Does the Traffic Information function work in the US? Does it work in Chicago? What type of information does it provide?

 

Are you talking about the new RTTI system that's available on the newer cars?

The following link will take you to the "Total Traffic Network" site which is the official site that Clear Channel Communications has for this service:
http://www.realtimetraffic.net/

I'm not sure it the answers all your questions (Chicago is listed on the coverage map) but it might help shed some light on the subject.

I'm actually looking forward to having it on my next E60 in the spring...

 

Clear Channel Communications provides the data for the BMW RTTI system. The information is broadcast via the RDS sub-channel on various radio stations in the US, and as Rudy notes, you can look at the stations in the Chicago area. My experience in Boston and New York City is that the information might be a little slow in appearing in the Navigation system, and a little slow to disappear once a problem has been resolved. It's supposed to show various traffic problems (incidents, heavy traffic, construction) in a real-time basis, and the BMW NAV system is supposed to use the data to find a new route around the issue. My experience (using a Garmin Streepilot 2820), is that only main routes are covered, so the system might be trying to rout you around a problem on an Interstate as an example, and end up sending you onto a clogged local route. I suppose once everyone starts using the systems (RTTI, TMC, XM Traffic), then all the local routes will be clogged. That's a few months if not years into the future, however.

 

I wonder if Clear Channel uses the same traffic sensors that http://www.traffic.com uses?

Don't know about other cities but in the Pittsburgh area, the coverage is decent but is probably being expanded...

 

Sorry to re-direct the thread. My car was a March '04 build as well and is also up in April '07. Are you getting substantially the same car? SMG? Do you know what they do with the lease price if you extend for a year?

 

I haven't found the time to begin the process but I'm pretty sure I'll be getting the same car unless they're really nice to me and want to slide an M5 my way for not too much more (dream on Rudy...)

I would imagine if you extended the lease for another year, you'd be able to negotiate a lower payment but if you just extend it on a month-to-month basis, the payment usually stays the same. I'll probably go for the facelifted version so I may end up extending my lease for an extra month or so depending on if I do another Performance Center delivery.

 

It seems to me it should be easy to retrofit this - does anyone know of any plans to do so (e.g. 2006 MY cars)?