Pre 2009 135 Owners - Help Me Please

[Nugget]

Mine doesn't have it and I've missed it a couple of times.
Mostly because the person I've had giving me directions from the passenger seat was useless

[John_01]

Originally Posted by ianf

It is more than just for the NAV function.... music & multimedia, phone integration, car info (oil, service, TPMS etc) all make it well worth it. I wouldn't think on a 2nd hand car it makes much difference to the price.

Not correct. You still get all that without needing an iDrive screen. (My MY2012 car does)
* USB interface for MP3 files.
* Bluetooth for phone.
* Service menu via the dashboard menu

[woosh]

Originally Posted by ianf

Not even...$500

I wish all sellers would think that way! haha

[woosh]

Scrolling through a small knob when your ipod playlist is over 100 songs long is the only gripe I have with non-idrive.

[ippykaye]

I was in a similar position to you- went from looking for a 6MT 335 and ended up with a 6AT 135i! lol.

I wanted iDrive on the 135, didn't matter if DVD/CIC-HDD or folding/fixed screen. I waited 4 months to find the right car and like you almost thought of ditching nav but I"m glad I didn't.

Late 08/Early 09ers Business Nav had the fixed screen but older DVD based nav. Only Pro Nav came with the HDD, as in Stu's car. Folding screen Pro Navs and Folding screen Business Nav had the same size screen- with Pro, you could split screen and also had two DVD drives- one for Nav, one for music.

I've probably got the lamest of the 135 iDrives- Business DVD with the folding screen. I initially though it'd be crap with low resolution screen, big ugly words etc but although it does look a bit dated cf the HDD ones, it still does a good job. I use it mainly for my iPod but Nav is useful sometimes, especially in unfamiliar territory and you want to get a quick idea of the surrounding roads. Menu options displayed and the pictorgram of the PDC are nice inclusions. The climate function is useless.

I find it's also a bit quicker then the business HDD nav. I've become quite used to using the one button iDrive with the four 'zones'. You can quick-access each zone by holding left/right/up/down.

So IMHO, if you've even considered it, I think you'll regret it if you don't get it!

[Dec540]

Seems like some mixed opinions on here. It's not so much the price premium of the iDrive as it doesn't seem to make a massive difference to the resale. For me it's more about the rarity of iDrive. A majority of the cars on Carsales don't have it so it goes without saying that the odds are when a good deal pops up, it's unlikely to have it.

I'd mainly use iDrive for the audio navigation but it's always handy to be able to see surrounding streets when you are in unknown territory or need to navigate around some congestion or an accident.

[1q2w3e4r]

I've had nav in cars past and current and also don't have it in current cars.

It really isn't that big of a deal IMO, 99% of the trips you do you know where you are going. For the other 1% I just look on my phone or print it before.

If you are after a 6mt 1'er I'd be PM'ing Kenny as I know he is going to unload his and he doesn't drive it during the week- probably does like 4k per year.

[Dec540]

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

I've had nav in cars past and current and also don't have it in current cars.

It really isn't that big of a deal IMO, 99% of the trips you do you know where you are going. For the other 1% I just look on my phone or print it before.

If you are after a 6mt 1'er I'd be PM'ing Kenny as I know he is going to unload his and he doesn't drive it during the week- probably does like 4k per year.

What's their username? I found a KennyK but they have DCT.

[BMW86]

There seems to be a divide, the guys that have it like it and the guys without it, don't miss it and some even dislike it. Everyone is guilty of recommending what they have, just the way it is.

If you're young and into gadgets I'm sure you will appreciate it more than someone that doesn't like technology, often the same people that say it's distracting. The old iDrive was around since 2001 so it was well overdue. I'm not saying the new system is state-of-the-art but it is revolutionary in the BMW world and works very well. It costs 5k + 33% LCT and the fact that the guys that paid that much for it still recommend it, says a lot, imho.

My advice is to find someone that has it and knows the ins and outs of it, have a play with it and make your mind up if it's for you. Finding a car without iDrive would make your search a lot easier but you don't want to have regrets either.

I've done a few mods to my car, drag it, track race it, but it's still my daily driver. I welcome any mod that makes living with the car and the driving experience 'better'.

[1q2w3e4r]

Originally Posted by Dec540

What's their username? I found a KennyK but they have DCT.

MrBlonde

[Dec540]

Thanks mate

I'm after something a bit more stock.. Last time I saw pictures it had a half cage in it!

[1q2w3e4r]

The interior is fully stock, its a bolt in cage for aesthetics. He doesn't track it, it's done 3 passes at the drag strip and thats it.

But if your after a stock one (no exhaust, cooler, meth, DP etc) then yeah not for you.

[Coupe135]

i have the IDrive. i dont use the Nav much. Have a USB stick that has 9500 songs downloaded and use the idrive for music. wouldnt be without it.
And the functions for the phone make it alot easier to drive and make phone calls.