So, If you have iDrive on a precombox car then actually yes you will have those telematics and BMW online functions etc you just need a subscription to enable them.
Combox adds software updates (to allow for mobile phone driver installs), it also facilitates BMW apps, internet browser (waste of time), music cover art, improved bluetooth audio and iPod, upgraded car traffic data plus a few other bits. Half of that might be unusable if you're upgrading to it rather than it being factory.
Plenty of combox retrofit articles online if you google them...
