[LEDZEP]

I've put the NAV and iDrive on my mental must have list for the next BMW I buy... but I'd like some opinions and thoughts from those of you who have the system.

Does the NAV allow you to see POI along the route, or search for them? Things like gas stations, Starbucks, etc... How are the voice commands for the system? Are they useful and can you do most of the functions with them? How about notifications for turns along your route, etc?

I've learned that not all NAV systems are created equal, so I'm wondering how the BMW system stacks up. I'm not too worried about the iDrive (regarless of how much bashing I read), figuring it shouldn't be that hard to learn.

Any and all thoughts or comments welcome. Thanks.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I've put the NAV and iDrive on my mental must have list for the next BMW I buy... but I'd like some opinions and thoughts from those of you who have the system.

Does the NAV allow you to see POI along the route, or search for them? Things like gas stations, Starbucks, etc... How are the voice commands for the system? Are they useful and can you do most of the functions with them? How about notifications for turns along your route, etc?

I've learned that not all NAV systems are created equal, so I'm wondering how the BMW system stacks up. I'm not too worried about the iDrive (regarless of how much bashing I read), figuring it shouldn't be that hard to learn.

Any and all thoughts or comments welcome. Thanks.

There are perhaps 700 voice commands and they work quite well.

Nav lets you see PsOI (Points of Interest) en route but you can only list them, not search. They are categorized (restaurant, park, etc.). Not hard to find but searching directly would be faster.

For turn by turn instructions, this is by far the best system I´ve seen.

[MusicMan]

Almost didn't buy the Navi. Regardless of all the negative press, I am glad I did. Have recently starting using the POIs and find it very helpfull. Would love to have traffic updates! Maybe my next BMW will have that feature.

[tomswift]

I have had Lexus, Infiniti and now 335 Nav. The Lexus is probably the most full featured. Includes route simulation and lists which show turns coming up not just a single instruction as you approach turn. Infiniti 3D is nice but not needed. Very hard to enter addresses. I like the BMW entry process and voice system.

Tom

[BK]

Originally Posted by tomswift

I have had Lexus, Infiniti and now 335 Nav. The Lexus is probably the most full featured. Includes route simulation and lists which show turns coming up not just a single instruction as you approach turn. Infiniti 3D is nice but not needed. Very hard to enter addresses. I like the BMW entry process and voice system.

I've used lots of different navs on several makes of cars, and the BMW nav is as good or better at the turn by turn instructions, as JSpira said. Also, the graphics on the BMW screen are better than just about any other in-car nav. What the BMW lacks is a good search interface. Other cars are light years ahead of BMW in that regard. And also, the BMW nav should tell me if my destination address is on the right or left. Every other nav in the world does that. But oh well, I can live with the BMW nav as it is, limitations and all.

I quoted tomswift because he may not realize that the BMW has a "list of the whole route and all turns coming up" similar to the Lexus list, just not quite as good as on Lexus. When you are routing on the BMW, click the iDrive on the map screen for the "go back" arrow. Move up to choose "route list" and select it. Now you can see all the turns on the route as well as the distance to them as you drive along.

Also, I am sure you already know this, but the nav is most useful with the small assist window on the right set to "arrow display" so you can always see the next turn and the distance to it.

[Greeney]

Originally Posted by BK

I've used lots of different navs on several makes of cars, and the BMW nav is as good or better at the turn by turn instructions, as JSpira said. Also, the graphics on the BMW screen are better than just about any other in-car nav. What the BMW lacks is a good search interface. Other cars are light years ahead of BMW in that regard. And also, the BMW nav should tell me if my destination address is on the right or left. Every other nav in the world does that. But oh well, I can live with the BMW nav as it is, limitations and all.

I quoted tomswift because he may not realize that the BMW has a "list of the whole route and all turns coming up" similar to the Lexus list, just not quite as good as on Lexus. When you are routing on the BMW, click the iDrive on the map screen for the "go back" arrow. Move up to choose "route list" and select it. Now you can see all the turns on the route as well as the distance to them as you drive along.

Also, I am sure you already know this, but the nav is most useful with the small assist window on the right set to "arrow display" so you can always see the next turn and the distance to it.

I didnt know about that turn list, thanks BK!!!!!

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by BK

I quoted tomswift because he may not realize that the BMW has a "list of the whole route and all turns coming up" similar to the Lexus list, just not quite as good as on Lexus. When you are routing on the BMW, click the iDrive on the map screen for the "go back" arrow. Move up to choose "route list" and select it. Now you can see all the turns on the route as well as the distance to them as you drive along.

Or better yet, just say ,,Route List``

[yellowg555]

I agree, iDrive really needs a search feature. Sometimes, the lists are just way too long to scroll through and makes it a bit annoying.

I know the Lexus navi also can find the address of a business if you know the phone number too.

[LEDZEP]

Thanks Gentlemen, for the great comments!

[tomswift]

Wow.. thanks very much BK. I am still reading the owner's manual for about the 3rd time. It is drive, experiment, go home and read some more.

Tom

[glamprecht]

If you prefer a normal cellphone over a smartphone you will probably not like Nav and i-drive.

I love it.

[nyc3r]

POI helped me find gas stations and food in areas i've never been to. pretty good. only thing is it's not that easy to change which poi you want to see.

[LEDZEP]

I love technology and gadgets, so I have no fear of i-Drive, although I've never used it - except for a couple of days when we had a 7 series loaner. I found it to be quite intuitive and was able to do things with it easily.

[new2the3]

You should keep the small window on current position and when you get close to making a turn it switches on its own to the arrow display then back to current position.

[glamprecht]

To change what POI you want to see, say 'information' on voice command and select whatever you want to see.

[BzsBimmer]

My first nav system was in my 05 Acura MDX and it's touchscreen simplicity and being able to search POI's by name and then by closest to you is great. Because of the nav in the MDX, I decided to go with the nav in the e90 because simply once you have one, it's hard to be without it.
I agree that you could get an aftermarket one but the only thing is that it doesn't integrate into the car like OEM. Imagine driving somewhere and then wanting a certain type of food. What do you do? Stop off at Kinko's and google it? What if a friend calls and says to meet them somewhere? Navi is right there!
It makes the ordinary trip much easier.
I will agree with the other posters that not being able to search by the POI name is frustrating especially if you're in another area that you're unfamiliar with. Unless you know the EXACT town it's in... forget it.
Also my other quirk is that when you are driving to the destination, my MDX navi will do a 3D topographical picture with the destination shown as a bulls eye on the left or right side of the street along with the address. In the BMW nav once you get to the location, the map defaults back to it's normal state and the address dissapears.