Hi,

Does anyone here have the navigation with the traffic information system (real time traffic)? How does it work, and does it perform to your expectations? Like, do you get to work faster while avoiding traffic now?

Thanks.

lauyeung,
i've only had my car for about a week ... but I think there are two ways to get real time traffic - one is through navi - once you've selected a route or destination, you can select "traffic info" on the top bar of options. it'll display a list of traffic problems on your route - you can hit the button for more specific info on each one.
The other way - my SA showed me how you can get the navi to announce traffic issues as she's announcing your route, but I'll have to ask him how that works, since I don't remember.

I'm sure once I put in a work address, for example, I'll use it every morning!
Jules

jules: is the system helping you avoid a lot of traffic?

well, i've only had a week. but it's better than waiting for the radio traffic report which sometimes don't report on tie-ups on your route.
where do you live? that might make a difference.

The system will display congestion and traffic alerts on the map with little symbols. You dont need to have a destination set and you dont need to go go to traffic info. Here in LA, it is extreemly usful and pretty accurate.

I live in L.A.

Would you guys purchase nav. just to help with traffic to and from work?

the short answer? yes.
but i got navi because i wanted it on its own ...however, the real time traffic was definitely a bonus.
i expect it'll come in handy - esp. with l.a. traffic.

jjlawyer: how do you get it if you're not in traffic info? save me some time (and a headache) trying to read the owner's manual!
thanks!

Would you guys purchase nav. just to help with traffic to and from work?
I live in SF Bay area, commute 75 miles rt every day and the traffic updates but find them somewhat outdated, about 50% of the time the congestion/accident has been cleared and there is not a delay.
I do recommend the Nav for other reasons. For instance - last w/e took some visitors to Napa to visit wineries. Was able to locate destinations and get directions w/o a problem. Even used the phone info when looking up the new destination to call and make appointments or check hours of availability. Same for booking restaurants in the evening. That was real handy.

FYI. It will also alert you to police checkpoints. Good stuff. RTFOM.

Just got our 335i yesterday. Got the NAV with traffic-info system. We've only lived here a couple of years, so it's been really helpful. But, I'm always weary of getting re-routed through some bad parts of town so I'm hesitant to take any detour suggestions because of the traffic. One time in the MINI, the NAV system sent us down a very bad path because we selected "avoid highways" trying to get somewhere. Big Mistake!