[UltimateBMW]

I agree with the Nuvi suggestion. If she really uses navigation as much as you imply she does, then the ability for her to take it with her in a pocket sized form would be the best option overall. She can save time by typing in the destination to her next shop while walking back to her car from the previous store!

Although, I guess there is something to be said for a clean and clutter free dashboard.

[Chris.G]

WOW! My future wife better be interested in how the car goes over a navi system or she will be one broken hearted lady.

[SkipSauls]

Thanks for all of the replies. I tried to convince my wife to go with a portable nav, but she doesn't care about carrying one around and doesn't like having it mounted to the windshield, dash, etc. I had a hard enough time convincing her to keep the Escort in the car...

I'd like to see the BMW system search on TARG, etc., as there doesn't appear to be anyone at two different dealerships who knows how to do it. I can't believe that the salespeople don't take the time to learn to use and demonstrate the systems, but that may be a reflection of the average BMW buyer than anything else.

It seems that BMW has an Apple-like belief that there are better ways to do things, but they don't seem to be quite as adept as Apple is when it comes to implementation. I have an iPhone and for the most part it has very good user interfaces. It's the first gadget I've owned that I've continued to use and enjoy months after the "new" has worn off. I really believe that iDrive should make people feel the same way, being intuitive, "fun", and leaving you with the sense that the designers and engineers really knew what they were doing. Unfortunately iDrive has left me with a bad taste over and over again, from the first time I tried it in the 7 series to the latest versions. That's absurd, and it's only my enthusiasm for most other things BMW that keeps me coming back!

[watrob]

I think people have to keep up with the times. Cars are becoming voice activated, phone, radio, nav etc. You also can preset buttons to take you directly to the Nav, phone number etc.

The car key remembers your setting and the spare key your wife's or vice versa.

You just have to get use to using the new technology. Yes the BMW could be better but that will always be because you expect more each year.

Bluetooth in BMW's was a couple of years ahead of Merc, I have both cars I know.

AMG gives your 6 pot brakes, BMW 2 pot, both cars stop as well as each other, Merc for years only gave you an option of 18" wheels, BMW 19"& 20" & 21", now 22".

What I am trying to say is what you buy today is old within 12 months.

I tend to change my BMW or Merc's each time there is a reasonable update of face lift, usually 18 -24 months. If the life cycle of the model is to long then I go from a 3 series to 5, X5 to X6, (M to AMG but not very often)

I like BMW more than Merc, I find Merc keep there styling way to long. AMG CLK or SL have 9 year cycles and the gap between a e46 M3 SMG convertible and a e93 M3 DTC convertible was nearly over 3 years from the release of the new e9x body change, way to long.

I think that cost BMW customer, I know a lot of people who bought other sports cars in between.

I buy a BMW because of the overall car and that the majority of the car is way ahead of everyone else, there maybe a couple items that can be improved but as long as it has NAV its fine, whether that is an option or not is beside the point.

And iDrive, its great, voice control better. Now my X5 has adaptive drive, great system, active steer, heads-up which I now could live without, twin turbo diesel 600nm, bl88dy great big wheels, moon roof and just about every other option, I drive 600klm every week and 30klm of beach each week and there is only one car that is better............................................ .................................................. ..... the photo's don't do it justice........................................... .................................................. .......but park your b*m in one...................................and you will know.....................and that's a X6.

Throw a X6 around and thats fun, that new pro-active rear e-diff rather then everyone else's reactive e-diff or limited slip diff, brillant and for the rev heads twin turbo V8 ( the twin turbo diesel is a better buy in my opinion)

You can complain that you can buy that other car for $5k cheaper and it comes with all those option but in truth there are not to many cars out there that can really match the BMW $ for $ in it's drivebility & technology combined, you often have to have one or the other.

I maybe ranting a little, others may believe in there brand of car as the best but this is a BMW forum not a Ford forum. I don't see the sense in complaining about a BMW because you like a different brand, complain about a BMW if your having problem with it, not that you hate the NAV so much you bought a different SUV. The X5 & X6 are the leaders in this field and it would be brave person to say there not and for someone to say I bought this other SUV because of NAV or some other thing (iDrive) was not liked seems not to add up.

Ok, now I have upset a few people, bring it on!

[40yroldawakening]

Originally Posted by watrob

I think people have to keep up with the times. Cars are becoming voice activated, phone, radio, nav etc. You also can preset buttons to take you directly to the Nav, phone number etc.

The car key remembers your setting and the spare key your wife's or vice versa.

You just have to get use to using the new technology. Yes the BMW could be better but that will always be because you expect more each year.

Bluetooth in BMW's was a couple of years ahead of Merc, I have both cars I know.

AMG gives your 6 pot brakes, BMW 2 pot, both cars stop as well as each other, Merc for years only gave you an option of 18" wheels, BMW 19"& 20" & 21", now 22".

What I am trying to say is what you buy today is old within 12 months.

I tend to change my BMW or Merc's each time there is a reasonable update of face lift, usually 18 -24 months. If the life cycle of the model is to long then I go from a 3 series to 5, X5 to X6, (M to AMG but not very often)

I like BMW more than Merc, I find Merc keep there styling way to long. AMG CLK or SL have 9 year cycles and the gap between a e46 M3 SMG convertible and a e93 M3 DTC convertible was nearly over 3 years from the release of the new e9x body change, way to long.

I think that cost BMW customer, I know a lot of people who bought other sports cars in between.

I buy a BMW because of the overall car and that the majority of the car is way ahead of everyone else, there maybe a couple items that can be improved but as long as it has NAV its fine, whether that is an option or not is beside the point.

And iDrive, its great, voice control better. Now my X5 has adaptive drive, great system, active steer, heads-up which I now could live without, twin turbo diesel 600nm, bl88dy great big wheels, moon roof and just about every other option, I drive 600klm every week and 30klm of beach each week and there is only one car that is better............................................ .................................................. ..... the photo's don't do it justice........................................... .................................................. .......but park your b*m in one...................................and you will know.....................and that's a X6.

Throw a X6 around and thats fun, that new pro-active rear e-diff rather then everyone else's reactive e-diff or limited slip diff, brillant and for the rev heads twin turbo V8 ( the twin turbo diesel is a better buy in my opinion)

You can complain that you can buy that other car for $5k cheaper and it comes with all those option but in truth there are not to many cars out there that can really match the BMW $ for $ in it's drivebility & technology combined, you often have to have one or the other.

I maybe ranting a little, others may believe in there brand of car as the best but this is a BMW forum not a Ford forum. I don't see the sense in complaining about a BMW because you like a different brand, complain about a BMW if your having problem with it, not that you hate the NAV so much you bought a different SUV. The X5 & X6 are the leaders in this field and it would be brave person to say there not and for someone to say I bought this other SUV because of NAV or some other thing (iDrive) was not liked seems not to add up.

Ok, now I have upset a few people, bring it on!

and with 12 post you are god, better yet join McCain as his new vp runner

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by ganeil

Get the X5 and buy her a Garmin Nuvi.

Amen to that. The X5 is an awesome vehicle and a $300 Garmin Nuvi 350 will get you to any Target in North America.

[BK]

Originally Posted by 40yroldawakening

and with 12 post you are god, better yet join McCain as his new vp runner

I'm so confused by this response.

[SkipSauls]

My 335i was at the dealer overnight and my salesguy arranged for me to take an X5 4.8 as a loaner. It had the cooled seats, sport package, etc., but oddly didn't come with comfort access or the automatic rear liftgate. Yes, I know that last bit might sound silly to some, but both are very nice to have and might as well be standard on vehicles in this price range.

Overall it was a nice driving experience. It can't hold a candle to the 335i in terms of performance, but I wasn't expecting it to with nearly half-again as much mass. I spent a lot of time with the iDrive, including reading the manual, which shouldn't be necessary for any "consumer" device. I still couldn't figure out how to search for Target or anything else, and doing simple things like entering a street address take longer than they would with a touch screen. To make matters more interesting, I found that I wasn't really paying much attention to the road when using iDrive while driving, so I can't see how it is any safer than a touchscreen.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy the argument about having to get used to new technology. There are plenty of proven user interfaces out there, so why invent new ones? I have been working on graphical user interfaces for years, and it's what I do every day, yet I find iDrive to be completely absurd. The fact that BMW is now changing it speaks volumes.

It is likely that I'll get an X5 xDrive35d at some point next year, and I look forward to seeing the new iDrive that the salesguy has seen in training and says is much improved.

[attbimmer]

We recently purchased a new X5 for my wife and I can honestly say both my wife and I have found idrive very easy to use and have not had any issues with it. After using idrive for a few months now I just can't understand why people have been complaining about it so much for years. I hate cluttered interiors with buttons everywhere and idrive makes the interior so much simpler.

I myself rarely use the nav (which is why i didn't get it in my E90), but was recently on a trip for 5 days to Laguna Seca with the X5 and used it each day. Searching by name is very easy. I have no idea why CA's don't know how to to do this since on the search page "NAME" is in huge letters right in the middle of the screen! One of my friends had a garmin with him as well on the trip and he couldn't search with it any faster than i could using idrive.

Of coarse all systems have their pros/cons, but I just don't think idrive is anywhere near as bad as the vast majority seen to claim.

Also I certainly wouldn't base my car choice on the intelligence/product knowledge of a CA. Most (regardless of make) have no clue about even the basics of the cars they are selling.

[Robert]

If electronic gadgetry is the top priority of your auto purchase then BMW probably isn't the brand that fits the need. iDrive takes practice and it isn't as convenient as Japanese rival but it fulfills the basic navigation needs, but it would not deter my decision to buy a BMW because you can order a BMW san idrive. My only complain with idrive is I need to know the category of interests, defined by bmw, before I can search for them.

I read your reply and my feeling is you wanted the BMW but your wife doesn't really care for a BMW. Technically, BMW didn't really lose a sale.

[oilcrankinject]

If your wife needs nav to find target or McDonalds you have bigger problems.

[toughluck]

I agree with SkipSauls 100%.

[E90SLAM]

Reminds me my iDrive can never find AutoZone....

[E90SLAM]

wonder if there are any improvements on POI search on the new iDrive...