[Andrewob]

As my X3 has been delayed 2 months I am thinking again about the spec, I know it's dangerous!

I'm thinking of adding pro media with sat nav. For those who have it, how good is it and how does it compare to a good standalone Tom Tom or garmin? Is there full post code search, right to the exact house/address? Does it have lane assistance and all the other stuff that standalone units cone with these days?

My experience of built in units has not been good with none of them anywhere near as good as a standalone unit.

I was also thinking, perhaps it's bmw's intention to delay orders and have long waiting lists-makes us all add more and more optionslol:

[Jasonskitchen]

You're so right about the delay... I ordered my x3 from a leasing company since i got a good deal around 2-3 weeks ago.. Still do not have an order #. No paperwork, no nothing...but, he assures me, in 1 month i will have the car. ugh!

[Max1Factor]

I'm interested too, but it costs about 15 times more than a new tom tom and you could throw your tom tom away and buy new each time you need a map upgrade, for less than the BMW upgrade or are the free?

It does full postcode (Audi only 5 digits) and street number.

As for the full media package I suspect you won't use half of the features. But I'm tempted so watch this space.

Max3

[BIMMER UK 76]

Call it vain but I ordered pro media sat nav mainly to avoid the two cheap looking plastic filler pieces at the side of the standard idrive/sat nav screen

[MA78]

Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76

Call it vain but I ordered pro media sat nav mainly to avoid the two cheap looking plastic filler pieces at the side of the standard idrive/sat nav screen

In the US, we get a screen and iDrive even without sat nav. It's pretty cool. If I had to choose between a blank, plastic panel and sat nav, I would have gone with sat nav as well.

[flash3]

Originally Posted by MA78

In the US, we get a screen and iDrive even without sat nav. It's pretty cool. If I had to choose between a blank, plastic panel and sat nav, I would have gone with sat nav as well.

I know you posted some stunning exterior pics of you white X3 but do you have any interior ones avail to share?

[W3dge]

Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76

Call it vain but I ordered pro media sat nav mainly to avoid the two cheap looking plastic filler pieces at the side of the standard idrive/sat nav screen

Ditto to that. Land Rover are even worse, they just leave a hole where the Sat-Nav is on the higher models, awful.

[BIMMER UK 76]

We also get the screen as standard even with no nav but the smaller std idrive/nav screen has two plastic filler pieces at each side that look out of place to me (same in new F10/F11 also).

Cant find any pics online as all pics on google images seem to have the pro nav fitted

The smaller screen is almost 6.5" 4:3 ratio and the pro is widescreen 8.8"

Here you go http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tes...section=prices enlarge the dash photo for close up

[sfax]

Pro sat nav has been pretty good so far. Love the fact that the arrows and roundabouts appear in the dash. You don't need sound, just a glance down to the dash at junctions etc. Works really well and is very easy to follow.

Split screen also works well with nav staying on the right and anything else on the left.

Post code and street search work well but the power comes from Google's Send to Car and the BMW Remote app on your iPhone. Search for the place / post code on google and then send to car. Destination or route is ready and waiting when you get in. That is awesome IMO

[sfax]

I should qualify my last comment by saying that whilst I rank the pro sat nav as pretty good, I have never owned a TomTom or Garmin device. I wouldn't want anything stuck to my windscreen and think they look rubbish. Pro sat nav is ridiculously expensive but I'm glad I've got it

[flash3]

Here is vik's car with the standard inboard dash

from here: http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468648

[marmite]

I declined the satnav. option on my current car (3-series touring), but am getting on the X3.
The biggest reason I didn't get on the E91 - was cost/bad value - I have had the latest tomtom's for years - and afaict the mapping and features were better on the tomtom than they were on the built-ins (also looked at VW's and Audi's at the time of last car purchase).

I've had google search on my tomtom for years now!

The other reason I didn't want on E91 was that aesthetically I preferred the car without it - without it you no idrive, with it, you had idrive + an extra console hub - which I did not like the look of - also idrive was heavily criticized at the time.

Some of the reasons I want the satnav. for the X3 are: (pro version)
1) aesthetically - I think makes the car look quite a lot better
2) pro satnav is a requirment for the 6NR - and I don't want to miss out on potentially very fun gadget integration! we will see how _useful_ it actually is later!
3) cost - still very expensive - but it's not just the nav. the dash changes a bit and as I say the other integration - so I justified it to myself a bit more.


Saying that, I'm not expecting it to beat standalone units in every respect still.
For example, I've enjoyed Tomtom's HD traffic quite a lot. I'd be delighted if BMW satnat. can be as good as that! I think google nav. may do something similar, but haven't used that...

Maybe 6NR will allow Tomtom app to be integrated into iDrive in future!

[flash3]

Originally Posted by marmite

I declined the satnav. option on my current car (3-series touring), but am getting on the X3.
The biggest reason I didn't get on the E91 - was cost/bad value - I have had the latest tomtom's for years - and afaict the mapping and features were better on the tomtom than they were on the built-ins (also looked at VW's and Audi's at the time of last car purchase).

I've had google search on my tomtom for years now!

The other reason I didn't want on E91 was that aesthetically I preferred the car without it - without it you no idrive, with it, you had idrive an extra console hub - which I did not like the look of - also idrive was heavily criticized at the time.

Some of the reasons I want the satnav. for the X3 are: (pro version)
1) aesthetically - I think makes the car look quite a lot better
2) pro satnav is a requirment for the 6NR - and I don't want to miss out on potentially very fun gadget integration! we will see how _useful_ it actually is later!
3) cost - still very expensive - but it's not just the nav. the dash changes a bit and as I say the other integration - so I justified it to myself a bit more.


Saying that, I'm not expecting it to beat standalone units in every respect still.
For example, I've enjoyed Tomtom's HD traffic quite a lot. I'd be delighted if BMW satnat. can be as good as that! I think google nav. may do something similar, but haven't used that...

Maybe 6NR will allow Tomtom app to be integrated into iDrive in future!

you need the satnav for the 6nr upgrade?

[thefreeze]

Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76

Call it vain but I ordered pro media sat nav mainly to avoid the two cheap looking plastic filler pieces at the side of the standard idrive/sat nav screen

Exactly my point. If you buy a BMW, then do it properly and take the big Sat Nav. Let's be honest, we can afford ourselves a proper big car so 3% extra costs wouldn't hurt.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by flash3

you need the satnav for the 6nr upgrade?

Yes, definitely and i wouldn't call it an upgrade as that suggests you can add it after buying your car. You can't unfortunately

[flash3]

Originally Posted by sfax

Yes, definitely and i wouldn't call it an upgrade as that suggests you can add it after buying your car. You can't unfortunately

- I wasn't adding the SatNav as when I need access to directions, I'll use my Garmin GPS, but I wanted this 6NR feature!

[AJWilson]

A dealer will add £2k with Sat Nav to price, compared to car without. Had Pro Sat Nav in my old X5 used it most of the time.

[cooldude00]

would love to sat nav with the nicer dials and iphone functions etc... but i just can't justify the 2 outlay !!!

[BIMMER UK 76]

Originally Posted by cooldude00

would love to sat nav with the nicer dials and iphone functions etc... but i just can't justify the 2 outlay !!!

Glad I upgraded to pro but cost is a bit much for what you get

[Andrewob]

Cost is excessive, but that's BMW! And most sat nav from most manufacturers.

I have been trying to compare cost of say a 3-4 year old 5 series with and without sat nav, if you can get a decent amount of money back on resale by having sat nav, it's not quite so bad. Difficult to tell at mo as not really that many cars for sale and prices vary loads. But the price seems quite similar with and without nav, still unsure whether I will add it. Also little worried it may delay delivery further, despite comments that it won't.