BMW Navigation system misses the Point

malibu gps problems Malibu’s Point Dume in Calabasas??

By: Gracee Arthur

Malibu is home to countless BMW’s, yet the auto company’s Navigation system, provided by vendor Teleatlas, does not seem to know where Malibu is located! Teleatlas, who makes the multi-flawed navigation system, also had little concern that their system placed the Pacific ocean, Point Dume and various other Malibu locations in Calabasas (located in the San Fernando Valley)! Worse than Teleatlas is BMW who was aware of the problem as early as 2009 (when I got my 2010 BMW), having sent an inside bulletin to their dealers about this issue. Yet my dealer Bob Smith would not acknowledge the validity of my complaints about the system.

After more than 6 month’s of total frustration, my friend, journalist Ann Brenoff referred me to Mitch Lipka and his associate Jorgen Wouters who write the “Consumer Ally” column for walletpop.com. They began their research only to discover I was not alone in my frustration which was shared by many BMW owners. Suddenly BMW executives and Teleatlas customer relations people were getting in touch with me about the problem. Quite a switch from all the unanswered emails and phone messages of my past! Honestly guys a $50,000 car a $1900 navigation system and it takes Consumer Ally to make you take responsibility and correct the issue ? Customer service should not be that elusive!

I would love to know if there are other Malibu drivers who have noticed the erroneous “Calabasas” designation on places at the Point and elsewhere? Anyway, I am sharing with all of you this terrific article written by Jorgen Wouten http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/08/06/bmw-navigation-system-steering-some-drivers-wrong/. Your comments, as always, are welcome. Now if BMW would just do something about their erratic PDC system ……