Turn by turn directions
 

This is called "Route List" which is accessed on '09's while in "Navigation" under the destination selections.

Navigation > New Route - commanded detour
 

I just discovered how to select an alternate route if you encounter traffic or construction on a minor road, or if you just want to explore. This is on a 2009 X5 35d so the "old" iDrive. Perhaps everyone already knows this.

Select Navigation and go to the third row from the top, this row contains Route List, Route Preference. Keep turning dial and you will find New Route. Select it.

Enter the number of miles that you wish to detour before it returns you to the original route. Of course if you go far enough on the detour, Dynamic Route may just completely re-route you anyhow.

Thanks for the informative post. Early observations are always good to hear, since you notice things that will soon become invisible :)

IMO The hitch thing is simply a design/marketing mistake by BMW. They had it right on the E53. Why goof it up on the E70. It seems they are saying "Anyone who wants a hitch doesn't really care what it looks like." - DUH. Cutting the bumper doesn't really bother me. But exposing the shiny exhaust on only one side makes it look like a cheap aftermarket add-on. This could have been fixed with a small metal tab on the right that matched the one on the left (where the lights plug in).

Funf Dreisig

Any pics to show what the hitch setup looks like?

They need to add some value to the 2011 models... the new hitch system will now cost 2x as much :)

what new hitch system?

oh no. not another rumor about the upcoming 'refresh' of the 2011 trailer hitch....geeze...nobody got the front bumper on the 2010's right.........with all the spy photos and stuff........ perhaps you also heard that the 2011 will have quad turbo's on a flux capacitor too !

didn't even know there was a rumor - but I agree with Funf that the implementation of the existing (and very expensive) trailer hitch is not as good as on the e53. Even Saab, when they rebadged a GM Trailblazer, managed to make the hitch look like it belonged (and it came standard) on the 9-7x, and that it wasn't an afterthought. I have no doubt that the X5 hitch meets all the engineering specs, but it does not look like form followed function in this case.

Although not as convenient, there is a way to send route info to the nav system via a USB memory stick (at least in the 2009 1er which has the same nav system as the 2010 E70). Details in this post:

BMW Routes - Anyone get this to work? - BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (M1 / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)

^^^^ cool, thanks for sharing!