Once you have it IMO you won't want to be without it. One of the best options BMW offers.
It just takes a little bit of time to get use to it.
If you take a test drive with it you will feel the difference right away. Of course there is aways
pros a cons on it . Do a search there is quite a lot of information if not here on www.bimmerfest .com.
cheers
vern

 

I agree with the others who say that the nav, despite it's shortcomings, is well worth having. Even the nav on my E30 was worth it and the E60 nav is improved from it.

They are clearly listening to some of our complaints and supposedly the LCI version will be improved -- the details are still sketchy though...

 

The BMW Navi system is certainly not the close to the best compared to the Japanese luxury brands (Lexus, Acura, Infiniti). My '04 LS430 Navi system was much more flexible (you could search by address, by name and even by telephone number), much faster, had better voice directions, told you what side of the street the destination was, had better POI graphics (differentiated the POI"s by different symbols - i.e. not all restaurants were the same), better street identification on the mapping, etc. and it was 3 years old compared to the one in my 550i. I assume the new versions are even better. Of course, it was touch screen based, which I really didn't like.

The best things that you can say about the BMW system are that it works and that it is integrated into the HUD (a truly great feature). I don't love it but it gets me where I want to go (once it finally gets the directions going). I like having the Navi system fully integrated into the car so I would always opt to get that over an aftermarket system (which work fine). Just a matter of preference.

It wouldn't stop me from getting another BMW but it certainly isn't a selling point. I've heard the LCI will be much improved.

 

I agree, sketchy.

ABC

 

Is this retrofit kit 609 good for the money or is it abit too much??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...mMakeTrack=true

 

I think its expensive.

 

thought so it aint just me then.
Think i might just wait for the Pioneer AVIC-D3 to be released and get it professional fitted in

 

Hi,

I was thinking of doing the same thing. I'm in the same situation, a 2004 525i, with no navigation. I just got the car and really need navigation in since I'm new to the LA area. The D3 looks fine. If I get it professionally fitted, I want it to use the IDrive screen as an aux. Has anyone heard of this product or have an experience using it:

http://www.nav-tv.com/bmw.htm

 

i have 538xi in production and it has a nav..my question is what sort of voice commands are possible ?for example is it possble for changing the temp in the ca by voive command?