Benefits of idrive

gchild · 02-17-2012, 01:54 AM

Hi all

What are the benefits of having idrive other than for the nav feature?

Is it considered essential kit or nice to have?

Cheers

RaihaX · 02-17-2012, 01:57 AM

is nice to have ! but i don't really regret not having it.

Mart1000 · 02-17-2012, 02:07 AM

When I was looking for mine, I drive was essential yes.

I'm just a shallow gadget freak

xenon · 02-17-2012, 02:09 AM

Depends. The older one was limited (e.g. just 5-digit postcode) but the new one is pretty good.

You can get music, office functions (email, calendar, SMS etc), Internet and it will control other car functions (e.g. climate) as well as Nav which is now 7-digit postcode and lane guidance.

Reversing Camera too:

creepy coupe · 02-17-2012, 02:40 AM

What phone you using to get messages Ian?

xenon · 02-17-2012, 02:43 AM

BB 9800 mate. Gives email, SMS (both of which it will read-aloud) and calendar functions.

jimpom23 · 02-17-2012, 02:43 AM

Don't think the benefits are huge but as a buyer on the market at the moment my new car MUST have it. I just prefer the overall look of having it, you can get TV tuners for them, access all kinds of functions plus you have to think of resale - I have seen the exact spec bar iDrive on a few out there and they have been on for months, I guess in that respect if you weren't too bothered there are some good deals to be had.

acerboo · 02-17-2012, 02:44 AM

have an 07 one and the nav is next to useless always carry a tom tom and dont use it otherwise, if buying s/h a car without would not put me off

creepy coupe · 02-17-2012, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acerboo

have an 07 one and the nav is next to useless always carry a tom tom and dont use it otherwise, if buying s/h a car without would not put me off

As per Xenon's post. the later system is the one to have.

creepy coupe · 02-17-2012, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

BB 9800 mate. Gives email, SMS (both of which it will read-aloud) and calendar functions.

Do you not find the buttons a bit small?

xenon · 02-17-2012, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

As per Xenon's post. the later system is the one to have.

Yes the systems are chalk and cheese. Nevertheless, I much prefer the layout with the iDrive, whichever version.

xenon · 02-17-2012, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Do you not find the buttons a bit small?

On the BlackBerry? No, I get on with it OK and I've got fingers like cow's tits.

Frobius · 02-17-2012, 03:04 AM

If the car was pre LCI, I would leave it. Nav seems to command a premium that I can't justify on the older system. If I was buying an LCI car I'd consider it essential.

creepy coupe · 02-17-2012, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

On the BlackBerry? No, I get on with it OK and I've got fingers like cow's tits.

doughboy · 02-17-2012, 03:07 AM

HHD one yes, early one NO.

All the glass's prices assume NAV, so you should get a better deal for one without it.

Especially as the older versions become more antiquated, they'll be less sought after.

parapaul · 02-17-2012, 03:17 AM

I'm shallow too, I like gadgets, and I wanted the simple things like the track display for my CDs and the radio. On my pre-LCI the nav is acceptable - it's not great but it's never failed to get me where I needed to be which is the main thing - and I find the TMC traffic announcements very useful, even if they are sometimes slow to update.

Now that I've lived with it for a year or so, the novelty has worn off and I know I would probably be just as happy now without it. Particularly from my point of view, I want to upgrade the audio and that would be a huge amount easier if I could start with an aftermarket head unit instead of trying to compensate for the built in one.

gchild · 02-17-2012, 01:51 PM

I thought I had seen some showing the status of various bits on the car like oil and brakes etc. Is any of that useful?

Mart1000 · 02-17-2012, 01:56 PM

That new I drive in the pics looks fantastic.

parapaul · 02-18-2012, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchild

I thought I had seen some showing the status of various bits on the car like oil and brakes etc. Is any of that useful?

It is, but I'm almost certain you can get the same information on the little dash LCD screen between the dials on non-iDrive models. I'm sure someone will confirm.

BanziBarn · 02-18-2012, 02:32 AM

I think it's essential, but again, it's probably because I love tech!

I have the HDD drive but no album art or 7 digit post code. Can this be rectified by a software update (I know it's very expensive) or is there a hardware difference?

ALPANDY · 02-18-2012, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

I think it's essential, but again, it's probably because I love tech!

I have the HDD drive but no album art or 7 digit post code. Can this be rectified by a software update (I know it's very expensive) or is there a hardware difference?

I would like to know this also.

chris330D · 02-18-2012, 04:24 AM

You guys must have just missed it, my car is Sept 2010 and has Album art and the 7 digit postcode. I believe you can have the NAV updated but the album art etc is a thing called COM Box that was brough in in 2010 so you would need that retrofitted. There was a long thread on COM Box last year that had the details on it IIRC.

02-17-2012, 01:54 AM	#1
gchild First Lieutenant 23 Rep 340 Posts Drives: honda Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: london iTrader: (0)	Benefits of idrive Hi all What are the benefits of having idrive other than for the nav feature? Is it considered essential kit or nice to have? Cheers
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02-17-2012, 01:57 AM	#2
RaihaX Major General 156 Rep 4,995 Posts Drives: 08' 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia, Perth iTrader: (2)	is nice to have ! but i don't really regret not having it.
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02-17-2012, 02:07 AM	#3
Mart1000 Capt Slow 37 Rep 1,076 Posts Drives: Leon FR Supercopa Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Suffolk iTrader: (1)	When I was looking for mine, I drive was essential yes. I'm just a shallow gadget freak
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02-17-2012, 02:09 AM	#4
xenon Major General 1396 Rep 8,082 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	Depends. The older one was limited (e.g. just 5-digit postcode) but the new one is pretty good. You can get music, office functions (email, calendar, SMS etc), Internet and it will control other car functions (e.g. climate) as well as Nav which is now 7-digit postcode and lane guidance. Reversing Camera too: __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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02-17-2012, 02:40 AM	#5
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	What phone you using to get messages Ian?
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02-17-2012, 02:43 AM	#6
xenon Major General 1396 Rep 8,082 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	BB 9800 mate. Gives email, SMS (both of which it will read-aloud) and calendar functions. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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02-17-2012, 02:43 AM	#7
jimpom23 First Lieutenant 7 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Leeds iTrader: (0)	Don't think the benefits are huge but as a buyer on the market at the moment my new car MUST have it. I just prefer the overall look of having it, you can get TV tuners for them, access all kinds of functions plus you have to think of resale - I have seen the exact spec bar iDrive on a few out there and they have been on for months, I guess in that respect if you weren't too bothered there are some good deals to be had.
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02-17-2012, 02:44 AM	#8
acerboo Brigadier General 179 Rep 3,923 Posts Drives: e92 335d lci Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kent iTrader: (2)	have an 07 one and the nav is next to useless always carry a tom tom and dont use it otherwise, if buying s/h a car without would not put me off
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02-17-2012, 03:04 AM	#13
Frobius Major 40 Rep 1,021 Posts Drives: F11 530d M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Huntingdon, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 E91 330d M-Sport [0.00]	If the car was pre LCI, I would leave it. Nav seems to command a premium that I can't justify on the older system. If I was buying an LCI car I'd consider it essential. __________________ MY14 Space Grey F11 530d M-Sport
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02-17-2012, 03:07 AM	#15
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	HHD one yes, early one NO. All the glass's prices assume NAV, so you should get a better deal for one without it. Especially as the older versions become more antiquated, they'll be less sought after.
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02-17-2012, 03:17 AM	#16
parapaul Colonel 118 Rep 2,216 Posts Drives: E91 330d M Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stoke on Trent iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 E91 330D MSport [0.00]	I'm shallow too, I like gadgets, and I wanted the simple things like the track display for my CDs and the radio. On my pre-LCI the nav is acceptable - it's not great but it's never failed to get me where I needed to be which is the main thing - and I find the TMC traffic announcements very useful, even if they are sometimes slow to update. Now that I've lived with it for a year or so, the novelty has worn off and I know I would probably be just as happy now without it. Particularly from my point of view, I want to upgrade the audio and that would be a huge amount easier if I could start with an aftermarket head unit instead of trying to compensate for the built in one. __________________ Just how many Yorkshire sheep can you fit inside one exhaust?
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02-17-2012, 01:51 PM	#17
gchild First Lieutenant 23 Rep 340 Posts Drives: honda Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: london iTrader: (0)	I thought I had seen some showing the status of various bits on the car like oil and brakes etc. Is any of that useful?
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02-17-2012, 01:56 PM	#18
Mart1000 Capt Slow 37 Rep 1,076 Posts Drives: Leon FR Supercopa Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Suffolk iTrader: (1)	That new I drive in the pics looks fantastic.
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02-18-2012, 02:32 AM	#20
BanziBarn Lieutenant Colonel 106 Rep 1,800 Posts Drives: BMW 330D E90 LCI Msport Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I think it's essential, but again, it's probably because I love tech! I have the HDD drive but no album art or 7 digit post code. Can this be rectified by a software update (I know it's very expensive) or is there a hardware difference? __________________ Black 330d E90 LCI M Sport Saloon Auto. Privacy Glass, Cream Leather, 6FL, I-Drive/Nav/Bluetooth, Alpine hifi upgrade.
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02-18-2012, 04:24 AM	#22
chris330D Major 36 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: F31 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	You guys must have just missed it, my car is Sept 2010 and has Album art and the 7 digit postcode. I believe you can have the NAV updated but the album art etc is a thing called COM Box that was brough in in 2010 so you would need that retrofitted. There was a long thread on COM Box last year that had the details on it IIRC.
	Appreciate 0 Quote