Why do people complain about the Navigation system?
 

"I nearly went nuts trying to use the navigation system. I was driving my daughter to a birthday party at a house I had visited only once. I knew the general area, had the street address, but couldn't figure out how to get the nav to allow me to enter a new destination. After 15 minutes (and admittedly without consulting the owner's manual), I gave up, both frustrated and disappointed."
Edmunds.com Manager of Vehicle Testing Kelly Toepke

"On the downside, the factory navigation system is the worst system I've ever experienced!"
Edmunds.com alanmg, April 12, 2004

I don't understand why people say the navigation is so hard to use. I spent 15 minutes with it on my first day, figured out exactly how it works, and have had no problems with it ever since. The first quoted person didn't even bother looking at the manual, so I don't think she really tried. It's not too difficult to use the right knob to type in where you are going, and I've my 11 year old figured out how to put in directions just fine. Sigh, I think people are just priding themselves in being ignorant of technology sometimes.

Any comments? Was using the navigation in your X very difficult? Is the navigation really that bad?

It's not really that bad.

It kicks Mercedes ass in every which direction. It's about comparable to Lexus IMO because the Lexus loses second place for the following reasons.

1. You can't enter in stuff while in motion.
2. You can't hack it. (It's hard)

First place IMO is Honda's navigation systems. You can hack it, it's touch screen, and it works. I remember our 2000 Odyssey was faster, and overall better then even today's 2005 LS430. :(

All in all though, now that I've learned that you can get the navigation updates for the BMW for next to nothing (price of a dvd) and that you can upgrade it manually, it moved BMW to second place.

On that note, I think this person

Edmunds.com Manager of Vehicle Testing Kelly Toepke

must be a -f-ing idiot. BMW is almost idiot proof with their navigation. Perhaps they weren't using the X5's?

I thought it was very easy to use. It really isn't that hard. It took me maybe 15 minutes on the first day... The Volvo's navigation system is incredibly easy to use, but the map disk sucks. Anyway, the BMW one was great, I thought.

I wouldn't buy another without it

It's only bad when you compare it to a really good one. For example the new Mercedes and Lexus navs offer a touch screen and Acura offers touch and voice recognition. As BMW prides themselves on innovation, their nav became an easy target.

:iagree: :iagree:

I don't have nav in my 330xi and I miss it terribly. I hate being lost, and it's something I never had to worry about.. I could go for a drive in the X5 and not worry about where I ended up, because I could always put in my house... I really miss it! I don't like taking the 3 into Boston because I dont want to get lost..

I don't want to hijack the thread, but how much would my dealer charge for a nav retrofit, if they were even willing to do it?

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...3/page004.html

They did use an X5 for this test

Acura's navigation is the best nav I have seen. Very accurate and precise.

Thats good news. Where can I get the update for that price?

They won't do it, so there's no reason to ask :) Like $5k maybe