[font="Arial"]I opted not to go with the BMW navigation system. Instead, I'm using a Garmin Nuvi 350 which is mounted to the center console with a Proclip dashboard mount. The Nuvi is a great, state-of-the-art, GPS system. IMO it is far superior to the BMW navigation system (or any other factory installed system that I have seen). Garmin provides frequent software updates that are free and if technology improvements ever make the Nuvi obsolete, I can easily replace it for a few hundred dollars. When using the Nuvi for navigation, I attach it to the auxiliary input (that is now standard on the 2007 E60s) and receive text-to-speech voice commands (e.g., "turn left on to Main Street") through the car's speaker system. The Nuvi is also an mp3 player and I frequently use it to play music through the cars speakers. It has 700 MB of internal flash memory plus an SD drive for additional capacity. I also like being able to take the unit with me so that I can program it before I leave on a trip. Sounds like an advertisement, but I really like the unit. Also, I-Drive without navigation boots up immediately so that's an added benefit.

 

There are many after market Nav systems. The TomTom 910 is a good example with 20GB hard drive, bluetooth and built in European and N America maps.

I used TomTom before i bought the e60 but I got really fed up of the connections, brackets and screen "suckers".

However if you can't afford the 20 seconds the e60 Nav takes to calculate a route then one of these bolt-on systems could be just what you're looking for.

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