Nav w/ idrive - would you get it again?

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I've got a few CPO 135i's I'm looking at and it is time to make a decision. When it comes down to it the only differences in them are - do I want the idrive / Nav or not?

I come from a stereo background if you will, been installing them into anything I own for 20 years (complete reconstructions including fiberglassed subs into spare tire wells and etc.). I'm an engineer by degree and profession but a bit of a geek as well. I also have an empeg in my current car (hard drive based, Linux O/S'd MP3 player). So that's me, if it helps.

I can see 2 scenarios, and they may not be mutually exclusive:

1) I would be really happy to have idrive and the screen, so that I can be a geek and use it to scroll through my music & etc, as well as tweak other aspects of the car. And the occasional Nav use though I know the Twin Cities (MN) pretty well.
2) The existing stereo display is enough to roll through MP3's, the idrive screen clutters up the dash and in 5 - 10 years (how long I hope to keep the car) it will seem like a silly relic and be as useful as an 8-track tape deck is today (this particularly applies to the /08 systems).

I did search (I'm a newb here but I admin & mod other forums), found a lot of info, but not really this question pertaining to buying used.

So - would you get it again? And if so are you talking 2008 or 2009?

Any input is very appreciated!

[Harlequin]

Would not order without it.

[abirmaher]

Def go w the iDrive. Have never regretted getting it even once since i got it.

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Even for a 2008 car? Seems to be a big difference in opinion there, so I just wanted to be clear. I see you guys both have 2011.

I have a few dealers trying to get me to commit, I can't believe that of all things this is what's got me doing the "analysis paralysis".

[BMW86]

I would only get the new iDrive (09+). I would rather not have the iDrive at all if it meant having the old one. I have dismissed so many 2nd hand BMW's because they have the older version, very hard to use. The new one is great though, a huge step up.

[cooler2442]

2009 iDrive yes, 2008 no.

[Harlequin]

^^^What he said...

[romak47]

me and another friend of mine who has a 128 has idrive.. we both love it and it was a must when ordering.

[rps]

I have an 08, and while I admit the newer 09+ iDrives are much nicer, I would not have another car without it. It is so much more than a Nav system. It allows you to control the car and saves $150-200 to change from DRL to non DRL at the dealers. The other information displayed, iPod etc., is also worth it IMO.

[pinmagic]

I have an early '11 w/iDrive. Would I get it again? Good question. I love gadgets, but I have to say that this thing is about as poorly designed and frustrating to use as you could possibly imagine. The interface dial is a joke, the menus are terrible, and everything takes 3 times as many button pushes as it should.

Want to play a song? Scroll through about 5 menus and 57 button-pushes to find it, then press "Start Play". Oh, apparently I wasn't clear, because now it's asking me if I want to "Start Play" again. So press again, and pray.

Ditto for the nav system. Scroll thru 57 menus and button pushes to enter an address, and press "Start Navigation", then be prepared for a couple of more menus before it actually starts. Honestly, who designed this? A room full of trunk monkeys?

And the nav system it uses is class-action bad. I'm talking nearly useless. It will literally take you in circles, or send you west a mile, then tell you to make a u-turn and go back where you started from. My SA told me that there was a comparison of 26 nav systems, and the one in the BMW ranked 26th. I've taken to carrying my 4 year old Nuvi, which is SO much better.

I get in my friend's Ford Focus, and his touchscreen just blows this whole thing away. Looks better, is WAY easier to use, and the nav system actually sends you where you want to go. What a novel concept.

So, would I get it again? Well, given that it's the only one BMW offers, maybe. But I'd still be jealous of my friend's Focus.

[Boomstick1491]

I was on the fence about whether I wanted/needed iDrive in the car I was considering. Having just picked up the 2010 with iDrive, I can say I DEFINITELY made the right decision. It's awesome and love it.

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I am literally LOL'ing, mostly at myself and as a reaction to being stuck on which way to go. I do this to myself on occasion. I read a few posts that convince me to get it, and then read another that convinces me to skip it. Taken on their own, I could go either way. Taken together... It seems to be about 50/50 overall.

I'm looking at a used car here on the board, newer w/ Nav, and I think it'd be a good deal and I'd be happy with it. Nice options, nice upgrades, nice shape. The system will probably spend 95% of its time as my stereo display which is fine with me. But if the car here doesn't end up working out, then it looks like I'll stick to shopping the '08 CPO's on the BMW site and just skip the Nav system altogether. There are a lot of '08 lease returns for around 30k, without Nav. Seems like a more pure car. And several are black / red or graphite / red, and so I'd get one of my favorite color combos as well.

I guess at least I have a plan. Thanks you, gentlemen.

[BMW-NC]

188% get it again (cic)