2004 Navigation system reviews?
- Thread starter snowcrash
- Start date
![[:)]](/images/smilies/smile.png "Smile [:)]")
I have the nav system in my '04 and I love it. It is not perfect, but no system is. The maps are very detailed, the CPU is fast, and the features are too numerous to mention here, but I will highlight a few.
You can input a destination address by 1. entering it with the virtual keyboard, 2. selecting it from a huge list of preset catogorized destinations, or 3. Searching with a cursor and selecting the current cursor position.
You can select from a route preference list for things like via highway, avoid highway, avoid tolls, shortest route, fastest route.
You can select to display the route list which lists the route in segments, sort of waypoint style.
You can select north facing, or vehicle orientation facing map display.
Also has a split screen mode to show 2 functions at the same time (i.e. map and directions, radio and directions, OBC and directions).
It gives detailed directions in the Directions mode including current location street and city, next waypoint street, next turn direction, general destination direction, current ownship general direction, arrival time, and intersection detail.
Pleasant (not sexy) female voice instruction, which can be defeated.
Many, many other features.
Any specific questions?
You can input a destination address by 1. entering it with the virtual keyboard, 2. selecting it from a huge list of preset catogorized destinations, or 3. Searching with a cursor and selecting the current cursor position.
You can select from a route preference list for things like via highway, avoid highway, avoid tolls, shortest route, fastest route.
You can select to display the route list which lists the route in segments, sort of waypoint style.
You can select north facing, or vehicle orientation facing map display.
Also has a split screen mode to show 2 functions at the same time (i.e. map and directions, radio and directions, OBC and directions).
It gives detailed directions in the Directions mode including current location street and city, next waypoint street, next turn direction, general destination direction, current ownship general direction, arrival time, and intersection detail.
Pleasant (not sexy) female voice instruction, which can be defeated.
Many, many other features.
Any specific questions?
Thanks a lot ! I have your car on my desktop... I'm getting the same color/rims. ![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
When the voice comes over to give a direction and you have a radio on, does it completely mute the radio or just dim it? Also, is TMC incorporated? Like traffic jams/accidents? I think that's what TMC is.![[rolleyes]](/images/smilies/rolleyes.png "Roll Eyes (Sarcastic) [rolleyes]")
Thanks again for your review, anything else you have to say is wanted. This is my first nav and I want to hear all about it.
When the voice comes over to give a direction and you have a radio on, does it completely mute the radio or just dim it? Also, is TMC incorporated? Like traffic jams/accidents? I think that's what TMC is.
Thanks again for your review, anything else you have to say is wanted. This is my first nav and I want to hear all about it.
I am flattered that you have my car on your desktop. So many people have complemented the car and I have caught countless other drivers staring at it while driving or at a stoplight, etc. You are gonna love the car.
I always tell people that I agree the car looks gorgeous, but the real joy is how it drives.
About the voice:
It dims the radio, doesn't mute it. And you can adjust the relative volume of the voiceover vs. the radio. You can also adjust the overall voice volume seperately. And I just recently discovered that if the radio is off, and you are actively navigating, the voice is adjustable using the volume knob.
There is no integrated traffic monitoring.
Although if you are in a traffic jam or are aware of an accident ahead, there is a "new route" feature. You select "new route" and enter the number of miles you want to calculate the new route for. The system plots an alternate route and guides you on the new route automatically.
Along those lines, if you deviate from the planned route, the system may tell you to make a legal u-turn, or if it can assess a new possible route based on the direction you are headed, it will just update the current route to the newly assessed route.
Another note, when I picked up the car from the dealer, the car had been transported via boat/truck. When I first turned on the nav system the vehicle icon was there, but no map data. I was worried something was wrong with it and the salesman had so little experience with it he did not know what was wrong. We drove around the sales lot for a ways and still nothing. In desperation I selected "input position" in the menus and then the map popped in and everything was fine. I later read in the nav manual that you have to do this when the vehicle is moved with some sort of transport over long distances. So you may have to do the same thing with yours.
Much more to tell but I don't want to completely ruin the surprise of yours for you. Unless of course you want me to!!
I always tell people that I agree the car looks gorgeous, but the real joy is how it drives.
About the voice:
It dims the radio, doesn't mute it. And you can adjust the relative volume of the voiceover vs. the radio. You can also adjust the overall voice volume seperately. And I just recently discovered that if the radio is off, and you are actively navigating, the voice is adjustable using the volume knob.
There is no integrated traffic monitoring.
Although if you are in a traffic jam or are aware of an accident ahead, there is a "new route" feature. You select "new route" and enter the number of miles you want to calculate the new route for. The system plots an alternate route and guides you on the new route automatically.
Along those lines, if you deviate from the planned route, the system may tell you to make a legal u-turn, or if it can assess a new possible route based on the direction you are headed, it will just update the current route to the newly assessed route.
Another note, when I picked up the car from the dealer, the car had been transported via boat/truck. When I first turned on the nav system the vehicle icon was there, but no map data. I was worried something was wrong with it and the salesman had so little experience with it he did not know what was wrong. We drove around the sales lot for a ways and still nothing. In desperation I selected "input position" in the menus and then the map popped in and everything was fine. I later read in the nav manual that you have to do this when the vehicle is moved with some sort of transport over long distances. So you may have to do the same thing with yours.
Much more to tell but I don't want to completely ruin the surprise of yours for you. Unless of course you want me to!!
bmwrocks,
I have pretty much the same car & color as you but in a manual...it truly is a great car isn't it? It's a good feeling when you have it parked outside (say you're at a store buying something) and you see people walking around the car, checking it out like a chick in high heels with a mini-skit! [shake]
The nav is an incredible addition. Everyone should get one...it's worth it!
I have pretty much the same car & color as you but in a manual...it truly is a great car isn't it? It's a good feeling when you have it parked outside (say you're at a store buying something) and you see people walking around the car, checking it out like a chick in high heels with a mini-skit! [shake]
The nav is an incredible addition. Everyone should get one...it's worth it!
You guys really have me psyched for my car to get here! The nav system sounds even better than I thought it would be. I've played with one years ago, but haven't seen their latest. Those features sound really cool.
My car is very similar to yours (bmwrocks) except mine is silver grey metallic with black interior and is manual. I have a car on my desktop that looks very similar to yours if not exactly like it. I'm also getting Sirius satellite radio, which I'm hoping is integrated into the control scheme well (from the nav screen and steering wheel controls).
Thanks for the good info!
My car is very similar to yours (bmwrocks) except mine is silver grey metallic with black interior and is manual. I have a car on my desktop that looks very similar to yours if not exactly like it. I'm also getting Sirius satellite radio, which I'm hoping is integrated into the control scheme well (from the nav screen and steering wheel controls).
Thanks for the good info!
I have the DVD-based 2003 BMW nav system, which also uses single NAVTECH DVD for all of North America. It is as near perfect as I can imagine. Blows my mind everytime I use it (i.e., "How does it do that? How does it know?") It is SO detailed and so accurate....it can tell whether you are in the collector lane or the express lane of a highway.
Actually, before I purchased the car, I thought NAV systems were gimmicky or an unnecessary luxury. But now that I have it, I think it is an indispensable safety device...i.e., you are on the highway in fog or at night...this thing guides you to the next exit within 10 feet. Say goodbye to those crinckled up maps and that "lost feeling"....such terrific peace of mind...don't leave home without it!! Which you could dial up a man's voice, though. A male voice would seem more fitting for a BMW. The female voice could be reserved for the Lexus!![[rofl]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_rofl.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
Actually, before I purchased the car, I thought NAV systems were gimmicky or an unnecessary luxury. But now that I have it, I think it is an indispensable safety device...i.e., you are on the highway in fog or at night...this thing guides you to the next exit within 10 feet. Say goodbye to those crinckled up maps and that "lost feeling"....such terrific peace of mind...don't leave home without it!! Which you could dial up a man's voice, though. A male voice would seem more fitting for a BMW. The female voice could be reserved for the Lexus!
I agree with samlee, female voice is good, male voice would be very GAY.
In fact, I always thought it would be a great feature to let the user program voice commands of their own choosing. Like have the complete voice command list accessible and reprogrammable. Then you could replace the generic female "You have arrived" with your sexy female friend's voice saying "Finally you're here, I've been waiting".
In fact, I always thought it would be a great feature to let the user program voice commands of their own choosing. Like have the complete voice command list accessible and reprogrammable. Then you could replace the generic female "You have arrived" with your sexy female friend's voice saying "Finally you're here, I've been waiting".
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