BMW i5 GPS System Dead: Navigation Nightmare

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2021 BMW iX3. The symptoms were exactly what you're describing, GPS taking forever to calculate routes and losing signal constantly. Took it to the garage last month. After running diagnostics, they confirmed the GPS antenna was defective. The problem was more serious than just the antenna itself, there was a wiring harness issue that was causing intermittent connectivity problems with the GPS module. The repair involved replacing both the antenna and part of the wiring harness. They also had to recalibrate the navigation system after the replacement. The whole thing took about a day and a half to fix, but it's been working perfectly since then. Based on my experience, I'd recommend getting it checked out soon. These navigation issues typically don't resolve themselves and can actually get worse over time, potentially affecting other connected systems in the car. Best of luck with the repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear about a similar case. My car's going in next week for the repair. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole fix? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair, or have you noticed any other quirks with the system?

Hey again! Glad to help out! Yeah, after taking it to the mechanic, it turned out to be exactly what they suspected, a faulty GPS antenna. The total repair bill came to 200 € which included parts and labor. It was actually a pretty straightforward fix once they got into it. I'm happy to report that since the repair, my navigation system has been working absolutely perfectly. No more signal drops, route calculations are super quick, and the GPS accuracy is spot-on. It's like having a brand new system! None of those annoying quirks I mentioned before have come back. Honestly, it was worth every cent to get it fixed properly. It's such a relief not having to deal with those frustrating navigation issues anymore. Really hope your repair goes just as smoothly next week! Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks so much for sharing those details! Just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to update you. Like you said, it was the GPS antenna, but I actually got lucky, turned out mine just needed a firmware update and a minor adjustment to the wiring connection. Total bill came to just 120 € which was a nice surprise! The system's working great now, routes calculate super fast and the GPS signal is strong. What a relief! Really glad I didn't put off getting it fixed. The mechanic I went to was actually fantastic, totally different from my last experience. They explained everything clearly and even showed me what they were doing. Thanks again for giving me the confidence to get it checked out. Sometimes it just takes hearing from someone who's been through the same thing to take that step. Really appreciate your help!