I've given up on the factory NAV

[rps]

My Garmin HUD came in today and I'll be using it for NAV going forward. The directions are easy to see on the windshield and the directions come through the factory speakers. It's kind of early to tell, but the directions are more accurate and easier to follow. I'll post a report after a couple of days.

[Motohip]

Cool story bro

[IEDEI]

are you going to glue it on top of your factory Nav? lol

[Andrewcoja]

This is why I never want factory satnav. It's never as good as google maps or a Garmin. And you have to go get new updates every year. Google maps updates for free all the time. I guess it's nice to have a screen there for iDrive features maybe, but they can just as easily cram a lot of features into the regular radio.

[Vigilante375]

I made the mistake of getting Nav in the car but like andrew said, it's nice to have the big screen to for the iDrive and view everything on there.....I use my S3 to navigate me anywhere I need to go.

[3002 tii]

I actually prefer iPhone Waze, real time traffic update from users and other reports (hidden police) are pretty awesome. But after driving the new car for a week, I didn't think think the factory nav was all that terrible. The traffic reroutes were good and I would run both Waze and factory nav at same time, both gave same guidance with same ETA.

[pinmagic]

I've posted this before, but it's worth repeating. I complained to my service advisor that the BMW nav system is absolutely atrocious, and he told me that, in a comparison of 26 nav systems, it came in 26th. I call it "class-action worthy."

[TheSt|G]

Also adds 40lbs to the car in various parts.

[kullenberg]

My iPhone/Google maps does a better job and feeds it thru the speakers.

[shah269]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

I've posted this before, but it's worth repeating. I complained to my service advisor that the BMW nav system is absolutely atrocious, and he told me that, in a comparison of 26 nav systems, it came in 26th. I call it "class-action worthy."

BMW nav system….
Lets see why it sucks!
Who makes the electronic bits? Dezo an Italian company.
Who writes the code? TomTom a Dutch company

So when was the last time you equated the words Italian with high end electronics?
And when was the last time you associated the Dutch with navigation? After all when they were exploring the world they kind of missed finding Australia!

I mean come on the jokes you can make about the BMW nav system are never ending!

[JimD]

I didn't seriously consider the navigation system. I use a Garmin 885t (old voice controlled model). I initially had a 760 on the bmw portable pro metal mount to the right of the instruments on the dash. Then I designed my own bracket to locate the 885 on the left of the instruments. I have the power and audio out wires coming out from the dash under the hood over the gauges. This eliminates much of the clutter. You can see my initial installation in a DIY I wrote (has a few pictures). When on a trip, I play music stored on the nuvi through the aux input of the radio and get navigation instructions and phone calls (the nuvis have bluetooth too) through the car speakers. Works well. Lots of functionality for a lot less money.

I've used a smart phone for navigation too but I don't on a routine basis due to the interface. I think Garmins are a lot easier to glance at and get the information I need.

Jim

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Motohip

Cool story bro

[rps]

Well, after a couple of days using the HUD, I wanted to share my observations. The hardest part has been finding a place for the unit on the dash. There are not many flat surfaces on our dash. I finally used a flat piece of black plastic to support the front of the device. The unit pairs up to my phone in about the time it takes for the phone to pair up with the cars BT. The directions are spoken through the cars speaker and are concise. The display is easy to see even in bright sun light. I have not affixed the plastic to the windshield but will do so in a day or two now that I have decided on the permanent location. So far-definitely worth the money.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by rps

Well, after a couple of days using the HUD, I wanted to share my observations. The hardest part has been finding a place for the unit on the dash. There are not many flat surfaces on our dash. I finally used a flat piece of black plastic to support the front of the device. The unit pairs up to my phone in about the time it takes for the phone to pair up with the cars BT. The directions are spoken through the cars speaker and are concise. The display is easy to see even in bright sun light. I have not affixed the plastic to the windshield but will do so in a day or two now that I have decided on the permanent location. So far-definitely worth the money.

Just saw the review on CNET.com. seems like a really good system but I thought the graphics are kinda of small.

[rps]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Just saw the review on CNET.com. seems like a really good system but I thought the graphics are kinda of small.

They are smallish, but very legible and easy to see.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by kullenberg

My iPhone/Google maps does a better job and feeds it thru the speakers.

I agree, that new Google maps updated app on the iphone even speaks to u when the phone is locked. Pretty neat!!