Does anyone know if BMW plans to activate the Traffic Info feature? It's listed in the manual and is "greyed out" in the options list in the BMW services in IDrive.

It sounds like a great feature!

Thanks,
-Rob

 

Which one?

TMC or BMW Assists Traffic info + ?

 

Not TMC, but the option shown in US manuals and listed in the "BMW Services" section of the I-Drive.

It sounds similar to TMC (as described in the manual), but doesn't appear to be operational. It is supposed to send traffic updates and allow the Nav system to reroute automatially.

 

This would be a bit too modern and advanced for the US...
Where we live, the traffic light aren't even synchronized and very litte useful and up to date traffic info on the radio, such as the one you get in Germany, is available at all.
I assume, we might get this in 10-20 years...

Jochen

 

actually, the new acuras have this technology built into their nav systems. imo, the acura's technology is actually better than the current 5 (Nav w/traffic updates, Bluetooth built in and enabled, Sirius or XM prewired). It's just too bad that it's an Acura and looks like shit.

 

Does the traffic info work?

I've heard that it is based on the location in the US. For example, ATL doesn't use it so no dice. I think someone else in the forum in the US said it was active for them.

This was a thread discussion some time back.

james

 

Not TMC, but the option shown in US manuals and listed in the "BMW Services" section of the I-Drive.

It sounds similar to TMC (as described in the manual), but doesn't appear to be operational. It is supposed to send traffic updates and allow the Nav system to reroute automatially.
[/quote]
What you are talking about is the traffic info + from BMW Assist. That is basically an advanced TMC, coming from BMW Assist. They collect traffic infos from all over Germany and put them on their server, so you know about any traffic problems in whole Germany. TMC is coming from the radio stations, so it's more local.
I don't think that service is available in the US.

 

Not TMC, but the option shown in US manuals and listed in the "BMW Services" section of the I-Drive.

It sounds similar to TMC (as described in the manual), but doesn't appear to be operational. It is supposed to send traffic updates and allow the Nav system to reroute automatially.
[/quote]
What you are talking about is the traffic info + from BMW Assist. That is basically an advanced TMC, coming from BMW Assist. They collect traffic infos from all over Germany and put them on their server, so you know about any traffic problems in whole Germany. TMC is coming from the radio stations, so it's more local.
I don't think that service is available in the US.
[/quote]

I just got back from test driving the new RL and it does indeed have traffic info integrated into the Navigation system. The salesman wasn't clear on how this info gets to the NAV unit, but since the car comes with XM satellite reception, which has many channels that provide local traffic info, my guess is that the XM provides this to the NAV unit. It works seamlessly and very well. I take no pleasure in bringing this to your attention, since I'm about to pull the trigger on a new 545 this week. The RL is pretty good, and comes loaded for 50K, (but they won't discount much). The RL electronics are superior to BMW's and should be a source of great shame to BMW, considering all the software issues that I've been reading about in this forum. Unfortunately the Acura just doesn't have enough of what we all relish in the BMWs. The Drive. If my next BMW experience isn't what I hope for, the RL may well be next.

 

Well, we can hope that BMW in the US adds this feature. If they do, I for one will resubscribe to BMW Assist (assuming that is how it is provided).

Maybe I'll give BMWNA a call tomorrow and see what they say about it.