[xenon]

Originally Posted by Anneka @ Sytner

Obviously, as with any product there are cheaper alternatives out there, the fact is that there are people out there who still prefer and buy these products to what else is available on the market.

This was just an innocent thread to show people what this product look like fitted as I have received several enquiries before.

I myself enjoy reading our BMW product bulletins as they contain a lot of interesting and useful information, I would have liked from time to time to share this information but in light of the stress that this thread seems to have caused, I think it's better if I refrain in future. And yes I do realise that this is a public forum and people will share their own opinions on what I post.

Exactly so don't let that put you off for the precise reasons you mentioned. I like reading them too - you're not forcing anyone to buy anything and like Jinjur says, it's a negotiating point in the used market

[Boyd1963]

Originally Posted by xenon

Exactly so don't let that put you off for the precise reasons you mentioned. I like reading them too - you're not forcing anyone to buy anything and like Jinjur says, it's a negotiating point in the used market

+1

Keep up the good work Anneka. You are the ONLY Customer Service that most of us get from BMW and we really do appreciate it.

[vegnomeat]

Anneka,

Keep them coming, they are much appreciated. As for the product, it's excellent and fills a gap in the market between fully integrated and the sucker type.

Even at £600 it's good value, it works seamlessly within the car, is smart and well fitted and also benefits from two years warranty. Besides which it's a feature rich well made product.

Regards

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by Anneka @ Sytner

The Plus unit RRP £365 inc vat, and the Pro is RRP £565.

It still looks significantly overpriced; I assume a part factory somewhere had replaced the outer casing of an existing Garmin model with something that says BMW instead.

The equivalent Tom Tom unit with all the functionality of the expensive Pro model is about £250. I'm not as familiar with Garmin as I am with Tom Tom but I assume there is a regular Garmin model also for about £250. I can see the logic in paying £2000 for an integrated iDrive nav, since it is neat and tidy. I can't see the logic in paying double the going rate for a portable sat-nav because it is rebadged to BMW from Garmin, plus a permanent bracket instead of a suction cup.

[vegnomeat]

Originally Posted by kaishang

It still looks significantly overpriced; I assume a part factory somewhere had replaced the outer casing of an existing Garmin model with something that says BMW instead.

The equivalent Tom Tom unit with all the functionality of the expensive Pro model is about £250. I'm not as familiar with Garmin as I am with Tom Tom but I assume there is a regular Garmin model also for about £250. I can see the logic in paying £2000 for an integrated iDrive nav, since it is neat and tidy. I can't see the logic in paying double the going rate for a portable sat-nav because it is rebadged to BMW from Garmin, plus a permanent bracket instead of a suction cup.

You don't get it. That's fine.

Regards

Veggie

[kaishang]

I'd get it if the price included fitting and integrating into the stereo speakers, but it doesn't.

[vegnomeat]

You had better order one then, fitting was included for mine and it integrates in to the cars speaker system (post Sep 2007 cars that is).

regards

[turboblue]

Originally Posted by Anneka @ Sytner

This was just an innocent thread to show people what this product look like fitted as I have received several enquiries before.

Oh - that would be me then.

I asked Anneka for a quote on this late last year which she sorted out with her usual friendly efficiency.

And while I initially gulped at the price, I even went ahead and had it fitted.

The unit itself cost just over £300 - so about £50-£100 more than an equivalent off the shelf unit, but probably typical of the mark up you would incur from any car manufacturer.

The other half of the cost is getting it fitted. I think this does involve fannying about for a few hours, not least of all because the car's computer needs to be recoded for the audio to feed out via the stereo.

Having had it fitted, it is very good. I needed a new Sat Nav unit anyway, and since I don't really like iDrive (just my personal preference...), this struck me as a good solution. Better still, when the maps need updating, I can download them from Garmin and not have to fork out for a new BMW disc...

Of course if I was as practical as Ian, then I would have built my own mount and found a way to wire it in to the cigarette lighter. But I am not, with my fists of ham I know I would have broken the dashboard and fused the electrics, but hey, at least I know my limits...

There are much cheaper solutions, but personally I concluded that if I didn't do it properly, I would only regret it later and if the car lasts a good few years the extra cost will work out to be pretty immaterial.

Actually what I should take the time to say is a huge thank you to Anneka for sorting this out for me. We are really very lucky that she is prepared to spend time on here answering questions and sort things like this out for us...

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by kaishang

I'd get it if the price included fitting and integrating into the stereo speakers, but it doesn't.

I thought the £599 price included fitting. And as it's an official BMW product I think it does integrate with the speakers in the car.

Also, if your car doesn't have Bluetooth it gives you that functionality too.

I'm not defending the price, pointing out that it does integrate...

[kaishang]

Get it as in make sense..... not I'm going to get it.

You might have had fitting included, then it starts to look like a reasonable (but still not cheap) transaction but this is only because whoever sold it to you gave you a discount on either the unit or the fitting.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

I thought the £599 price included fitting. And as it's an official BMW product I think it does integrate with the speakers in the car.

Also, if your car doesn't have Bluetooth it gives you that functionality too.

I'm not defending the price, pointing out that it does integrate...

Anneka mentions £599 fitted (which is more than the price listed for the unit alone) as a special price for people who are buying a secondhand car without iDrive off her and get it fitted at the time.

I'm assuming if someone just turns up with their own car then the price is exclusive of fitting.... Which is why I compared it in price to a standard Tom Tom or Garmin with identical functionality for about £250 which you would also need to pay someone to fit permanently to the car. If I'm wrong, correct me.

[flyfs6]

+1 what vegnomeat said.

Do you honestly believe it's only more expensive because it has a BMW badge and that it is the only difference? They're similar priced as top end Garmin's. Historically the Garmin's cost more money than Tom Tom. I don't know the reasons behind it and it doesn't matter, it is what it is. Tom Tom's are very popular probably due to their aggressive marketing and collaborations, which means they have more uptake.

From personal experience the Garmin based units are much better and have better mapping than Tom Tom's. Yes I know what I'm talking about because our Yaris has an integrated Tom Tom (latest versions etc) and we prefer Garmin over it.

Anyone considering one of these wouldn't be considering this if they could have the idrive instead or similar. It's a niche product.

Does the equivalent Tom Tom integrate fully with audio system? No.

Does the equivalent Tom Tom integrate to work with the steering wheel buttons including voice activation? No.

Does the equivalent Tom Tom add integrated bluetooth which works with your audio system? No.

Does the sponsors pricing include coding and fitting?
Yes it does and its cheaper more or less the BMW RRP. In fact I'm sure forum member pricing is less than £599 anyway.

I think the pricing argument is getting a little boring now, don't you people. I think we have established it's an expensive solution, but there clearly are people out there for whom the solution fills a niche and they're happy paying for it, its absolutely fine if you're not. Good on people who have had it fitted and are happy with it.

[225_AB]

Anneka,

Do keep posting these items as we do enjoy reading about them and your info is always appreciated. However we dont have to like them and you could take the response on here as a type of market research.

Vegno meat I would have to disagree that this is good valueand I dont think it looks very good. You can get the identical non BMW badged garmin unit and have it fitted by an auto electrician for a significantly cheaper price than the BMW quote. In my opinion it doesnt even look that good in that location, looks like an after thought (which it is).

[kaishang]

I do appreciate infomercial posts like this one btw, I just think the pricing on this one is unrealistic.

[dghdgh]

Anneka,
keep the posts coming its good to have information coming in. I know comments tend to be matter a fact but they are not directed towards you. Everyone appreciates your participation.
Regards
Dave

[SteveF1]

I agree with the sentiments above. Anneka you should keep posting up products that you believe you can get a fair deal on because there may be a few of us that take up the offer, most will scoff at it but to some its gonna be a good deal.

I don't personally think this item is that good a deal but to others it may just be the deal that they've been looking for so don't let negative comments prevent you posting them up because you are always gonna get that on a forum.

[chris330D]

Anneka, keep the posts comming. Far more information than my local dealer vere has and I appreciate it.

[Sir_Pigley]

Originally Posted by dghdgh

Anneka,
keep the posts coming its good to have information coming in. I know comments tend to be matter a fact but they are not directed towards you. Everyone appreciates your participation.
Regards
Dave

+1, Anneka keep em coming.

[Chris100]

Xenon your install looks great, any chance of a "how to" fancy trying to make one myself.

Cheers

[gIzzE]

Always good to hear about new product and it is great this forum has you to tell us about them Anneka, just that sometimes we will think there are better options out there.



I do think BMW should mount the Nav systems on the panel on the dash, all wires can be hidden behind the dash still with no drilling of holes in anything other than the plastic trim which is £8 to replace.

As Alan said, I mounted mine there and hard wired it.





The mount would also come off as it was a suction system, and there was just one connector that was hidden from view when removed.



However, even better than that, BMW could bring out a new plastic trim that came to the front of the dash and held a nav unit, similar to the sort of thing offered for the 1 series....



You could have a nice flip up/down 7" screen from Navigon or similar and make it look like it came from the factory.

I used the BMW housing to put the Sony in, even opened closed with the ignition.......

[flyfs6]

Nice post gizze. You've always been handy with av installs and I have enjoyed reading about them.

[225_AB]

That is a very good looking install. Looks like it was meant to be there and not an afterthought.