[ArmyBimmerDude]

Def worth it. I wouldnt want something sticking to the windshield and wires everywhere.

[007e92]

worth every penny. couldnt imagine owning another bmw without it.

[eaglesrest]

Defo great option. The NAV isn't actually that bad - it's not got all the features of some stand-alone systems but it does the navigation part very well. Plus it has dynmaic routing around traffic incidents so you've got 90% of what a navigation system should do well covered i.e. get you from A to B without confusion and avoid incidents. The other 10% (good POI support/Speed Cameras with warnings/touch screen/ better displays/etc) you can live without and the integration aspect shouldn't be underestimated.

I've used both (aftermarket and OEM) and having a fully integrated system is much better.

Plus you get the USB ipod track management and other idrive features. MY08 cars, in the UK at least, also get BMW Online and BMW Assist for free (connected drive).

Personally I found the i-drive a nightmare to use the first time. It was on a 5 series about 3 years ago and it was rubbish! I'm pretty tech savvy and as it was a loan car I'd not read any manuals so it was all based on intuition and I found it fiddly. However, once you feel your way around it, it gets 2nd nature and a joy to use! I think a lot of negative reviews and postings are due to this learning curve.

[vivekk]

The NAV system is very useful, works quickly, uses augmented data from the DSC system when there are GPS signal problems, but IMHO it's nowhere near as 'friendly' as using the likes of a TomTom, which my wife loves.

However, how many other inbuilt car nav systems can let you send business locations, phone numbers & notes from Google Maps,
straight to your BMW's nav (well, throughout Europe currently!) ?



All the best.

Viv

[Shinchan]

I don't like the huge bulge on my dash... and plus... i only use map once or twice a year.... to me, its not worth the price. By all mean, its a nice system, but if you hardly traveling to new places, the GPS is useless. My neighbor has a E90 with idrive and nav.. he used the damn thing less than 10 times.

[NoKids]

Originally Posted by Kiss335i

I didn't have i drive and i don't regret it, I really don't like the dash with the nav bump! Actually I was having a GPS system in my previous car and I never used it!

+1.

Forget Navi, get a map and save your money!!!

[vivekk]

I think IDrive with SatNavPro is worth it even more now! (See below)
.
.
.
I've just been speaking to a lovely lady at BMW ConnectedDrive, about their service.

I've got some good news, for anyone who hasn't yet heard.

In the opinion of BMW Germany, all European BMW ConnectedDrive customers (Assist / Online) will now receive the complete service free-of-charge until September 2010- no longer just 6 months!


So, if you now have an account, or are thinking about taking out an account with BMW ConnectedDrive, there will be no annual £120 charge for Assist & no £300 charge for Online!

How very nice of them!

For more information, give BMW Telematics UK a call on 0800 5610 555.


All the best.

Viv

[tyrewt]

Personally, I'd invest the money ($2900 Canada) in something else, BMW's Nav is archaic to some other the others. These arguments are simply "cool factor".

[GreddyBoy858]

I would never buy a BMW without iDrive/Nav... I love it! From now on I dont think I will ever buy another vehicle without nav.

[scoop]

I debated for a long while about getting iDrive before a few things swung me in its favour:
1) It's surprisingly easy to use (in contrast to the horror stories I had heard).
2) A premium $50-60K vehicle just has to have it. It's an option you can't afford not to have (and, of course, it's a whole vehicle control system, not just a GPS).
3) A somewhat ordinary interior looks even more ordinary without it. I believe it adds a certain "wow" factor.
4) Resale: Look ahead four years and predict how many cars will have some sort of similar system. Alot. Don't be left behind.

[MB330]

Originally Posted by GreddyBoy858

I would never buy a BMW without iDrive/Nav... I love it! From now on I dont think I will ever buy another vehicle without nav.

+1! :rocks:

[iatacs19]

I would never buy any car in the future without a navigation system. It pays off that first time you use it. And if you often get lost like me in the noodle mess of highways in DC it's worth every penny.

[spacedogg]

If you like going on roadtrips or go to places you are not familiar with (but only have an address) then it is totally worth it.

If you mainly drive your car as a commuter car (like me) and are only going to the same place everyday...then you can live without it.

[bluemax]

I think it's fair to say that the Nav system can do with improvements, such as Sped camera info, the ability to show multiple types of POI at one time, but you have to admit, with the connected drive option, this system is starting to rock.

They'll have to fight me to remove it )

regards
B

[eaglesrest]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

If you like going on roadtrips or go to places you are not familiar with (but only have an address) then it is totally worth it.

If you mainly drive your car as a commuter car (like me) and are only going to the same place everyday...then you can live without it.

Not necessarily the case. If you do a lot of miles on a daily commute and the traffic can be bad, then the navigations dynamic traffic avoidance feature is priceless. There has been many an occasion when i've saved sitting in hours of traffic thanks to tmc.

It's not perfect mind - sometimes the traffic data is old or just plain wrong, but it works more times than not in my experience!

[BMW_TT]

Originally Posted by eaglesrest

Not necessarily the case. If you do a lot of miles on a daily commute and the traffic can be bad, then the navigations dynamic traffic avoidance feature is priceless. There has been many an occasion when i've saved sitting in hours of traffic thanks to tmc.

It's not perfect mind - sometimes the traffic data is old or just plain wrong, but it works more times than not in my experience!

or convert it to watch some dvd. :rocks:

[Guannoboy]

It really depends on the person. Some people just like the fact of having Idrive for its looks, while others just simply hate it. At the same time, theres also people who travel to new places all the time, and the idrive will surely help finding them easier. While others, just have no use for it. You just gotta figure out which category you fit in. For me, I love the idrive, simply just because I think it looks great.

[trey100]

I think the larger screen is well worth the price. I find myself using it more for entertainment and communication. The large screen makes accessing your phone book a breeze. The memory buttons work great for dialing someone at the click of a button. Same for accessing music off your ipod with the large display. Even using radio is cool in that it shows all the radio station that are avilable (with reception) and you just scroll and click. It keeps updating as well as you drive. In general, just the interface to access all the features the car comes with (parked car ventilation, timers for lighting, controlling door locks, checking maintenance, car data, getting numbers from POIs) is much nicer with the larger I-drive screen. The car has so many cool functions that I couldn't imaging trying to use them via a little orange box.

[poldim]

I've been using nave since the CIP v18 and am currently on 26. Its gotten a lot better, and although I think Lexus and Acura have lots of good features in their Nav systems, I dont think that I would give up my iDrive for them.
If you could get iDrive without Nav, then this would be a no brainer since iDrive just adds so much to the car. When you get down to it. The fact you pay 2K for a nav system AND everything else that iDrive allows you to do, it is more than worth the money over a 4 year ownership period.

Would I buy a BMW without. Yes, if its my track car.
Daily driver, no.

[pharding]

I-drive is awesome. Well worth every penny of it. Once you have it you will never buy another BMW without it.