This is a really surprisingly complicated area.
First we need to understand that there are 3 Nav systems on the P3 platform.
- DVD disc based RTI as used in the 1st generation of P3 platform up to about 2011 ish. This is the “pop up” screen nav. You can “update it” buy getting the latest discs off of the internet . But it hasn’t been updated since I think 2016 and any maps saying they are newer are just fakes.
- Sensus (no globe button), this was last updated in 2020 and will not get an other update. Ever. This is the hard one to update and I will expand on that later. You can download the latest maps from HERE…but can you install them ? When the car left the factory, it was not possible to update the maps by USB .Read more further down.
- Sensus Connect (with the globe). You can download the latest maps from here. They can be a bit picky about the USB drive they will use, but in general a good name brand like sandisk or Verbatem will work well.
Ok, So you have a Sensus car with old maps, you want to update to the latest maps (2020) because you do and no amount of me telling you it was potato in 2011 when it was new and now its just a joke compared to Google, Waze or Apple maps will stop you…what can you do?.
Well….when the cars left the factory, only volvo were allowed to update the maps, and the were special serial numbers that had to be entered to allow the maps to update, but in 2018 a soft3ware update was released that once installed, allowed map updates by USB.
If you can get the code, you can update by usb with no interaction with Volvo. I have used this website with success to get the codes. I think it was 60euros last time.
Put the usb drive in the USB port in the armrest, it will ask for the code, put in the code and away it will go.
However….
The official route is to go to Volvo for a Total MOST or Total SENSUS update, or specifically get the IAM upgrade.
BUT most volvo dealerships will not perform this update due to the high risk of bricking the IAM module.
TJ EN-GB 31762 discusses this and how to avoid it during the update.
But the update is basically
- Turn off ITP security
- Perform IAM upgrade
- If the IAM upgrade bricked there are then 3 more unique software downloads to try to recover it .
So, if you do go down the official route you MAY have a very expensive bill if it goes wrong or you maybe able to install 5 year old map updates. Loose loose scenario if you ask me.
IMHO the better thing to do is retrofit an apple Car play / Android auto Box.
There are some really great fully integrated solutions as well as some good “stand alone” alternatives.
There is an article comparing some Android auto / Car play solutions here.
Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE