I might have this wrong, but from my understanding the cars before 2019 don't have the wifi software that lets you download updates at home. Acura is not charging to digitally downloads an update but instead only still charging the cars that have physical disc that need to be changed out. In addition to that Acura maps are third party so that company might refuse to do it too. I do agree that they should drop the price of those discs as I would never pay over $100 for one when I can just use my phone instead, but once again that most likely is a third party issue. If you want people to use your navigation you should make it easy to update. I however, still just use Waze most of the time since the car has Android Auto.

​@@PUREreviews I have 2018 TLX, The site still wants $C179. I misunderstood when you said 2019 or later. I thought you meant 2019 or older cars. I know Lexus updates via the cloud after 2020 or so.

Glad it helped!

I agree. Just keep your USB stick in and it will finish at some point. The last update it did tell me 50% of the map was updated, so that was new vs when I did this video.

Glad it helped. That lack of telling you the update length was what motivated me to make the video.

This is true. I like to keep the system maps updated as I think it affects the speed limits that show up in the heads-up display. I use Waze a lot via the Android Auto app when I am taking road trips.

Glad it was helpful

Did you have your car running or just on (right before the engine turns on?) I’m thinking about doing it while I clean my garage

@bobwalters3732 Thank you!

I have since learned it is only free for I think 4 years.

Good to know. I just did another update and this time I just left my USB plugged in for my typical trips. It took about 2.5 weeks with a bunch of 15 to 30 min trips to fully update. At one point it did say partially updated, which I thought was interesting as I didn't get that for when I did this video.

@@PUREreviews I liked being able to hit the Navigation screen and see the message "Updating". I planned originally to put the battery charger on the car and crawl out the passenger side and let it rip. Not sure if it would shut down or not.

Your welcome, thanks for watching

Thank you!! This is so primitive...I'm trying to update mine like wtf? In this day in age the only way to do this is by usb??? And I have a 2023 tlx!!!

Totally agree on the status. Took me 1 hour and 30 mins of nonstop driving to update. I had another hour before that, so if it does not restart it took a total of 2 hours and 30 mins to update.

Glad it was helpful!

The current map date for my 2022 MDX and 2020 RDX is 2023.01.03. So I am very sure yours is out of date. Depending on when you bought your car, if is was not that long ago, they might not have the VIN number in the system yet since it was not recognized. Don't expect the map updates to be as polished as Google or Apple maps though.

@@PUREreviews yeah, Acura just told me there wasn’t one available for the 2023 year. Makes no sense since I know there are newer. I bought it in Feb, and connected services are on as well. Even my TLX had an update from late 2022, which I did before I traded it.

Were you driving the whole time?

@@SnakeyD8468 yes was driving the 45 minutes

@user-md5jo9tm7i been 3 days now of off and on driving for me and it hasn't completed yet

Hey do you have a link ? I bought one and I'm getting an pop-up message. Saying it stopped the download to re insert USB

I noticed a few speed limits changed, but honestly I think a majority of the changes are the points of interest. I live in a very urban area, so I also don't have any new roads around me to see if that changed.

sorry, I do not. since you use different parts of the touchpad I have a feeling they are separate screens behind the piece of glass, but I could be wrong on that.

It takes 3 years to update the firmware

This is exactly what I do. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks with a bunch of short trips. In this last update, I did even see a message pop up saying partially updated maps. I would not waste your battery or gas by leaving the car running.

@@PUREreviews good. Thank for the reply. Then it won’t let me feel is a big headache

All the older cars use the disks. As Acura has been doing major updates to a line they have been moving to digital maps like other brands.

It stops when the car is off. So it will take forever if you to a lot of short trips. If you have a long commute or road I find that is the best time to do the update. They are big files so I think that is why it takes forever.

I have since learned this after making the video. My sales guy told me it was forever, but it is only for 4 years from when you bought the car and it has to be new from the dealership.

I don't know if Honda is doing the same thing. They have changed the program since I did this video and after a few years they go back to charging per year at a subscription rate.

What year is your MDX A-Spec? I think the MDX line used the DVD maps until they revamped the car in 2021 which included the new navigation system.

Mine is 2019 MDX A Spec tech packages.. Try many times for free and it didn't work what you have posted here in your channel.. Misleading info for the others..

I love my Acura, but this I agree with.

i failed to update😂

Acura is out for more money

I completely agree..this is such a dated method if updating the system, not to mention no progress bar

I am not sure if the 2019 MDX has the built-in google maps...if it does you can do it, but if not no you can't...sorry. You have to change the default via your phone app from Google to Waze. I moved back to Google from Waze because the last Android update broke all the reporting and it was a pain to use.

@@rajrao6595 your friend was probably using android auto or apple carplay. So using that, you’ll be able to use Waze or Google maps on your MDX

I not sure it matters, but I always inserted it after my car was already running. It just seems to take about 2 to 3 hours to update from what I can tell.

If your car uses the Discs you have to buy new discs. I think your car is to old from my understanding. The free updates are also only good for the first 3 years after buying the car.

I am not sure if it works on google os. You do have to download their software which is what flashes it to a blank usb drive.

I don't have a TLX, so I can't say for sure. My phone is a Samsung S21 Ultra and I don't have any issues with my MDX.

It is just the Acura navigation maps and does not affect any of the other software i.e. apple, amazon, google, etc (those are updated in other ways). I think they started in 2019 with the digital maps, but I could be wrong. Does your car have the navigation disc, typically in the trunk somewhere? If it does, no this won't work, but the easiest way to find out honestly is just to go to the website and enter your VIN number.

The 2020 MDX, although a newer car, is a last-gen model. I think that generation ran from like 2014-2021. They redesigned it for 2022, so only those models and newer are on this map system.

Yes, it updates in the background so everything else works.

Maybe if you buy it from the dealership. Acura has now changed to giving you 2 free years of upgrades and a subscription after that to keep the map updated.

I don't have any Apple products. But to your point you can use Android Auto instead if you have a Android phone. I use both honestly depending on where I am going and if I have my phone connected at the time.

Either Apple or Android phones connect to the Acura console and give you a vastly superior nav. The only problem is you might lose nav if you hit a dead cell coverage zone

Sadly the old way to update the older models is to buy the discs from Acura. You swap out the discs and it updates the maps....which is what I did before buying my new car.

No, that model would be to old and uses a different mapping system.

@@PUREreviews alr ty for the info appreciate it!

This is for the cars with digital maps and that only applies to most models after 2019 & 2020. However since filming this video Acura has now been only doing 2 years free when you guys the car with digital maps. After that you have to subscribe to the service.

I not sure how other luxury cars do their navigations outside of Audi, Acura and BMW. I had an Audi before and their navigation info updated the same way as Acura disc method. When I owned the Audi it was not digital, so you had to by a new DVD once a year if you wanted updates. BMW iDrive requires you pay to update also. My friend who owns one says you can "subscribe" for a year and get the updates as they come out which is around 2 to 3 a year. I feel most of these companies are the same, but maybe I am wrong. What luxury companies have you seen that don't charge besides "Tesla"?

@@PUREreviews one of the families that owns the Acura RDX also owns a BMW coup…probably a few years newer and the nav system updates automatically. Still trying to figure out if I can convert the 2017 Acura system myself without breaking the bank so that at a minimum I can hook my phone to it…. Appreciated your comments. Interesting.

Glad it helped

Sorry, I am in the US and don't know the answer to this. It would be best to contact Acura on that one.

If the website is coming back with the CD option that is the only option for your car. The navigation systems changed over the years and some only work with CDs and some are digital.

I think the 2017 TLX uses the old CDs, so only way to update the maps is buying their CD package and swapping them out.

Nevermind, it looks like the "FREE" update is only for certain vehicles. You should probably update your video title as its a little misleading since it doesn't apply to ALL Acuras.

@@leeevc2797 Yes, it is in the newer models 2019 that don't have the discs. I talk about that in the video and it is in the description.

Are you talking about the computer or the car? I am not sure which update screen you are referring too. If you missed them in the video you can see the Chapters in the description which allow you to jump to that section in the video.

under the drivers seat, a separate DVD.. I have a 2008 MDX is there. never new that.

Sadly it does not tell you the status. I personally would not keep the engine running as the first time I did an update it took over 2 hours...which is why I made the video. I not save them for long car trips or just leave the USB stick in your car for days at at some point it will update. The last update did tell me when it was halfway done.

Get a usb stick with an activity light. It is a huge help with the update status

Costs money

Once you enter your car type and year it will go to a second page. At the bottom of that page is the spot for VIN number

I am going to guess it is due to the file sizes, but yes, I wish it was over the air too.

No, I think your car still uses the older disc system which I think is located in the trunk area. You basically have to buy a new disc/DVD and replace the old one.

@@PUREreviews so does that may I may be able to plug a USB into to update?

@@AlbertChenATXRealtor I am not sure what you mean in your question. If you ask asking does the update go onto a USB drive and plug into the car, yes...which I show in the video.

@@PUREreviews sorry. I was asking simply is my car too old to update the map thru USB.

@@AlbertChenATXRealtor Yes, I think it is. If you enter your VIN number in the Acura website and it tells you do by some type of DVD or Disc then you can't update the maps via a USB. That is the quickest way to see what kind of system you have, the link is in the description or google it.

And how does the dvd work like do you have to keep it in in order for the map to work or will it update after a while and I can take it out ?

@@fannycastillo8625 There's a hard drive in the car where the maps are stored, so once the DVD is done updating, you can take it out.

It stays on the previous version until the new on is partly or fully updated. So you can use the nav system while it is just updating. Let it go in the background and after a while it will at some point finish just in time for the new map updates ;-)

Mine finished eventually. You can check the map model number in the settings to verify, but my only suggestion is to just leave it be or be sure to update it on a longer car trip. It is very annoying not having a progress bar.

@@SnakeyD8468 maybe see if you are connected to Wi-Fi. It that your car is parked close enough to get a good signal from your house router. I have a 2014 Acura ilx...... And was told by the dealership that I have to pay like 200 bucks to get the map updated. And I wanted another key to the car. So they said it would cost almost 400 bucks. I near had a heart attack upon hearing that information. Why are these companies so greedy? And now they want you to buy these smart cars with electric hybrid capabilities. So they can charge you extra to upgrade software. And if you don't then your car will not ruin properly. Sounds like extortion to me. I already bought the car. So now you want to charge me extra to leech money from me and keep your boot on my car. Stop the games. But reality is a cruel entity. This is just the beginning. Eventually we will be forced to buy all electric vehicles. And they will charge way more for updates and software fixes. Gas is being phased out and they have to make up for the money somewhere.

I have windows so that is what I used in the video. I would be shocked if they didn't have the software for Mac OS too as I can't see Acura saying Apple users can't update their navigation systems.

No clue on this one, sorry

I agree. You have to put a battery charger on while you installing.

No clue, you would have to take it to the dealership. If it is brand new I would think it is still under warranty.

@@PUREreviews Thank you.

I cover this in the video as it does not tell you it is updating. You can check the version number in the settings to see if it is fully updated.

Glad it helped. I was in the same boat which is why I felt I should make a video.

That means your car is to old and you must use the DVDs to update the maps.

@@PUREreviews 2020 TLX and I get redirected to the $149 DVD

Those cars use a different system. Oh and this years update (4.50.10.L0) for that car is the last one being made for that system.

@@jpark6008 That is because you have the system that uses the brown disc. Check the system information in the settings to purchase the correct one. Oh there is a special Password that is needed when updating the system to prevent people from sharing it.

seeking 2015 it says the same

I am not sure what this means

@@PUREreviews acur go vtec

My guess is no due to the amount of time it took to install, but I have never asked them.

@@PUREreviews my local Acura dealership did it and charged me $190 for one hour of service time although it took hours for the update. I took my car in on Friday and they were about to close and the app was saying there was still 3-4 hours to go so I left it there over the weekend and it was ready Monday morning. Lololol. Just an unasked for fyi. Have a great week!

My dealership told me $599 to include 3 hours of labor.

@@c.barnes7976 that’s too much. You’d be better off finding an IT “geek” who can do it. I was shocked my dealership only charged what they did. There’s really no labor involved. It’s just a matter of waiting for the update to complete. Good luck. System is pretty useless without the update.

I asked today while I got an oil change and they said no- go online and do it yourself