If you don't want to go the gooseneck route (suction cup on windshield), here are some other options and some pics for mounting GPS in X5. Click on Vehicle Mounts on the following link and see options and pics for X5. I don't have one but it seems less intrusive than other mounting options.

http://www.proclipusa.com/default.asp

Lance--I'll post a picture tomorrow from my camera phone--it looks great--practically blended in.

I also wanted to mention a few other portable benefits:

Hiking trips
Trains
Planes

Always knowing where you are is cool.

Also, when you give it a destination, it spits out your arrival time. I don't know if the OEM's do this, but its accuracy is still blowing my mind. You would think the time it would give you would be based on posted speeds (like Mapquest), but somehow this thing knows my driving habits already. I drove a straight trip from Detroit to Pittsburgh, and it gave me the arrival time as I was pulling out of my driveway. Once I added in the time for stopping for gas, it was exactly on target. I was not driving posted speeds--in fact, getting into the 90's several times. My average speed was 76.8. How did it know that I was going to drive this way, and would it have adjusted itself if I was a speedlimit driver? Maybe it knows it's in a BMW. . .

Pic coming tomorrow. . .

Yep the Z1 is the best bet, and then get a bezel from www.mybimmer.net and it'll look as OEM as it can. I'm planning on doing this soon as well. :)

racelance: you may want to look into the Garmin streetpilot 7200/7500. Big honkin' touchscreen, and it wont set you back 3Gs to retrofit. I believe nava999 had a very clean install....

racelance - the fact that you mentioned navigation cleary indicates that it is important to you. Others here say to get the X that you want and ignore that nav "gadget". I totally disagree. Earlier this year I was in the market for an X and wanted navigation. I couldn't find one that had the right combination of color and features. I ended up getting an incredible deal on one without nav. Within two months I was kicking myself for not holding out for it.

So I went the aftermarket route and got a Z1. A Z1 is overkill if you just want navigation. You can get cheaper navigation. The Z1 is the top of line media controller from Pioneer. Besides navigation it can control an iPod (I love this feature), XM and\or Sirius radio, XM nav traffic (which is new and not quite ready for primetime just yet) and has zone control (if you have monitors in the back it can display a DVD on them while the driver listens to another audio source). It can also be attached to a rearview camera and can display the video when reversing or when driving forward. Finally, there is a bluetooth module that allows you to talk hands free (the Z1 comes with a microphone) through a bluetooth phone.

If you are going to pay someone else to install the radio then you mainly care about the price and quality of the install. If you plan on doing it yourself then be prepared for a detailed (not complicated) install. Hint - this should not be your first car stereo install if you are doing it yourself.

Having the Z1 in my car makes me feel like I have one of the most advanced systems out there (because it is). It is soooo much better than the MID. The MID did nothing for me. I never used any of the built-in computer features. The only one that I use is "Range" and I display that on the instrument cluster.

You will want navigation, don't kid yourself. It is really a question of factory or aftermarket. By the way, BMW nav is not touch screen while almost all aftermarket is. Don't even think about trying to retrofit BMW nav. IMO it is not worth the price nor the extensive modifications you have to do to your X. The retrofit is reserved for those that just have to have BMW nav at whatever the price.

Got ya... I appreciate your honest answer. I did purchase the X5 today, I'm going to use it as a test pilot car. If I fall in love with it as is, then I'll purchase an external nav. If I love the X5 & think I can find another one around the same price, then I might sell this one & buy another. I'm not to worried, I purchased this one right :)

Lance

Just get a portable GPS device.

Attachment 12321

Took this picture last night of yesterday's described NUVI install. . .sorry, didn't get home until after dark.

Any other questions, let me know.

Enjoy the new X. . .

Question for Runningaround

what are you using to hold the nuvi in the vent - clip from proclips or other?
Looks good and not intrusive at all.

Thanks