Looking for Thoughts on the Nav Package
10-26-2005, 03:30 PM
#1
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2002 BMW 530i
2005 BMW X3
Hi,
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
10-26-2005, 03:46 PM
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Originally Posted by Layer3switchguy' date='Oct 26 2005, 06:30 PM
Hi,
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
[snapback]189137[/snapback]
10-26-2005, 03:48 PM
#3
Members
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 E60 530 xi six speed manual/Silver gray-auburn/18inch-style123wheels/premium sound and package/HUD/PDC/sport/coldpackage/Sirius/M-aero kit/Nav/comfortseats/shades/comfort access
tires: 245 40 18 Sottozero Pirelli winters (non runflats)
2004 RX330 Lexus - crystal white - reliable, quiet, and the "beater" car for ski trips, hauling, etc.
1995 E34 540i 6 speed black/truffle interior/alpinemp3/XMradio/M5 alloys (Many tears...sold to a fellow Boston bimmer enthusiast!)
Remember that you get the small screen if you dont' get the nav - the non-nav screen looks awefully small underneath that big dashboard cowl -
10-26-2005, 06:32 PM
#4
Members
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 530i, white/black manual, sports package, nav, PDC, etc.
Why does the disk need to be updated (unless they're still building roads in your city)?
Mine is very accurate, but you need to keep the disc updated.
Originally Posted by donv' date='Oct 26 2005, 04:46 PM
[quote name='Layer3switchguy' date='Oct 26 2005, 06:30 PM']Hi,
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
I would love to get user opinions on the NAV system for US based cars. How accurate is the system in major metro areas such as Philadelphia. How useful is the screen for showing maps, etc...
Thanks in advance!
L3
[snapback]189137[/snapback]
[snapback]189146[/snapback]
[/quote]
10-26-2005, 07:03 PM
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 925
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn"t be without it. It's very accurate everywhere I've been in the northeast. Also, I have a early-2004 disc and I find no need to update.
One last thing - adding HUD brings nav to a whole different level.
One last thing - adding HUD brings nav to a whole different level.
10-26-2005, 07:09 PM
#6
Site Founders
Originally Posted by Robert A' date='Oct 26 2005, 09:32 PM
Why does the disk need to be updated (unless they're still building roads in your city)?
As long as you're satisfied with its accuracy and don't travel to areas that may have changed, you never need to update it.
And to answer the original question, it's very accurate, even in cities and dense urban areas. It's accurate down to a few meters, and accurately represents upcoming turns, which street you're on, etc., very precisely. I have the BMW Accessory Navigation System, circa 1997, based on the Philips CARiN system (then acquired by Siemens VDO), which was the same as the early in-dash BMW nav systems. It was one of the first with turn-by-turn directions with voice, and so on, and even that 8 year old system is very accurate. GPS, combined with vehicle speed and direction, is very precise, and the navigation system, combined with good maps (which NAVTEQ maps generally are) is good enough to get you to the street number in almost all circumstances. If you think that would be useful, I highly recommend it.
10-26-2005, 07:16 PM
#7
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Its suppose to be acccurate to about 25 feet... and you only need to update the database if you have new roads or if you want new POI's Points of Interests... Like restruants... Gas stations... Hospitals... and of course Golf Courses... 
Hahahha Layer 3 huh... Guess you're a network guy huh... 7 layers of the OSI model...
Hahahha Layer 3 huh... Guess you're a network guy huh... 7 layers of the OSI model...
10-26-2005, 07:20 PM
#8
Members
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Westchester, New York
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very accurate and helpful. I was just in Philly last week and couldnt have gotten around without it, I'm from NY. Also, as stated above its true usefullness shines with HUD. I've found Nav, HUD and comfort seats the best options so far.
10-26-2005, 07:27 PM
#9
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco Bay area
Posts: 2,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '05 545i, silver gray, black leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, cold weather package, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat, satellite radio prep, PIAA 4150K fogs, red rear reflectors, hardwired Valentine One
And one other benefit that others haven't mentioned, us that in the US, voice command comes with nav. Voice command combined with iDrive is great.
10-26-2005, 08:48 PM
#10
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Originally Posted by stream' date='Oct 26 2005, 08:27 PM
And one other benefit that others haven't mentioned, us that in the US, voice command comes with nav.? Voice command combined with iDrive is great.
[snapback]189257[/snapback]