How Do I "beat the Nav system"?

[rcasey]

The damnable Nav system in my ‘08 E70 leaves me in the dark all too often. I need some help! Perhaps this old dog can still learn a few tricks, from the experts here in the good ole US of A.

Assume I’m in an area for a few days, the Nav system has found a few addresses in the town and I want to find a business, like AutoZone or an Air Conditioning Contractor. So assume I’m looking in the right city/state/country.

1. How do I figure out what search criteria I need to search in? IE. Is it a business, a service, a Corporation, WTF? Can I just put in a name?

2. Is searching for “AutoZone” easier by voice entry, and if so, might some kind soul tell me the exact dialog I need to “ask the car”?

3. If I choose to “update” my 2008 system disc with a more recent disc, am I simply buying an updated list of every McDonalds in the USA as well as some updates to the road network? Or am I buying an update on the overall program and the prompts and screens WILL LOOK/OPERATE different. Like an upgrade on a computer application IE Office 2003 becomes Office 2008.

4. It appears NavTeq no longer sells updates for BMW. Am I stuck with only BMW North America as my only supplier?

I really do not want to drag out my trusty Garmin GPS and suction cup this venerable old friend to the dash on this X5.

Is there help for me?

Signed “Whimpering in Public”