BMW F10 sat nav update
5 Series F10 saloon, F11 Touring and F07 Gran Turismo: find out whether your car has CIC or NBT, and get the right map.
Sat nav update result
We identified your Map Update!
Enter your VIN to see your navigation unit, your current map and the latest version. Checking is free.
Which sat nav does the F10 have?
The F10 generation of the 5 Series (2010 to 2017) was built through a change of navigation hardware. Depending on the build date and whether the car has Navigation Professional or the smaller Business navigation, an F10, F11 or F07 can have one of three units:
| Unit | Typically fitted | Navigation | Map to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIC | About 2010 to 2012/13 | Navigation Professional, large widescreen | PREMIUM (typed FSC code) |
| CIC Mid | Cars with Business navigation | Business, smaller screen | MOTION (typed FSC code) |
| NBT | About 2012/13 to 2017 | Navigation Professional, large widescreen | NEXT (typed FSC code) |
The changeover from CIC to NBT happened during 2012 and 2013 and was carried into the 2013 facelift (LCI), so two F10s registered in the same year can have different units. All three units appear in the F10s we have checked by VIN, so don't rely on the registration date alone: the VIN check above reads the unit fitted to your car.
Easier than ever
Which map does your F10 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 vs NBT: what changed
CIC (Car Information Computer) was BMW's navigation unit for most of the late 2000s and early 2010s. In the F10 it runs the high-resolution widescreen of Navigation Professional and stores its maps on an internal hard drive. Its map family is PREMIUM, split into East and West Europe.
NBT (Next Big Thing) replaced it with a faster processor, sharper 3D graphics and a touchpad on top of the iDrive controller for writing destinations with a finger. NBT uses the NEXT maps, again split East and West. The easiest way to tell them apart in an F10 is that touchpad: if your controller has one, the car almost certainly has NBT.
- Touchpad on the controller: NBT, NEXT maps
- No touchpad, large screen: CIC, PREMIUM maps
- Smaller screen, Business nav: CIC Mid, MOTION maps
- VIN check: the definitive answer
Business vs Professional navigation in the F10
Many UK F10s were ordered with Navigation Professional, which gives the large widescreen and the full 3D map display. Some cars have the cheaper Business navigation with a smaller screen and the CIC Mid unit, which uses the MOTION maps. A MOTION map package will not work on a CIC or NBT unit, and the other way round, which is why the VIN check matters before you order.
How to update the maps in your F10
Check the VIN
We identify CIC, CIC Mid or NBT 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
Insert the USB stick in the port the guide shows and type the FSC code when asked.
All three F10 units take a typed FSC code, entered on the screen during the update. Keep the car parked in a safe, open place while it installs. You only choose one region, East or West; each includes the main roads of the other. See BMW FSC code explained for how the code works.
Apple CarPlay in the F10
Neither CIC nor NBT includes Apple CarPlay in its software, so an F10 cannot have CarPlay switched on with a file. The option for this generation is a hardware retrofit module. USB CarPlay activation is for the newer NBT EVO ID5/ID6 system that arrived in the G30 5 Series; see does my BMW have Apple CarPlay? for the full picture.
BMW F10 sat nav FAQ
Can I update the sat nav on my BMW F10?
Yes. F10, F11 and F07 cars with factory navigation can be updated from a USB stick at home with the latest map and an FSC code generated for your VIN. Which map you need depends on whether your car has CIC, CIC Mid or NBT.
Which sat nav does my F10 have?
Earlier F10s with Navigation Professional have CIC and later ones have NBT; cars with the smaller Business navigation have CIC Mid. The changeover happened around 2012 to 2013, so the build date matters more than the registration plate. The VIN check on this page tells you exactly.
What is the difference between CIC and NBT in the F10?
NBT is the newer, faster unit that BMW introduced around 2012 to 2013. It added a touchpad on the iDrive controller for handwriting input, sharper graphics and the NEXT maps. CIC uses the PREMIUM maps. The two need different map packages, so it is important to order the right one.
How much is an F10 sat nav update?
With us it is £39.99 for CIC (PREMIUM), CIC Mid (MOTION) and NBT (NEXT), with a Lifetime FSC code where your unit supports it, so future map versions are covered at no extra cost.
Can I add Apple CarPlay to an F10?
Not by activation. CIC and NBT do not include CarPlay in their software, so an F10 needs a hardware retrofit module for CarPlay. USB CarPlay activation is for later cars with NBT EVO ID5/ID6, such as the G30.