Question :

I have a Peugeot 208 from 2013 with a built-in navigation system. Since the maps are completely out-dated, I want to update them. Peugeot says I can buy and download new official map-updates from a company called HERE, which have their website at http://www.navigation.com

I think I have found the right maps, but the pictures of the compatible navigation systems that are shown on the site are not identical to the navigation system in my Peugeot 208, so there’s no way to tell before I buy.

Furthermore, the updating instructions in the installation manuals that HERE is providing online cannot be used in my case, as several buttons and options mentioned simply do not exist on my navigation system.

What can I do ?

Answer :

You are completely right, HERE (previously named Navteq) acknowledges that your navigation system is not listed in the reference photos and that they do not provide installation instructions for your navigation system online.

Anyhow, more reasons for us to put these instructions online for you :

STEP 1 : GET YOUR CAR’S VIN-NUMBER

• to be able to buy the navigation map update, you will need your car’s VIN-code
• go to your Peugeot 208
• do not step into your car, but stand outside and look at the front windscreen
• in the bottom-right corner of the windscreen, you will see a see-through opening in the black film that covers all edges of the windscreen
• behind this see-through opening, you will see a 18-digit code ; that’s your car’s VIN-number ; write it down ! (the VIN-number usually starts with VF3…)

STEP 2 : BUYING THE RIGHT MAP UPDATE

• as you have a Peugeot 208 from 2013, you should have a built-in navigation system with a Screen-diagonal of about 17.5cm and a radio-dial and 2 physical buttons on the left of the screen ; the button bottom-left is MENU and just above it is ‘a button with a rectangle with an arrow below it and 2 lines at both sides’ ; if so, HERE calls your navigation system a Touchscreen 7″ so yours does not have MirrorScreen, this navigation system is also known as SMEG+ iV1 running version 3 of the SMEG operating system ( probably SMEG3.25 )
  • if your Peugeot 208’s navigation system does not match the above description, you either have a Peugeot 208 from a different model year or your navigation system is not the built-in original, in that case, contact Peugeot, HERE or your local dealer to find out which navigation system you have
• since you now know you have a (regular) Touchscreen 7″ navigation system, you can buy the update you need on the HERE website, this is the link if you live in Europe : https://peugeot.navigation.com/product-list/Catalog/Catalog_Peugeot_208_2013_Touchscreen_SMEGplus/en_GB/PeugeotEMEA/EUR
• choose the map update you want there, and buy it
  • if you are wondering if this is the right time to buy as maps have to be updated continuously, HERE usually updates these maps every 6 months (in April and in October) but there’s no guarantee they will keep on doing that
  • HERE acknowledges that
  • buying advice : only buy the map of your own region ; since maps need to be updated so frequently to keep then kind-off up-to-date, it’s no use to buy maps of regions you will not be visiting any time soon
• to be able to buy the map update, you will need an account at HERE ; if you don’t have one, you have to register for a new account
  • during the registration process, you will need to enter your car’s VIN-number
• during the buying-process you will get an Activation Code ; write it down ! (after buying online, you will get the Activation Code in an extra eMail also, you could also print out that eMail)
• click on the download link that is provided during the buying process to download the map updates to you Mac (you can also find the download link in the Activation Code eMail afterwards)

STEP 3 : PUT THE MAP UPDATE ON A USB-STICK

• get yourself a USB-stick of 1GB or more that is formatted as FAT32 MBR and completely empty
  • if you buy a new USB-stick for this, you can buy a basic one of any size (8GB is probably the smallest you can find these days), any brand will do, as nearly every brand format their USB-sticks as FAT32 MBR ; a USB-stick with an indicator light is slightly more useful, as the navigation system will not tell you if the USB-stick is being recognized (like your computer would)
  • if want to use an old USB-stick for this, you can if you completely empty it – if you need to reformat it to FAT32 MBR, you can find instructions in this post
• plug the USB-stick into your Mac (if you haven’t done so already)
• on your Mac, locate the download of the map update (usually it’s inside the Downloads folder)
  • the file has probably been unzipped already automatically, but if it isn’t, double-click on the ZIP-file to unzip it
• open the folder (that has a name consisting of 5 digits, like 52044 or something similar)
• select one file inside the folder, then typ [CMD]+[A] ( = Select All ) on you keyboard
• then, drag&drop all files onto the empty USB-stick
  • HERE advises you to put all update contents directly onto the top-level folder of the USB-stick, but if you have bought multiple map updates together and you want to install them at the same time (immediately after each other that is) you are probably best off by putting all their respective folders next to each other onto the top-level folder of your USB-stick
• when the copying is done, drag the USB-stick’s icon to the Trash to eject
• then, unplug the USB-stick

STEP 4 : GET THE MAP UPDATE ONTO YOUR CAR’S NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• go to your car, and take these with you :
  • the USB-stick with the map-update
  • the Activation Cade you have written down
  • these update instructions (preferably printed out)
• get into your car, and start the engine
• plug the USB-stick into one of the USB-ports that are next to the cigarette lighter (in the cavity in front of the gearshift-handle)
• your navigation system will now display a message “Verification of media data”
• click the (physical) MENU-button
• the window “Main Menu” will open, click the (on-screen) Navigation-button
• then click the (on-screen) Navigation GPS-button
• the window “Navigation” will open, click the (on-screen) Settings-button
• the window “Navigation Settings” will open, click the (on-screen) Maps-button
• a new “Navigation Settings” window will open, where you can see all installed maps and their versions listed
• click the (on-screen) ‘circle-shaped arrow’-button (top-right)
  • if the ‘circle-shaped arrow’ button is greyed-out, there’s something wrong with the USB-stick ; go back to your Mac and make a new USB-stick with the map-update on it using the directions listed above
• the next window “Add and update maps” will open, select the name of the map you want to update
• then click the (on-screen) Confirm-button
• now, you will get a warning message : “The update will take more than 20 minutes. Keep the engine running. Confirm update?” (the update will probably take less than 10 minutes to complete anyway… but it is important that you keep your car’s engine running throughout the updating process)
• click the (on-screen) Yes-button
• after a few moments, a window will appear where you need to type your Activation Code
• then, click the (onscreen) Confirm-button, and wait…
• a window with a progress bar will now be displayed ; the update will probably take less than 10 minutes to complete, but as mentioned, it could take more than 20 minutes…
• when the progress bar window disappears, the update is done
• do not forget to take out the USB-stick

That’s it !

enjoy 😉