[nmcampbell]

Originally Posted by nmcampbell

I got my car 1/15/08 with idrive. It's my first car with a nav system, much less the "idrive" type arrangement. So while I don't have something to compare it to like the rest of you, I've found it to be easy to use and have no gripes. I'm sure there's better systems but I can't think of anything I would want differently. The screen location is great (as compared to my wife's MB which forces you to really take your eyes off the road), brightness is good, system works fast enough, even with my ipod. No complaints here.

UPDATE: After taking my car to the dealer today and getting post break-in oil change and the alarm activated, I was driving home with my kiddo....due to the rains here in SoCal, of course everyone is driving like crap, lots of accidents. Nav really helped me avoid some delays and I also used the POI on the fly to find a Panda Express to keep the kids happy. I'm liking it more and more each day.

[benyl]

POI search licks donkey balls.

[b335i]

Haven't messed with the POI very much, so no complaints.

Entering an address is more cumbersome than my previous NAV (Acura TL).

However, I really do enjoy the iPod interface!

[328fan]

For the POI search, can you search by POI Name or POI Category?

[Kamando]

Likes:

-It's not touchscreen so I don't have to take my eyes off the road for very long if at all in a lot of cases. (It's easy to memorize certain menu items, and full functionality is available while the vehicle is moving)

-The built in short cuts so you don't have to go back to the main menu every time; you can jump to communication, climate, nav, entertainment no matter where you are in any menu

-After using '06 iDrive (before force feed back was pulled) '08 is a night and day difference in speed

-6FL works awesome

-Cleaner cockpit (don't have a million buttons like some setups)

-bluetooth integration/voice dialing of names and numbers/overall voice control

-Its easier to operate everything compared to non-iDrive

-Being able to see a graphical representation of how far I am from an object with the PDC is invaluable

-RTTI comes in very handy at times

-It's not windows based

Dislikes:

-More POI's could be included/POI search

[Mikie]

Likes:
-Integrated into dash
-Entertainment/communication/climate controls moved to a screen
-split screen with the assistance window to display turns/location/trip information
-Voice controls
-Additional car control through i-Menu
-The speed it is able to recompute route if turn is missed

Dislikes:
-Cost
-Point-of-Interest searching is very poor and incomplete <-Biggest one
-Slower on occation
-Can't upload new POIs in any easy manner, since it's all DVD based

I grabbed this list and modified it to meet my opinion, the 7 inch screen is a big plus, the location is another. But POI sucks. I cannot believe the categories and searching, sometimes makes no sense at all. I would love to have a broad search on a higher level. The is comparing it to the chrysler version my wife has, hers has better access to information, but looses to the idrive in so many other ways.

Hers can search better, but is a total pain to just put in an address and go.

All in all, worth it, if for just the control it adds. Plus it is a pet peeve on mine to see a BMW without the second hump in the middle. Spent 30k and skimped on $1800.....