT), now the map shows that I am in CT around Stamford (which is at this point about 50+ miles away), and at points was showing me in the middle of Long Island Sound. It also showed that I was getting zero sats, and showed no coordinates.
Check this out. On the map screen, make sure that you have the GPS coordinates set to display, and find out what it says. Mine is all blank, so it is using the cars internal map to figure out where I travelled. Even the compass is wrong.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Southern California
Some MBs & Bimmers
Originally Posted by alewifebp
Sounds similar to my issue, which I am going in to the dealer to have fixed this Firday.
Check this out. On the map screen, make sure that you have the GPS coordinates set to display, and find out what it says. Mine is all blank, so it is using the cars internal map to figure out where I travelled. Even the compass is wrong.
Check this out. On the map screen, make sure that you have the GPS coordinates set to display, and find out what it says. Mine is all blank, so it is using the cars internal map to figure out where I travelled. Even the compass is wrong.
I was so fustrated that I popped out the DVD disc from the Navi late last night before going to bed.
This morning had the car on the drive way waming up and popped the disc back in. The system re-acquired its location and saw 6 satellites. I said to myself WOW .... it recovered by itself.
Started my drive towards the office with the map displayed ... took just a few mins to see the satellite count when from 6 to 3 to 1 to 0 and I lost all coordinates again. The map started to stray to God forsaken areas within LA.
I'm wondering whether there are others out there who are experiencing this glitch at this time ....
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Do you guys think this has to do with the introduction of the War of the Worlds remake - disrupting GPS signals? Spielberg and his pride! I understand several have witnessed him mumbling “I must outdo Welles… I simply must!” while waiting beside him at a red light. 
http://www.waroftheworlds.com
After all, look how Orson introduced the original
http://www.war-of-the-worlds.org/Radio
http://www.waroftheworlds.com
After all, look how Orson introduced the original
http://www.war-of-the-worlds.org/Radio
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
Some MBs & Bimmers
Originally Posted by konigstiger
Do you guys think this has to do with the introduction of the War of the Worlds remake - disrupting GPS signals? Spielberg and his pride! I understand several have witnessed him mumbling “I must outdo Welles… I simply must!” while waiting beside him at a red light.
http://www.waroftheworlds.com
After all, look how Orson introduced the original
http://www.war-of-the-worlds.org/Radio
http://www.waroftheworlds.com
After all, look how Orson introduced the original
http://www.war-of-the-worlds.org/Radio
On a serious note, I was very fortunate to enroll the help of our MBWorld resident King of Modification -- SteveK (MBenzNL) as he is still in LosAngeles.
He helped troubleshoot the problem and it appears to be the antenna lead or the GPS antenna. I tend to believe the problem lies with the antenna lead as part of the cable is slightly frailed and potentially had electrical contact with the body of the car.
When he said it, it made a lot of sense as recently I had my rear windshield replaced due to the static problem whenever I had the defrost on. I guess when the glass was replaced, the installer must have yanked and probably stripped the shielding of the antenna lead and thus the condition.
I really HATE visiting dealership for repairs. They fix stuff and break more stuff. I know I am generalizing but I have seen this happened so many times. When they replaced by windshield, they broke my rear cigarette holder, GPS antenna and made a mess with my Stone interior. Never thought that antenna lead was affected too...
Last but not least, a word of advise to anyone who had or will be planning to have their windshield replaced for the static problem, after the work, please check for clear reception if you have Navi. If not, test your Teleaid as your Teleaid uses the same antenna. I didn't test my teleaid since I had never activated it (though I'm paying for the subscription .... stupid me)
Last edited by GearHead; Feb 8, 2005 at 03:28 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,917
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From: Torquay, England
E-class E300e Estate, Sprinter (stretched limo)
Hello!!!!! Is anybody out there?? Testing, testing....
I think that is what I suggested earlier this afternoon? I am so pleased to hear that someone was able to confirm the diagnosis.
A good indication of the aerial being the cause was that you were not receiving a signal.
The COMAND still has a dead reckoning facility, but as you have found out, it is not always very accurate. A poor aerial connection can simply put you 'miles' out on the correct position.
Regards,
John
I think that is what I suggested earlier this afternoon? I am so pleased to hear that someone was able to confirm the diagnosis.
Originally Posted by GearHead
On a serious note, I was very fortunate to enroll the help of our MBWorld resident King of Modification -- SteveK (MBenzNL) as he is still in LosAngeles.
He helped troubleshoot the problem and it appears to be the antenna lead or the GPS antenna.
He helped troubleshoot the problem and it appears to be the antenna lead or the GPS antenna.
Originally Posted by glojo
Sounds like you both might have faulty aerials or their connectors. Good luck with the dealers,
Originally Posted by GearHead
I tend to believe the problem lies with the antenna lead as part of the cable is slightly frailed and potentially had electrical contact with the body of the car.
When he said it, it made a lot of sense as recently I had my rear windshield replaced due to the static problem whenever I had the defrost on. I guess when the glass was replaced, the installer must have yanked and probably stripped the shielding of the antenna lead and thus the condition.
I really HATE visiting dealership for repairs. They fix stuff and break more stuff. I know I am generalizing but I have seen this happened so many times. When they replaced by windshield, they broke my rear cigarette holder, GPS antenna and made a mess with my Stone interior. Never thought that antenna lead was affected too...
Last but not least, a word of advise to anyone who had or will be planning to have their windshield replaced for the static problem, after the work, please check for clear reception if you have Navi. If not, test your Teleaid as your Teleaid uses the same antenna. I didn't test my teleaid since I had never activated it (though I'm paying for the subscription .... stupid me)
When he said it, it made a lot of sense as recently I had my rear windshield replaced due to the static problem whenever I had the defrost on. I guess when the glass was replaced, the installer must have yanked and probably stripped the shielding of the antenna lead and thus the condition.
I really HATE visiting dealership for repairs. They fix stuff and break more stuff. I know I am generalizing but I have seen this happened so many times. When they replaced by windshield, they broke my rear cigarette holder, GPS antenna and made a mess with my Stone interior. Never thought that antenna lead was affected too...
Last but not least, a word of advise to anyone who had or will be planning to have their windshield replaced for the static problem, after the work, please check for clear reception if you have Navi. If not, test your Teleaid as your Teleaid uses the same antenna. I didn't test my teleaid since I had never activated it (though I'm paying for the subscription .... stupid me)
The COMAND still has a dead reckoning facility, but as you have found out, it is not always very accurate. A poor aerial connection can simply put you 'miles' out on the correct position.
Regards,
John
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Washington State
E-500
Originally Posted by GearHead
I really HATE visiting dealership for repairs. They fix stuff and break more stuff. I know I am generalizing but I have seen this happened so many times. When they replaced by windshield, they broke my rear cigarette holder, GPS antenna and made a mess with my Stone interior. ....
)
)
Curious as to how they broke your "rear cigarette holder" while replacing the rear window. I have never looked, but I assume it is in the fold down arm rest. What did they do....step on it? :p
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
Some MBs & Bimmers
Originally Posted by etenn
Curious as to how they broke your "rear cigarette holder" while replacing the rear window. I have never looked, but I assume it is in the fold down arm rest. What did they do....step on it? :p
Somehow, the ashtray on the door was jammed back into the door and "paw" and foot prints were everywhere on the door, seat, seat back.
In any case, my visits to two "reputable" MB stealership service department has been less than desirable.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Originally Posted by GearHead
Somehow, the ashtray on the door was jammed back into the door and "paw" and foot prints were everywhere on the door, seat, seat back.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
Some MBs & Bimmers
Originally Posted by konigstiger
You accepted the car in this condition?
The exterior and interior was dirty because it was raining that day and when I was dropped off to pick up my car, the workshop was already closed and only the cashier was open for me to sign my paperwork.
At that stage, I had no choice being I needed my wheels to drive home. It was only after I got home and parked my car into the garage, with my flourecent lights on did I realize the extend of the dirt as well as broken ashtray, broken GPS antenna and so on. In the case of the frail GPS antenna wiring, it will be impossible for me to detect since it is all hidden.
I hope you guys don't run into this kind of misfortune with MB stealerships.
