New Sat Nav system
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It's much improved, the screen is massive, download music onto the hard drive.
What's not to like
What's not to like
The four killer features (generally) of built in sat navs:
1. Integration with car speed sensors - continues to track accurately through tunnels and built up areas when satellite signal is lost.
2. Theft - surely much less likely to be broken into when you never have "sticker marks" and an obviously built in system so thieves know there is possibly nothing portable and sexy in the glove box.
3. Less hassle - less to carry around, deploy or dismantle
4. No "sticker arm" wobble when you hit a bump!
1. Integration with car speed sensors - continues to track accurately through tunnels and built up areas when satellite signal is lost.
2. Theft - surely much less likely to be broken into when you never have "sticker marks" and an obviously built in system so thieves know there is possibly nothing portable and sexy in the glove box.
3. Less hassle - less to carry around, deploy or dismantle
4. No "sticker arm" wobble when you hit a bump!
Sat-Nav Pro is excellent. I also have a Tom Tom for other car, both have features that are winners.....if only they could be combined.
The big 'downer' with the BMW SatNav is you CANNOT input postcodes
Or to put it another way, if you can, then mine's faulty!
But, the screen is far better than the TomTom and you can utilise 'split-screen' for upcoming junctions which is superb.
A feature that TomTom excels in is route planning.
If BMW could design software that you could load on a PC in order to construct specific routes then download those to the car - that would be the dog's b**l**ks.
The big 'downer' with the BMW SatNav is you CANNOT input postcodes
Or to put it another way, if you can, then mine's faulty!
But, the screen is far better than the TomTom and you can utilise 'split-screen' for upcoming junctions which is superb.
A feature that TomTom excels in is route planning.
If BMW could design software that you could load on a PC in order to construct specific routes then download those to the car - that would be the dog's b**l**ks.
Z-Victor1 - You should be able to input post codes but not the full 6. Just go to the city input page and put in the post code and then choose the street. I understand that if you have connectdrive activated you should be able to plan routes on line then send them to your car. That said I have not tried this yet as I have found the installed route planning works very well.
In my opinion the real shortfalls are the lack of 'safety camera' warning - which I am sure someone will provide soon and the apparently limited compatabilty with IPODs to transfer music to the HDD.
In my opinion the real shortfalls are the lack of 'safety camera' warning - which I am sure someone will provide soon and the apparently limited compatabilty with IPODs to transfer music to the HDD.
One thing about that iDrive controller! Where it's positioned I keep knocking it down with my arm when changing gear! I was on the phone last night and cut them off twice!! Guess I just need to get used to it!
One thing I don't like about the BMW sat nav is the woman's voice! It's a very computer sounding voice. Almost like some text to speech voice on a computer. The Tom Tom I had was much more natural sounding.
One thing I don't like about the BMW sat nav is the woman's voice! It's a very computer sounding voice. Almost like some text to speech voice on a computer. The Tom Tom I had was much more natural sounding.
I just took delivery of 2010 Z4 35 which replaced the 2009 (BMW bought it back).This nav system has problems.
When I take an alternate route to my house, the nav keeps trying to send me the original way even if I am about 3000 yards away. It then tells me to make a left onto my block while the screen clearly indicates make a right. My street is one way and you must make a right. This has happened on my 2009 Z4 also but not on my 2008 335xi Coupe (the old DVD based system) and my 2007 X3 (even older version).
The nav has told me to make a right (when it indicated going straight). I followed the voice directions and it lead me in a circle back to the same street.
The Nav system sends me to Number 300 when I dialed in 400.
BMW NA claims it is Tele Atlas's fault and Tele Atlas states their maps are correct and it's BMW's software that is wrong. BMW NA tried to tell me that the Nav is not really warranted he said like the tires. I told him that where is this stated? On what page of the Owners Manual is it ( I have read it). He said I got him. He was usleess
Marty
When I take an alternate route to my house, the nav keeps trying to send me the original way even if I am about 3000 yards away. It then tells me to make a left onto my block while the screen clearly indicates make a right. My street is one way and you must make a right. This has happened on my 2009 Z4 also but not on my 2008 335xi Coupe (the old DVD based system) and my 2007 X3 (even older version).
The nav has told me to make a right (when it indicated going straight). I followed the voice directions and it lead me in a circle back to the same street.
The Nav system sends me to Number 300 when I dialed in 400.
BMW NA claims it is Tele Atlas's fault and Tele Atlas states their maps are correct and it's BMW's software that is wrong. BMW NA tried to tell me that the Nav is not really warranted he said like the tires. I told him that where is this stated? On what page of the Owners Manual is it ( I have read it). He said I got him. He was usleess
Marty
I'd spec the Sat Nav but the navigation part is the LEAST valuable part! The iDrive, favourite buttons, hard disk music library, voice control, dvd changer, phone with telematics, BMW Online and Connected Drive and more all depend on you having it or come as part of it. Tom Toms and their like are always going to be better as their gestation period is shorter. The sooner car manufacturers team up with these aftermarket GPS system suppliers to integrate their products the better. Car makers can design the hardware and leave the rest to those whose business it is to move with the times as far as mapping, safety camera location, traffic etc.
I just actually switched my sat nav mode over to the night-time display since I only ever seem to be driving the car when its dark at the moment. 
I actually prefer the look of the maps on the built-in system compared to the look that my Garmin portable unit has, but the touch-screen Garmin is an easier interface to deal with.
I actually prefer the look of the maps on the built-in system compared to the look that my Garmin portable unit has, but the touch-screen Garmin is an easier interface to deal with.
Toodeep said:
I hear you. Some manufacturers (e.g. Renault) are actually doing this now, although further down market. But like you say, its more than just a Nav system. Plus its a great opportunity for BMW to make more money out of you! They keep the basic list price down then rob your wallet further if you specify the Nav and don't have to share that profit with a 3rd party!!
bmwtech2003
New member
Z_Victor1 said:Sat-Nav Pro is excellent. I also have a Tom Tom for other car, both have features that are winners.....if only they could be combined.
The big 'downer' with the BMW SatNav is you CANNOT input postcodes
Or to put it another way, if you can, then mine's faulty!
But, the screen is far better than the TomTom and you can utilise 'split-screen' for upcoming junctions which is superb.
A feature that TomTom excels in is route planning.
If BMW could design software that you could load on a PC in order to construct specific routes then download those to the car - that would be the dog's b**l**ks.
In the US you can e-mail routes to the car. Using GoogleMaps and the Assist package the routes are e-mailed to the car. You have to have a certain Assist subscription package for this to happen.
bmwtech2003 said:Z_Victor1 said:Sat-Nav Pro is excellent. I also have a Tom Tom for other car, both have features that are winners.....if only they could be combined.
The big 'downer' with the BMW SatNav is you CANNOT input postcodes
Or to put it another way, if you can, then mine's faulty!
But, the screen is far better than the TomTom and you can utilise 'split-screen' for upcoming junctions which is superb.
A feature that TomTom excels in is route planning.
If BMW could design software that you could load on a PC in order to construct specific routes then download those to the car - that would be the dog's b**l**ks.
In the US you can e-mail routes to the car. Using GoogleMaps and the Assist package the routes are e-mailed to the car. You have to have a certain Assist subscription package for this to happen.
Is this not available in the UK? Nice feature!
Also, here's a feature that it REALLY needs:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/08/2010-range-rover-gets-12-inch-dual-view-touchscreen/
now THAT would be cool!!!!
Toodeep, Not strictly true as you can plan the route on line using a number of stop off points. For example last week I wanted to go to Frankfurt, via a hotel in France and then via Namur. Planned and saved it online at http://www.bmw-routes.com/de/en/login.jsp and then downloaded to the car. All worked perfectly.
I'm happy to stand corrected. I'm going to give it a go although it sounds like you're doing a lot of the SatNav's work for it. Seriously, I can see how what you've done could come in useful.
For me, specifying the Nav system in the z4 was more about having the iDrive, phone integration, hard disk storage etc than the Navigation which I expected to be compromised, in common with most other manufacturers' offerings. I have a two year old, regularly updated Tom Tom with safety camera alerts and full postcode input which I am much more likely to use if I ever need to find somewhere. There is a thriving Tom Tom forum community busy producing POI overlays and map corrections. I have ATMs, petrol stations by brand, Travelodges . . . someone has even produced a download of all the B&Qs in the country!
I still maintain that car makers should buy in the expertise of the guys for whom Navigation is their bread and butter as, it seems, Renault have done. I have an Audi which has a system I am surprised they dared to inflict on the paying public. To say BMW is better is to damn them with faint praise but they have, at least, come up with an innovation for which they should be applauded.
For me, specifying the Nav system in the z4 was more about having the iDrive, phone integration, hard disk storage etc than the Navigation which I expected to be compromised, in common with most other manufacturers' offerings. I have a two year old, regularly updated Tom Tom with safety camera alerts and full postcode input which I am much more likely to use if I ever need to find somewhere. There is a thriving Tom Tom forum community busy producing POI overlays and map corrections. I have ATMs, petrol stations by brand, Travelodges . . . someone has even produced a download of all the B&Qs in the country!
I still maintain that car makers should buy in the expertise of the guys for whom Navigation is their bread and butter as, it seems, Renault have done. I have an Audi which has a system I am surprised they dared to inflict on the paying public. To say BMW is better is to damn them with faint praise but they have, at least, come up with an innovation for which they should be applauded.
Toodeep, I agree with you about the likes of Tom Tom. As a nav system it is far better than provided by BMW which does seem ridiculous. However, like you I got it because of all the other goodies associated with it. In fact, having uploaded all of my IPOD music to the car i am now spoilt for choice.
MikeS said:
Hey Mike, just to clarify, are you playing your iPod through the car or have you actually uploaded music from the iPod to the car? I've never attempted the latter as I know that Apple traditionally make exporting from iPods difficult . If you have exported, was the iPod configured as a mass storage device? I've imported (ex CD and ex USB) albums that have tracks that segue into each other on the original CD but the BMW inserts a gap between them. The iPod plays them as they should be but I'm wondering whether gapless albums imported from the iPod would play continuously or get the gaps inserted. Minor but annoying.