Question about the Nav

[MD65]

I got my car a few weeks ago and i finally used the route guidance in the Nav. Am i doing something wrong or does this Nav not speak the street names? I can't see an 80k BMW Nav system not having this feature, when a 100.00 garmin unit does.

[REInvestor]

Originally Posted by MD65

I got my car a few weeks ago and i finally used the route guidance in the Nav. Am i doing something wrong or does this Nav not speak the street names? I can't see an 80k BMW Nav system not having this feature, when a 100.00 garmin unit does.

You are correct, it does not give you the street names.

[flipside99]

Yikes, that's pretty weak. I thought they would have fixed that when they switched to the hard drive version.

[MD65]

Thats pretty lame if you ask me.

[dmlgc]

The nav system in BMW's are always behind the times, my daughter's Acura has a better Nav system, lots more functionality ( and much nicer screen).

[jfewins]

Originally Posted by dmlgc

The nav system in BMW's are always behind the times, my daughter's Acura has a better Nav system, lots more functionality ( and much nicer screen).

WOW. I have both BMW Nav and have had the last 2 versions of the MDX Nav in the acura. Both can be cumbersome and cannot match the ease of a hand held Garmin. However, the BMW is vastly superior to the Acura. I again OWN both (not just casually observed). The screen in the BMW is hands down vastly superior to the Acura. The resolution is substantially higher, and the lag of the Acura unit is virtually nonexistent in the BMW. Your statement is just plain wrong.

Now, the Garmin would speak the name of my street as ---- Doctor West, instead of ---- Drive West, as the address is abbreviated Dr W. One would think that a dedicated GPS unit would not have such a basic programming error.

[aas5]

still strange that the system wouldn't tell you the name of the street. feels like a pretty basic function that should be part of any navigation system.

[neb2000]

It could be worse - drive a Mercedes. I carry a portable Garmin.

[dmlgc]

Originally Posted by jfewins

WOW. I have both BMW Nav and have had the last 2 versions of the MDX Nav in the acura. Both can be cumbersome and cannot match the ease of a hand held Garmin. However, the BMW is vastly superior to the Acura. I again OWN both (not just casually observed). The screen in the BMW is hands down vastly superior to the Acura. The resolution is substantially higher, and the lag of the Acura unit is virtually nonexistent in the BMW. Your statement is just plain wrong.

Now, the Garmin would speak the name of my street as ---- Doctor West, instead of ---- Drive West, as the address is abbreviated Dr W. One would think that a dedicated GPS unit would not have such a basic programming error.

Could be a perception thing on the screen , I have old idrive but functionality is definitely better on her Acura RL. You can talk to it and it understands , don't even have to fiddle with anything.

So from my perception (perception is never right or wrong it is perception) I think hers is better.

[jfewins]

Originally Posted by dmlgc

Could be a perception thing on the screen , I have old idrive but functionality is definitely better on her Acura RL. You can talk to it and it understands , don't even have to fiddle with anything.

So from my perception (perception is never right or wrong it is perception) I think hers is better.

I would agree with that. If you had the new Idrive, I think you would have a different opinion. My wife's acura Nav does have voice recognition. However, I can never figure it out, and I am no tech dummy.

[Sunstreaker]

I'm glad that it doesn't tell you the road names, as the navigation is informative enough. It would annoy me if an announcement were made every few seconds, besides, I don't want to know every street/road I pass through.

Besides, the HD SatNavs are far more superior than most on the market. The connected drive feature is fab, You can search the location, or plot your route on google maps and send it to your car.

The only drawback is that it doesn't have the 7 Digit postcode input, but I believe the 2010 iDrive upgrade will sort this.

[archwerks]

I often find these computer programs to be just that , designed by programmers who think they r the only ones who will use the product. So assumes the general public will THINK like a programmer when they interface with their gadgets.

[dmlgc]

Originally Posted by jfewins

I would agree with that. If you had the new Idrive, I think you would have a different opinion. My wife's acura Nav does have voice recognition. However, I can never figure it out, and I am no tech dummy.

LOL,
neither am I but to be on the safe side, I let my daughter demonstrate it to me (she "gas station" and they appeared).

[aas5]

Originally Posted by Sunstreaker

I'm glad that it doesn't tell you the road names, as the navigation is informative enough. It would annoy me if an announcement were made every few seconds, besides, I don't want to know every street/road I pass through.

Besides, the HD SatNavs are far more superior than most on the market. The connected drive feature is fab, You can search the location, or plot your route on google maps and send it to your car.

The only drawback is that it doesn't have the 7 Digit postcode input, but I believe the 2010 iDrive upgrade will sort this.

I actually like to hear street names if I am navigating a route (as opposed to just driving around with the navigation on). it tells you each street name that you are supposed to make a turn to and it helps avoid any confusion if you are not sure if you need to be turning on this street or the next street.

[neb2000]

This morning, using Google maps on my iPhone I realized that the highway was congested. I wasn't certain what the best detour route was so I switched on the BWM nav & it immediately warned me of the congestion with a verbal indicator & an a menu selection to detour. I accepted the assistance & managed to avoid a 30 minute delay. I have a new found respect for the BMW nav!

[kahunacanuck]

I rented a 525i in London a few years ago, and even the old idrive Nav was amazing...got me through all the frikin roundabouts no problem...Do you guys use the arrow display? I don't want the chick on there telling me every street...

[flipside99]

On my drive home from the PCD I noticed the nav will speak the names of the roads if they're just numbers. No names though, i.e. "Turn right on interstate eighty-seven"

[kgclark]

This is disappointing considering many other less expensive car manufacturers have offered this feature for years. Makes me feel better about checking the box for HUD on the x6 I just ordered.

[zaika]

Not only does it not speak road names, it can not navigate to co-ordinates. If a friend of yours in a BMW has to pull over on the highway between x and y he/she can read the co-ords of their position, but if they relay that position to you, you cannot navigate to them for help!

[chuck92103]

There are drawbacks to all nav systems. Some like the Lexota lock you out while the car is moving.

Portable units do not have dead reckoning.

Do folks not check out products before they buy anymore?

[Sharpie12]

Okay it looks like I know very little, close to nothing about this. Can someone explain to me from Step 1 how I go about sending addresses to my GPS through my iphone? Thanks in advance.

[flipside99]

You can't do it from the iphone yet.. Supposedly the BMW app will let you. Right now is can only be done from your computer at maps.google.com