Satellite Navigation
- Thread starter Chandan
- Start date
It's a desirable item for resale. If you don't think you'll use it though, maybe don't worry. It's pretty basic compared to modern in car or portable units.
No.Chandan said:
No.Chandan said:
There are many threads on this subject. TBH as the cars get older if everything else is otherwise fine then I wouldn't wait for a nav car, although it is nice to have. As Stuart says, it's a little more desirable for resale value.
The thing is, I will use it occasionally.
In all honesty, I just like the thought of not having to have the TomTom out with the trailing wire and the mark left on the windscreen.
It's just convenient.
But if it's genuinely not that good, I'll have to start considering Z4's without the nav. I've never had the chance to test one out.
Also, I want something for iPod and USB functionality, so I assume it's best to have the screen as a display?
In all honesty, I just like the thought of not having to have the TomTom out with the trailing wire and the mark left on the windscreen.
It's just convenient.
But if it's genuinely not that good, I'll have to start considering Z4's without the nav. I've never had the chance to test one out.
Also, I want something for iPod and USB functionality, so I assume it's best to have the screen as a display?
As a 'newbie' I held out buying one until I found a car with satnav in - and granted it is not the most modern but with the upgraded software it is a darn site better than a stick on the screen Tom Tom (I have the Bluetooth integration as well and that makes using the phone a added benefit)
So, IMHO, worth every penny.
So, IMHO, worth every penny.
I don't have Sat Nav in the Z, but both my M5 and my wife's Mini Cooper S have effectively the same BMW Sat Nav system in them. When we go anywhere, we use our TomTom!Chandan said:
The BMW system is pish - difficult to enter addresses (it's all done with a single circular control), no 7-character Post Code lookup, and entering/retrieving POIs is more hassle than it's worth. All these are easy on the TomTom - and you can have up-to-date speed camera warnings (using the PocketGPSWorld database) on the TomTom.
It is a novelty and the sat nav system works ok as long as you are prepared to take your time with it. Not as easy to use as a TomTom for example. I like the computer function, and also the phonebook scrolling when my phone is connected via bluetooth. It's a shame it doesn't display how much signal you have, as I've found when I have no signal it seems like it's malfunctioning as it doesn't respond when you go to call. Even my girlfriend's Corsa displays the mobile signal!
There is a lot of wasted space on the screen sometimes, for example when playing a normal CD it will just display track numbers in the top left.
However, that aside, it does look pretty cool when it flips up when you start the car and down what you turn it off. See? Told you... novelty.
Nice to have though.
There is a lot of wasted space on the screen sometimes, for example when playing a normal CD it will just display track numbers in the top left.
However, that aside, it does look pretty cool when it flips up when you start the car and down what you turn it off. See? Told you... novelty.
Nice to have though.
I have one and use it a lot.
admittedly it's not as good as the latest portable units, but it works and saves me having to trail wires all over the place, taking it on/off the windscreen all the time.
very convenient, once you've got used to the rather strange user interface.. it's not the most intuitive thing to use!
admittedly it's not as good as the latest portable units, but it works and saves me having to trail wires all over the place, taking it on/off the windscreen all the time.
very convenient, once you've got used to the rather strange user interface.. it's not the most intuitive thing to use!
For the iPod integration, I just fitted an intravee and alpine iPod adapter. The integration with the nav is excellent
I must confess my strong preference to having these things built-in, rather than adding stick-ons.
On the other hand, built-in satnavs are like kitchens or bathrooms in houses ... they are the first thing to show their age. And the BMW LCD panel and software interface already showed its age when it was brand new ... it already looked a bit dated in 2007 ... so I ordered mine without the satnav. I also did NOT like the fact that if you have the satnav installed, you basically need the screen to be open to control playing a CD ... and I definitely do not want it open if I am just listening to some music. I only want it open if I actually need it for satnav.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: The ideal would be perhaps to have it built in, and then to swap out the existing screen and replace it with a 'forthcoming' 7 inch iPad or similar tablet ... That would not be easy to do nicely, ... but it would be very Bond car-ish.
On the other hand, built-in satnavs are like kitchens or bathrooms in houses ... they are the first thing to show their age. And the BMW LCD panel and software interface already showed its age when it was brand new ... it already looked a bit dated in 2007 ... so I ordered mine without the satnav. I also did NOT like the fact that if you have the satnav installed, you basically need the screen to be open to control playing a CD ... and I definitely do not want it open if I am just listening to some music. I only want it open if I actually need it for satnav.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: The ideal would be perhaps to have it built in, and then to swap out the existing screen and replace it with a 'forthcoming' 7 inch iPad or similar tablet ... That would not be easy to do nicely, ... but it would be very Bond car-ish.
Agree with all of the above... the navigation unit is not that great in comparison with newer standalone systems, but I'm another who prefers oem than trailing wires and brackets. I would have to say that the older the car gets, though, the less of a bonus this is going to be at resale... except that the screen is very useful if you want to integrate Intravee or DICE iPod / Bluetooth systems.
Again I agree with everyone above, compared to any of the standalone systems its very poor. However as opposed to no Sat Nav obviously its good.. Ha
Seriously though as above the screen is the best part, not only for the telephone directory, radio, aux, CD but the onboard computer is certainly my favourite part..
Worth looking at but maybe not worth spending an extra £700+ to have.
Seriously though as above the screen is the best part, not only for the telephone directory, radio, aux, CD but the onboard computer is certainly my favourite part..
Worth looking at but maybe not worth spending an extra £700+ to have.
I didnt get the nav but I really want it in my next car... I had a courtesy Zed with it a while back and it is very cool. Aside from the novelty value I would get an intravee and that's where it would really earn it's money.
I wish there was a way where the manufacturers could provide a cool popup screen but the display could fully be controlled by whatever phone you have, that way you could use tomtom on your iPhone, Android etc, and in the 6-7 years you may own your car the technology doesn't stay still as it does at the moment.
I wish there was a way where the manufacturers could provide a cool popup screen but the display could fully be controlled by whatever phone you have, that way you could use tomtom on your iPhone, Android etc, and in the 6-7 years you may own your car the technology doesn't stay still as it does at the moment.
+1.Stuart Truman said:
i used a Dension to connect an iPod in my old E85 Z4 and it presented a lot of useful information on the Nav screen when playing the song as well as making it easy to scroll through artists, albums, etc. It would be a right pain doing all that on a single line display.
i now have an E89 and again waited until i found a car with nav. it's a whole lot better than the E85 system. I don't know if later model E86 Z4s had a similar system to the E89 one. if they did i'd look out for that.
i know BMW have a CD based and DVD based navigation system. Make sure you get the DVD one. It's called a MKIV i think. Maybe all E85/86 Z4s have the DVD based ones, that's not something i know.
as a side note, if you're into music at all pay close attention to the different sound upgrades. the basic system that i had in the E85 was rubbish. try and get anything but the basic if you can. i think the top of the range was called a Carver system.
lacroupade
Veteran
Get an aftermarket unit and a proper mounting bracket.
I think the image has been removed from the hosting site
But i found this a few years back - a guy had removed the LCD screen from his Z4 and installed a Garmin which fitted perfectly, no wires showing etc
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23500&p=330076&hilit=garmin#p330076
But i found this a few years back - a guy had removed the LCD screen from his Z4 and installed a Garmin which fitted perfectly, no wires showing etc
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23500&p=330076&hilit=garmin#p330076
gadgetJunky72 said:
All nav enabled E85/E86's have the Mark IV system
