FSC Codes

D

Dexter_Morgan

Member
Has anyone any experience of getting FSC codes to update the navigation maps. I understand there are 3rd party places you can aquire the codes. The disks are supposedly only a few quid from BMW, it's the installing the and the code that costs big bucks.

If I was to update the map via this route would it affect the warranty assuming it occured without any glitches?
 
It's also theft and illegal to obtain this update other than via BMW or the mapping company. It is likely they'd not honour any idrive related warranty issues if they found out.
 
From what I have been reading the map discs contain no copyright notices whatsoever. They can be bought officially from BMW for a few quid. They are however no use without the FSC code. BMW will supply this but insist that they are the ones to load the map onto the car. I have read the code can be purchased elsewhere and you load the map yourself. Apparently it can take around 2 hours though.

I am not sure as to the legality of purchasing a code to load non-copyright material onto the car. I read BMW didn’t bother applying a copyright to the discs as they thought no one would be able to use them without them supplying the code.

How can it be theft if the discs are bought directly from BMW?
 
I work for a company that has a mapping partner. The map data is very expensive and always copyright because it's updated constantly. I could be wrong, but my instinct and knowledge of mapping companies suggests this data should only be applied by BMW as they are licensed to do it.

Typically there are few shortcuts to get something expensive for next to nothing other than committing a crime.

Happy to be proven wrong however!
 
Fair enough. BMW have obviously gone to a great deal of trouble to prevent you doing a self-update. It does seem odd that the map discs cost naff all but they nail you on the code. I suppose discs can be easily copied but the code is bespoke.

There are a few sites that purport to provide the FSC code but they don't look very professional to me. There are also sites that sell retrofit CIC systems to earlier BMW models and thus supply navigation along with up to date maps. I doubt they are approved by BMW.

Personally I don’t need an update yet. I also wouldn’t want to void my warranty, but I do like to know about stuff like this.
 
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