To Satnav or not to satnav, that is the question!

flybobbie said:
I don't use the satnav function much, few times I have my destination was missing as it hasn't been updated since new 2009.
Traffic function useful.
Seems to lag behind the cars physical location by 100m sometimes, bit dodgy at multiple junctions or lanes.
But I think it's part of the character of the car.
Nice to see the music on the hard drive on the screen and the dvd nice touch.
50 top songs played feature can be embarrassing!
I would certainly shop for secondhand zed with it.
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Had the same issue on our 2009 e89 when we purchased it as an AUC in 2012. Had the system software and maps updated by an indie specialist and the sat nav has worked great ever since.
 
It seems to have sparked a fair conversation. I'd say there are more "for" than "against" but as always, it's each to their own. I'm personally not overly bothered about the satnav but the other additions to the idrive seem beneficial and useful.
 
If you have sat nav then you'll be glad that you have it, and will end up using it daily, sometimes even whipup the TV to brag.
If you don't have sat nav then you'll always be defending why saving the £2k was a good idea even though deep down you regret it, like a bad tattoo.
 
Is that really how much it is to spec nav, £2000?
In that case its an easy choice, £2000 or google maps on your phone for free :D
 
Nictrix said:
Is that really how much it is to spec nav, £2000?
In that case its an easy choice, £2000 or google maps on your phone for free :D
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I find Navmii got me out of situations the iDrive satnav couldn't resolve.
 
Zed Five said:
https://youtu.be/QgUHhj6t5Eg

this gives you an idea of the functionality.
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Keep in mind what functions come with iDrive, they seem varied.
I have non of what is shown on that video clip, other than nav.
 
Well I not yet seen an decent SatNav in an car, me personally use my Iphone, with speed cameras - there are some nice Bluetooth OBC readers - to get some interesting information.

Wife has Idrive - but I thinks its a bit gimmicky just my opinion.
 
Add the BMW concierge service into the mix and it puts a whole different slant into the sat nav debate.
Just push a button and speak to a polite human in the uk and ask the "where is " etc and a route is beamed to the sat nav !
 
In all the times I have used sat nav on my phone it calculates the miles round way, very rarely the best way. But to be fair it will give you the destination just never use till your almost there and use your own road sense .
last trip to london to visit my son ( he had moved address) I switched it on just before london and it took me off the M1 two juntions before I needed and we went all over the place to get there. Wont use that again.
 
Nictrix said:
Is that really how much it is to spec nav, £2000?
In that case its an easy choice, £2000 or google maps on your phone for free :D
Click to expand...

It's not just satnav it's also the whole idrive system including TV. Actually it's probably closer to £1.5k. Definitely worth it, otherwise just save yourself the £20k or so and just don't buy a car at all.
 
imported said:
Nictrix said:
Is that really how much it is to spec nav, £2000?
In that case its an easy choice, £2000 or google maps on your phone for free :D
Click to expand...

It's not just satnav it's also the whole idrive system including TV. Actually it's probably closer to £1.5k. Definitely worth it, otherwise just save yourself the £20k or so and just don't buy a car at all.
Click to expand...
If I wanted to watch TV I would do it in the comfort of my home in front of a large screen.
Does anybody actually go out and sit in their car and watch TV?
I like figuring out how to get somewhere whether its using maps or googling before a journey and noting down some pointers.
Or just winging it and going where the sun seems brightest.
I pass cars every day for years and years on the way to and from work and people have their satnav on either standard fitment in the car or stuck to the window tomtoms and think surely these people know how to get to their work by now?
Or are their people out there who would get lost on their daily journey if you took away their satnav?
 
Nictrix said:
imported said:
Nictrix said:
Is that really how much it is to spec nav, £2000?
In that case its an easy choice, £2000 or google maps on your phone for free :D
Click to expand...

It's not just satnav it's also the whole idrive system including TV. Actually it's probably closer to £1.5k. Definitely worth it, otherwise just save yourself the £20k or so and just don't buy a car at all.
Click to expand...
If I wanted to watch TV I would do it in the comfort of my home in front of a large screen.
Does anybody actually go out and sit in their car and watch TV?
I like figuring out how to get somewhere whether its using maps or googling before a journey and noting down some pointers.
Or just winging it and going where the sun seems brightest.
I pass cars every day for years and years on the way to and from work and people have their satnav on either standard fitment in the car or stuck to the window tomtoms and think surely these people know how to get to their work by now?
Or are their people out there who would get lost on their daily journey if you took away their satnav?
Click to expand...

Well unless you pay £810 on top of the price, it doesn't have TV but it does play DVDs but only when the car is stationary. I tried it once when I got my car and it was a gimmick to use when sat waiting on my other half finishing work in the early hours of the morning but I'd rather watch stuff on my TV at home.

As for people using Satnavs day in, day out. I know that a lass at my work uses her Satnav to give real time traffic updates so she can save herself from being stuck in a jam for 40 mins sometimes. That way she can alter her route. Without it she would just have to hope that any traffic updates via the radio are announced before she hit the jam.

It works well if you have a route to go and there is a jam ahead, it will tell you, advise of the time to get through the delay and suggest an alternative route if there is one.
 
I agree,the tv and DVD thing are not really much more than a gimmick - I've only ever watched a DVD while waiting for a ferry and even then, I've always worried about the car battery !
 
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