BMW G20 sat nav update
3 Series G20 saloon and G21 Touring: maps over the air while your subscription lasts, and by USB once it has ended.
Sat nav update result
We identified your Map Update!
Enter your VIN to confirm your G20's navigation unit, the map it has now and the latest version available. Checking is free.
Which sat nav does the G20 have?
Unlike the 3 Series before it, the G20 does not have a long list of possible units. It was built with BMW's MGU unit running iDrive 7 from launch, so the question for most owners is not which system they have, but whether the car is still receiving map updates on its own.
| Period | Unit | Cockpit | Maps |
|---|---|---|---|
| From launch (about 2019) | MGU, iDrive 7 | BMW Live Cockpit Plus or Professional | LIVE (FSC file, exFAT), £59.99 |
| From the 2022 facelift | iDrive 8, with the curved display | Check by VIN | Varies; the VIN check confirms whether a USB update applies |
The dates are approximate and follow the build date, so a car registered around the time of the facelift could fall either side. Our VIN lookups found MGU (LIVE maps) on both G20 and G21 cars.
Easier than ever
Which map does your G20 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.
Over the air or USB: how to tell which applies
An iDrive 7 G20 updates its maps over the air while the car's map update subscription or free period is active. Nothing needs doing while that lasts. Once it has ended, the car stops downloading new maps, and a USB update with the LIVE maps and an FSC file keeps them current.
To find out where your car stands, sign in to the My BMW app or the BMW ConnectedDrive Store with your car, or ask a BMW UK retailer. The free period depends on the model, equipment and production date, so two G20s of a similar age may not be in the same position. If it has lapsed, you can buy an extension from BMW or update by USB yourself; can you update a BMW sat nav for free? compares the options.
- Subscription active: maps arrive over the air
- Subscription ended: LIVE maps by USB
- Activation: FSC file generated for your VIN
- Facelift with iDrive 8: check by VIN first
Live Cockpit Plus vs Professional in the G20
G20s were offered with BMW Live Cockpit Plus or BMW Live Cockpit Professional. For map purposes, both are typically based on the MGU unit with iDrive 7 and take the same LIVE maps, so the cockpit package does not change what you order for a pre-facelift car. Equipment can still vary from car to car, which is why we confirm the unit by VIN rather than by trim name.
How to update the maps in your G20
Confirm the period has ended
Check the My BMW app, then enter your VIN here to confirm the unit and map.
Order the LIVE maps
£59.99 for the maps, an FSC file for your VIN and the guide.
Load the stick
An exFAT USB stick, with the files copied as the installation guide shows.
Run the update
Plug it in, accept the update on screen and wait until it reports complete.
There is no code to type on a G20: the car reads the FSC file from the stick, so keep its name unchanged. The LIVE maps cover Europe in one package. Stay parked in a safe, open place until the update has finished. For more on activation files, see BMW FSC code explained.
Apple CarPlay in the G20
CarPlay is normally built in on the G20, so it is not a car for our USB CarPlay activation, which is for older NBT EVO systems. If CarPlay does not appear on yours, check the My BMW app first. See does my BMW have Apple CarPlay? for how this varies across the range, or BMW F30 Apple CarPlay if you also have the previous 3 Series.
The 3 Series before the G20
The F30 3 Series that the G20 replaced went through several navigation units during its life, each with its own map, so the F30 guide is the one to read for an older car. Further back, the E90 has CCC or CIC.
The 4 Series G22 Coupé, G23 Convertible and G26 Gran Coupé sit on the G20 and have their own guide: BMW G22 sat nav update.
BMW G20 sat nav FAQ
My G20 has stopped getting map updates. What has happened?
Most likely the map update subscription or free over-the-air period has ended. The car keeps working with the maps it already has, but it no longer downloads new ones. You can extend through BMW, or update by USB with the LIVE maps and an FSC file generated for your VIN.
How can I check whether over-the-air map updates are still active on my G20?
Sign in to the My BMW app or the BMW ConnectedDrive Store with your car, or ask a BMW UK retailer. The length of the free period depends on the model, equipment and production date, so the app is the place to check rather than going by the car's age.
Does a G21 Touring need a different map from the G20 saloon?
Not because of the body style. Our VIN lookups found MGU (LIVE maps) on both G20 and G21 cars. What matters is the unit in your particular car, which the VIN check confirms.
Can I update a facelifted G20 with iDrive 8?
The 2022 facelift generally brought iDrive 8 with the curved display, and how its maps are kept up to date can differ from the earlier cars. Enter the VIN and we will tell you whether a USB map update applies to your car before you pay anything.
Do I need to activate Apple CarPlay on a G20?
Usually not. The G20 normally has CarPlay built in, so it is not a car for our USB activation. If it does not appear, check the My BMW app.