What's the 3-Series "Must Have" accessory
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Polling isn't working
How about this for a potential list:
1. BMW Alarm System
2. Universal Garage Door Opener
3. Clear Corners (or side markers and taillights)
4. Cell phone car kit (or BMW cell phone)
5. CD Changer
6. Aluminum Pedals
7. A wing or rear deck spoiler of some sort (M3 or AC Schnitzer)
8. Trunk Net
9. Zaino
How about this for a potential list:
1. BMW Alarm System
2. Universal Garage Door Opener
3. Clear Corners (or side markers and taillights)
4. Cell phone car kit (or BMW cell phone)
5. CD Changer
6. Aluminum Pedals
7. A wing or rear deck spoiler of some sort (M3 or AC Schnitzer)
8. Trunk Net
9. Zaino
I don't know
I would assume it's a stick on....
The best prices I've seen on these are from E46 Fanatics:
AC-Schnitzer 3-Piece Rear Spoiler (Sedan)
Price: $417.00
http://store.e46fanatics.com/proddetail.php?product_id=158
AC-Schnitzer 1-Piece Rear Spoiler Cabrio/Coupe/Sedan
Price: $249.00
http://store.e46fanatics.com/proddetail.php?product_id=476
--gary
I would assume it's a stick on....
The best prices I've seen on these are from E46 Fanatics:
AC-Schnitzer 3-Piece Rear Spoiler (Sedan)
Price: $417.00
http://store.e46fanatics.com/proddetail.php?product_id=158
AC-Schnitzer 1-Piece Rear Spoiler Cabrio/Coupe/Sedan
Price: $249.00
http://store.e46fanatics.com/proddetail.php?product_id=476
--gary
How about a DVD based navigation system (with no performance loss)! The biggest reason I didn't get the Nav option was because BMWs is CD based and I regularly travel between the various regions that the BMW system covers. However, it does seem to have a great interface.bol said:
BMW and Technology
I'm a gadget guy, and one thing I don't appreciate is the way BMW integrates technology into their vehicles.
Things that really annoy me:
:thumbdwn: Stereo Head Unit. BMW makes it impossible to swap this out without losing OBC functionality. They need to understand that stereos nowadays are like engine modifications. Everyone wants something special, so make it easy to make modifications. Other manufacturers are starting to understand. Some new products are coming out without head units, knowing that consumers want a choice in this matter and whatever the manufacturer chooses won't fit the bill. Some manufacturers are offering MP3 players standard. How about satellite radio? Minidisks? Anything?
:thumbdwn: Navigation. The BMW navigation system is ancient, based on old technology, and is known to be substandard compared to Japanese manufacturers. BMW seems to have about a 5-7 year technology cycle on these features, which is WAY to long for Gen X and Y types. It should be a dynamic system with satellite downloads. I would pay a monthly fee for this.
:thumbdwn: Cell Phones. Cell phone technology is changing way too fast to tie someone into a single unit for the entire ownership cycle of their vehicle. This is especially true in the US, where technology is rapidly changing. What to do? Create an open interface to allow either a variety of BMW phones to be installed, or to allow the easy installation of phone kits, possibly with a BMW adapter. Maybe it means they endorse an entire line of phones, like Motorola or Ericcson, providing a common interface for the manufacturer to plug in an entire line of phones. Ericcson, for example, is starting to come out with phones that work with one car kit. Spending $1500 on a cell phone that will be obsolete in two years is a bit much.
:thumbdwn: Stupid Dashboard MPG Gauge. Please give us something useful, even marginally useful. Oil temperature, battery voltage, etc. And make tire pressure monitoring standard on all cars, with a cluster giving digital readouts of tire pressure. THAT will conserve energy more than the goofy MPG gauge, and it should add to safety.
:thumb: Thumbs up on all the basics of car dynamics and engine performance. That's why I don't drive a Lexus or Infiniti.
--gary
I'm a gadget guy, and one thing I don't appreciate is the way BMW integrates technology into their vehicles.
Things that really annoy me:
:thumbdwn: Stereo Head Unit. BMW makes it impossible to swap this out without losing OBC functionality. They need to understand that stereos nowadays are like engine modifications. Everyone wants something special, so make it easy to make modifications. Other manufacturers are starting to understand. Some new products are coming out without head units, knowing that consumers want a choice in this matter and whatever the manufacturer chooses won't fit the bill. Some manufacturers are offering MP3 players standard. How about satellite radio? Minidisks? Anything?
:thumbdwn: Navigation. The BMW navigation system is ancient, based on old technology, and is known to be substandard compared to Japanese manufacturers. BMW seems to have about a 5-7 year technology cycle on these features, which is WAY to long for Gen X and Y types. It should be a dynamic system with satellite downloads. I would pay a monthly fee for this.
:thumbdwn: Cell Phones. Cell phone technology is changing way too fast to tie someone into a single unit for the entire ownership cycle of their vehicle. This is especially true in the US, where technology is rapidly changing. What to do? Create an open interface to allow either a variety of BMW phones to be installed, or to allow the easy installation of phone kits, possibly with a BMW adapter. Maybe it means they endorse an entire line of phones, like Motorola or Ericcson, providing a common interface for the manufacturer to plug in an entire line of phones. Ericcson, for example, is starting to come out with phones that work with one car kit. Spending $1500 on a cell phone that will be obsolete in two years is a bit much.
:thumbdwn: Stupid Dashboard MPG Gauge. Please give us something useful, even marginally useful. Oil temperature, battery voltage, etc. And make tire pressure monitoring standard on all cars, with a cluster giving digital readouts of tire pressure. THAT will conserve energy more than the goofy MPG gauge, and it should add to safety.
:thumb: Thumbs up on all the basics of car dynamics and engine performance. That's why I don't drive a Lexus or Infiniti.
--gary
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11,419 Posts
Re: BMW and Technology
Because of the current set up I'm for the first time ever leaving factory stuff alone I've had 7 cars, started out w/ just changing speakers to big $$ setups. I really miss the subs
The MPG gauge is out dated for sure. I think we all know that when we go full throttle, etc. our mileage is nil. The space could definately have a better use.
Gotta agree w/ your statements. The stereo and cel phone especially. The loss of function on the stereo could at least be improved if they would incorporate rca outs so that you could mod amps, speaker, and sources and still maintain the look and feel of the OEM head unit.Nat Brown said:
Because of the current set up I'm for the first time ever leaving factory stuff alone I've had 7 cars, started out w/ just changing speakers to big $$ setups. I really miss the subsThe MPG gauge is out dated for sure. I think we all know that when we go full throttle, etc. our mileage is nil. The space could definately have a better use.
Joined
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11,607 Posts
Re: BMW and Technology
THe BMW navigation system is quite excellent and serves its intended purpose very well. There is absolutely nothing about it that I find "substandard". The quality of the map data is dependent on a 3rd party, Navtech. Navtech supplies data to a majority of all vehicle navigation systems in the US, so I wouldn't say BMW is substandard based on this.
The navigation system does everything a quality navigation system should do: it does ETA calculation, alternate route calculation, on-the-fly re-routing for missed turns, turn-by-turn directions, points of interst, turn prompting (audio and visual) and address books among others. It also supports voice recognition, the ability to be updated (both interface and software), and the ability to be kept current using the most recent data CDs. It was a little slow, but recent updates have made the system quick.
Your hope for a dynamically updated system is a dream, and not bound for any US vehicle in the foreseeable future.
I'm not sure what people are expecting from the navigation system? Fancy colors and appealing to the decreased attention span of Gen X and Gen Y folks is not what the navigation system is targeted for. Getting you from Point A to Point B in an area you've never been to, without ever taking your eyes off the road is what it's all about, and the BMW system is just as good as any other navigation system I've tried.
Sure there are things that may be nice about systems from other manufacturers, but the BMW system does do what it's supposed to do very well.
-Al
Sorry, it really annoys me when people say things like this. :thumbdwn:Nat Brown said:
THe BMW navigation system is quite excellent and serves its intended purpose very well. There is absolutely nothing about it that I find "substandard". The quality of the map data is dependent on a 3rd party, Navtech. Navtech supplies data to a majority of all vehicle navigation systems in the US, so I wouldn't say BMW is substandard based on this.
The navigation system does everything a quality navigation system should do: it does ETA calculation, alternate route calculation, on-the-fly re-routing for missed turns, turn-by-turn directions, points of interst, turn prompting (audio and visual) and address books among others. It also supports voice recognition, the ability to be updated (both interface and software), and the ability to be kept current using the most recent data CDs. It was a little slow, but recent updates have made the system quick.
Your hope for a dynamically updated system is a dream, and not bound for any US vehicle in the foreseeable future.
I'm not sure what people are expecting from the navigation system? Fancy colors and appealing to the decreased attention span of Gen X and Gen Y folks is not what the navigation system is targeted for. Getting you from Point A to Point B in an area you've never been to, without ever taking your eyes off the road is what it's all about, and the BMW system is just as good as any other navigation system I've tried.
Sure there are things that may be nice about systems from other manufacturers, but the BMW system does do what it's supposed to do very well.
-Al
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15,677 Posts
I almost opted out of the Nav system for the very same reason. Living in MD/DC/VA puts us in the midst of 3 regions. I managed to score one of the regions and looking to get a copy of the other. From what I've heard, you can input the destination and you can swap out the CD when you get a chance to stop once you've crossed the boundaries. Never tried it though.jdlsc said:
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11,607 Posts
Each region map carries all local roads for your region, plus the major interstates for the entire US, so it'll get you to the city, after which you need the map CD to get you around locally at your destination.jw said:
I have been tinkering with my 2 map CDs (Northeast and Southeast), and am trying to reverse engineer a way to merge the 2 CDs (sizewise, both will fit, barely). Have been able to merge the Fodor's data from 2 CDs into 1, but the master database is much harder.
-Al
BMW Navigation
http://www.gpsinformation.net/lexusbmw.htm
STARTING OUT:
:thumb: LEXUS: Starts navigating immediately.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Needs input to start navigation.
INPUT:
:thumb: LEXUS: Touch screen. Very easy to input with touch-screen keyboard.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Rotary knob input. Extremely tedious to operate.
MAPS:
:thumb: LEXUS: DVD covers entire US
:thumbdwn: BMW: Half a dozen map CD's cover various regions (the breakup of some of the regions don't make much sense)
MAP QUALITY:
:thumb: LEXUS: Pretty complete set of maps.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Lacks many streets (NavTech)
VOICE QUALITY:
:thumb: LEXUS: Sounds like English
:thumbdwn: BMW: Sounds like a computer
The article also lists some nice Lexus features that add to the pleasure of using the system that have no BMW parallels. It's worth the read. I'm a big BMW fun, but they're not winning me over with their electronics and general quality.
THAT. my friends, is what I expect from a GPS system.
--gary
Want to hear about how a navigation system should work? Read this comparison of the BMW navigation system head to head with the Lexus sytem. The review was done by a GPS Website, so I don't think they've got Lexus bias here:
http://www.gpsinformation.net/lexusbmw.htm
STARTING OUT:
:thumb: LEXUS: Starts navigating immediately.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Needs input to start navigation.
INPUT:
:thumb: LEXUS: Touch screen. Very easy to input with touch-screen keyboard.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Rotary knob input. Extremely tedious to operate.
MAPS:
:thumb: LEXUS: DVD covers entire US
:thumbdwn: BMW: Half a dozen map CD's cover various regions (the breakup of some of the regions don't make much sense)
MAP QUALITY:
:thumb: LEXUS: Pretty complete set of maps.
:thumbdwn: BMW: Lacks many streets (NavTech)
VOICE QUALITY:
:thumb: LEXUS: Sounds like English
:thumbdwn: BMW: Sounds like a computer
The article also lists some nice Lexus features that add to the pleasure of using the system that have no BMW parallels. It's worth the read. I'm a big BMW fun, but they're not winning me over with their electronics and general quality.
THAT. my friends, is what I expect from a GPS system.
--gary
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