BMW F01 sat nav update
7 Series F01, long-wheelbase F02 and F04 ActiveHybrid: CIC or NBT, and the map that matches your car.
Sat nav update result
We identified your Map Update!
Enter your VIN to see whether your 7 Series has CIC or NBT, which map it runs now and the latest version available. Checking is free.
Which sat nav does the 7 Series F01 have?
As BMW’s flagship saloon, the F01 generation (about 2008 to 2015, facelifted in 2012) came with Navigation Professional on most UK cars. That makes the question less about whether your 7 Series has sat nav and more about which unit runs it. The 2012 facelift is the dividing line:
| Unit | Typically fitted | Navigation | Map to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIC | About 2008 to the 2012 facelift | Navigation Professional | PREMIUM (typed FSC code) |
| NBT | After the 2012 facelift | Navigation Professional, touchpad controller | NEXT (typed FSC code) |
The periods are approximate and follow the build date rather than the registration year, so a car first registered around 2012 could have either unit. The same applies to the F02 and the F04 ActiveHybrid. In the 7 Series cars we have checked by VIN, an F01 had CIC; the check above reads the unit fitted to your own car.
Easier than ever
Which map does your 7 Series 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.
CIC to NBT: telling them apart in a 7 Series
The early F01s use CIC, which runs the PREMIUM maps. With the 2012 facelift BMW changed to NBT, which uses the NEXT maps. The two map families are not interchangeable, so ordering the right one matters.
The clearest sign is the iDrive controller. NBT added a touchpad on top of the controller, so you can write letters with a fingertip when entering a destination. If the controller in your 7 Series has that touch surface, the car almost certainly has NBT; if it does not, it is most likely CIC.
- Touchpad on the controller: NBT, NEXT maps
- No touchpad on the controller: CIC, PREMIUM maps
- Built around the 2012 facelift: could be either
- VIN check: the definitive answer
Business vs Professional navigation in the 7 Series
On smaller BMWs of the same era you often have to work out whether a car has Professional or the cheaper Business navigation. The 7 Series is simpler: Navigation Professional was standard on most UK cars, so most F01s and F02s have either CIC or NBT, as in the table above. If yours was supplied differently, the VIN check will show exactly what is fitted before you order.
How to update the maps in your 7 Series F01
Check the VIN
We identify CIC or NBT and the latest map version for it.
Pay £39.99
PREMIUM for CIC or NEXT for NBT, with a Lifetime FSC code where supported.
Prepare the USB
Copy the map files to a FAT32 USB stick following the guide.
Install and activate
Run the update and type the FSC code on the screen when prompted.
Both units use a typed FSC code. PREMIUM and NEXT each come as East or West Europe: you install one, and each includes the main roads of the other. Leave the car parked in a safe, open place while the maps install. BMW FSC code explained covers how the code is tied to your VIN.
Apple CarPlay in the F01 and F02
Even in a car as well equipped as the 7 Series, CarPlay is not hiding in the software: neither CIC nor NBT includes it, so it cannot be activated with a file. Adding CarPlay to an F01 or F02 means a hardware retrofit module. USB CarPlay activation is only for later cars with NBT EVO ID5/ID6 and Navigation Professional; see does my BMW have Apple CarPlay? to check which models are covered.
Related BMW generations
The F01 went through the same CIC to NBT change as its smaller sibling of the period, the F10 5 Series, so the same rule of thumb applies there. See the BMW F10 sat nav update guide for that car. The 7 Series that followed, the G11, moved on to NBT EVO and later iDrive 7, which use different map packages.
BMW F01 sat nav FAQ
Can I update the sat nav in my BMW 7 Series F01 or F02?
Yes, if the car has factory navigation. Both units fitted to this generation can be updated from a USB stick: CIC cars take the PREMIUM maps and NBT cars take the NEXT maps, each activated with an FSC code generated for your VIN.
Does a pre-facelift F01 have CIC or NBT?
Cars built from about 2008 up to the 2012 facelift typically have CIC; cars built after the facelift typically have NBT. Around the changeover the build date matters more than the registration year, so use the free VIN check to confirm before ordering.
Is the long-wheelbase F02 any different for map updates?
No. The F01, the long-wheelbase F02 and the F04 ActiveHybrid share the same navigation units, so the map you need depends on whether the car has CIC or NBT, not on the body length or drivetrain.
How much does a 7 Series F01 map update cost?
With us it is £39.99 for either unit: PREMIUM for CIC or NEXT for NBT. That includes the maps, the installation guide and a Lifetime FSC code where your unit supports it, so future map versions come at no extra cost.
Can Apple CarPlay be activated on an F01?
No. CIC and NBT do not include CarPlay in their software, so it cannot be activated on this generation. A hardware retrofit module is the only way to add CarPlay to an F01 or F02.