$500 to update the navigation....I'll buy a droid.

[shah269]

So I'm at the local BMW dealer since my breaks are squealing like a West Virginia pig (no offence to the well armed moon shine making people of West Virginia). 30 min later they tell me "Well hate to tell you but this is just how they are, they produce way too much dust and that dust causes parts to bind up and stop floating and thus the squealing. Is there anything else you had a question about?"
Me "Yeah is there a reason why the GPS wants to kill me? Is there an update?"
Service Manager "Let me look, oh boy.....hu....$500 for an update."
Me "$500 for an update?"
Service Manager "Wow yeah"
Me "I think I'll just check google maps before I go on a trip."
Service Manager "that's what I would do"

Dear BMW,
Ones head and ones rectum should not occupy the same space at the same time.
$500 for a software update? Hum..........we have a saying here in NJ which I'm sure you don't have in Bavaria but please allow me to google translate it for you;
Kiss my verdammten Arsch!
und
Kein Wunder, du Trottel zwei Weltkriege verloren!

any one says a word about "Oh but that engine" will be deported to West Virginia wearing bacon perfume!

[KingOfJericho]

Make a bigger stink about the brakes. It took me 3 trips to the dealer and a test drive with the foreman to get them to do anything. They tried to tell me "that's just how they are" as well but when they finally broke down and replaced my rotors and pads, the noise went away! There is nothing normal about a car sounding like a freight train.

[doublevanosrc]

That's BS, my brakes rarely squeak, usually when they are cold during the winter. After the first stop they get quiet.

[ejm3]

I saw a coupon at my local Lexus dealer for a nav update and it was $189 for my RX350.
And there was intense debate on the forums over there as to weather it was even worth that.
I would say its definately not worth $500 since you don't even know what was actually updated.

[JHOOPS2]

I am from West Virginia, and I am very well armed. I, however, do not make moonshine. I suppose that your stereotype is partially correct in any case.

This is one of the reasons why the only option that I did not want was idrive/navigation. There are other much more reliable navigation devices on the market. BTW, I usually use my Droid Razr or my Garmin.

Here is just one of my West Virginia armaments..

[Diver]

Originally Posted by JHOOPS2

I am from West Virginia, and I am very well armed. I, however, do not make moonshine. I suppose that your stereotype is partially correct in any case.

This is one of the reasons why the only option that I did not want was idrive/navigation. There are other much more reliable navigation devices on the market. BTW, I usually use my Droid Razr or my Garmin.

Here is just one of my West Virginia armaments..

You would fit right in here in Houston. Only problem is it is hotter than hell six months of the year.

[RoundelM3]

I didn't bother getting the NAV option - got a nice Garmin with traffic reporting for less than $200, and then got a lifetime map update for $80.

[Tom K.]

As the 2012 map updates for both DVD (pre '09) and HD BMW navi units are about $200, perhaps you should try another dealer.

Tom

[jmc777]

Same here. Passed on nav. I think they are leaving money on the table. I would like to have built in nav, but refuse to pay what they are charging (both initially and for updates). If it were more reasonable or maybe if the initial price included lifetime updates, I would order it.

[TX78666]

I was hoping I could find an idrive debate.

[m_thompson]

Get an update code from one of the Internet vendors and do the update yourself for less than $200.

[BBBluey]

Group buy on map update???

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by roundel335

I didn't bother getting the NAV option - got a nice Garmin with traffic reporting for less than $200, and then got a lifetime map update for $80.

Agreed. I never buy the optional nav in a new car. A current portable unit suits me just fine. Besides, I dont care for the dash hump.

[JimD]

Don't forget the BMW Portable Pro system. It eliminates the "wires all over" of the portable unit but it's a Garmin so the updates are reasonable (like lifetime map updates for less than $100). I just bought the installation kit and used my own Garmin so my total bill for a voice controlled GPS, integrated with the BMW was under $300.

Jim

[RoundelM3]

My Garmin unit is wired in permanently on both of my cars. The place that did it for me used an "extension" so as not to cut off the actual lighter plug on the cord, which has the built-in traffic antenna. The cord comes through right where the A-pillar meets the dash and the traffic module lays flat on the corner of the dashboard. No holes in the dash required!

[Vigilante375]

I didn't want to get the Nav for my 1er but it was the only 6spd car in WA and the next closest one was in CA. I'd figured I could give it a shot and see how it would work out, yea well.....I use my Android Navigation more than the car. I only used it 3 times, worked once and the other 2 it either couldn't find the address or took me to the wrong spot/wrong way.

But $500 is seriously stupid, I think even for a Garmin the updates are more than what it would cost to buy a brand new one with the update. Look in the DIY section and read the thread on how you can DIY for way.....way less.

[jbenington86]

Thought process while buying my 128i...... cell phone with map updates from google all the time plus all the other benefits of having a cell phone $200....... bmw nav $2k... since I was going to have a cell phone anyway that would almost certainly be better than bmw nav on a daily basis... why would I pay $2k?

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by BBBluey

Group buy on map update???

Except it'll be the other way around. Instead of us getting a group discount, it would be all of us throwing money into a pot so ONE guy can afford it, lol. $500 is asinine. My TomTom and my iPhone work just fine.



As for the brakes, I have 13,500mi on my car right now and they have never squeaked once. Brakes don't "just do that", that's not BMW engineering. I'm sure BMW spends obscene amounts of money during development to prevent them from squeaking. Its not a GT2 race car, the brakes shouldn't squeak.

[DAC17]

Originally Posted by jmc777

Same here. Passed on nav. I think they are leaving money on the table. I would like to have built in nav, but refuse to pay what they are charging (both initially and for updates). If it were more reasonable or maybe if the initial price included lifetime updates, I would order it.

+1. I don't know why anyone would (on a cost/benefit basis anyway) get a car with NAV. Garmin/TomTom/Droid sytems are just as good, if not better, and are way less expensive. Free, in the case of my Droid. Seems to me to be one of the biggest profit makers for auto companies.

[1911A145]

Nice having an 08'... although I have not updated my "every year you need an update" navigation since 08', It only cost retail 199.99 for the DVD from BMW, or about 120 shipped online from other sources. 09' and up BMW went to a USB port downloadable system.

EDIT: I need to update mine though. Its rediculous GARMAN and TOMTOM can be had for 100 bucks at walmart and include FREE updates but if you spend 50k at the dealership they still want 500 a year! total bullshit...

[GaryS]

Here's my navigation approach.

First pic is $20 cable coming up from fuse box.

Second pic is $60 Garmin 255 on $25 Garmin sandbag mount. They usually live in glove box.

[Ash83]

lol $500 to update maps!!!! i thought it is $199