HUD and Real-Time Traffic

[GPSnV1]

The local dealer has a 2012 50i X5 with everything I want except HUD. I don't think their current promo would not work if they have to trade in one from another dealer. I, for one, have trouble seeing the speedometer and depend on GPS on long trips but the dash is cluttered with cords for my V1 and RL.

The sales guy did not know what the real-time traffic feature really was. He thought it had to do with alerting me to accidents but even my 2008 X5 does that but very little else that is accurate about traffic. In the meantime, I have free apps and TomTom on my iPhone then do traffic much better than my BMW. So what is real-time traffic on the 2012? Can I stop putting my iPhone with TT in front of the nav screen now?

[Richard in NC]

The real time traffic works OK in my '11. It is better than my '08 550i but could still use some improvements.

1. The map shows a line of arrows on any road with issues plus you get a red warning triangle when your route has issues.
2. Clicking the triangle takes you to the list of traffic warnings. Only the colored ones are on your route. Clicking them takes you to details and a pic of the area. There is an estimate of the delay but its usually low. If it says 3-5 minutes, expect to sit for a while.
3. The warnings are only as good as the local traffic systems' warnings allow. Charlotte is pretty good. I see the same things that a good traffic report would say. Other areas aren't so great.
4. You can enable it to reroute you if it deems necessary. I don't know the parameters when it does, but... You wonder why does it show the wrong exit? Its for traffic avoidance. Plus the issue is no longer on your route and the red triangle isn't shown... Until you pass by its suggestion and its too late... The warnings don't show on the HUD but the alternative routing does.
5. The other small issue is Charlotte traffic ALWAYS has certain congested areas. I always see the warnings and just tend to ignore them anyways because alternate routes will usually take longer. And get stuck when things are worse than usual.

[GPSnV1]

Helpful reply about RTTI. Thanks. I depend on these reports during two 3-4K trips a year but wonder if RTTI would work at home, e.g. Oklahoma City?

I take it that HUD can simply not be "added" to an X5, no?

[Richard in NC]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

Helpful reply about RTTI. Thanks. I depend on these reports during two 3-4K trips a year but wonder if RTTI would work at home, e.g. Oklahoma City?

I take it that HUD can simply not be "added" to an X5, no?

My guess is yes on Oklahoma City RTTI and no on not worth the cost to add HUD. It requires a special windshield, dash cover, etc, etc.

[cravin]

I do not know whether or not it can be added after the fact, but I would imagine it cannot. The HUD would require a whole new dashboard be put in to accommodate the screen/projector used to display the info on the windshield. Plus I would doubt that a standard X5 is pre-wired for all the systems that interact with the HUD, unless it's built at the factory.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

Helpful reply about RTTI. Thanks. I depend on these reports during two 3-4K trips a year but wonder if RTTI would work at home, e.g. Oklahoma City?

I take it that HUD can simply not be "added" to an X5, no?

No. It's a different dash and the windshield needs a special coating. I love my HUD. FYI It doesn't display real time traffic just speed, check control messages and Navigation instructions

[cravin]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

No. It's a different dash and the windshield needs a special coating. I love my HUD. FYI It doesn't display real time traffic just speed, check control messages and Navigation instructions

4th option is that it also shows cruise control status.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by cravin

4th option is that it also shows cruise control status.

Not really. It displays it at the time you set it but beyond that it doesn't show anything more then the CC icon

[cravin]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

Not really. It displays it at the time you set it but beyond that it doesn't show anything more then the CC icon

I didn't say speed, I said status , meaning off or on. Also, if you change the speed of the cruise control, it shows you the new speed on the windshield for a few seconds. It would be seriously annoying if it kept the CC speed up there all the time. You have the little white bar on the speedometer showing you what the speed is set to.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by Richard in NC

The real time traffic works OK in my '11. It is better than my '08 550i but could still use some improvements.

1. The map shows a line of arrows on any road with issues plus you get a red warning triangle when your route has issues.
2. Clicking the triangle takes you to the list of traffic warnings. Only the colored ones are on your route. Clicking them takes you to details and a pic of the area. There is an estimate of the delay but its usually low. If it says 3-5 minutes, expect to sit for a while.
3. The warnings are only as good as the local traffic systems' warnings allow. Charlotte is pretty good. I see the same things that a good traffic report would say. Other areas aren't so great.
4. You can enable it to reroute you if it deems necessary. I don't know the parameters when it does, but... You wonder why does it show the wrong exit? Its for traffic avoidance. Plus the issue is no longer on your route and the red triangle isn't shown... Until you pass by its suggestion and its too late... The warnings don't show on the HUD but the alternative routing does.
5. The other small issue is Charlotte traffic ALWAYS has certain congested areas. I always see the warnings and just tend to ignore them anyways because alternate routes will usually take longer. And get stuck when things are worse than usual.

RTTI hasn't changed. The system in the 2011/ current 2012 is the same as the system in the 08/09 idrive system relying on local fm stations broadcasting the RTTI signal. The CIC idrive did improve the presentation of the delays in the map but not much else.

In 2012 BMW are planning to roll out a brand new RTTI system that won't rely on the local fm signal. The RTTI traffic info will come into the car using the BMW assist telematics system. Info and presentation will be much improved.

It's unclear at this point if the USA will get this new system.