Just purchased a complete factory navigation system for my 2001 4.4. I was wondering if anyone has attempted to install it, or is the dealer the guy to trust?

If you have turned the dealer loose on your X5, do you remember what the cost was?

looking into doing the samething for my 04. my dealer told me they couldn't do it.

I have a '01 X5 4.4 non-nav and dealer said they wouldn't touch it to install NAV.. too much labor involved.

Here's some info on Nav from X5 World (http://www.x5world.com/)

Sounds like its going to be a total pain...

Why not just go aftermarket, like Pioneer or Alpine, for navigation unit?

My mom has an 03 X5 4.4 with stock nav and its not that great honestly, and the whole having a tape deck behind the unit is annoying, had to instsall a changer in the trunk for CD's...

I can not believe that installing the stock system is that hard. There are three parts which should be very easy. I do not think that the labor would be too high, just that they have better profit jobs they could be doing.
When I installed components on my 528i the dealer also told me that certain parts would not work, but they worked fine when I installed them.
It is almost like they are trained to do certain jobs and that is it.
I wanted to stay with the stock look in my X5 so that is why I chose the BMW Nav. I am also going to install the CD changer so that's not a big deal either.

The dealer that I just purchased the X5 from is going to quote a price to install the system. If the price is fair I will let them do it. If not, I guess I will learn more about my X5 and its internal components.

:alright

The dealer told me the job to install a stock Nav unit in a non-nav x5 is about 8 hours of labor and they wouldn't offer the service to me. They rather I go and buy an aftermarket one and install myself.

I am still waiting for my dealer to give me a price. 8 Hours sounds correct. I guess there is even wiring which needs to be put in. I thought it would be a cool toy to have, but now I am not so sure. If the cost is too high I will sell the entire system for what I have in it.
:alright

The job can be somewhat involved.. At least this is what the dealer told me, that you need to have wiring run from the front Nav head unit (Screen) back to the DVD player located in the cargo area... then have a set of wires to/from the radio unit to DVD to GPS antenna, and a whole lot of other things needed in the dash area to integrate with the radio controls...
A lot of trim is removed and replaced for the dash unit, the wiring and so on.

Again this is what the dealer told me...

I am still waiting for my dealer to give me a price. 8 Hours sounds correct. I guess there is even wiring which needs to be put in. I thought it would be a cool toy to have, but now I am not so sure. If the cost is too high I will sell the entire system for what I have in it.
:alright
Make sure you post the quote your dealer gives you, if you don't mind. I'd be interested in knowing for future reference. :)

Last weekend, I finally got the opportunity to play with my new Garmin 2610 and the product works very well. After rebate, you can probably pick one up at Amazon for $624, although Amazon had a double rebate recently, which would have dropped the price to $524.

What I like about a portable aftermarket unit is that I can move it from car to car and I can plan my routes in advance, in the comfort of my home.

What I like about a portable aftermarket unit is that I can move it from car to car and I can plan my routes in advance, in the comfort of my home.
This is exactly why I didn't get nav in my X3. I couldn't see paying $1600 for something that can only be used in one vehicle.

The great thing about my system is that I paid $310.00 for all components including freight.
I picked up an extra area CD for another $30.00.
So far I don't think my costs are too high.

I should have the dealer quote on Wednesday, then we will see what my total cost will be.

:redspot

My dealer declined to install the system, which is rather discouraging. I have not given up though. I will check with some custom shops in the Kansas City area and see if they would like to install the system.

:alright

The reason most dealers are declining is that adding nav is not an "approved retofit". BMW does do kits for certain retrofits such as fog lamps, headlamp washer, different aero parts, etc.... but does not have retrofit instructions to fit any vehicle with nav that do not have it installed already. The other issue is nav from the factory is an $1,800 option, the parts alone, purchased later are well over $3,000 excluding labor. Another thing is people buying parts from other parties, E-Bay, other forum members, etc. You might not get all that you would need to make it work for your particular vechicle (production date, other options installed) because BMW is FOREVER superseeding part numbers that only work with certain production ranges.
I've workerd for BMW for a few years now and I've ended up selling several Garmin units to customer who are more than satisfied.

I am certainly looking at all options. I just want to retain or better the look that my X5 currently has. I do not have a lot of money in my current components so I am sure I can sell the components. What does the Garmin system consist of?