BMW G01 sat nav update
X3 G01 and X3 M: the build date decides whether yours has NBT EVO, EntryNav2 or iDrive 7, and which map it takes.
Sat nav update result
We identified your Map Update!
Enter your VIN and we will tell you which unit your X3 left the factory with, its current map and the latest version. Checking is free.
Which sat nav does the X3 G01 have?
The G01 is a good example of why you cannot order BMW maps by model name alone. Two X3s that look identical on the driveway can have different navigation hardware underneath, depending on when each was built and which navigation option was ticked. There are three possibilities:
| Unit | Typically fitted | Navigation | Map to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBT EVO (ID5/ID6) | About 2017 to mid-2019 | Navigation Professional | EVO (FSC file) |
| EntryNav2 | Cars with Business navigation | Business navigation | WAY (FSC file) |
| MGU | From about mid-2019 | iDrive 7, Navigation Professional | LIVE (FSC file); over the air while the subscription is active, USB after |
These dates are approximate. The switch from NBT EVO to MGU followed the build date rather than the registration date, so an X3 first registered in late 2019 could still have the earlier unit. Our VIN lookups found NBT EVO on one G01 and MGU on two G01s, which is exactly the mix you would expect from a model that changed systems mid-life.
Easier than ever
Which map does your X3 G01 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.
From NBT EVO to iDrive 7: telling them apart
Early G01s launched with NBT EVO. Its navigation takes the EVO maps, which cover Europe in one package, and on the ID5/ID6 versions found in the X3 the update is activated with an FSC file read from the USB stick.
From about mid-2019 the X3 moved to the MGU unit running iDrive 7. It uses the LIVE maps and can update them over the air while the car's map update subscription or free period is active. Once that has ended, a USB update with an FSC file keeps the maps current. If you are unsure which one your car has, don't go by the screen layout or the year on the logbook: the VIN check reads the factory data directly.
- Early Professional: NBT EVO, EVO maps
- Business: EntryNav2, WAY maps
- Later Professional: iDrive 7, LIVE maps
- Every G01 unit: FSC file, exFAT USB
Business vs Professional navigation in the X3
Not every G01 was ordered with Navigation Professional. Cars with Business navigation have the EntryNav2 unit, which takes the WAY maps rather than EVO or LIVE. The three map families are not interchangeable: a WAY package will not install on an NBT EVO or MGU car, and the other way round. The navigation option also matters for CarPlay, because our USB activation only applies to Professional cars with NBT EVO.
How to update the maps in your X3 G01
Enter your VIN
We confirm NBT EVO, EntryNav2 or MGU, so you get the right map family.
Order for £59.99
EVO, WAY or LIVE maps with an FSC file generated for your VIN.
Set up the USB stick
Format it exFAT and copy the files exactly as the installation guide shows.
Update in the car
Insert the stick, confirm the update on screen and leave it to complete.
Whichever unit your X3 has, the price and the method are the same: no code to type, because the car reads the FSC file from the stick. Leave the file name as it is. The EVO, WAY and LIVE maps each cover Europe in a single package, so there is no East or West region to choose. Park somewhere safe and open while the update runs. BMW FSC code explained covers how activation works.
Apple CarPlay in the X3 G01
On the X3, CarPlay follows the same build-date split as the maps. NBT EVO cars with Navigation Professional can have it activated by USB from £49.99, with optional FullScreen and Video in Motion at £10 each. Our compatible list covers 2017 to 2019 X3 G01 and 2019 to 2020 X3 M F97 cars. X3s with iDrive 7 normally have CarPlay built in, and Business navigation (EntryNav2) cars are not covered by the activation. The VIN check tells you which group your car falls into; for other models, see does my BMW have Apple CarPlay?
The X3 before and alongside the G01
The previous F25 X3 mostly used older systems such as CIC, NBT and EntryNav, with typed FSC codes rather than files. The G02 X4 shares much of its underpinnings with the G01, so the same unit check applies to it. If you also run a 5 Series of the same era, the G30 guide describes a similar move from NBT EVO to iDrive 7.
BMW G01 sat nav FAQ
Why do two X3 G01s of a similar age need different map updates?
Because BMW changed the navigation unit part-way through the G01's life. Cars built from about 2017 to mid-2019 with Navigation Professional have NBT EVO, later ones have MGU (iDrive 7), and cars with Business navigation have EntryNav2. Each unit takes its own map family, so a neighbour's update will not necessarily suit your car.
Does the registration year tell me which unit my X3 has?
Not reliably. The change happened around mid-2019 and depends on the build date, and a car can be registered some time after it was built. The VIN check on this page reads the factory build data, which is the dependable answer.
Does the X3 M (F97) have the same sat nav as the G01?
It is part of the same family, and our CarPlay compatible list includes 2019 to 2020 X3 M F97 cars, which points to NBT EVO on those. Rather than guess for a particular X3 M, enter its VIN and we will show the unit and the map it takes.
My X3 has iDrive 7. Do I still need a USB update?
Only once the over-the-air period has ended. iDrive 7 cars update their maps over the air while the map update subscription or free period is active. After that, a LIVE map update by USB, activated with an FSC file for your VIN, keeps the maps current for £59.99.
Can I activate Apple CarPlay on an X3 with Business navigation?
No. Our USB activation is only for NBT EVO ID5/ID6 cars with Navigation Professional. Business navigation (EntryNav2) is not covered, and iDrive 7 X3s normally have CarPlay built in already.