[rob77]

Hi guys

First time poster here and would like to say hello to everyone

I have just got a 2008 320d SE and it just has the bog standard radio and CD player installed. I have seen various places that would upgrade my system to an I-drive professional unit for about a £1000. Do you think this would be worth while? I have also seen the kenwood systems that do all the same functions, have steering wheel controls and includes touch screen. I'm missing not having a sat nav installed in my car and could go with something like a tom tom I guess but would like to keep it as neat as possible.

What would you do in my position? Go for an I-drive or go for something like the kenwood system? What is the I-drive pro like?

Cheers

Rob

[nicktyler]

If you want to keep it OEM looking go for the I-drive. But for that price you could get a pretty flash aftermarket headunit that would do everything including touch screen and sat nav.

Not sure either could do the I-drive servicing info though?

[jasonmav]

OEM is best especially if you can find somewhere to do it for £1k. The parts alone usually cost that plus you need to replace dash and get it activated/coded. All other options like a Kenwood system as great as they are still require you to keep your BMW headunit for chimes and service upgrades. Usually relocate to trunk.

All require lots of work and money but the new idrive cic is worth it IMO.

[rob77]

Wow that was quick, thanks for the reply's guys

Actually thinking about it I don't think the idrive that was a £1000 fitted was the CIC one. I'll email the guy and see what he says though. What are the other versions of the professional idrive?

I think I would prefer to keep it OEM really. Could anyone provide me with a good installer that is based up north (Leeds area) that would fit the CIC idrive system should the one I was looking at be an older version? I could probably source the parts on ebay.

Thanks

[jasonmav]

Cant help with an installer up north, sorry.

Idrive options are either the older CCC (maps on DVD) or the newer CIC with HDD. The CIC setup comes with better screen and options. On top of that you can have a Combox installed in the boot which will give you album art, bluetooth audio, sat view maps, new voice recog, etc... You looking at at least another £500 for that.

So how deep are your pockets

[rob77]

Hehe why didn't I just hunt round and get a car with all this installed. The CIC sounds like it's a worthwhile upgrade over the CCC version so if I do decide to go this route then I'll wait it out for the newer version.

[gchild]

Depends on why you think you need idrive. If its for sat nav only, then a Tom tom is better.

Having used idrive, I wouldn't make it a prerequisite next time. Although the newer ones may be more useful.

[MEGA]

Head unit wise I could sell you my alpine system cheaper than that (single din flip out screen with bluetooth sat nav capable of playing DVD video's and mp3s) which would be a significant upgrade on the DVD based iDrive other than tthe fact iDrive looks better integrated with the car.

If you were going to bother then I'd also suggest going for some better speaker system as it's so so poor the stock speaker system ..

[rob77]

Yes it was mainly for the sat nav I wanted idrive but if a tomtom is better then I might just go that route. I didn't think the speakers were too bad for standard ones. I had a golf last and the sound is so much better than the manufacturer fitted one in that. Granted they are not going to sound as good as a nice alpine set up with amp and sub but for basic speakers I think it's ok.

[m1bjr]

The Pro audio is fair. The little woofers under the seats make a decent amount on noise.

The older satnav is shite and best avoided. The very latest systems in the Fxx are fantastic but for the life of why don't they all do full 7digit postcodes?

I still use TomTom Live in the work wagon, its as good as it gets for me.
Like it so much I hunted down a new Reno with it fitted as oem, it's a league better than the BMW offerings on earlier cars.

Retrofit is a massive task, you would be better off trading the car IMO.

[rob77]

If I can find a good way of fitting a tom tom then that would be great. I just want to keep the car as neat as possible without unsightly wires everywhere. So how do I find which radio/speaker system is in mine? It sure sounds good compared with my last car.

[mv57]

taken from lee ramble on this thread

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586

PDF will give you a breakdown of different set ups on the E9Xs.

[rob77]

Thanks for that mv57

Mine must be the base system then as I don't have any tweeters. I didn't realise there are subs under the seats though. Is there any guides on best settings for my system?

Cheers

[mv57]

with the idrive (i know you don't but saying in case there are differences) all that can be controlled is high and low freqs, balance and fade.

For varied music i have left everything at unity as increase in bass on one song will fart on another. same with the top end. Balance at unity is a fair stereo image for the car. Better than the new 520 stock system where centre means sitting on the centre armrest for a stereo image.

Have a play its all dependent on how you like your music and what you listen to.

[rob77]

Thanks mv57 I'll have a play around and see how it is

[xenon]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

The older satnav is shite and best avoided. The very latest systems in the Fxx are fantastic but for the life of why don't they all do full 7digit postcodes?

They do as of Sept 2010.

[jojo2012]

i think the idrive is brilliant. i have it fitted in my car and the voice recognition and office package and love the sat nav. don't know which version it is but think it must be the newest as my cars only 6month old. my brother fitted a kenwood head unit and screen and although it looks nice all his steering controls for the stereo and parking sensors stopped working.

[rob77]

I've been offered the cic idrive fitted for £2100 inc all necessary trims and cables etc. Does this seem like a good deal?

[jasonmav]

Originally Posted by rob77

I've been offered the cic idrive fitted for £2100 inc all necessary trims and cables etc. Does this seem like a good deal?

2nd hand dash £200
CIC kit (screen, drive, cables) £1000
Activation and coding £300

I would say thats about as cheap for parts as you going to get unless you lucky. So in your quote, that leaves about £600 labour which considering this will take about 8 hours to do is about right.

I wonder how much the option for idrive was at purchase?