GPS system?
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Here's the deal ... before ordering my 330xi I was driving a 2004 Acura MDX with Nav. The Navigation in that car is hailed as the best factory installed Nav on the market. Acura is using the Alpine touch screen system and the screen is amazing. When ordering my Xi, I thought about the BMW Nav for about a minute but ended up deciding against it. One of the guys who worked at Acura is now working at the BMW dealer I ordered my Xi from - he really discouraged me from getting Nav. He told me I was already spoiled from the Acura Nav system and that I would be very disappointed in the one BMW had to offer. The BMW Nav isn't touch screen and is like manuevering with dinosaur controls. You have to use the bulky knob to "navigate" through the alphabet to select each letter of an address ... TOO DISCTRACTING and very INEFFICIENT! Like you, I am looking at after market products. I spoke to a car audio dealer about installing the Alpine system but the service manager at BMW told me it would violate my electrical wiring warranty - no thanks. I have been doing research on both the Garmin and the Magellan Roadmate. The Roadmate 500 doesn't come fully loaded with the databases you want in the system .. the 700 does (so you're looking in the right direction). I have played around with both on display at Circuit City and Best Buy and I feel that the Magellan Roadmate 700 has a better LCD screen and is more user friendly. The Roadmate is also a little more technologically advanced in design and has been getting better reviews. Read the reviews in PC Magazine : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1393950,00.asp
Review on zdnet.com :
http://shopper-zdnet.com.com/4014-3490_15-30588536.html?tag=search
I am leaning towards the Magellan over the Garmin. Let me know what you decide on!
Review on zdnet.com :
http://shopper-zdnet.com.com/4014-3490_15-30588536.html?tag=search
I am leaning towards the Magellan over the Garmin. Let me know what you decide on!
When I ordered my car I went with the NAV system and it's awesome. Agreed that a touch screen would be easier to use than the knobs of the BMW system, but it's pretty easy once you've used it a few times. Nothing agains aftermarket units, but you just can't recreate the look the cockpit has with the OEM unit. I think it takes the look of the interior to a whole new level. Plus, you get the James Bond-like flip down screen that hides the CD slot. People always freak when they see that in action.
My 03 X5 4.4 has the NAV and I have the Garmin 2610 as well.
1. Portable: Garmin
2. Informative: BMW (since the Garmin does not specify the name of the street/freeway, you have to look at the screen)
3. Speed of signal: BMW; the Garmin takes a tad slower response when you go offroute
4. Entering data: Garmin (touch screen)
5. Cost: Garmin $700
6. Capacity: You have to buy larger CF card to store all of USA maps with the Garmin
7. Store in Memory: Garmin since it stores up to 50 addresses, waypoints... (depending on the memory card)
8. Nice features: Garmin (change of day/night color, auto change of scale when destination is approached)
VH
03 X5 4.4 (4000miles)
99 ML320 (36K)
91 LS400 (137K)
92 Prelude Si (55K)
91 Galant (137K)
1. Portable: Garmin
2. Informative: BMW (since the Garmin does not specify the name of the street/freeway, you have to look at the screen)
3. Speed of signal: BMW; the Garmin takes a tad slower response when you go offroute
4. Entering data: Garmin (touch screen)
5. Cost: Garmin $700
6. Capacity: You have to buy larger CF card to store all of USA maps with the Garmin
7. Store in Memory: Garmin since it stores up to 50 addresses, waypoints... (depending on the memory card)
8. Nice features: Garmin (change of day/night color, auto change of scale when destination is approached)
VH
03 X5 4.4 (4000miles)
99 ML320 (36K)
91 LS400 (137K)
92 Prelude Si (55K)
91 Galant (137K)
My dad has a Garmin. It's the new smaller model that has touch and color screen. He really likes it. He had the older version but and I've only played with the older one. Seemed fairly easy to use and he says the new touch screen one is even easier to use, plus it seems much more accurate in where you are exactly. The old one seemed off by about 20 yards or so.