Gen 4 Nav System US -> Europe

I've just moved my 2004 Prius from the US to Europe, and I'm trying to switch the navigation system (like so many others). However, on the toyota-mapupdates.eu website, the 4th Generation Nav system is not listed, so I can't appear to do this upgrade legitimately even if I wanted to pay $300.

The only thing I've found that might work is this: lexusnavigation.eu/gen4.html

which seems to imply that I need a System Loader disc in addition to the Nav discs themselves. The price for this upgrade is €90, which is still a lot, but very reasonable if it actually works. OTOH, I don't want to waste €90 on a system upgrade that won't work, particularly since this guy only mentions Lexus models, and not the Prius (which AFAIK is identical but maybe ya'll here on the forum know better).

Right now I have a North America v 4.2 data disc that is no longer really of any use to me, and none of the 20 or 30 threads I've read on US -> Europe nav systems have mentioned this Lexus hacker guy's site.

 

That same guy also has a site for Toyota nav systems (which seem to be exactly the same as the Lexus ones; no surprise) at toyotanavi.hu . I ordered a navigation disc + 4th gen Prius system hack for €75 which seems pretty reasonable, especially compared to the dealership which won't even do it for all the gold in Fort Knox. I'll post back if I have any problems, but otherwise assume all went well (for people who find this thread via Google).

Also: it seems that if you have a 4th gen nav system from the USA, Toyota or Lexus, you pretty much have to buy this guy's system hack, as if you just burn (or purchase) a Euro Nav DVD it won't work. If you have a 5th gen system, you can either pirate or purchase a legitimate Nav disc, I think.

 

Maybe some shops are more willing to think outside the official Toyota box. I went to a official Toyota dealer here and they wouldn't do it ("je ne sais pas comment changer le nav system de US a Suisse! etc")

I just got the discs today, and it worked incredibly quickly and well, and now I'm pleased as peaches. Not to sound like a tout for that Hungarian hacker, but he has a great service, even though it's not technically legal (burned DVDs, but they work fine, so whatever, since there is no legal way to do it for a 4th gen system).

 

Reviving this old thread to answer thuffus's question in case someone else googles this and finds it:

It looks like his site was probably shut down (probably it's illegal in some countries and gray market at best in others). You can email him at Lzolka < [email protected] > and maybe he'll respond.