I heard mixed reviews about the idrive. Does anyone have any recommendations? I was just thinking about getting an aftermarket Nuvi so I can transfer it between cars. Also kind of don't like the fact idrive is not touch screen. If it was anything like Acura's GPS I would have jumped on it. Any thoughts? Is it worth the money?

Check the thread below on "portable navigation", where there has been discussion of this already. Many of us swear by the Garmin Nuvi products. Check them out on CNET.com.

first post here!! we are also in the process of purchasing a 335i sedan and are wondering if the iDrive is an option to consider. i've heard about the complications with it but the makes the dash look much better IMO(i know, why spend 2500 bucks for a better more complicated dash haha). any input is greatly appreciated.

I never had iDrive, and now I do. I never had navigation other then a paper map - now I do. I love them both, and can not imagine getting another BMW without them. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As much as I love bimmers, their interface with digital devices has always sucked. Their lack of useful Ipod integration, and I-Drive are examples. I am happy with my bluetooth phone setup but, c'mon, you can get that in any car now.

So, I don't have navi but will buy it some day in the form of a state of the art Garmin or Tom Tom or whatever. Most of the driving I do I know where I'm going.

I've worked with Navs from other manufacturers, and I hate to say it but the BMW one is the weakest by far. Slow CPU, no touch screen, non-intuitive menu options, and hefty price. It does work fine, but it's not easy to use (sum it all up).

I do have it on my car, but that's only because I didn't want an aftermarket device hanging around the front of my car and preferred the in-dash. Although, my next BMW won't have the NAV unless it's designed better.

one other thing to keep in mind when making this decision about the IDrive is this...with the factory installed Navigation ALL speaker wiring is fiber optic and will make it very difficult to upgrade factory speaker. I have had navigation in my last 2 mercedes and opted out this time with my first BMW. I am going with the Garmin so I can have it in the car and wherever else I want to use it...much more versatile and a couple of thousand cheaper. But, I also like the simplicity of the BMW dash without it. I didn't like large hump in the middle of the dash. :D

with the factory installed Navigation ALL speaker wiring is fiber optic and will make it very difficult to upgrade factory speaker.The speakers are regular speakers. It's the input to the amplifier that is fiber optic.

I opted to skip the I-drive because I dont like the way the "second hump" looks in the dash. Im using the Garmin Nuvi 660 and its great. In my previous cars(Audi and Acura), the navigation was very intuitive. I dont get the same impression with BMW.

I have the iDrive and I used the navigation today...its great. Now the iDrive is a different issue. Since I purchased this car, my wife has never really become accustomed to it and doesn't like it at all. Some features are a little cumbersome, but it does afford me more opportunities to drive the car! LOL

I am 50/50. But will always have a GPS routing device in my cars.
In the past I have always had a Garmin, which I like for it's cost, user interface, and portability, and ability to interface with a PC (set up routes waypoints "offline"). But this means always having something on your dash/windshield and possibly extraneous wires. Portability - I take it with me on trips and use with rental / guest cars, even in foreign countries.
With respect to user interface, the German cars makers are also a bit behind stand alone GPS folks like Garmin and TomTom, and the Japanese car makers.
The BMW unit is nice since it is built-in (no wires items on dash or windshield) and does have voice prompts and Real Time Traffic Info at no charge.
I have a MBZ E320 that i am replacing with a 335i and decided to go with the BMW Nav.
Good luck in your decision making process.

Thats creen for the navi is a little intrusive. I suggest getting a map, and skipping the navigation option and I drive

I test drove a car with and without. I ordered my 335i sedan without, and I know it's the right choice for me. It's not at all intuitive; it controls too many functions, and honestly I think it could be a dangerous distraction from the "ultimate driving machine".

I fail to understand why BMW won't listen to consumers and reviews on this one.

No nav. I guess I won't miss anything that I've never had. I'm so used to mapquesting something before I drive anyway.

I did not get idrive in my sedan for two reasons, 1 is that I hate the system and 2 is that I really like the lines of the interior better without it.

This is a sad thing to say, but our minivan has a vastly superior nav system to anything that BMW offers. What I really don't understand is why all the German nav systems are so rotten.

I really don't like systems that add extra steps to what used to be simple functions.

Hi,

I can say that I don't regret not getting the nav in my 525i (which has iDrive). Personally it's useless, however I like the iDrive interface so much that I would pay the $2,500 to have it.

~Simon :)

If you have the xtra 3k go for it. IT does make the int. look better. But imho Garmin Nuvi 660 has a way better interface and more precise.

I did not get idrive in my sedan for two reasons, 1 is that I hate the system and 2 is that I really like the lines of the interior better without it.

This is a sad thing to say, but our minivan has a vastly superior nav system to anything that BMW offers. What I really don't understand is why all the German nav systems are so rotten.

I really don't like systems that add extra steps to what used to be simple functions.
The Germans are good at making cars handle well at high (autobahn) speeds, but are clueless when it comes to many creature comforts and user interfaces to other support systems like heater/air conditioning, cup holders, radios, CD players, mp3 player interfaces, nav systems, etc. MBZ has been criticized for years in most of these areas where the Japanese do so well. Hell, MBZ was still putting cassette players in their cars until a few years ago. And their CD changers (which I now find totally unnecessary) are proprietary to their fiber optic system, giving you the privilege of paying 3 times more than other better ones. The Japanese take care to figure out what people want and like, and what is convenient. The Germans seem to arrogantly decide what they think is best for buyers (but don't ask). Or else they only ask German owners, who must think like they do. Yet, we're all big enough suckers for the performance and handling that we keep buying their cars and complaining about them. Isn't life grand?

Hi,

I agree, the Japanese vehicles have MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH (:lol) better technology but German cars handle better at high speeds.

~Simon :)

Garmin Nuvi 350,paid 400.00 and I can use it anywhere even walking city streets.Great to take with you on trips for rental cars.My friends M5 I-drive was out for 3months .He finally got a new unit put in and it shuts off without notice.He's so pissed about it he's selling the car.Says he's done with BMW's.

i personally like the double wave dash design and i like the voice command capability so we'll probably be getting it regardless...

i personally like the double wave dash design and i like the voice command capability so we'll probably be getting it regardless...
Don't forget that the Garmin 350 and others also have voice commands, including street names and in many languages - male or female. And it includes places of interest. AND, it has a touch screen. However, if you like the dash with Nav better, and it is worth the extra $2000, go for it.

I have it in my 335 Sedan. Personally I think the dash looks much better WITH the nav system. I don't get the aversion people have with the "double hump" but to each his/her own I guess. The dash without it looks "old" to me, like a car from the 80's. I completely agree that the interface is not the best out there, but to avoid having wires running all over the place and something suction mounted to the windshield or clipped to a vent I would choose the integrated nav every time.

I have it in my 335 Sedan. Personally I think the dash looks much better WITH the nav system. I don't get the aversion people have with the "double hump" but to each his/her own I guess. The dash without it looks "old" to me, like a car from the 80's. I completely agree that the interface is not the best out there, but to avoid having wires running all over the place and something suction mounted to the windshield or clipped to a vent I would choose the integrated nav every time.

I agree that the dash look is just personal preference.

In our car with an interface that I like (Honda Minivan) I almost never use the nav system anyway. This helped in my decision.

.

The Germans are good at making cars handle well at high (autobahn) speeds, but are clueless when it comes to many creature comforts and user interfaces to other support systems like heater/air conditioning, cup holders, radios, CD players, mp3 player interfaces, nav systems, etc. MBZ has been criticized for years in most of these areas where the Japanese do so well. Hell, MBZ was still putting cassette players in their cars until a few years ago. And their CD changers (which I now find totally unnecessary) are proprietary to their fiber optic system, giving you the privilege of paying 3 times more than other better ones. The Japanese take care to figure out what people want and like, and what is convenient. The Germans seem to arrogantly decide what they think is best for buyers (but don't ask). Or else they only ask German owners, who must think like they do. Yet, we're all big enough suckers for the performance and handling that we keep buying their cars and complaining about them. Isn't life grand?

Must be why Germans in general are better drivers...less time spent worrying about what is on the radio or in the cup holder or whether their ass is on leather or cloth and more time spent paying attention to the road and driving the car. If you want a car that makes you feel like you are in your living room, go buy a Cadillac or even a big Ford extended cab truck. If you buy to drive, the BMW is the car.

Must be why Germans in general are better drivers...less time spent worrying about what is on the radio or in the cup holder or whether their ass is on leather or cloth and more time spent paying attention to the road and driving the car. If you want a car that makes you feel like you are in your living room, go buy a Cadillac or even a big Ford extended cab truck. If you buy to drive, the BMW is the car.
Valid point. But I do enjoy driving a fine machine on a great road while listening to great music on a great sounding system. Kind of makes it feel worth while for spending all that money for the fine machine.

By the way, do MBZ and BMW price their cars in Germany as rediculously high as they do in North America? Given that every German taxi seems to be either a Benz or BMW, I would assume not.

Valid point. But I do enjoy driving a fine machine on a great road while listening to great music on a great sounding system. Kind of makes it feel worth while for spending all that money for the fine machine.

By the way, do MBZ and BMW price their cars in Germany as rediculously high as they do in North America? Given that every German taxi seems to be either a Benz or BMW, I would assume not.

They are priced quite high relative to the US market, but remember that we have a lot more choice of lower end models here than in the US. Most of what is on the road here are exactly those lower end models. Also, while many people drive a BMW here, they are not all owned by the driver. As in the UK, many of these cars are company cars and are part of the driver's pay packet. They pay insurance petrol and road taxes, the company pays the car payment.
I had a long discussion with the US rep here regarding options available in the US versus here in Europe. Things like cloth seats are not available in the US because in the US, the BMW is seen as a luxury car and BMW doesn't want to stray from that image...it would hurt sales because some people would not buy a car that just anyone could afford.

Must be why Germans in general are better drivers...less time spent worrying about what is on the radio or in the cup holder or whether their ass is on leather or cloth and more time spent paying attention to the road and driving the car. If you want a car that makes you feel like you are in your living room, go buy a Cadillac or even a big Ford extended cab truck. If you buy to drive, the BMW is the car.


They're better drivers because it's harder to get a license there and Germans are far more anal about driving protocol than Americans (a good thing). The creature comforts of the car have little to do with it. It's absurd that German manufacturers are so far behind the Japanese in electronics; they should be leading them.

No Navi for sure... my buddy has it in his 335i, and hates it. He calls me all the time, and wants me to look stuff up for him as he's driving... lol

It's just so damn complicated, hard to search for stuff, and not user friendly. He'd be better off with a $700 Garmin unit... (Nuvi 660)

I would probably not get Navi on any car that I was planning to keep for three years. Why? Because the technology is improving and evolving so rapidly that in one year, let alone two, the over the counter systems will be 100% better than current systems. So I'll buy a Garmin now and sell it on E-bay next year, replacing it with the latest and greatest.

I would probably not get Navi on any car that I was planning to keep for three years. Why? Because the technology is improving and evolving so rapidly that in one year, let alone two, the over the counter systems will be 100% better than current systems. So I'll buy a Garmin now and sell it on E-bay next year, replacing it with the latest and greatest.

QFT. Plus, the prices are ridiculous for the built-in units. I got a Whistler navi portable for 1/10th of what the built-in would have cost me. AND I can take it in my other cars when I need it.

Well for me its a must because I am getting DVD movie capabilities integrated so all I will need for widescreen movies and music is my single ipod movie player and tvandnav2go system which allows me to use my steering wheel controls to play movies) and I am a mobile entertainment centre for my family or friends on long trips!

They're better drivers because it's harder to get a license there and Germans are far more anal about driving protocol than Americans (a good thing). The creature comforts of the car have little to do with it. It's absurd that German manufacturers are so far behind the Japanese in electronics; they should be leading them.

Actually the amenities have a lot to do with it. People complain about the drink holders. Did you know it is illegal here to eat or drink while you are driving? Try to find a German car (I mean over here German, not manufactured) with cupholders...probably not. German cars are normally more simple inside. This is because cars are meant to drive, not entertain with electronics.

Actually the amenities have a lot to do with it. People complain about the drink holders. Did you know it is illegal here to eat or drink while you are driving? Try to find a German car (I mean over here German, not manufactured) with cupholders...probably not. German cars are normally more simple inside. This is because cars are meant to drive, not entertain with electronics.

With all respect, digital interface is a shortcoming on bimmers, especially the I-Drive. I believe Japanese and American cars are more intuitive. That said, I'm on my third bimmer.

With all respect, digital interface is a shortcoming on bimmers, especially the I-Drive. I believe Japanese and American cars are more intuitive. That said, I'm on my third bimmer.
I absolutely agree...that is what I am trying to explain. Come to Germany and look at our houses...functional but not luxurious...certainly not technical. That is the way it is here. Engineering is good. Luxury and technical geek stuff is not so good. Hell, our traffic lights don't even work worth a crap and you want Germany to make a good I-drive:eyecrazy LOL!

Actually the amenities have a lot to do with it. People complain about the drink holders. Did you know it is illegal here to eat or drink while you are driving? Try to find a German car (I mean over here German, not manufactured) with cupholders...probably not. German cars are normally more simple inside. This is because cars are meant to drive, not entertain with electronics.

Whether or not it's illegal there is irrelevant to the American market. And a car can, in fact, "drive" and "entertain with electronics" at the same time. The Japanese manage it very well. The German manufacturers even believe that, as evidenced in the increasing amount of "entertaining electronics" in their cars. They're just not as good at it as the Japanese are.

I would probably not get Navi on any car that I was planning to keep for three years. Why? Because the technology is improving and evolving so rapidly that in one year, let alone two, the over the counter systems will be 100% better than current systems. So I'll buy a Garmin now and sell it on E-bay next year, replacing it with the latest and greatest.
My current nav in the TL-S works awesome... and has update discs from the dealer, for about $50/year, so even in 3 years, it will be up to date...

I am an Air Force officer who happens to also be a pilot. My aircraft went through an upgrade to a "glass cockpit", with menu driven screens as the interface between the pilot and the systems. Similar in philosophy to the i-Drive concept. The previous cockpit was a standard control setup where each button controlled a single function.

In the new cockpit, when I am at altitude with the autopilot on cruising along, I have all sorts of time to scroll through menus and set things up. However, when I get ready to descend and land, I ALWAYS set up the cockpit beforehand. That way I do not have to divert my attention away from flying the airplane on final to landing to scroll through some menu and set the frequency for tower.

My philosophy for driving is similar. Whenever you're on the road, you need to keep your eyes outside at all times. Things can happen fast and I would rather be able to press one or two buttons rather than scrolling through screens. That's why I opted out of i-Drive. Of course, the big drawback is that you don't get the integrated nav, which I wish was an option that did not necessitate the i-Drive. But having taken delivery three days ago of my crimson red 335I Coupe, I am not missing the nav and would put up my portable nav unit in the windscreen if I needed it.

I am an Air Force officer who happens to also be a pilot. My aircraft went through an upgrade to a "glass cockpit", with menu driven screens as the interface between the pilot and the systems. Similar in philosophy to the i-Drive concept. The previous cockpit was a standard control setup where each button controlled a single function.

In the new cockpit, when I am at altitude with the autopilot on cruising along, I have all sorts of time to scroll through menus and set things up. However, when I get ready to descend and land, I ALWAYS set up the cockpit beforehand. That way I do not have to divert my attention away from flying the airplane on final to landing to scroll through some menu and set the frequency for tower.

My philosophy for driving is similar. Whenever you're on the road, you need to keep your eyes outside at all times. Things can happen fast and I would rather be able to press one or two buttons rather than scrolling through screens. That's why I opted out of i-Drive. Of course, the big drawback is that you don't get the integrated nav, which I wish was an option that did not necessitate the i-Drive. But having taken delivery three days ago of my crimson red 335I Coupe, I am not missing the nav and would put up my portable nav unit in the windscreen if I needed it.

I agree with you about the eyes on the road. In fact, I would submit that the I-Drive is so "non-intuitive" that it is dangerous for average drivers. By the way, thanks for your service to our country.

I appreciate your thanks. Gives me the opportunity to live in great places like Germany! Drove the new 335i all day Sunday; it's fantastic. I can't wait until it's all broken in and I can go beyond 4500 rpm on the Autobahn.

I have the navigation option and use the portable in the VW Passat. I love it, works great. Yes there are probably some portable devices out there that are leaps and bounds above the BWM one, but I have no complaints. Besides, being able to work all the functions through Idrive is with it. Also for all those that commented that they didn't like the look of the center hump, a protable device suctioned on the window looks better? Come on!

My opinion is you can not appreciate iDrive and Nav till you have spent some time with it. Everyone told me not to get it and the reason was “because it sucks” when I ask what sucked I learned the opinion are from people that don’t have it. I have had my car for 3 weeks and the Nav is very easy to use and as fast as my Garmin 350. The learning curve of the click wheel is the problem with iDrive systems. Once you have that down it’s a beautiful system to have.

I actually find the system for non iDrive cars to be harder to figure out, you have to click the stalk, goof with the radio, read some small font that is often abbreviated, PASS.

Just like anything else you have to learn the syntax of it before you see the full benefit of it. I just did my EU delivery and I made it through Germany , Austria and Italy including Venice with ne wrong turns, I would say it is totally worth it.

Just get a Garmin. You can get 4 Garmins for the price of one iDrive, and you can carry the Garmin around or put it in your rental car when your BMW breaks (like mine has for over one month now).

I'm mainly in favor of the Garmin approach as far as Nav goes, but am interested in what else you give up by not having nav. How well do the non-nav cars handle other display info, such as iPods, radio presets, HD radio text (if equipped), trip info, etc. The nav screen displays these things nicely, but I don't know how they are displayed in non-nav cars. Do you lose some of these features/displays if you don't have nav and iDrive?

I still maintain to keep your eyes on the road; not arguing that I would want integrated nav, I just don't want iDrive with it. Integrated nav is great and it certainly looks better, but sorry, I played with iDrive a little bit and I think it's just too complicated, especially initially. If BMW offered the integrated nav as a stand alone option, I would have been all over it. However, in my opinion, I like one button functionality, not menu driven, just like when I'm flying my airplane on final approach. Anyone can disagee with me, that's why it's a free country and BMWs come with an option sheet.

I went without it on my car because I thought I was going to get a sound system in it.... Well I went another direction with the car and now i got the base stereo with no nav. I-drive is a pain but once you get used to the average BS its not that bad, plus you can mod it to do all sorts of crazy things. Your dealership should have a demo inside somewhere.

I went without it on my car because I thought I was going to get a sound system in it.... Well I went another direction with the car and now i got the base stereo with no nav. I-drive is a pain but once you get used to the average BS its not that bad, plus you can mod it to do all sorts of crazy things. Your dealership should have a demo inside somewhere.
Yeah, they have a demo inside, but it hasn't worked for weeks. Interesting.