[XChallengeRdr]

I never had any trouble with mine and miss it when I'm driving the wife's Highlander.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

I am not a big fan of BMW navigation, but I like the feature that tells me how far it is to the next turn on the HUD.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

The steering wheel controls in combination with the HUD is another plus for me. My two gripes on BMW nav is looking forward with the interactive maps is clunky and distracting on my 2016 and traffic is often missing or wrong, even on interstates.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

There is a joke that used to go around the docks about a guy who ate off the dollar menu for a year to afford the down payment on a new Scarab only to find out he couldn't afford the fuel and slip fees.

Looking at on line parts costs, the difference in price for a HUD windshield for my 328i is $100. That's tip money. I paid more when my window was hit by a rock for the convenience of having it fixed while I was getting 50k service done.

BMWs are expensive to own and operate. When $100 becomes a budget issue, I'll buy a Corolla.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

I wasn't going to say anything but the price spread seems pretty consistent across BMW parts. The biggest jump I could find in a short search was on the 740i. There are five or six BMW windshield part numbers for that car and pricing is pretty varied based on HUD, driver assist, etc. Anyway, the MSRP difference for an X3 is $131. Link below. Of course it's possible that we're comparing BMW HUD to aftermarket w/o HUD to get a $1000 swing.

Glass - Windshield for 2021 BMW X3 | Wholesale BMW

www.bmwpartswholesale.com

I was suckered into buying windshield insurance by the dealer because the HUD windshields were so darned expensive. I wish I had done my homework.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

Two thoughts for the OP on the cracked windshield topic. First, it appears that there are only two windshield options for the 5 series and they are both a little over $1000. The second is how likely is a cracked windshield in the first place. I've had one cracked windshield on a car, and that was the one I noted earlier. Every SUV or Pickup I've owned has had a cracked windshield at some point. Unscientific for certain, but I have to wonder if the angel of the windshield has something to do with that.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

Being an old guy who spend way more time on Beemers than in Bimmers I can say a couple of things with some certainty.

At best, I’m in the middle of the pack in terms of riding/driving talent. Any passive help that I can get is appreciated, like HUD that brings that data closer to my field of view.

Half the folks out there are bad drivers. Okay more than half. So,

You can’t quit paying attention to the road and traffic. You just can’t. Random events will trump driving skill and technology at some point.

MPH doesn’t have to be monitored… if you have cruise control. I’m on the coastal plains and sleeping your way to 100 mph in a BMW on the interstate while you weave through traffic is really, really easy.

RPM is not a shown on my HUD.

My dash has some economy display that lights up brighter than the all the gauges on an otherwise very busy dash. I’m not sure that’s a well designed display.

I could go on.

m

 

[XChallengeRdr]

My '22 540i is my first HUD-equipped BMW. In Sport mode, a linear-line type tach is shown. It's not as good as a marked dial (it has no markings, just breaks in the line as increments), and a red-highlighted last section on the right end. You have a G30? What year? Maybe it is there an you didn't see it in Sport mode?

Thanks I'll check it out. I spend 80% of my time in the interstate and that's all in comfort mode.

 

[XChallengeRdr]

My '22 540i is my first HUD-equipped BMW. In Sport mode, a linear-line type tach is shown. It's not as good as a marked dial (it has no markings, just breaks in the line as increments), and a red-highlighted last section on the right end. You have a G30? What year? Maybe it is there an you didn't see it in Sport mode?

2016 F30. I fooled around with some settings trying to get the tach, but no joy. I can get it on the iDrive. I did sort out how to turn off some of the distracting Efficiency Dynamics so overall it was a good exercise.