question about installed options
 

i narrowed down my search for a 04 530i. found a very good one that match my criteria meaning price, color, sport package, very low mileage. how can figure out what options installed on the vehicle given the vin number? the car doesn't have nav but the sales man says it nav ready that means all i have to do is bring it to the dealer and get the software or something like that after purchase. if everything works out ok, we will bring the car home no later than thursday.

if you have pics, i can tell you

i highly doubt you can retrofit nav on a non nav model. they have different screens for one thing, and the controller for it is different too...

it's hard enough installing nav on an e53...

you can check which options at any bmw dealer

If it doesn't have navigation then it is going to be costly to install navigation. If you want navigation avoid this car and find one with navigation. $thousands


http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...5-series-2.htm

List of options on a 2004. Can't really tell from a VIN number, but you can pretty much tell what has been added by examining the car.
EX: some dealerships put sport wheels on a car and say sport package, but it has chrome trim outside and chrome door handles which should not be there if the car has sport.

Are you buying this from a BMW dealership?

Ive never heard of "NAV ready" however I disagree and think installing NAV in an E60 would be easier then an E53 seeing as iDrive is standard on the E60. If you really like this vehicle, tell the dealer to write down before hand the total cost to have NAV added after purchase, and get them to sign it as part of the agreement. Then you'll have the real price.