[klebel]

Hey all. I picked up a new to me '08 335xi Sport Package a couple months back. I have all but given up on the iDrive system.

• The bluetooth is for phone only. My MAZDA even did BT Audio!
• The search function in the NAV is aweful!

Am I missing something here? If I want to just find the closest taco bell, do I seriously have to go into the nav, then into information, magically select the right category and then search by name within that category? I can't just search ALL POI? What if I don't know the POI category or none of them make sense for where I am trying to get? Example, a go karting track or a hot tub store. What then?

I picked up a Ford Flex Limited for the wife and the Sync system in that car is just as embarrassing as hell to my BMW. It blows away the iDrive system from what I can tell. You can literally do a voice command of "I'm hungry" and it will pull up all the closest food within 2 miles for you. Once your fuel light comes on the Nav will shift and show you all the closest gas stations.

So embarrassing. I am HOPING that I am just using the darn thing wrong and someone can correct me here.

Other than the iDrive I absolutely love my car.

Thanks.

[mikracer]

You're not using it wrong. Plently of complaints on the iDrive. Apparently the 09+ have a better system, but I'm sure it isnt as intuitive as the Ford Flex you described.

[redline2]

Have a 2011 and not much improvement. Unfortunately, it is embarrassing. Followed closely by the random output speech recognition system.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by klebel

Hey all. I picked up a new to me '08 335xi Sport Package a couple months back. I have all but given up on the iDrive system.

• The bluetooth is for phone only. My MAZDA even did BT Audio!
• The search function in the NAV is aweful!

Am I missing something here? If I want to just find the closest taco bell, do I seriously have to go into the nav, then into information, magically select the right category and then search by name within that category? I can't just search ALL POI? What if I don't know the POI category or none of them make sense for where I am trying to get? Example, a go karting track or a hot tub store. What then?

I picked up a Ford Flex Limited for the wife and the Sync system in that car is just as embarrassing as hell to my BMW. It blows away the iDrive system from what I can tell. You can literally do a voice command of "I'm hungry" and it will pull up all the closest food within 2 miles for you. Once your fuel light comes on the Nav will shift and show you all the closest gas stations.

So embarrassing. I am HOPING that I am just using the darn thing wrong and someone can correct me here.

Other than the iDrive I absolutely love my car.

Thanks.

Yes, the 2006-2008 iDrive is quite bad.

[klebel]

LOL. OK At least I am not the only one that felt this way. For what they charge for that iDrive I had a lot higher expectations as to the usability of it. Rough.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by klebel

LOL. OK At least I am not the only one that felt this way. For what they charge for that iDrive I had a lot higher expectations as to the usability of it. Rough.

It was so bad that I swapped my MY2008 with the MY2009+ iDrive: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=454413

Night and day...

[conix67]

I have latest iDrive in 2010 328i (except connected drive). BT audio works, and I actually like iDrive control as opposed to the typical touch screen interface. I don't think you have gen1 iDrive though.

[klebel]

Originally Posted by conix67

I have latest iDrive in 2100 328i (except connected drive). BT audio works, and I actually like iDrive control as opposed to the typical touch screen interface. I don't think you have gen1 iDrive though.

Why do you think I don't have the GEN1 iDrive in my '08 335xi? Isn't that the first couple of years of the iDrive?

[Dracon]

I think he means the update 2 to the CCC iDrive system.

iDrive Professional Navigation (CCC)
 
iDrive Controller on BMW X5 

iDrive controller on BMW 530d 
Debuted in 2003 with the E60/E61 5-Series and is based on Wind River VxWorks, a real-time operating system.[2] CCC stands for Car Communication Computer and uses a larger 8.8" wide-screen display. It was available on the following cars as an option;
 1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 manufactured until March 2007
 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 manufactured until March 2007
 5-Series E60/E61 manufactured until March 2007
 6-Series E63/E64 manufactured until March 2007
 
CCC based systems use a map DVD from Navteq in a dedicated DVD drive.
 
CCC - update 1
 
This is a minor update to iDrive Professional debuted in March 2007. It adds additional programmable buttons in the dashboard to directly access frequent functions and it removes the haptic feedback from the iDrive controller. It is available on the following cars as an option;
 1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 manufactured between March 2007 and September 2008
 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 manufactured between March 2007 and September 2008
 5-Series E60/E61 manufactured between March 2007 and March 2010
 6-Series E63/E64 manufactured between March 2007 and September 2009
 X5 E70
 X6 E71
 
CCC - update 2
 
This is a minor update debuted in September 2008 to iDrive Professional equipped cars that did not get the new CIC based system. These cars get the new iDrive controller that is also used on cars with CIC. The actual iDrive computer (CCC) remains the same. This update is available on the following cars;
 5-Series E60/E61 manufactured from September 2008
 6-Series E63/E64 manufactured from September 2008
 
iDrive Professional Navigation (CIC)
 
Debuted in September 2008 with F01/F02 7-Series. CIC stands for Car Infotainment Computer and is manufactured by Becker, utilizing the QNX operating system. It is available on the following cars as an option;
 1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 manufactured from September 2008
 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 manufactured from September 2008
 5-Series F07/F10/F11 manufactured from September 2009 (E60/61 manufactured from January 2009 in Europe)
 6-Series E63/E64 manufactured from September 2009
 7-Series F01/F02 manufactured from September 2008

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by conix67

I have latest iDrive in 2100 328i (except connected drive). BT audio works, and I actually like iDrive control as opposed to the typical touch screen interface. I don't think you have gen1 iDrive though.

Does the 2100 model hover? That would be awesome!!!

On a more serious note, I don't mind my iDrive.

I only use it to input directions but I always have the address so I don't use the POIs.

Also I just use my iPhone for music.....which streams over bluetooth to the aux jack.

[conix67]

Originally Posted by *********

Does the 2100 model hover? That would be awesome!!!

On a more serious note, I don't mind my iDrive.

I only use it to input directions but I always have the address so I don't use the POIs.

Also I just use my iPhone for music.....which streams over bluetooth to the aux jack.

Sorry, typo. Fixed.

What you do you mean by "bluetooth to the aux jack"?

[script]

Originally Posted by conix67

Sorry, typo. Fixed.

What you do you mean by "bluetooth to the aux jack"?

Bluetooth add on module streaming via cell phone or ipod touch over bleutooth then to headunit via aux jack......keep up at the back

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by klebel

Hey all. I picked up a new to me '08 335xi Sport Package a couple months back. I have all but given up on the iDrive system.

• The bluetooth is for phone only. My MAZDA even did BT Audio!
• The search function in the NAV is aweful!

Am I missing something here? If I want to just find the closest taco bell, do I seriously have to go into the nav, then into information, magically select the right category and then search by name within that category? I can't just search ALL POI? What if I don't know the POI category or none of them make sense for where I am trying to get? Example, a go karting track or a hot tub store. What then?

I picked up a Ford Flex Limited for the wife and the Sync system in that car is just as embarrassing as hell to my BMW. It blows away the iDrive system from what I can tell. You can literally do a voice command of "I'm hungry" and it will pull up all the closest food within 2 miles for you. Once your fuel light comes on the Nav will shift and show you all the closest gas stations.

So embarrassing. I am HOPING that I am just using the darn thing wrong and someone can correct me here.

Other than the iDrive I absolutely love my car.

Thanks.

You can buy a blackberry audio gateway for 30 bucks off amazon and plug it into your aux port. That will overcome the bt audio issue.

Yes no searching across Poi categories. A major oversight.

Other than that it's fine and quite functional. I was gonna upgrade my CCC idrive to CIC idrive but after spending a week with it in a loaner I just couldnt justify the cost to do it.