[garyhgaryh]

Ok, how the hell do you find stores like kragen or autozone or napa? I can't find the category. It took me 15 minutes, then I pulled out the iphone to find it. It's great when you find something then you can call it on your cell phone with a push of a button, but it's like a game to figure out how to creatively categorize what you want to find. If I'm driving, it would take too long to find it. I never did find where Kragen is and I'm sure it's on the DVD somewhere.

Where is it?

[BMdblU]

I quite agree. The NAV itself works well for me, but the POI search is a joke. I've pretty much given up as I never know which category my search is in

[RyanDe680]

I too struggle with this... My Lexus IS used to be a piece of cake to find store names or restaurants. Touch screen on top of it... In my 335i, I have no clue on how to find a restaurant using POI.

The manual reads as follows... but all of this to me is a PITA!

Selecting destination using information:
You can have a list of selected destinations displayed,
e.g. hotels, sights or hospitals, and transfer them for destination guidance.
1. Select "Information" and press the controller.
2. Selecting location:
> "On destination"
> "On location"
> "On a new destination"
3. Press the controller.
4. Make your selection, e.g. "Hotels and restaurants",
and press the controller.
Destinations are shown on the Control Display.
5. Select a destination and press the controller.
6. Select a menu item:
> To transfer the address to the destination
list and start destination guidance:
Select "Select as destination" and press
the controller.
> To establish a telephone connection:
Select "Call" and press the controller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.

[J2d]

lol, what?

that sounds all too confusing.

[Amir87]

Press Up, Down, Up, Up, Down, Left, Left, A,B, Rub your nose, Press info and Presto! You'll find it!

[Tommy420]

You know...I really agree. For an option that costs $2k+, you would think they would do an amazing job with the BMW nav system. Of all the navigation systems I've seen in cars, I can honestly say BMW has the worst navigation. I don't regret getting mine, because having i-drive with the ipod/usb connection is amazing, along with the fact that you can control your car's computer system through the i-drive. But having it purely for the navigation is not worth it. I don't understand the concept of having the category requirement...why can't you simply search by name without having to input category? It's ridiculous and I wish BMW would do something about it.

That's my rant.

[garyhgaryh]

You know, why can't they just have a general search on the nav? I don't care how long it takes, but it's probably going to take less than 15 minutes for it to search it's db. Let me say this, i spent 15 minutes on the search and having NOT found it to this day. If BMW just gave an option to do a wildcard search in every category and it took a few minutes, that would be better than me giving up because eventually you'll have an answer with a search that takes a long time and no answer if I give up.

For owning the ultimate driving machine, the search feature for this car just plain sucks. My friend has a Garmin C320 which I help her buy and that cheap gps can search. So if I call that GPS cheap, what does it make my 2k integrated gps? POS? It just sucks that I have to pull out the iPhone to find where I wanted to go and have to enter the data into the nav for me to get dirs.

So, anyone? Where how do I find Kragens or Autozone? Teach me cuz I'm willing to learn. Is is NOT intuitive. It's a game and I don't want to play the game when I'm looking for a place. Why do I need another piece of info - all I know is the name. If it can't figure which Kragens I want (who knows, might be a resturant named Kragens), list it all and LET ME PICK!

[NeoE46]

I think....once you select the correct (not sure which that would be...maybe travel related) category, you reach the search window with the search button and radius. Below were it says name....scroll here and enter a partial name for example KRAG and then hit store name and then search. It should find what you are looking for.

[canada_dude]

I just made an order and was told that I have a few days to decide if I want to add the NAV option to my 335xi.

After reading your posts and realizing that you can not do a general POI search, that's the no go sign for me. I can only imagine what it is like to try to find Costco or Tim Horton's, if I didn't know the specific category.

Even if the dealer gave it to me for a discount at $2K, I still think spenidng $700 for a really nice portable GPS system might be the way to go.

Does anyone else have any 'pros' for the BMW Nav System?

Thanks!

[siriusinvestor]

Originally Posted by canada_dude

I just made an order and was told that I have a few days to decide if I want to add the NAV option to my 335xi.

After reading your posts and realizing that you can not do a general POI search, that's the no go sign for me. I can only imagine what it is like to try to find Costco or Tim Horton's, if I didn't know the specific category.

Even if the dealer gave it to me for a discount at $2K, I still think spenidng $700 for a really nice portable GPS system might be the way to go.

Does anyone else have any 'pros' for the BMW Nav System?

Thanks!

It's not as bad as people make it out to be. But if you were coming from a Japanese Vehicle Navigation System, then iDrive will drive you nuts. As the saying goes, BMW makes cars that handle effectively, Japanese Cars are made for technological and luxurious ease.

[canada_dude]

Thanks, good point.

[handler]

I came from an Acura TL navi and this one stinks if you are trying to find a POI. I like the navigation part as well or better.

[canada_dude]

I still wonder if it's best to just buy those small portable units.
Anything else on the BMW navi that really stands out that makes it worth purchasing?

[Goodfella69]

POI truly does suck on Idrive and i have no patience for it..

[Stinger44]

I can't imagine the newly released NAVTEQ 2008 DVD would have any relevance to the POI search function correct, i.e., improve it?

[benyl]

Originally Posted by canada_dude

I still wonder if it's best to just buy those small portable units.
Anything else on the BMW navi that really stands out that makes it worth purchasing?

It is integrated into the dash. It also lets you change a bunch of settings that I am not sure are available without I-drive.

When I get the time, I plan of fixing the damn POI search and adding speed cameras for Calgary.

[PiperD]

There is a thread somewhere where a user "flattened" his POI categories. I think he wrote a Matlab script to do the heavy lifting, then burnt a new nav disc. Apparently the search time wasn't bad.

I'm too lazy to do the search right now though, sorry.

[darkphantom]

Pros: integrated I-drive in dash, control/menus listed via LCD

cons: poor design, non-intuitive feel...

feel free to add on...

[canada_dude]

I'm curious to find out what settings you can do with the Navi than without the Navi ?

[Haris]

I have no issues with iDrive if they add this feature: Search by name - sort by distance... simple...

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by Stinger44

I can't imagine the newly released NAVTEQ 2008 DVD would have any relevance to the POI search function correct, i.e., improve it?

I'd say its just map and POI updates....not the search feature...:

[Tag]

iDrive is not that bad...