Difficulty in updating Sat Nav maps solved

Hi All,

Thought I would share my experience for others, perhaps to find etc.

Having owned a Skoda about 12 years ago, finally gone back to a Kodiaq a month ago, after Leon > ATECA. Didn't buy new this time, got a SEL 2021 7 Seat (Skoda approved) with Columbus (mib3) sat nav unit. 

Love the car so much better thought than my SEAT's with one exception the Columbus unit!

Maps were out of date 20.3 map database, the unit kept turning itself on and off occasionally and I had the dreaded SOS emergency error light keep coming on.

Two trips to local dealer (Why on heaven didn't the dealer that sold me in the car I don't know...) for them to update the software... Columbus Head unit from 0270 to 0340 and something with the SOS warning light so it wouldn't interfere or pick up interference with 5G.  

Having it done solved all of the issues with SOS error and also the unit keeps turning off solved with the exception of the maps would not still update!!!

Downloaded the maps from Skoda portal placed onto a 64 GB USB stick with a USB adapter (Apple one) and also some cheap old off ebay. Still no joy after leaving it plugged in for a couple of days.. .. was reading in the VW forum is better to buy genuine USB-C stick (intergal off amazon). Did so still the same problem after a week..  Then I took the USB-C stick to my Mac and left it plugged in for a few hours by mistake and it kept on disconnecting.

Something with the stick so purchased a SanDisk one (£9), did the same copy procedure as per the instructions, exfat etc. placed in the car and literally within two hours database was updated to 24! With all of the new road locally to me. Not sure if it needs to be left in this bit longer to do the rest of Europe or the UK I will for the rest of the week. 

So if anyone's having problems, make sure that unit is updated past 0270 and get a decent USB-C stick SanDisk. It seems a completely blind science how to update it plug it in and just wait with no indication of anything happening, the local dealer told me not to have the NAV map displayed only radio or info it can't update a map has been displayed.   

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by james26iw