Satnav; With or without?

S

Seanoog

Member
Hello fellow forum members.
As per the thread title, what is the general consensus/opinion's among members?
Regarding all E85/E86 Z4's or Z4M's with or without Satnav's?

I appreciate this is a contentious subject.. :poke: :fuelfire:
But what pros or cons would owners say, there is too owning the Z4, that do or don't have Satnav units installed?
I ask because I am still seriously considering buying a Z4 before the xmas holidays, but still completely on the fence regarding cars
with or without Satnav's! :headbang:

So please, for members that own these cars, whats your opinion of the Satnav?
Useful and informative addition to my car?
Dated and a eye sore on my cars dashboard?
 
I really wouldn't make it a high priority.
For the times when you actually need a sat nav you are far better off using a standalone device such as a tomtom live or your mobile.
I attached both my phone and sat nav to the centre air vents, using those small magnets, when driving round Europe over the summer. They helped me miss quite a few traffic jams that the inbuilt sat nav system wouldn't have known about.
 
If it’s specifically the sat-nag we’re talking about then I don’t use mine...I use a TomTom stuck to the Piano Black dash at a lower level, so it doesn’t distract whilst driving.

If we’re talking about the pop-up display that’s used for other tings too, then I’d happily have it again...but with a no sat-nav option (which was never an option).
 
I have Sat Nav. I would happily pay a little extra for a Zed WITHOUT Nav. It's just poor quality, extra weight, and one of the least reliable things in a Zed4. :oops:
 
I use the screen for music title info when playing mp3's from my cp600 and of course for the satnav.
It hasn't failed yet in its 14 year life so definately not the least reliable in the z4 (tink about: rear spings, vanos, fcab, disa, coolant expansion tank, waterpump etc etc).
I'm planning to integrate a raspberry Pi in it with all its benefits.


Yes its dated but then again, every in car system is usually dated and limited compared to a phone or stand alone nav.
The only time I use a stand alone nav is on organized trips through europe where the trip is layed out in itn or gpx. Most in-car satnavs cant do anything with that (bmw's CIC is also rubbish with that) so whatever system is in the car, when you want that functionality to work flawlessly you need a seperate device anyhow.

I also wonder if you have no screen how the HIFI DSP would function with its equalizer etc. Is that then still adjustable in all its settings?
 
I think the screen is ok for phone use and radio selection etc. It looks a bit clunky but it functions ok. The nav itself is not that good, it tries very hard not to recalculate a route. I would still rather have it for the visual phone functionality if nothing else.
 
I could take it or leave it, I like the 10 speaker system it comes with though!
I dislike how the screen pops out if you skip a track and that it ruins the clean line of the dash when its in
The sat nav function is outdated, but is good to fall back on if you're without alternative
 
I don't have one and think it would spoil the look of my magnificent wooden dash. I use my Tom Tom of wife wife, with a map book :wink:
 
love the satnav its proved reliable and with a 2018 updated bmw dvd its bang up to date it also breaks up the otherwise bland top section of the dashboard but i can understand the appeal of magnets,brackers,blue tack and wires hanging down NOT! :slappy:
 
We have the ‘built in’ version in the BMW 330 and aTomTom for the E89. So having both, which is best? Well I find the TomTom easier to use and the one I have has free updates for life plus speed camera and sign recognition. Whereas the built in version in the 330 doesn’t have these features even though the car is only a year old. I also paid a fiver when I bought the TomTom to have Billy Connolly as the voice. He’s really entertaining and brightens up the journey. My suggestion would be to concentrate on the overall quality of the car and not to worry too much whether it had a Sat Nav or not. :)
 
I wouldnt choose a zed for a reason of having or not having one.

Yes its the one thing on car i wouldnt want to break, as theres no real after market solution.

But with custom firmware and upto date map software, its gets you there, but i do like the fact when im driving to work, you can look at roads and see where there standing due to accidents.

But if you like having your phone on dash that would be more accurate, i just tend to have mine in my pocket unless its a long jurney
 
Definitely without - I have it in mine with the digital TV capability but would much rather have the clean lines on the dash.

Anything of that nature dates and based on the fact the cars are already 12 years old and the intention on purchase is to retain them for a significant period I would always favour the none display option.
 
I've never had it in any car, so can't really comment on using it!

But I'd never put it on my list of essentials when looking for cars over a decade old - it's easier to just stick my Garmin in whichever car I am using (Z4 or daily).
 
Totally can't see the point of having it in a Z4 with Google maps "online" nav available on your mobile. Though if the right car came along I wouldn't dismiss just because it has it. The built in satnag in my X1 is really superb however with real time & online updates until it's 3 years old included. After that though, if I keep it, I'll have to pay :cry: . Personally I'd resent paying a monthly or annual fee. I guess the Z4 doesn't have that option, or does it :idunno:
 
oldgitdave said:
Totally can't see the point of having it in a Z4 with Google maps "online" nav available on your mobile.
Click to expand...
That’s fine in 2018, but I don’t believe google maps was much good 14 years ago when some of these cars were built.
 
I have had a Z4 with and without, I would pay more for one without. In my opinion it spoils the look of the dashboard and I hated the way it always popped up. Although I agree phone holders are less convenient, unless you are regularly going places that you don’t know they are acceptable and much more accurate. I use Waze and a holder that fits in the CD player and this set up with an iPhone X is miles better (in my opinion) than the BMW built in version.

But I’m sure on here will disagree! :fuelfire: :fuelfire:
 
Mine came with it - I took it out. Really dated, I put in an Apple Carplay / Android Auto unit so had zero use for it. I'd happily have one without the factory sat-nav, and to be fair, when I was first looking for a Z4 I didn't care if it came with sat nav or not.
 
mmm-five said:
oldgitdave said:
Totally can't see the point of having it in a Z4 with Google maps "online" nav available on your mobile.
Click to expand...
That’s fine in 2018, but I don’t believe google maps was much good 14 years ago when some of these cars were built.
Click to expand...

But the OP is on about the fors & against buying one in 2018 isn't he? :poke: . I bet it was a huge extra cost 14 years ago & I wouldn't look to buy one with it today let alone back then. Most cars seem to come with it these days weather you want it or not.
 
I actually like the satnav. I don't really use it as my maps are only up to 2013, but I think the screen looks good (even though it's a bit pixelated these days). You can also use it to adjust a few settings like time and some other things which I think would be a little easier than if you didn't have it.

Though I am actually thinking of gutting the computer and screen and putting a tablet inside the mechanism so that I will have an up to date system which would be better than any car really :D
 
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