[bob mushroom]

So I opted not to have i-drive and I have started to think....

Well what can you with i-drive do that I cannot?

Now, before anyone starts the obvious......

..... Sat nav

I am thinking more about settings in car that I simply cannot do or would need to have programmed onto the key.

The manual is especially non existent when it comes to this.

Thanks in advance

Bob

[DaveC]

I'm not sure but I believe other than Sat Nav everything the iDrive does can be done the old fashioned way.

[RichardM]

I've found I can't change the buttons on the steering wheel which I could on my E60 through idrive. That's the only thing I've noticed. I would prefer to change the air circulation button to be stereo mute.

[beemerbird]

Richard, can you not just go to the settings menu, steering wheel buttons and choose for example the rhomb button for air circulation on/off and the star button to act as stereo mute? I realise there are only two buttons and you have to make a choice from the list of your highest priority.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by bob mushroom

So I opted not to have i-drive and I have started to think....

Well what can you with i-drive do that I cannot?

Now, before anyone starts the obvious......

..... Sat nav

I am thinking more about settings in car that I simply cannot do or would need to have programmed onto the key.

The manual is especially non existent when it comes to this.

Thanks in advance

Bob

Bob, as the manual is 254 pages long for my car, that may give an indication as to the amount of information available with the idrive. It ranges from setting door locks, lights, clock/date, vehicle/tyres, stopwatch, journey time settings, tone etc. for sound systems, speed limit settings (yeah right!), info. sources re. traffic, travel and servicing including checking control messages, service requirements on oil and levels (on the move oil level checks for petrol engines), brake fluid, brake pad wear, stat. vehicle inspection & vehicle check for faults. Personal preferences for heating and ventilation in the cabin and how powerful you set the 'blower'. Favourite buttons for shortcuts re. nav. destinations, entertainment and phone numbers (conveniently located under the DVD slot). There are other things but that gives you an idea before you even start looking at the sat. nav. system. The voice commands alone cover 5 pages in the manual.

The additions with the bluetooth are one of my favourites, you can through 'my info' send text messages to the car via the BMW assist website. If your message contains a phone no or address, you can transfer them to the nav. system or your phone. Additionally, if you use the info. service you get connected to a BMW info. employee who will look things up for you and send the info. to the car or send an address to the sat nav. and start the guidance system. This is only on the professional system though.

Personally, I think that BMW have improved the sat. nav. since my '06 model E90 and there are additional options now with the bluetooth system.

TBH I don't know what could be previously done on the older models or current models via the key. The idrive to me simply arranges everything in one location, which once learned is straight forward IMO. As always though its whether you think the price tag is worth it.

[RichardM]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Richard, can you not just go to the settings menu, steering wheel buttons and choose for example the rhomb button for air circulation on/off and the star button to act as stereo mute? I realise there are only two buttons and you have to make a choice from the list of your highest priority.

No, the was the point of the thread, what is it you can't if you don't have Nav&iDrive,. Without Nav we are stuck with the buttons as they are. Its annoying as all of the other options seem to be available.