For a while now I’ve been wanting to purchase a new Garmin nüvi for one reason and one reason only – lifetime map updates. Only recently did the Gamin "Essentials" (meaning basic) series finally come down enough in price to where I felt it was a good deal, so I bought a Garmin nüvi 40LM. Currently, there are 9 automotive GPS models by Garmin which have the lifetime map update option (easily spotted by an "LM" for "Lifetime Map" anywhere in the model name), and the 40LM is the lowest-priced of the bunch.

The lack of lifetime map updates in previous Garmin GPS models is without question the #1 complaint people had about them. When the LM option was introduced on certain models, the #2 complaint was only the really expensive units had the option. As of now you can get the 40LM or 50LM (the 50 has a 5-inch screen compared to the 40′s 4.3-inch) in the sub-$150 range. Considering a full map update was $119 before this point, that’s a good deal.

Here’s my super-quick review of the 40LM.

The Lane Assist feature works very well:

The traffic cam notifier also works very well:

Other than that, there’s really nothing in the 40LM you haven’t seen in standalone Garmin automotive GPS devices before. The big deal here is the lifetime map option.

Did the map updating get any better?

Those of you who had the unfortunate displeasure of updating a map set in a Garmin automotive GPS unit know full well how much of a nightmare it was to do. The process was ridiculously difficult, required entering of a code (similar to a Windows Product Key), took a very long time to complete and it wasn’t easy at all.

I can say that these days it’s a whole lot easier and faster.

Step 1. Register the device, install the browser plugin

Go to www.mygarmin.com and create an account.

Click on my myMaps tab after logging in. At this point you may be asked to install a browser plugin so the site can auto-detect your GPS plugged in via USB. I strongly suggest doing this because the site will be able to automatically read the unit’s serial number, and that’s a whole lot easier than typing it in by hand (never mind trying to read the itty-bitty text on the device’s sticker that states the serial number).

Step 2. Download the Lifetime Updater software and install it.

Step 3. Run the updater, download the new map set.

If you haven’t been prompted for the browser plugin yet, you will have been by this point.

Once you start the download, it will look like this:

Important note: This is DOWNLOADING and not INSTALLING.

Depending on your internet connection speed, this will take 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Why? Because the map set is huge (usually at least 1GB or greater).

Step 4. Update the GPS

Once the download is done, you’ll be prompted to UPDATE (meaning NOT INSTALL) the system software in the GPS via a button click. This updates the firmware. Do so, and it will look like this:

Step 5. Finish the update, restart GPS, reconnect to PC.

This is the part where everyone gets confused and unfortunately hearkens back to what makes a Garmin GPS annoying to update.

First, you safely disconnect the GPS.

Second, you start the GPS on its own without it being plugged in (meaning on battery alone). On startup, the GPS will auto-update the firmware that just got loaded on to it when you do this.

Third, once the full boot cycle has completed and the map shows up, then you plug in the GPS back to the PC via USB.

You’ll see this screen:

If after plugging in the GPS the Continue button stays grayed out, click the blue Search for Device. The button will un-gray itself and you can continue.

Step 6. Install the new map set.

This is where the map data actually gets installed to the GPS, and looks like this (note that it states Installing and not Downloading Files at this point):

This process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

After that, you’re done:

Safely disconnect the GPS and use as you normally would.

Is this better than how it used to be?

I answer this one with a yes and no.

Yes, because you don’t have to enter in any stupid product code numbers, don’t have to manually enter in any serial numbers, and the process is much quicker overall. The time it took to do this before was literally 2 hours; for most of you it will have been shaved down to less than an hour.

No, because the process is still somewhat confusing. I’ve updated many Garmin GPSes over the years, I know how they work, but for a beginner I can totally see this process being confusing. It is very easy to confuse Downloading Files with Installing because the screens look exactly the same. Once you get the hang of it, sure, it’s easy after that. But the point is that it isn’t user-friendly out of the gate, and it should be.

Does the Updater stay running after you close it?

Yes, but you can manually close it at any time.

Garmin pushes out 4 map updates a year. Whenever there’s an update, if you leave the software running, you’ll be notified whenever there’s a new one. If not running, you won’t be notified – but you can manually login to www.mygarmin.com and check for updates that way if you feel having the notifier software running is too much of a bother.

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