2010 Nav comments

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Armand

Penguin, I did not mean looking at the map for the street name. It actually writes the name of the street at next turn on the split screen with a close up drawing of the turn below it. You can read it very easily.

Only if you are navigating a route, If you are not navigating a route, you cannot easily see the next street coming up. The Garmin will show the next cross street you are approaching, even if you are not navigating a route.

Handy if you are not using a route, but know you need to turn right at "Power Rd."

[azwcat]

The biggest gripe I have is not being able to see many street names. That's the whole point of having a map! It's a shame, as people have said, the screen is really nice. 10x nicer than the one in my 03 Infiniti. Unfortunately, less street names show up on the BMW, so its a bit of a waste.

As far as navigating and accuracy, so far it's been okay, but I tried any small cities or rural areas yet.

[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.

[jhu321]

while the new nav is fancy and cool... I think the nav that was in my 2002 745 was much more accurate... I've noticed the same thing where it tells me to make a turn too late... I'm hoping this is just software bugs that need to be worked out over time

[z2g]

I have some gripes with the factory nav too. However, I think the BMW 2010 nav is no worse than other factory nav's that I've had. In my Infiniti nav system, it also didn't have text-to-speech. And, the routing wasn't great. However, many of the features in the BMW nav is much better than the Infiniti nav.

Of course, compared to my two Garmin units, I don't think any factory nav will compare. I think most "experts" will say the same for any factory nav out there.

The biggest gripe that I have though (similar to my Infiniti nav) is that the BMW nav screen doesn't display the name of the next street/exit that you will be turning on.

[nynd]

Originally Posted by z2g

I have some gripes with the factory nav too. However, I think the BMW 2010 nav is no worse than other factory nav's that I've had. In my Infiniti nav system, it also didn't have text-to-speech. And, the routing wasn't great. However, many of the features in the BMW nav is much better than the Infiniti nav.

Of course, compared to my two Garmin units, I don't think any factory nav will compare. I think most "experts" will say the same for any factory nav out there.

The biggest gripe that I have though (similar to my Infiniti nav) is that the BMW nav screen doesn't display the name of the next street/exit that you will be turning on.

If I were to rate the BMW nav system, I'd give it a 4/10. The one in my cadillac seems to be one of the best I've seen. The screen in touch screen, can show music (ipod) selection on 1/2 screen and nav on the other. Entry is simple and fast as is searching for poi's. Lastly, the voice prompts and street names are so clear that make the BMW system look like a X386 computer compared to the cadillac which would be a new MACpro.. LOL!

[2010X5d]

Originally Posted by Penguin

The 2010 Nav system is abysmal. Having recently traveled from Chicago to Phoenix and back, I can say that the next time I will take my Garmin along and use it instead.

Someday I'll catalog all that is wrong with it, but for now here's a few:

(1) It often confuses what city things are in. If you want some fun, try looking up a hotel in Van Horn, Texas, and then route to it. It will then show the street addresss as being in Kent, Texas, all the while actually directing you to Van Horn, while telling you it is taking you to Kent (Van Horn and Kent are about 40 miles apart, so it's not like a suburb or anything).

(2) Several times the Nav randomly announced "prepare to turn Left" or "Prepare to turn Right" while the map showed absolutely no turns on the route for at least 25 miles ahead.

(3) Often fuel stations at exits were not shown accurately, with the Nav locating them smack-dab in the middle of the interstate. As a result, it would not tell you to take the exit. Clearly Teleatlas did not have the actual GPS coordinates of the stations, but just the exit number. So they just located it in the middle of the interstate at the exit location.

(4) The POI database is very poor compared to Garmin and others that use Navteq, rather than Teleatlas data. TeleAtlas is European-based, so I suspect BMW swithed to them from Navteq for the new GPS as their European data might be better than Navteq's.

I can only think of four advantages the BMW Nav has over Garmin:

(1) The screen is excellent, both in resolution and visibility in all light conditions,

(2) The Zoom function with the rotary dial is quite easy to use and quick, compare to the Garmin touch screen,

(3) It is linked to the audio system, so it will lower the entertainment volume when it speaks, and

(4) being built in, you don't have to store/hide it when you stop and leave the vehicle.

I agree with Penguine,
Its so confusing, Randomly announces "prepare to turn Left" or "Prepare to turn Right" while the map showed absolutely no turns on the route.
Sorry to say this but my 2007 MDX had a better navigation in this regard...

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by 2010X5d

Randomly announces "prepare to turn Left" or "Prepare to turn Right" while the map showed absolutely no turns on the route.

At least to my mind, errors such as this are totally unacceptable... I can understand errors in the POI database, but the route on the map and the verbal directions should always match.

Something is seriously wrong with the new Nav system.

[2010X5d]

Originally Posted by Penguin

At least to my mind, errors such as this are totally unacceptable... I can understand errors in the POI database, but the route on the map and the verbal directions should always match.

Something is seriously wrong with the new Nav system.

Since this issue can be reproduced, is there any way to bring it to BMWNA notice and have free navigation software with the issue fixed?

[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!