[boostm3]

Can someone whos got the nav and Idrive on their 335i, or who has worked with it a little comment on how 'annoying' it really is? or how intrusive? ie, how much would you prefer a direct access to the key functions vs using the supplied Idrive? For those who order the car without it, are they going to have an appreciably easier or quicker or more direct experience in accessing the key, most used functions?

[hotsand5]

is the nav operating functions on the 335 the same as the e90's?

[Greeney]

Indeed.

[hotsand5]

Originally Posted by boostm3

Can someone whos got the nav and Idrive on their 335i, or who has worked with it a little comment on how 'annoying' it really is? or how intrusive? ie, how much would you prefer a direct access to the key functions vs using the supplied Idrive? For those who order the car without it, are they going to have an appreciably easier or quicker or more direct experience in accessing the key, most used functions?

since its the same as the e90's, then not annoying nor intrusive in my opinion. I think that it just takes some time getting used to the system. I thought that it was very easy to use.......well after about 3 weeks. All the main functions are also on the dash. HVAC controls, radio volume, lighting, etc. You also have 2 preset buttons on the steering wheel that you can customize. For instance, I had on button to toggle between cd/fm/am/etc., and the other to pull up my phone book list through bluetooth!

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by hotsand5

since its the same as the e90's, then not annoying nor intrusive in my opinion. I think that it just takes some time getting used to the system. I thought that it was very easy to use.......well after about 3 weeks. All the main functions are also on the dash. HVAC controls, radio volume, lighting, etc. You also have 2 preset buttons on the steering wheel that you can customize. For instance, I had on button to toggle between cd/fm/am/etc., and the other to pull up my phone book list through bluetooth!

Thats great.. So whats all the bs we keep hearing from the major automags, who Love the M5 and 6, and 7 series, but constantly complain that the 'infernal IDrive' (I almost began to think thats what it was called.. the 'infernal IDrive' from bmw.. I half expect to see it offered that way on the option sheet!) hopelessly ruins the whole experience! I dont know if the E92 Idrive is any different from that which theyre moaning about, but im glad to see its easy to live with on the 3 series, anyway..

[hotsand5]

well i heard that the e90's i drive is more refined than the 5,7 (never experienced those)...but when I first got my car, I was thiking that this sucks, but like I said the learning curve is very steep and within 3 weeks, I wouldn't want to live w/o it. No regrets at all!

[hotsand5]

I also think that once the writiers hear from somebody else that it sucks, they are quick to make that assumption as well, especially when driving the car for only a day or so.

[325 Baller]

I drive is the way to go. I love it, took me 2 days to learn.

[JSpira]

It's not only a question of iDrive - with iDrive you get satnav and the CCC (which is the high version of the car computer, v. M-ASK), you get a huge display which makes using the phone, setting Personal Preferences, selecting iPod tunes or satradio channels easy because it's more informative, and you get the Parking Distance Control (PDC) display. PLUS you get speech recognition which allows about 700 different commands INCLUDING speech recognition for your phone book (which is not available without iDrive).

It takes all of an hour of practice to get the hang of it.

[ska///235i]

Only down side I have with my idrive/nav is the lag

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by hotsand5

well i heard that the e90's i drive is more refined than the 5,7 (never experienced those)...but when I first got my car, I was thiking that this sucks, but like I said the learning curve is very steep and within 3 weeks, I wouldn't want to live w/o it. No regrets at all!

The I-Drive in the 3,5,6 & 7 are all the same except for the 1st generation I-Drive that was in the first few years of the current 7 series body. That version had an 8 way controller and menu.

Those reviewers in those magazines are idiots. Anyone can learn it in a short period of time. With the extended voice commands, I hardly ever touch the controller. I personally love it and wouldn't get a BMW w/o it now that I've had it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

The I-Drive in the 3,5,6 & 7 are all the same except for the 1st generation I-Drive that was in the first few years of the current 7 series body. That version had an 8 way controller and menu.

Not correct. The 7er has a completely different system. The iDrive (iDrive is the correct spelling) in the 3, 5, and 6 are the same.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by hotsand5

is the nav operating functions on the 335 the same as the e90's?

The 2007 models add Real Time Traffic to the Nav. The latest software makes improvements to some menus, etc. but I don't have any info on the details except that the Initial Warning Screen now gets dismissed automatically after a delay.

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Not correct. The 7er has a completely different system. The iDrive (iDrive is the correct spelling) in the 3, 5, and 6 are the same.

Thanks for correcting my spelling. I wouldn't have been able to sleep!


How is the 7 series different? They got rid of that 8 way menu it use to have.

[poldim]

It still has more options, and the seven has an optional rear screen...

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by poldim

It still has more options, and the seven has an optional rear screen...

What extra options does it have?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

They got rid of that 8 way menu it use to have.

No, they did not.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

How is the 7 series different? They got rid of that 8 way menu it use to have.

A brief look at the UI reveals most of the answer to your enquiry.

[DrPowers]

I think the iDrive is great... It did take about 3 weeks to get used to it.
It is a little laggy... but not more than any other in car navi.

The only problems I have with it is the navi itself is a little hard to use for finding points of interest. As of now there is no way to search for a POI

[TECENG]

It's not hard to use at all, as most people here seem to agree. I think the key is to learn/use the voice commands as it is nice to jump to exactly where you want without having to take your eyes off the road. Not that iDrive is that distracting for me anyway.

[BK]

I guess I have to be the jerk who says, "Did you try a search?" This question must have been asked and answered two or three dozen times here, and the answers are always the same: iDrive is great, get it (from iDrive owners), or iDrive isn't worth the money, don't get it (from non-iDrive owners).

FWIW, IMO iDrive is worth the money, but BMW navigation has a very, very poor interface compared with most other manufacturers' OEM or aftermarket portable GPS units. The maps, voice prompts, etc. are excellent and better than most systems out there, but the POI search function is just short of useless. But overall, iDrive is worth it and my next BMW will have iDrive.

[sruzgar]

I LOVE iDrive, it took me less that 24 hours to get used to it, I work with computers so it might have been a little quicker for me to pickup. Its definetley worth the money!

JSpira is correct the seven series is alsmot completley different, I tried to use my friends iDrive on his 7 series and for me it was very daunting at first. Maybe thats what the magazines are reffering to??