Nav system on 2007 X3 - worth it?
 

I'm still trying to decide what options to get on my X3.
I just want to know what the nav system can do that the bmw assist button can't?

I believe that the services provided in the BMW assist are at an additional cost - above that of the "normal" fees. When I released mine, they wanted credit card information (even though the first year was free) so they could "auto-bill" me for the following years. I also believe I read that it only comes with the assist service not the concierge service - which sounds like what you're talking about - but at an additional price.

My brother and I (as we change vehicles frequently - always in the BMW family) have determined that the better way for us to go is to get the "portable" Nav systems because they're 1/2 the price of BMW's and we can switch it between vehicles. Otherwise, you're paying $2k for something that stays on the vehicle.

The final decision should be based on your vehicle turns (how long you're going to keep it) and your preference for functionality. The variety of portable Nav systems is crazy and you should be able to find something that works for you at less than 1/2 the price.

I dunno, I'd go for the nav since it's non-iDrive and I think it looks pretty neat the way it pops open onto the dash, then retracts. Better than a silly compartment that holds a pair of sunglasses and nothing else.

And note that BMW Assist is now provided for 4 years on all 2007 models free of charge.

All I can say is that I love my nav in my 04' and will never buy another car without it.

It has saved me countless times in the past, and makes finding new restaurants, new places easy as pie.

From rerouting me around traffic, or helping me take a new way home, I definitively think it has been worth it...

I got the Nav on My 2006 X3, the main reason being that I did a European Delivery and it made travelling very easy to get from place to place. I also us it in the States as much as I can and thats quite often. IMO its great .I also have it on MY2005 530i basisally for the same reason,(ED), I wouldn't do without it. Good luck
cheers
vern

I got nav in mine for the exact same reason. I am a convert and now a true believer. If the money is not a critical factor in your decision, I say get it!

Worth it? Hmm.. In the UK this costs in the region of £1,500. I do have it, and I have to say I haven't found it that great either - the lag time is significant (e.g. the screen shows you are actually some distance behind your actual location, so turn instructions are sometimes too late), and route instructions are sometimes bizzare.

It's also annoying the only route selection choices are 'use motorway' or 'don't use motorway'. The autoroute type mechanism employed by many handheld devices is far superior (e.g. a sliding scale preference for M-ways, A-roads and B-roads/other).

That said, the screen is great and the TV option is sooo cool, but that's another £600-odd. I did it anyway, though. ;-)

Can someone tell me how the Nav in the X3 works and if the 2007 model will have the same style Nav? How do you use it with no i-Drive knob?

I believe you use the right knob on the audio controls. Nav-equipped cars get a different audio head unit/controls.

The right knob is used to scroll through menus by turning it, and selecting options occurs by pushing the knob. So you begin by entering the country, then state, city, street, and finally house number. By scrolling further down you can select other ways of entering destinations, such as picking restaurants, services, points of interest, etc...

Does that help?