I'm looking into buying a used E46 M3 and I really want one with a navigation system in it but I've heard from some people that it sucks. I haven't seen alot of M3's with the navi system so I was wondering what you guys thought. Anyone got one?

-jong

skip the stock nav, aftermarker these days can offer you so much more. Grab a double din screen (pioneer z1, eclipse, ect.). With this you have a touch screen, bluetooth options/ ipod capabilities/ satatlite radio capabilities/ onboard 30 g hardrive (no more nav dvds). There are tons of threads for a DIY tutorial. mybimmer.net offers nice faceplates for a stock look! You can go wrong, im getting one very soon!

It seems like the radio/AC panel is pretty embedded into the M3 if I wanted an aftermarket radio/Navi system, is it easy to install at like best buy or mobile one? Are they going to do the fabrication?

What you do is relocate your climate control to the vacant space below its existing spot. Im sure they will do it, although it wouldnt be that hard to do yourself if you have any expirence with radio installation.

I got the stock NAV because it is seamlessly integrated into the dash... most of the aftermarket units (the ones that don't take an arm and leg of installation time) do not fit nicely in the dash.

i too have been debating this but i just hate how when the aftermarket navi flips up, it blocks the center air vents.. this is forcing me to go with the one with factory navi

Get the double din (so you dont have to get a pop out which gets in the way of AC). Here is a link, i think you guys will be suprised how clean and sleak the aftermarket looks. I agree OEM will always look much more "at home" but with this bezel its as close as u can get...

mybimmer.net

I got the stock NAV because it is seamlessly integrated into the dash... most of the aftermarket units (the ones that don't take an arm and leg of installation time) do not fit nicely in the dash.


Agreed. I had aftermarket NAV in my Maxima and it was great, but did not look stock even though i spend 1k on getting it all integrated into the car. The stock Nav in the BMW makes the whole interior much better looking. IMHO the 3's without nav look like crap.

It's true that the stock Nav isn't the best out there but i wouldn't have it any other way. Stock always looks best and it really does the interior up nicely.

I would stick with stock. It gets me to where i gotto go and that's all i need from it.

The thing i hate most about the stock one is its poor contrast ratio. If there is too much light i can't see a thing on the screen.

Agree with most here on stock Navi, hard to beat OE installation, and its second use is as a radio dial.

My last BMW convert, 05 325Cic, came with factory Navi. Good system, got me to within say 50 ft. of destination. Has good resolution, but, at the end of the gravel road, you're on your own!

Took 20 minutes to learn how to use the Navi the first time. After the learning episode, 20-30 seconds.

The only annoying trait is the monitor. It ALWAYS requires user touch. The first time power is applied, you have to answer "ACCEPTED" for following the rules of the road. Then, since I used the car for Going-to-Work, I already knew directions, I would have to turn off the monitor, rotate the knob 2 places and push in to kill it. Every time I got into the car, I had to do this.

I traded the car for what I have now -- haven't look back since!