2002 X5 Navigation

[blakesr]

I am considering purchasing a 2002 BMW X5 with navigation but after reading a few things about that system it seems to "not so great". Does anyone have any opinions on this system? Also....

Is the 2002 navigation system good compared to the navigation systems of today?

If I want Sirius is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

If I want to use my Ipod is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

Overall I just want a good nav system....any help at all would be amazing.

[JV]

Originally Posted by blakesr

I am considering purchasing a 2002 BMW X5 with navigation but after reading a few things about that system it seems to "not so great". Does anyone have any opinions on this system? Also....

Is the 2002 navigation system good compared to the navigation systems of today?

If I want Sirius is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

If I want to use my Ipod is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

Overall I just want a good nav system....any help at all would be amazing.

Well, it is a clean looking system, and has voice activated capability that you can add on. It is not as intuitive as some systems, but if you are reasonably dextrous, can multi task a bit, you can use it just fine while driving. Just today I used mine to locate an ATM and some barbecued ribs while driving.

You don't need to replace the BMW OEM Nav to have Sirius or the IPod in your X5.

JV

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by blakesr

I am considering purchasing a 2002 BMW X5 with navigation but after reading a few things about that system it seems to "not so great". Does anyone have any opinions on this system? Also....

Is the 2002 navigation system good compared to the navigation systems of today?

If I want Sirius is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

If I want to use my Ipod is there a way i can replace the entire navigation system?

Overall I just want a good nav system....any help at all would be amazing.

While there may be a few that are a bit better, such as the Acura with touchscreen, the BMW nav system is a very good system. Personally I wouldn't buy one without it.

The only difference between the 2002 and the 2006 BMW nav system in the X5 is the 2002 has the MkIII nav drive and the 2003 and newer have the MkIV nav drive. The MkIV is faster and it uses DVD's instead of CD's for the maps. So you get the entire US and Canada on a single disk rather then messing with 8 individual "regions" on CD. Upgrading the nav system from the MkIII to the MkIV is a plug-n-play swap of the nav drives.

If you want BMW's Sirius you will need to replace the MkIII with a newer MkIV and also replace the radio module with one that is 2004 or newer. Both are plug-n-play swaps.

If you want iPod integration then you can go with what you have using the Dension IceLink Plus. It gives you complete integration, including steering wheel controls for the volume and tracks, and you get display of the song tags on the nav screen.

[blakesr]

Thank you for the info! Do you know where I can purchase (and for how much) the MkIV system? Is this easy to swap out myself or do I need someone to professionally install it?

Also, from there how much will it cost to add Sirius?

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by blakesr

Thank you for the info! Do you know where I can purchase (and for how much) the MkIV system? Is this easy to swap out myself or do I need someone to professionally install it?

Also, from there how much will it cost to add Sirius?

eBay is one source for the MkIV. It is very easy to swap out yourself. A 15 minute job.

See http://www.xoutpost.com/showarticle-197.html for some info on Sirius

[Dr_Smith]

I got lucky (really lucky) with my 2002 x5. The sales person brought a 2005 X5 around to my house the day of my purchase and let me swap whatever I wanted. I swapped the MKIV and the Radio module, both took 30 minutes total. It's a very easy swap, anyone can do it. I'd go for it, you will be a happy man!