[Dackz]

I am looking at a 07-08 used 335i, well, I will be looking at some. I really dont know if I want Idrive or not. I mean, I like being able to adjust a bunch of the radio stuff right there without navigating a menu, but the nav is a nice thing to have sometimes. I am just not sure, what are some features besides the 'cool off the car' thing that you can do with idrive that you cant without?

[J BONE]

I like the bluetooth with I drive. When you are listening to the radio and someone calls, the number or person, flashes up on the screen and tells you who it is. I think that is cool. Also with the i pod adapter, you can scroll through your screen and see all the names of songs, artists, etc on the screen. Like you said too, it totally makes the itnterior of the car. Worth it IMO. I hardly ever use the nav, which seems like a waste.

[Gig103]

I have an '08 with iDrive, and I like it. True it's sometimes clunky, but with iPod and bluetooth, having a big screen helps. Plus, I like the "double hump" in the dash; otherwise I find the car a little bland to be honest.

[methodtim]

I didn't order my car with idrive and I haven't found anything I miss so far. Of course it's cool to have a nice big screen to see all the diagnostic info, phone calls, music tracks, etc.; however, there's nothing there that isn't displayed (albeit smaller) without idrive. I just can't get over how ugly the double hump is with idrive. Your sense of aesthetics will, of course, vary.

[Jns2001]

My car came without the Ipod integration, but with the 6 disc CD changer, today I burned two CD's with MP3s with 140 songs each, which is most of the songs that I like, I find this solution better than having the Ipod in the small glove box. My 0.02 cents. All the info shows on the little display.

[rjd598]

i personally think that having idrive is a big plus because it makes your car more classy.having idrive just looks better as in how you optioned your car.like the other guy says its extremely bland without.navigating through basically everything is much simpler with idrive.my mom has a 328i w/out idrive and i personally think its alot harder to navigate through than with idrive.

[MCMLXXXIX]

yes you really want iDrive. i didnt have it on my past e90 and i dont know how i drove it. if you talk a lot when driving...get the bluetooth seriously, its a blast lol. and with music...iPod adapter is a gift from heaven. i used to just plug in the iPod with an AUX cable and it was a pain to use! and distracting...

whenever im at a light or something...i just play around and check stuff out on the iDrive haha, it has a lot to offer...not just navigation. i have the '08 so imagine what the '09 is like

[citrixscu]

Yes. If you do not get it and then drive your buddy's car who does have iDrive, you will spend the rest of your lease/ownership wishing you did.

[kgb1637]

I thought I didn't need it at all and that I could get by, my mother has a non-idrive E90 that the ipod works fine with. Once I sat in an E90 with the idrive I felt like it was such an good tool for everything you can do with it. The bluetooth is fantastic, music is easy especially if you use an ipod and the navigation isn't bad at all.

[x5m power]

I love my Idrive love the latest electronics since i dont have a silly Blackberry storm

[Vnak]

Definitely get Idrive. Especially if you haven't had it before. It has too many useful features to pass up on. The radio portion is kind of clumsy, but it works. The navigation is so handy alone that it's worth it just for that.

[wrickem]

You might not want it, but I will never buy another Bmw without it. The navi's traffic info has navigated me around jams in unfamiliar areas often enough that I hate being in a car without it. That alone without the extra goodies has made it well worth it to me. And anybody that can't master the knob in a half hour probably isn't too good with any computer, don't let that scare you away.

[piezo]

+1 on the RTTI, and I really like the scheduled ventilation feature.

And don't forget that many have reported that the non-iDrive radio display is useless when wearing polarized sunglasses. (odd because the HVAC display is oriented correctly; when I tilt 90 degrees it disappears)

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by Dackz

I am just not sure, what are some features besides the 'cool off the car' thing that you can do with idrive that you cant without?

Um, nothing.

If there is nothing else you can think of spending $2,500 for, say a Nikon D90, or a loaded MacBook Pro, or two weeks on a sunny beach in the Caribbean, or even Dinan flash, then I guess why not.

Just don't expect it to route as well as a $99 TomTom.

[TTG]

I would not buy a BMW without i-drive! Get it.....

[Grizzles]

once you go idrive you never go back. anyone? the same goes with comfort access.
i would never get the hd radio again or the rear sunshade.

[Higgs1]

yea looks like i'm going to have to hold out for idrive too

watched a lot of good videos on youtube on the usefulness of it, makes me want it that much more

[zimbim]

There's a short learning curve with Idrive, but once you get used to it, it's a piece of cake. Get it!

[HermesRider]

I'm not sure what is so ugly about the double hump. Personally, I do find the interior very plain without it. After having it, I couldn't do without it... all the MP3 info, call info, in addition to the navi makes it highly desirable to most people. Far beyond any worry about having an "ugly" hump. lmao tell yourself what you want to hear...

[AMZ]

I preferred the way the sat-nav was placed in the e46 (just above the climate control) rather than the double hump. Having said that in its new position its much easier for the driver to glance at which is important when using the sat-nav, radio etc so your eyes remain where they should be...on the road! I love the features, the layout and the ease of control of the iDrive. I don't know what the used sales market is like internationally but in the UK you never lose that little extra you spend on the iDrive when purchasing the car because the value of the car remains that little higher than the cars without iDrive anyway!


Conclusion: I don't have it but I wish I did

[Two Sheds]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Um, nothing.

If there is nothing else you can think of spending $2,500 for, say a Nikon D90, or a loaded MacBook Pro, or two weeks on a sunny beach in the Caribbean, or even Dinan flash, then I guess why not.

Just don't expect it to route as well as a $99 TomTom.

It seems there aren't too many dissenting voices, but I'll add one. The nav system sucks compared to standalone units such as tom tom which are a tenth of the cost. I find the whole system slow, not just the nav disc stuff, but changing input sources, radio stations. The whole iDrive interface is slow going between sections. It's a pretty poor computer when you consider what computing power you can buy for $2500.

Also with the amount of time and hassle it takes to update the system I just don't think it's been well designed and I wouldn't want to have to pay to fix it if anything around the iDrive goes wrong after the warranty expires.

[BIGNTASTIE]

YEs its a must !!