Sat Nav for 159 in Australia

I have just purchased a 159 JTS V6 Q4 3.2Ti, a beautiful car but the factory fitted sat nav is absolute crap. It's a VDO VRN 7100 unit which looks nice in the car but has very questionable functionality across the board. And the Blue and Me bluetooth seems light years behind the rest of the market. Does anyone have any advice as to how to fix these. I'm thinking of telling the dealer to repace the sat nav with a Pioneer unit.

 

I have just purchased a 159 JTS V6 Q4 3.2Ti, a beautiful car but the factory fitted sat nav is absolute crap. It's a VDO VRN 7100 unit which looks nice in the car but has very questionable functionality across the board. And the Blue and Me bluetooth seems light years behind the rest of the market. Does anyone have any advice as to how to fix these. I'm thinking of telling the dealer to repace the sat nav with a Pioneer unit.

Hey outta curiosity did you purchase your car from mccarrolls in artarmon?

 

How did you update/flash the EPROM?

By the way, I was wondering about the GSM phone receiver built into Alfa Sat-Nav...did you make a copy of your sim card and inserted into the slot above the screen or you have an extra sim card for the phone device in the sat-nav?

 

The software is updated using an installation procedure, quite simple, takes about 5min. It then automatically synchronises with the settings of the car.

For the sim card, as I don't use the car alot, I simply remove the sim from my phone and insert it in the car when I go for a long trip. Otherwise in Europe you can get a duplicate sim card, but it has a monthly cost that in my case isn't worthwhile.

 

Hi,

I'm not able to find any SW 12.3 on Ebay, only a lot of torrent downloads - what was your key word when searching?

I also have an Alfa 159 2006 with a crappy satnav, so I was hoping to get it upgraded like your pictures. My local dealer here in Norway could not provide this.

 

Search for Alfa 159 Firmware Connect, or else on ebay here FIRMWARE CONNECT ALFA ROMEO 159 BRERA SPIDER + MAPPE su eBay.it Software e Mappe, Navigatori e GPS, Auto ricambi e accessori

 

Is this an hacked SW? From Alfa Norway they reply that this is unknown, and that the only "update" they know of is for MY08 and not for Connect Nav

 

No, this is the proper Magneti Marelli (who manufacture the navigator HW) updating CD, admittedly a copied version of it though. It updates the software to version 12.3 which is what is already installed on the MY08.

 

Ok, thanks for your reply

 

So this will work with the Nav/Phone in my 06 Brera?

Whilst I'd happily pay a reasonable sum for an upgrade, I don't believe this supplier is providing legal versions (unless the software is actually available free).

So if anyone finds a good link to download it...

 

In Italy, if you go to a Magneti Marelli dealer, provided they know what you're talking about (and most times they don't, including Alfa dealers), you can get the upgrade done for 50euros. There are torrents where you can also download the SW, up to you.

 

If someone is looking for FW 12.3 here it is the links from KOKO95 from french alfa site.

Mise a jour firmware NIT G1 alfa 159 - Forum Alfa Romeo Online, Tout L'univers Alfa Romeo en Ligne

Two of my friends from polish Alfa site has updated their own CN+ but I was not so lucky like them.Mine CN+ shows only AR logo at all the time.I am stuck with this issue and looking for firmware update via 6 pin debug port on the left side of the bracket.If anyone of you knows something about Magneti Marelli representative that has experience with connect navi+ please share with me contact details.

 

Hallo, ich habe ein großes Problem
begann die Installation und Phase "Downloading Software" ist nicht das Ende der Aktion und starten Sie es neu. Und die ganze Zeit über. Eine CD entfernt nicht das Radio, so Radio ist jetzt unbrauchbar .. Ich hoffe, dass ich nicht in einer autorisierten Servicestelle des Clusters zu geben, auch wenn Sie nicht tun, wird die CD im Radio nicht bekommen hinein einige Original aus den Original-Firmware zu bringen. Es macht mich ganz krank.

Es tut mir leid für die deutsch-tschechische rupubliky

 

CD goes in with radio on.
CD error! screen
Turned radio off, the on.
Flasher loader starts, and will keep rebooting or turn off and never complete. Was stuck here for a couple of days until I read the manufacturers sheet
On start (before flasher screen is displayed) press 3 4 5 6 >> (sheet actually says to do this while it says "do not turn off radio" on flasher screen so YMMV)
The radio lights all flash
The programming actually starts
Then the Alfa logo stays on permanently (left for ~60 mins as was driving)
Was still stuck on with the engine off (i.e., in danger of running down the battery)
Pulled neg lead on battery to disconnect
Replaced after 5 mins
Radio now started with new firmware, and Dension 300 GW device suddenly started working (result!)
But I really thought I had killed it... and nearly ordered a Pioneer replacement. Now I don't have an excuse Or I may anyway as the Connect Nav+ is an expensive poc

Had to reset door window anti pinch as I had removed battery with door open (not good!) [using drivers window down 10s, passenger down 10s, passenger up 10s, drivers up 10s. then windows worked normally]

 

I'm sorry to see that people have had so many problems with the upgrade. A few key points - it needs to be done with the ignition key OUT, disc ejects when update is complete, you then turn off and turn on again. When you turn on the car's ignition, it will sync your date and language settings. For the voice commands, you need to re-do the setup with the original voice settings CD.

 

procedure is: 3-4-5-6 and next track button ff, and thats need to be done at blank screen

 

Flash with firmware

Yesterday I disassembled my Connect navi on spares.Under the mainboard PCB I finally found FLASH chip which storing firmware of our navi unit.It is INEL TE28F640.Now I am looking for someone who is interesting with car radio and navigation system and made a DUMP of flash from working navigation with programmer and PC software.If you know some people from this forum which i could contact, please send me PM.

 

Still looking someone who made a dump of flash from Magneti Marelli Connect navi.

 

Connect v12.3 -> Postcode?

Any one know what the new features of v12.3 firmware are?

The only thing that would bother me enough to perform the upgrade is if it added POSTCODE look-up for the SatNav; does any one know if it does?

 

It's mainly cosmetic....graphics are much nicer, but that's about it!!!

 

Free download Frimaware 12.3 Connect nav & more

You don't have to pay for the firmware, cause an Italian guy on ipmart-forum.it posted links to download the firmware for free. The only thing you have to do is to register.

[SCARICA] Aggiornamento Firmware Connect Nav V.12.3 + mappa italia 2010-2011

Also you can download the Set-up CD.

Just burn it in a proper way on a CD, don't just copy it to a CD. Use ImgBurn for instance.

And then follow the steps as mentioned in the instructions.

Just did it yesterday (the firmware update) and took less than 5 mins. Not only cosmetic, start-up of the systeem is much quicker.

 

Is there any possibility of using Tom tom or Garmin maps on the sat nav system?

 

I would have thought that was highly unlikely.

 

Firmware dump for GT/147 Nav+ with Phillips drive?

Hi All!

I've killed my Nav+ during firmware update (WARNING: There are two, identically looking types - one with Kenwood drive (90% of Alfas) and the other (Phillips) - which I turned out to have ;(

So - if anyone dumped flash from the Phillips one (different mainboard) please let me know.. (cuz the other option is to throw away my nav+ and start looking for a different one).

Thanks
PM

 

Hi All!

I've killed my Nav+ during firmware update (WARNING: There are two, identically looking types - one with Kenwood drive (90% of Alfas) and the other (Phillips) - which I turned out to have ;(

So - if anyone dumped flash from the Phillips one (different mainboard) please let me know.. (cuz the other option is to throw away my nav+ and start looking for a different one).

Thanks
PM

I'll warn you now, that nothing else fits! You need another Alfa unit as the whole in the dash is a fair bit bigger than a standard double din...

 

Doe anyone have the firmware 12.3 avaialable for 159/Brera?

Please let me know.

 

you can get it off ebay, installation is easy and result is a modern up to date navigator Aggiornamento Firmware Connect Alfa Romeo 159 Brera Spider Fiat Lancia | eBay

 

Yes I know but considering it could be found in gpsunderworld for download free of charge and the download page is down, I thought maybe someone in the forum could share it.

 

Is it true the 12.3 firmware changes the MAIN screen to a menu screen - rather than the nice composite AUDIO/NAV/TRIP screen?

 

From memory, yes, but the overall graphics are such an improvement that it's worth the upgrade.