US MINIs (again) Speak w/Brit English

Sections: Uncategorized Nov 29th, 2004 47 Comments

mini

From frequent contributor Ian Cull and gbmini.net

In the early days of the new MINI, with CD-based navigation, you could have directions spoken with a British voice which seemed to many owners to be rather appropriate. Later releases, and the DVD-based version, dispensed with British accents – supposedly because American drivers could not understand!

Today at MINI Peabody, I mentioned this to Brig and he very helpfully took me through the Navigation setup in a MINI Cooper Convertible in the showroom:

In the setup screen (above right) you'll notice we were able to select “GB” as the voice, instead of “USA”. And then the car was speaking with a female British accent – I recorded a few seconds of “her” saying “louder” and “quieter” to give you an idea!

So can you get this on your non-British DVD based Navigation system? Presumably – Scott at MINI Peabody tells me you can order the DVD (for $225!) but maybe you should instead make friends with someone with a very new MINI …

Great news Ian. You can read Ian's full report here.

It would seem this was just phased in as the most recent MINI equipped with NAV I had heard still had the American accent version. While this is sure to annoy many of those with '04 NAV equipped cars it'll most certainly please those with '05 MINI's on order.

Written By: MF Reader

http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

I wonder if it says “roundabout” instead of “rotary”? ;)
Josh

I'm from Chicago and I say roundabout.
Puck

Did I just whine enough in the right directions? Were there just enough other whiners?

Now to find that new, long-lost best pal. ;-)
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

Yeah, there was some talk about this recently on MINI2. It seems that it started some time into the '05s, as mine doesn't have it, but newer '05s do. But I do need to find someone with a British nav DVD. ;)
David

Just got my S in October. I was very let down when I was taken through the set up, I have the American accent. Any pals out there?
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

This would be a great opportunity for a Bit Torrent ;)
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

If someone can get me a copy of the DVD, phyiscal or digital, I'll be happy to provide a torrent. University network connection and all. :)
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

Another thought… it's been said that you're supposed to get a free disc upgrade after a year or so from NavTech. Do we suppose that this upgrade will contain the new British voice?
ANTSMINI

I believe the languages are stored in the firmware rather than the DVD.
Mike

Yes, I believe that it depends upon how the nav computer was setup when it was first installed (i.e. the voices should be stored in the firmware and not on the DVD itself).

When the nav computer is first programmed it allows the programmer to select the languages it will use. Thus, it appears that MINI is now simply setting up the newer units with the GB voice option in place of the French one (e.g. USA, GB, and E instead of USA, F, and E – where F = French and E = Spanish).
GSKChicago

Okay, okay, okay… Now I'm getting all bummed out. Wonder if Gabe could ask any of his MA sources this very technical question… The question of can someone with an early '05 MCS get the updated DVD from Navtech and start using the British speaking voice?

Pretty please can someone find out? I will email my MA now and will report back if/when I get an answer. :o)
Mark Brown

So, British IS a different language after all!!

I feel so much better now . . .
David

Now if i can just get my Nav system to say “Mr. Bond where shall we go today?” in a British accent I will be in heaven.
http://www.gbmini.net Ian Cull

Well, Scott at MINI Peabody has tried to get more info and has been told (a) that a new nav DVD is not being released till Jan'05 and (b) that it won't provide the British accent.

So I think the only option is for someone with an '04 nav to try the DVD from a new '05 and report back. And sorry, I don't have nav so I can't do the test.
Howard

I picked up my mini convert. Oct 30th and it has the British Voice. On a side notie why didn't they put S for spanish instead of E.
Brad

because the language is “Espanol” in spanish
David

People on mini2 are flashing new firmware all the time. Is this just a simple matter of getting the newer version with the British voice and flashing my nav system with it?
http://www.gbmini.net Ian Cull

This thread on NAM may be interesting to some people
Mike

All,

If you take a look at the files on one of the firmware update discs for the nav system (e.g. V23, V24, etc.), you will see that it contains all of the voice files for the computer (there's even male voices for USA and GB on there too!).

So, as I already mentioned, just buying a new nav DVD isn't going to give you the GB voice. The voice comes from the firmware and not the NavTech (or NavTeq) map data disc.

Now, the problem is that just upgrading your firmware to the latest version won't give you the GB voice either (unless MINI/BMW has corrected this in the latest V24.1 firmware that seems to be available now). The update is smart enough to retain the three voices that were originally programmed into the computer when it was first setup/programmed. Thus, in order to switch over to using the GB voice, you'll need to completely reset your nav system and then load on the latest firmware version and select the GB voice as one of the three system voices. The problem is that I don't know how to do a complete reset of the nav computer (and just disconnecting the battery isn't going to do it).

Once the computer has been completely reset, it will prompt you for the three languages you want to use when you load the firmware.

Your guess is as good as mine…

BTW, I tried to “fool” the system by modifying the update disc by replacing all of the USA voice files with GB ones (i.e. I simply made copies of all of the GB voice files on the disc and then renamed the files with the exact same as the USA files). However, this wouldn't work as the computer just kept kicking out the modified disc when I tried to update the firmware. I guess it was worth a try though. :)
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

That's pretty interesting. There must be a way to reset it, maybe just flash the bios empty, or something. I wonder if the dealer could do it, provided you assisted them by giving them the firmware disc. Hmm..
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

I met another MINI today, being picked up and driven away, and it was happy to speak Female British English too – so it looks like future MINIs at least will be able to do it.

Office Maven Mike, interesting. I was wondering about hacking the files – you saved me the trouble. There must be a way to get the thing fully reset …
MacGuruTX

I have an 05 MCSC with Nav and mine did not have the British voice. I have to go to the dealer this Friday to get my aero kit paint repaired, so I'll talk to the service staff about it.
http://www.davidrose.us DUCTTAPE

I will NEVER let them touch my NAV again. My 02 had the English lady, and they kicked her out and put in a Bronx lady. The 05 has the English lady back!

YESSSS!
ANTSMINI

Wow I cant believe all us 03 and 04 owners are screwed and cant get the British accent. If its just a matter of firmware updating MINI really should make this available to us. There is obviously a large desire for it as seen on MINI2, NAM and here.
David

Just go to the dealer and have them change the language from USA to GB. That worked in our other car to change from the male voice to female british voice.
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

David, how recently did you do this? And is your other car a BMW/MINI?
Steve

i have a 05 mcs with an aug build. it only offers us,f, e. i noticed in the picture a nav version (sw4-1/40) my car came with sw4-1/30 and that version must be over 2 years old. the address i work at does not eved exist and the building has been ther for 3 years. i find there are many mistakes and i have had way too many bad directions and guidences. any suggestions?
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

Steve, there is a difference between firmware version (the numbers you mention) and map data (which is on the DVD in your car). Upgrading the firmware should not have any effect on your map data, although it's remotely possible that the firmware updates the direction-finding algorithms, but I haven't heard of that happening. Nonetheless, couldn't hurt to install 4-1/40 (v4.0). I too have an August build '05 with 4-1/30 and plan on upgrading the firmware at some point.
Randolph Lee

I have been fighting this fight too and even took it as far as a friend at the factory looking into it… the language on pre 05s and early 05 DVD systems (and a few late CD based systems… not sure of the changeover date where the accent was lost) that do not have british accents is controled by the country code set into the main computer of the car and this controls so much other stuff that it can not be reset to (for example) the UK to fix the problem… I was told that it could be fixed with a new version of the firmware though… What is so confusing is that the 05s with British accent are running the same firmware and the same DVD data disks as the ones that do not have the right voices! The part numbers on the hardware is also the same as on the 04s I am told. I just want MINI US to fix it so my auto has the proper accent! (while they are at it would be mice if they also implemented the male/female voice option that the DVD offers them as well… but perhaps I should not be greedy)
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

just back from mini of manhattan and here is the bottom line: THE GB VOICE CANNOT BE ADDED ON! something is being done at the factory to make this happen and service cannot access the computer to mod it. i have an '05 cooper with the american voice and my dealer was nice enough to give me the latest dvd (for free!) and hook up my car to their computer and attempt to reset the voices. no dice. they were able to get as far as asking me if i wanted male or female and that was it. hopefully someone will figure out another way – but unless mini of america sends some software/hardware to the service techs it looks like it ain't gonna happen.

cheers – drew
ANTSMINI

Dave,

Thats what I figured. Oh well. MINI dropped the ball on this one.
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew
THE PLOT THICKENS…. i thought i would call down to prestige mini in new jersey to see what they had to say about it and they say NO PROBLEM for the dealer to reprogram the nav to get the british voice! i am going next week on tuesday to have it done – i'll let you know what happens.
- drew
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

Drew, that's great news, I hope they're not blowing smoke. :) Keep us posted!!
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew
i hope so too – it's a 30 minute drive from the city! :-) they were quite confident on the phone that it can be done easily – and a call to ask-mini also got me the same answer. according to 888-ask-mini the voices are all in there and can be determined by a reprogram at hte dealer… we shall see!
- drew
ANTSMINI

If any dealer can do it Prestige can. They are top notch.
Randolph Lee

FINGERS CROSSED!!
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

Pete recently posted on my weblog that he successfully tricked his NAV into speaking British English!
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

WOOHOO! I gotta try this ASAP! (Which means next week after finals are over :( hehe)
Cas

Ian it says neither roundabout or rotary. I live in the UK and so I have the European Nav system, but will be moving to the U.S. in a few weeks. The very polite Brit voice in my Nav system says traffic circle.

My Cooper S is only 2 weeks old and I've been to the Oxford plant with the red Mini on the front of the building. :-) They have special parking spots for women and pregnant women. Only Mini would think of that. :-)

Didn't get to see the Mini tour the day I was there because they had a big group for the BMW tour and test drive, but I'll try to go back in a few days or so.

I have the 2005 Cooper S complete w/Premium Pkg, all all chromed up, inside and out. :-) As well as fog lights, an absolute must here. :-(

My Cooper S also has the speed compensating volume feature. Is that the same on the American models?

My dilemna is where to purchase the American DVD based Nav disc when I arrive in the U.S., as I will be shipping my Mini in a few weeks. Does anyone know where I can purchase the American Nav disc? I've looked online at Navteq, but they only mention upgrades on their web site, quite odd.

Cheers!! :-)
http://www.hyperbluemini.com Mike

Cas, your best bet (albeit illegal) might be to try to find someone with the DVD and get a copy or ISO-file containing a copy from them, since the discs are prohibitively expensive.
Mike

Cas,

Send me an e-mail once you've gotten your MINI stateside and you're ready to use the North American DVD and I'll hook you up with a copy.
Ed in Madison, WI

2005-1 North American map DVD for Mini Satellite Navigation –>

Does any one have one yet?

Is the first DVD upgrade really free from the dealer like my MA promised?

An .nrg file of this map update posted on eMule might be pretty popular.
PowrHaus

I just got my 2005 Mini Cooper S with the navigation system. My map DVD is shown as 2003-2. Why do I have such an old map data DVD and is a newer one available? I called my Mini dealership and they have no idea what to do. Going to the NavTech website tells me to call Mini. Anyone have an idea how to get an updated disc and why my brand new nav system has a DVD dated 2003? Also, my nav system can speak with a British accent…highways and freeways are “motorways”. I love it.
http://www.gbmini.net/ Ian

Your MINI parts specialist should be able to determine if an update is available and, if so, at what price.

I don’t have nav, but when I enquired a while back, Scott at MINI Peabody got the answer that an update should be available in March …
PowrHaus

Thanks for your help. I ended up calling NavTech and they said that an update should be available soon. The information from your dealer was correct. Thanks for your help.
SeanPMac

I’m curious about the new Nav system (05), can it be “tweaked” to actually play movie DVD’s? I realize this is technically illegal since I’m driving, but my wife won’t be driving. We should be able to pick up our bouncing baby mini any week now.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
SeanPMac

Got it…

http://www.navwithtv.com/product.asp?specific=jnnpomo0

Supposedly it’s $200 if you mention the online forum. Hope it helps others…

“Video Modules If you need video only modules (DVD only no TV Tuner) you can get them for $399 from http://www.tvandnav2go.com just tell them you saw the post on the BMW forum. You can use get your TV-Tuner programmed for video in motion for $200.”

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