[peterg1965]

My 335d saga continues and the dealer is doing his best to locate a suitable car for me. I have been looking at Approved Used Cars up until now, all with Pro Nav. My budget does not extend to a brand new one with this £2000 option!

The dealer has now offered me a couple of brand new 335d options; one an M Sport with 18" wheels (standard) and a few options - that is in Sparkling Graphite with black leather, the other is an SE with 19" wheels and same colour. Both have no Pro Nav. I will get a 6% discount.

How essential is satnav when it comes to resale for these cars? I know it is a great gadget (albeit expensive) and makes the car look even better, but is it really necessary? Should I go for new without SatNav, which actually works out about the same as an AUC car (with Pro Nav) on an 07 plate? My driving generally takes me up and down the motorway, M6/M74 to the same destinations, maybe a Garmon Nuvi would do the job??

Another question, what is Spklg Graphite and Black like as a combo?

[skansa]

nice combo for colours. i like sparkling grap with saddle more.

[booforty]

Resale with Nav has been discussed before and the general view is that it adds around £750- £1,000 to resale value.

[Rewted]

I think you need to make this decision. Think about how often you'll really use it. Also, if money is a factor (which it sounds like it is) do you really think its worth it?

Personally I'd save the $2000 and invest it someplace else, buy a Tomtom ($230) for trips. iDrive is handy for daily driving if you haven't a clue where you're going in large cities.

[peterg1965]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, should have searched first!
Will do better next time!

With the proNav option, although the second binnacle on the dash is there primarily for the satnav, it also has functionality for the PDC and Bluetooth options and also is a better display for the radio etc, so it is not just for the navigation system. It also makes the car more 'complete' in my view. it is down to whether it is worth the £2K, but it seems makes a big difference at resale and £750-£1000 is not to be sniffed at!

[booforty]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Sorry if this has been discussed before, should have searched first!
Will do better next time!

Don't worry! The Americans in the main forum hate old questions being repeated, but we in the UK section are more than happy to help new members...

I agree with you that the main screen adds additional funcionality to the car. I love the fully animated PDC front and rear on the screen, bluetooth and all the radio stations... Good point

[andy69]

Originally Posted by beauforty

Don't worry! The Americans in the main forum hate old questions being repeated, but we in the UK section are more than happy to help new members...

I agree with you that the main screen adds additional funcionality to the car. I love the fully animated PDC front and rear on the screen, bluetooth and all the radio stations... Good point

while we are on the subject of i-drive, the Beemer car configurator dashboard view shows Business Nav to have a map, but I didnt think this was possible, is it available with new software or what ?

[Steve A]

Having done a quick search on bmw.co.uk it seems to me that there is more like a 2k difference when it comes to resale therefore its a no brainer have the use of the sat nav ( which is excellent by the way) and get your money back when it comes to resale, which will be much easier as dealers dont really want cars without nav.

Another thing to consider is when a main dealer cant shift a car (with no sat nav) they always put some nice alloy wheels on the compensate, that in itself says something to me.

I would therfore suggest its definatley essential.

[andy69]

Originally Posted by RR

As Beauforty mentioned, it adds to the resale value, but only about 50% of what you originally paid - so it's almost directly proportional to the depreciation of the car itself.

Personally I would avoid the navigation systems because they use CDs and these become out-dated every few months. An after-market GPS unit is not only cheaper, it's portable and upgradable. Just a shame you can't have iDrive without navigation on the 3 series, because the iDrive is a nice tool!

Far as I'm aware, the Business navigation comes with a smaller screen instead of the wide screen and does not have a live arrow following your movements - it's just directions and on overall map. Don't take my word for it though - I'm not really sure.

i get the arrow view.... but no map or option in the menu for one

[peterg1965]

Thanks for all the responses. It is a little amusing that dealers try and shift non satnav cars saying that it will not make a difference on the desirability of the cars come trade in, just to get another 'new' sale. There are no unsold and built, brand new E92 335d's at dealers in the UK with Pro Nav, there are about 6/7 E92 335d's available without it, maybe that says something too.

Seems that ProNav is almost essential on the higher end cars, particularly if you do not intend to keep the cars for a very long time.

[booforty]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Seems that ProNav is almost essential on the higher end cars, particularly if you do not intend to keep the cars for a very long time.

I agree that dealers, trade and private buyers seem to expect ProNav on the higher end cars...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Seems that ProNav is almost essential on the higher end cars, particularly if you do not intend to keep the cars for a very long time.

This is what I found as well. It will really help when it comes to trade in.

[ChrisMWard]

Our dealer came out with a few interesting comments regarding this. He said the pro nav would add about a grand to the trade in price. The dealker will then mark up this option to around £1.5K or so when selling the car. He said if we traded our 07 car in now we would get a grand more if it had pro nav. Over 50% depreceation in three and a half months is not very good in my book? He also said that a high mileage car with pro nav suggested business use and would be priced (trade in) accordingly. However a low mileage car without nav would command a good trade in for the opposite reason.

Being the first owner on the V5 is also worth more money come trade in time.

I run a Tom Tom and a Garmin in both BMs, the Garmin is great, the Tom Tom crap.

Regards

Chris

[keithIOW]

Originally Posted by andy69

i get the arrow view.... but no map or option in the menu for one

I've got Business Nav in my E93 and you do get a map and an arrow showing your movements. It also shows roadwords, closures, traffic jams etc....

I think that this was an upgrade from about Feb 07 onwards.

Some examples I posetd on an earlier thrad can be found here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...eithIOW&page=4

[squeezebm]

YES

[Oli]

Agreed, definately need Nav on a 335D

[330cdsport]

I too went thru this dilema when speccing up my car. In the end I went for it as I really wanted all associated with it (idrive, bluetooth phone book display, entertainment display) - and it looks great in the car too I am now glad I did as it is a great toy and makes the whole car feel special every time you get into it.

I have not specced it on my wife's E91 320d Sport as it is a much cheaper car and will not benefit from it the same come trade-in time - I think!?!?!?

[red-max]

I must admit the Pro Nav looked cool in the demonstrator, but the cost just seemed too much of a ripoff, and I already have a Road Angel 2 and Road Angel Navigator.

Portable units can also be used in other vehicles - like dealer loan cars, your wife's car, etc. A friend of mine hired a van recently to collect some furniture and a few other things bought on eBay - he's only got the SatNav built into his 7-Series, so it was back to the trusty 2001 AA Road Atlas. ;-)

[andy69]

Originally Posted by keithIOW

I've got Business Nav in my E93 and you do get a map and an arrow showing your movements. It also shows roadwords, closures, traffic jams etc....

I think that this was an upgrade from about Feb 07 onwards.

Some examples I posetd on an earlier thrad can be found here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...eithIOW&page=4

Great, thanks Keith, hopefully i will be able to upgrade mine then, at least it will be cheaper than upgrading to Pro Nav

[Oli]

Originally Posted by red-max

I must admit the Pro Nav looked cool in the demonstrator, but the cost just seemed too much of a ripoff, and I already have a Road Angel 2 and Road Angel Navigator.

Portable units can also be used in other vehicles - like dealer loan cars, your wife's car, etc. A friend of mine hired a van recently to collect some furniture and a few other things bought on eBay - he's only got the SatNav built into his 7-Series, so it was back to the trusty 2001 AA Road Atlas. ;-)

I have a tomtom as well, if Im ever in another car - For £150 it a no brainer

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by 330cdsport

I too went thru this dilema when speccing up my car. In the end I went for it as I really wanted all associated with it (idrive, bluetooth phone book display, entertainment display) - and it looks great in the car too I am now glad I did as it is a great toy and makes the whole car feel special every time you get into it.

I have not specced it on my wife's E91 320d Sport as it is a much cheaper car and will not benefit from it the same come trade-in time - I think!?!?!?

Good advice

[manticore]

Originally Posted by keithIOW

I've got Business Nav in my E93 and you do get a map and an arrow showing your movements. It also shows roadwords, closures, traffic jams etc....

I think that this was an upgrade from about Feb 07 onwards.

Some examples I posetd on an earlier thrad can be found here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...eithIOW&page=4

Nice post, I went for the Business Nav as the dealer insisted a map was available, and I didn't want to spend the full 2k on an option I might use once a year! I did want the idrive though so it was a good compromise. I'll find out how good it is when I get my car in a few weeks!