Having the service be free is a big deal, as those $15-20/month add-ons can add up.

On the other hand, having traffic be “real-time” could be a problem for iDrive, which is sloooooww to process a simple command.

The Ultimate Driving Machine keeps getting better. That’s good, because my buddy just bought an Acura RDX and their Nav system is money.

Yet another thing to distract you from driving. Ever wonder why every time you use the iDrive you have to agree that you understand that the system is distracting and can cause accidents?

Jon.

Good, BMW, good. Some drivers will really appreciate this.

If this traffic stuff really works, then I would get nav in the new 335i Coupe, if it is in its infancy, I’ll wait.

The new 335i Coupe is friggin fast BTW.

BMW should just include voice command with every idrive. At least that would give a safer alternative.

Veda is right, and we wouldn’t have to fuss with the iDrive wheel itself.

The BMW nav systems do have voice commmands if you dont want to use the iDrive knob. Also, it was designed to be at eye level just outside the line of sight so you dont take your eyes of the road for a quick glance… which is safe. Unlike other nav systems located in the dash making people look down and away from the road. iDrive may not get props from auto reviewers who spend 30 minutes in a car, but those who own it love it. No wonder other nav systems are following with iDirve like knobs and higher mounted screens.

The version I have in my 2005 5 series doesn’t include voice command. There’s no way you can take a quick glance when trying to change the airflow levels of the AC. Unless you take the time to remember the steps which is a pain in itself. And I won’t get to changing a simple function like the radio which is a torture in a long drive cause you can’t do it safely on the freeway while going 90mph. It’s just downright dangerous especially considering the sporty nature of the car and the type of people who drive them. I don’t know what they were thinking. Perhaps it’s a showoff piece to set it apart from the other brands.

Wow. Real time in car traffic updates, long time coming.

Great addon.

I have iDrive in my 6er. My biggest complaint about it is the how slow the computer is to responding to your commands. Otherwise, I think iDrive is a good design. I think the people who complain about iDrive aren’t appreciative of the fact that you have one big fat knob, instead of many little knobs. For often performed commands, you know the sequence of movements to move the knob by memory. You don’t have to take your eyes off the road ever to figure out if your touching the right knob out of say 30, because you only have one knob to deal with. In other words, once you get use to iDrive, I think you spend less time looking at your dash, and more time looking at the road. That itself is a good safety feature.

Of course, most of this advantage is taken away, because iDrive is glacially slow, and sometimes unresponsive to your commands. so, you often times have to look at the iDrive screen to make sure that your commands were carried out.

Anyways, they’ve had this stuff in Japan for a very long time. why is it that America is slow in adapting cutting edge consumer technology? Here we are pounding our chest about the “American Inventive Spirit”. Despite that, I sometimes feel my Korean, Singaporean, and Japanese colleagues view my country crude, old fashion and out dated; in the same way I have a disdain for hicksville America.

Acura already does this, and it just seems like it will cause more accidents. i would rather sit through traffic than lose my car.
-Dav

Acura beat them to it

Why no 7-series?!?

wow!!!

Toy Yoda convinced me. This tech is premature. I’ll bite later.

Good idea….not ready for prime time.

[...] [Source: Left Lane News] [...]