BMW E90 sat nav update
3 Series E90 saloon, E91 Touring, E92 Coupé and E93 Convertible: CCC or CIC, and which can be updated.
Sat nav update result
We identified your Map Update!
Enter your VIN to see which navigation unit your E90 has and whether a map update is available. Checking is free.
Which sat nav does the E90 have?
The E90 generation of the 3 Series (2005 to 2013) spans two very different eras of BMW navigation. Early cars use DVD-based systems; from around 2008 BMW introduced the hard-drive-based CIC. Business navigation followed a similar path, ending with CIC Mid on later cars:
| Unit | Typically fitted | Navigation | Can we update it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCC | About 2005 to 2008 | Navigation Professional, large screen, DVD maps | No: older DVD map format |
| M-ASK | Earlier cars with Business navigation | Business, smaller screen, DVD maps | No: older DVD map format |
| CIC | From about autumn 2008 | Navigation Professional, large screen, hard drive | Yes: PREMIUM maps, £39.99 |
| CIC Mid | Later cars with Business navigation | Business, smaller screen | Yes: MOTION maps, £39.99 |
The switch to CIC came with the 2008 facelift of the E90 saloon and E91 Touring, and the E92 and E93 followed. Dates vary with the exact build, so check the VIN rather than the registration year. Among the E9x cars we have checked by VIN, a late Business-navigation E91 had CIC Mid.
Easier than ever
Which map does your E90 need? Just type your VIN.
We have made it easier than ever to find the right map and confirm it is compatible with your navigation unit. Type your VIN into the search box at the top of this page and we will show the unit your car was built with, the map it needs and the price. Checking is free.
How to tell CCC from CIC in your E90
The quickest clue is the iDrive controller. CIC brought a redesigned controller surrounded by shortcut buttons for Menu, Back and Option, and most CIC cars also have a row of programmable favourite buttons on the dashboard. Early CCC cars have a plainer controller with only a menu button next to it, and older-style menus on the screen.
- Shortcut buttons around the controller: CIC
- Plain controller, menu button only: CCC
- Small screen with Business navigation: M-ASK or CIC Mid
- VIN check: the definitive answer
Why CIC was such a big step
CCC loaded its maps from a DVD, which made route calculation slow and meant swapping discs for different regions. CIC moved the maps onto an internal hard drive, added a sharper display with 3D map views and made the whole system noticeably quicker. It is also why a CIC car can be updated from a USB stick today: the PREMIUM map package is installed onto that hard drive and activated with a typed FSC code.
If your E90 has CCC or M-ASK, the DVD-based map format they use is not something we supply. The VIN check will tell you before you pay anything.
How to update a CIC E90
Check the VIN
We confirm CIC or CIC Mid and the latest map version.
Pay £39.99
Maps, a Lifetime FSC code where supported and the installation guide.
Prepare the USB
A FAT32 USB stick with the map files copied as the guide shows.
Install and activate
Start the update and type the FSC code when asked.
Choose the East or West Europe region you drive in most; each includes the main roads of the other. Keep the car parked in a safe, open place while the update runs. See BMW FSC code explained for more on the code.
The 3 Series after the E90
The E90's successor, the F30, moved through CIC, NBT and NBT EVO, and late F30s can have Apple CarPlay activated. See BMW F30 Apple CarPlay for that generation.
The Z4 E89 roadster of the same period used CIC as well: see the BMW E89 sat nav update.
BMW E90 sat nav FAQ
Can I update the sat nav on my BMW E90?
If your E90, E91, E92 or E93 has the later CIC navigation (from around 2008), yes: the PREMIUM maps can be installed from USB with an FSC code made for your VIN. Earlier cars with the DVD-based CCC or M-ASK systems use a different, older map format that we do not currently supply.
How do I know if my E90 has CCC or CIC?
Look at the iDrive controller. CIC cars have a row of shortcut buttons around the controller (such as Menu and Back) and usually programmable favourite buttons. Early CCC cars have a plainer controller with only a menu button nearby. The VIN check on this page confirms it.
When did the E90 get CIC navigation?
BMW introduced CIC to the 3 Series around autumn 2008, with the E90 and E91 facelift. Cars with Navigation Professional built after that have CIC; earlier ones have CCC. The exact switch depends on the build date and body style.
How much is an E90 sat nav update?
For CIC (PREMIUM maps) and CIC Mid (MOTION maps) it is £39.99 with us, including the maps, a Lifetime FSC code where your unit supports it and the installation guide.
Can I add Apple CarPlay to an E90?
Not by activation. None of the E90-generation units include CarPlay in their software, so the only option is a hardware retrofit module.