2010 Nav comments

[ABMW]

No problems in major cities, but in small locals, it has taken me off-course to a surprising degree.

It's always been relatively obvious, but I have TomTom's top-of-the line portable GPS unit, and have had a GPS on every vehicle I've owned since 2003, save for 1.

They've all had their flaws, and every GPS unit from the one on my iPhone to the one in my Nissan has had its share of issues.

If you're looking for 100% perfection, each and every time, within any GPS system currently sold to the general public, please let me know when you find it.

I'll agree that some are better than others, but the 2010 GPS is really no better nor no worse, than any other system I've used over the last 7 to 8 years.

With any GPS system, it's not a question of if it will send you off course, but when.

One thing that is noteworthy about the X5 is that accuracy to which it calculates when the vehicle is approaching a turn or individual intersection.

It's by far, the most accurate system, I've used. In fact, I don't know who makes the GPS receivers, but they're close to the level of the ones on my Meade 12" GPS - 200 Telescope (some will know how accurate those are).

I'm betting the GPS receivers are made by Sony or Philips, and are not made in Germany. I could be wrong, on who makes the receivers, but the point I'm trying to make is that the GPS, while it's not perfect, is satisfactory to say the least.

If you're resorting to the having to use an axillary unit, there may be an issue with your GPS receivers. They can be damaged, and they should not be sending you off course to the point that you're having to resort to 3rd party units.

I'd have BMW either calibrate your GPS receivers or have them diagnosed and possibly replaced.

I've had my 35d for 3,000 miles, driving in completely familiar terrain for the majority of the car's mileage that I've accumulated since taking delivery on December 21. If it's only sent me off-course once, that's not too bad.

For reference the location in which it sent me off course was in Sedona, AZ. With that said, Sedona is known for having some fairly aggressive magnetic disturbances which have been known to create malfunctions within GPS systems. On the other hand, my Nissan worked there without flaw (visit there 2 to 3 times per year).

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by ABMW

I'll agree that some are better than others, but the 2010 GPS is really no better nor no worse, than any other system I've used over the last 7 to 8 years.

Then you haven't had a recent Garmin.

I've compared both, and the Garmin Nuvi 750 is vastly superior to the 2010 X5 Nav system.


P.S. Go ahead and try my example of Van Horn and Kent Texas and see how the 2010 Nav changes the address from Van Horn to Kent when you use it as a route destination.

[ard]

Originally Posted by ABMW

It's by far, the most accurate system, I've used. In fact, I don't know who makes the GPS receivers, but they're close to the level of the ones on my Meade 12" GPS - 200 Telescope (some will know how accurate those are).

I'm betting the GPS receivers are made by Sony or Philips, and are not made in Germany. I could be wrong, on who makes the receivers, but the point I'm trying to make is that the GPS, while it's not perfect, is satisfactory to say the least.

.

Just a comment about "GPS Accuracy"...

Your indicated position on the display is a synthesis of several bits of data- in particular the system "knows" you must be on a street, so it places the car cursor on the street- EVEN if the internally indicated positon (in terms of lat and long) might have your off the road. The GPS system is pretty accurate in absolute terms- in fact it is more accurate than most of the maps. (Maps say the road is one place, when it is actually off by 10, 20, 50 feet...) Maps are made using plats from the USGS, County and City maps, and satellite data. There are errors. The software corrects for this and keeps you nicely on the road. AThe software also uses accelerometer data when GPS drops out, and uses incremental data (ie there is 1500 feet between the first left and the next left, he went 1100 feet so far, so 400 to go.)

Use a GPS that is not a "car only" system, and you will see it is actually rare to be on the indicated road all the time.

A

[rh71]

Originally Posted by ABMW

One thing that is noteworthy about the X5 is that accuracy to which it calculates when the vehicle is approaching a turn or individual intersection.

Is this the new nav? Because on the old one this is a big gripe for me... I've missed a few turns because the vehicle symbol looks further away from the intersection that I want, then I end up passing my street. Instead, I have to rely a lot on the distance arrow... if it shows 400ft, then I know the one I am approaching is it regardless of where the symbol shows me at.

[RedRockin]

Originally Posted by ABMW

... For reference the location in which it sent me off course was in Sedona, AZ. With that said, Sedona is known for having some fairly aggressive magnetic disturbances which have been known to create malfunctions within GPS systems. On the other hand, my Nissan worked there without flaw (visit there 2 to 3 times per year).

You are too funny! I live there. May years ago, maybe 15 - pre navi(s), a friend was driving her Uhaul from NY and AAA trip-tik sent her down Schnebly Hill Road to approach into Sedona! For those unfamiliar, this is a dirt road switchbacking down the face of the Mogollon Rim (2,000 foot decent cliff-face w/no guardrail - back then, now a couple of them were installed). Unfamiliar with this area, she approached and drove down this road at night and in the snow in a fully loaded uhaul medium size truck!!!

I'm just now coming out of a 2008 Infiniti (Nissan) G35S lease (with nav). I rarely use the nav, especially here because there are just so few roads to navigate, but - as my first and only nav unit (other than google maps on my phone) I have found the Infiniti nav unit exceptional! It has yet to steer me in a wrong direction. I am not always convinced its taking me in the absolutely shortest path but it is always accurate and shows and announces names of streets about to turn. Map view is usually too macro to see individual street names but I know I can zoom it (just never do so I don't know how detailed the micro view is). Voice commands are near perfect too "state, city, street, building ("house") # - view map or calculate route" (with auto changing day/night views), touch screen and more.

One of the things I am looking forward to in the X5 is the real-time traffic (streamed thru HD radio to nav unit). I am hoping this works well - especially the traffic recommended detours/alternate routes. Real time traffic is a huge benefit in the Phoenix area (or any metro area for that matter). I am a bit surprised to read forum complaints about some of BMW other decisions like a less than stellar Nav unit, unshielded stereo speakers, charging for programming a keyfob, and the like.

I would certainly hope that if owners are complaining, BMW would want to update firmware, software and programming to improve the usability as much as humanly possible. Wouldn't require any recall, just give it to dealer/scv centers and install as part of prep on new and install on all others whenever in for service. Hoping BMW is not dropping their former reputation for emphasis on owner/driver experience!

[GPSnV1]

The X5 nav has real-time traffic with detours - that I have taken - so how is that different from what you are proposing?

[RedRockin]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

The X5 nav has real-time traffic with detours - that I have taken - so how is that different from what you are proposing?

Didn't propose anything. Just said I'm looking forward to using it and hope it works well. People are posting less than stellar aspects of their Nav units and I had good experiences with the one in my Infiniti. So far, haven't read any complaints about the real time traffic and suggested alternate routes so I am hoping this feature works well. Guess I'll find out when mine comes in.

[GPSnV1]

Originally Posted by RedRockin

Didn't propose anything. Just said I'm looking forward to using it and hope it works well. People are posting less than stellar aspects of their Nav units and I had good experiences with the one in my Infiniti. So far, haven't read any complaints about the real time traffic and suggested alternate routes so I am hoping this feature works well. Guess I'll find out when mine comes in.

Sorry that I got this wrong but you may want to know that the instructions one gets are only as good as the source. I remember NC in particular being a place where I was told to detour more than once but the information was wrong. On the other hand, the nav did save me about 2 hours in western NC when there was a huge accident on my route.