SatNav Updating

My first question to forum members........ how does the user know if the SD card fitted in the Bosch SLDA Satnav unit in my car is the latest version? I have found a site selling an SD card, which is marked Suzuki and dated 2023 with alleged compatibility for the Jimny. 

Staff at my dealership have advised to use Garmin Express and download the latest info onto an SD card. I've also seen info on the 'net about using Garmin Express installed on a lap top and link the laptop to the car's USB port. 

The handbook says to visit Suzuki-Slda and load data from it onto an SD card but that site appears to have closed. Any info how I can establish what the status of the sat nav mapping currently is and how it can be updated would be much appreciated.

I've attached an image of the card currently installed in my unit. 

54PA4 is from 2020. The latest version is 54PA8.

The SD cards have a write once special ID that has to match the map file version, so mostly you can’t just download a new version.

Separate from the map files there is also a head unit firmware version which you can download and update if needed.

There are plenty of people on eBay who sell genuine SLDA 54PA8 memory cards for around £20, most say 2023 as that appears to be the last time the maps were updated as Suzuki moved away from Bosch SLDA and it is unclear if there will be any new updates.

I bought one and it works fine.

If you want to try and dive in deeper you might like to have a look at this thread on XDA forum, but it gets a bit technical at times and some of the posts are misleading.

xdaforums.com/t/suzuki-slda.3326937/page-139

Robin

Cheers Robin, I have seen those on E Bay. It appears that is the way forward.
I wasn't aware of the info on the head unit firmware update. Where would I find that and how is it done, if it hasn't been done already. The car we have just bought has been main dealer serviced since new, I don't know if such servicing would include the head unit being updated.

Most likely the dealer won’t have upgraded the firmware in the head unit. I did mine, but it didn’t offer any new features. I will dig out some info 9n how to check the version and do the update, which is straight forward.

I also bought a 32gb card that could have the ID written, but the first card didn’t work and had to get a second one. I then transferred the map files from the eBay card plus my music files so I can play CDs without having to connect my phone. It was long winded having to get two cards, but does work.

I also bought a speed camera database and put fixed + mobile speed cams in to the sat nav.

Robin

Have a look at this thread on firmware and map files

www.bigjimny.com/forum/6-jimny-chat/6689...ware-update?start=42

XDA forum has loads of posts on firmware.

To check it press the COG symbol (settings) for 10 seconds until you see an info screen, then press firmware version. The latest firmware is 1880 (or 1890 is a beta release), you might have 1750, 1790 or similar, but I am not sure you will notice much difference.

1890 changes are detailed on page 108 on XDA forum

xdaforums.com/t/suzuki-slda.3326937/page-108

My view on firmware upgrades is if you present firmware works ok and does everything you want, just stick with it and only upgrade if it brings something new you actually want or fixes a bug.

Robin

Not completely to the point of the thread, but:

The Bosch unit in the UK/Europe Gen4, and the Blaupunkt unit in Latin American (?) markets, are both rock-bottom-quality radios.  I mean this not just in terms of the cramped and basic interface, but also with regard to their construction and quality of components.  Having had each type apart on my workbench, I have to say these are antiquated and not terribly robust devices.  They are 20-year-old designs made as cheaply as possible, with all that implies.

Now of course, they work just fine, when new.  I just mention this for people reading this thread in the future.  Especially if @DrRobin 's info about 2023 being the last map update is correct, there is really no reason not to chuck the Bosch unit in favor of something with hardware and software from this decade. 

For 50-150GBP, depending on screen size, Android OS head units with Jimny mountings can be found online that offer bigger, clearer screens, better phone interface, compatibility with standard rearview cameras, multicam support, etc.   Use Android Auto or Apple Carplay, and your GPS is always current.

I'm not an audiophile and care not a jot about car radios.  I just want to point out that 1) the factory radios in the Gen4 were simply the cheapest thing available that would fill the hole, and 2) it is far cheaper today than you might think to get a 10x superior, modern unit that will work better and last longer.