BMW F22 sat nav update

Which sat nav does the F22 have?

First, make sure this is your car. The F22 Coupé and F23 Convertible, M2 F87 included, are the rear-wheel-drive-based 2 Series, built from about 2014 to 2021 with a facelift in 2017 and mechanically related to the F20 1 Series. They are not the 2 Series Active Tourer or Gran Tourer, which is a different car with its own guide. Within the Coupé and Convertible, two things decide the unit, the navigation level and the build date:

Treat these dates as approximate. BMW changed the Professional unit by build date, around the middle of 2016, ahead of the 2017 facelift, so you cannot tell NBT from NBT EVO by looking for facelift styling. Entering the VIN above shows the unit that is actually in your car.

From NBT to NBT EVO in the 2 Series

Early Navigation Professional cars have NBT, which brought a touchpad to the iDrive controller. From about mid-2016 the Coupé and Convertible moved to NBT EVO (ID5/ID6). The build date is a reasonable first clue to which one you have; the VIN check is the confirmation.

The change matters because the update is handled differently on each. An NBT car takes the regional NEXT maps from a FAT32 stick and asks you to type a code. An NBT EVO car takes the Europe-wide EVO maps from an exFAT stick and reads an FSC file generated for its VIN. Business cars follow a similar pattern, with ROUTE on EntryNav and WAY on EntryNav2.

• Professional, about 2014 to mid-2016: NBT, NEXT maps
• Professional, from about mid-2016: NBT EVO, EVO maps
• Business, earlier cars: EntryNav, ROUTE maps
• Business, very late cars: EntryNav2 possible, WAY maps

Business vs Professional navigation in the 2 Series

Body style makes no difference here: a Coupé and a Convertible built at the same time with the same navigation option take the same map. What does matter is whether the car has Navigation Professional or Business navigation. Professional means NBT or NBT EVO, as above. Earlier Business cars have EntryNav, updated with the ROUTE maps for £39.99 and a typed code, while some very late cars may have EntryNav2, which takes WAY for £59.99 with an FSC file.

The navigation level also decides the CarPlay question. USB activation needs NBT EVO with Navigation Professional, so a Business 2 Series is outside it, whatever its age.

How to update the maps in your 2 Series

NEXT and ROUTE are supplied as East or West Europe; install one and you still have the main roads of the other, while EVO and WAY come as one package for Europe. Orders for NEXT and ROUTE include a Lifetime FSC code where your unit supports it, which means later map versions are yours at no extra cost: send us an email when you want the next one. On NBT EVO and EntryNav2 the FSC file is tied to your VIN, so copy it as the guide shows and don't rename it. Leave the car parked in a safe, open spot while the maps install, and see BMW FSC code explained if you want the background on codes and files.

Apple CarPlay in the F22 and F23

If your Coupé or Convertible pairs NBT EVO with Navigation Professional, CarPlay can be switched on with a USB activation from £49.99; FullScreen and Video in Motion are optional extras at £10 apiece. Our compatible list covers F22 and F23 cars from 2017 to 2020 and the M2 F87 from 2017 to 2022. Cars with NBT need a hardware retrofit, and Business-navigation cars are not covered.

NBT EVO arrived from about mid-2016, a little before the list begins, so if your car was built in that window, check the VIN before you order. The F45 Active Tourer and F46 Gran Tourer are not on the list at all, which is one more reason not to mix the two 2 Series families up. For the closely related 1 Series, see BMW 1 Series Apple CarPlay.

The 1 Series, the Active Tourer and the next 2 Series Coupé

Under the skin the F22 and F23 are related to the F20 and F21 1 Series, so the BMW F20 sat nav update guide is a useful second read if there is a 1 Series in the family too. If your 2 Series is in fact an Active Tourer or Gran Tourer, its units changed on a different pattern: go to the BMW F45 sat nav update guide instead.

The Coupé that replaced the F22, the G42, has iDrive 7 or 8 and the LIVE maps. Those update over the air while the car’s map update subscription or free period is active; once it has ended, a USB update with an FSC file keeps the maps current.