Built-In Sat Nav & Infotainment Repairs
We repair and remanufacture all types of built-in (factory-fitted) satellite navigation and infotainment systems — BMW iDrive, VW/Audi/SEAT/Škoda RNS & MFD, Mercedes COMAND, Ford MFD and more — for all makes and models, with a Lifetime warranty. Every unit is repaired using genuine OE components so each rebuild meets and exceeds the original specification, and repaired units are fully plug & play with no programming required. Send your faulty unit in for a free diagnosis, or call us on 0203 815 9441 for a quote.
Can sat navs be repaired?
Yes — a built-in (integrated) sat nav can almost always be repaired, and that is exactly what we do. This is the key distinction to understand:
- Built-in / factory-fitted systems — the screen, head unit and navigation computer wired into your dashboard (iDrive, RNS, COMAND, MFD and similar). These are expensive to replace and a new unit usually has to be coded and programmed to the car. We repair these — restoring your original unit so it works again without any reprogramming.
- Portable / plug-in devices — standalone TomTom and Garmin units that sit on the windscreen. These are generally throwaway items and are not what we repair.
If your factory sat nav has a fault, repairing the original unit is almost always more sensible than paying for a new OE head unit plus a dealer coding session. Because we work on your own unit, it keeps all its existing coding and stays plug & play.
The systems we repair
Built-in navigation is really an infotainment computer — screen, processor, disc or SD drive, GPS module and amplifier all in one. We repair the full range of common OE systems:
- BMW iDrive — CCC, CIC and related Multi Function Display controllers and screens.
- VW / Audi / SEAT / Škoda — RNS510, RNS810, RNS550 and the MFD / MFD3 multi-function display units.
- Mercedes-Benz COMAND — COMAND APS and High-Line satellite navigation units.
- Ford — MFD and HSRNS satellite navigation screens, plus replacement navigation SD cards.
The same OE units appear across many models, so a fault we see regularly on one car is almost always repairable on another.
Common sat nav & infotainment symptoms
Most built-in navigation faults fall into a handful of patterns:
- Black screen / won’t turn on — the display stays dead even though the car is running.
- Freezing or frozen position — the map locks up, or shows you in the wrong place and never updates.
- Rebooting or restarting loop — the system keeps cycling on and off.
- Won’t read the map disc or SD card — common on disc-based RNS and COMAND units and on Ford SD-card systems.
- No GPS signal / can’t find satellites — the unit works but cannot establish a position.
- Pixelated display, lines or fading — the screen image breaks up or dims.
- Unresponsive touchscreen or controller — inputs are ignored or laggy.
- No sound — navigation and audio output fails.
A loss of GPS signal specifically can sometimes be an aerial or reception issue rather than a unit fault — our guide to common sat nav signal issues and how to fix them walks through those checks. If the unit itself has failed, that is where our repair service comes in.
Common faults by system
Each family of units tends to fail in its own way:
- BMW iDrive (CCC / CIC) — freezing, rebooting, a black screen, or an internal hard-drive fault that stops the navigation loading.
- VW / Audi RNS510 & RNS810 — won’t read the map DVD, freezing, a green or distorted screen, or loss of sound.
- Mercedes COMAND — refuses to read the navigation disc, display fading or dimming, and drive faults.
- Ford MFD / HSRNS — screen and display faults, and corrupted or unreadable navigation SD cards (we also supply replacement Ford SD cards).
What causes built-in sat navs to fail?
- Internal electronics. Dry or cracked solder joints, failed capacitors and ageing processors cause freezing, reboots and dead screens — board-level faults we rebuild.
- Display and backlight failure. The TFT/LCD screen or its backlight degrades, giving dim, pixelated or blank displays.
- Disc / SD drive faults. The optical drive or card reader wears out and can no longer load the map data.
- GPS module or antenna faults. A failed receiver or connection leaves the system unable to find a position.
- Software corruption. Corrupted firmware or map data causes lock-ups and boot loops.
Repair and remanufacture vs. replacement
A dealer fix usually means a brand-new head unit — and a new navigation unit almost always has to be coded and programmed to the vehicle (and often paired to the car’s VIN) before it will work, which means an expensive part plus a dealer visit. Repairing your original unit avoids both. Because we rebuild your unit, it retains its existing coding and pairing, so the repaired system is genuinely plug & play with no programming required. Every repair is backed by our Lifetime warranty.
What affects the cost of a repair
The price depends on the unit and the fault — a screen or backlight repair, a disc/SD drive rebuild and a main-board electronics repair are different work. We use genuine OE-grade components throughout, which is what lets the rebuild meet the original specification and carry a Lifetime warranty. For an exact quote, call us on 0203 815 9441 with your make, model and the symptoms you are seeing.
How the repair service works
- Remove the unit from the dashboard (or have your garage remove it). Note the symptoms and any error messages.
- Send it to us by post or courier. We diagnose the exact fault and confirm the repair.
- We rebuild and test the unit to OE specification using genuine components.
- Refit and drive. The repaired unit is plug & play — no coding, no programming — and covered by our Lifetime warranty.
Sat nav & infotainment FAQs
Can a built-in car sat nav be repaired?
Yes. Integrated factory systems such as BMW iDrive, VW/Audi RNS, Mercedes COMAND and Ford MFD are repairable at component level — screens, drives and main boards can all be rebuilt. It is usually far more practical than fitting a new OE unit, and the repaired unit keeps its original coding so it stays plug & play.
How long do built-in sat navs last?
Many last the life of the car, but heat, vibration and ageing electronics mean a lot of units start to develop faults from around 8–12 years — freezing, failing to read discs/cards, or dim displays are the usual first signs.
Is repairing cheaper than replacing the navigation system?
In almost every case, yes. A new OE navigation head unit is one of the more expensive parts on the car, and the cost of coding and programming it to the vehicle is on top of that. Repairing your existing unit addresses the actual fault and avoids the programming step entirely.
Will I need to recode the unit after repair?
No. Because we repair your original unit rather than supplying a blank replacement, it retains all its vehicle-specific coding and pairing. It simply refits and works — no dealer programming required.
Makes and models we cover
We repair built-in sat nav and infotainment units across virtually every make. Some of the most common units we see, each with its own detailed repair page, are:
Not sure whether your built-in or portable system can be repaired? Our guide on fixing car sat navs — built-in vs portable explains the difference. Can’t see your vehicle listed? Call us on 0203 815 9441 or send your unit in for a free diagnosis and quote.
