[rallybull]

I had an accord (with navigation) before I purchased the 2013 335i (f30). I always felt that the navigation lacked something in terms of displaying street names on the maps. I got a E90 loaner from my BMW dealer yesterday which also happened to have navigation and I instantly found it much better.

So here are the problems with the navigation system:
1) Hardly any street names appear at ALL zoom levels. I've noticed 800ft displays the most number of street names, but still not enough.

2) Irrelevant street names are displayed. The names of major streets are not displayed while some random internal micro-street names are displayed. WTF? It is not that the map does not have the data about the major street names -- it just does not display them most of the times.

3) The street names take quite a while to start appearing. If you are in a moving car you would have most likely moved out of that area before the navigation decides to display the street names in that area.

Here are two before and after images of the same map region as displayed by the navigation initially and after 120 seconds. (ignore the actual times, I had to restart the car a few times to get the shots right)

BEFORE



AFTER





Also a video that shows this phenomenon:

[tony20009]

Yep, that's definitely not what happens on the e90's navigation.

I looked at your video. I couldn't tell that the car was moving based on the navigation screen. Were you in interactive mode rather than regular mode?

Have you tried a higher level of detail (i.e., closer view)?

When you actually are using the navigation to find your way somewhere, are the directions it provides accurate?

[Tsuyoi]

Do you have HUD? I've never had to worry about street names being listed on the main nav display, mainly because I just glance at it once to see roughly what route the nav's taking, and the rest of the time the HUD tells me everything I need to know, including street name for the next direction.

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Yep, that's definitely not what happens on the e90's navigation.

I looked at your video. I couldn't tell that the car was moving based on the navigation screen. Were you in interactive mode rather than regular mode?

Have you tried a higher level of detail (i.e., closer view)?

When you actually are using the navigation to find your way somewhere, are the directions it provides accurate?

The car was not moving at the time I took the shots (it would have been difficult). No I was not in interactive mode.

Yes I have tried different zoom levels (a bit more and a bit less than 800ft) but they suck even more.

The directions provided by the system is accurate. No issues with that.

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

Do you have HUD? I've never had to worry about street names being listed on the main nav display, mainly because I just glance at it once to see roughly what route the nav's taking, and the rest of the time the HUD tells me everything I need to know, including street name for the next direction.

Yes, I have an HUD. The problem is not really while the navigation system is providing directions from point A to point B. It is more about an issue that while I am travelling (irrespective of where I have any set destination), the maps don't show adequate street names, even the major street names are not shown. Think of it as "situation awareness".

So for example, half a mile short of a major street crossing, I cannot even tell what street I am approaching. Another example would be that almost all GPS systems have a facility to display the current street name on which you are travelling. I have owned several GPS systems before and even a $45 portable no-brand name system does better than this.

[Frogman]

You can see the current street name by displaying the Arrow view on the split screen. Of course, that only works if you are having the car navigate somewhere.

I can see not showing a lot of street names to avoid clutter, but I don't need 2 square inches of empty screen either. Plus (as was previously stated), when it does show some names, they are for minor streets that you couldn't care less about.

[CKau]

I didn't notice this issue on demo drives but now that I own the car I have the same issue.

Most of the time the streets I go to are short and this is largely not an issue. However where the streets are long it is a real hassle to locate the label. Sometimes it doesn't even show up at all.

Totally unacceptable as the whole point of built on nav is to not carry a paper street directory with you. The VW RNS510 is way better than this.

I am surprised this shortcoming is not more widely discussed. Maybe cos its hidden in this small specialist subforum

[rallybull]

yes... perhaps only bmw can get away with this quality of substandard delivery in their products.

[CKau]

I played around a bit more and realised that some streets are just not named at all. Thankfully in interactive mode the pointer tells you the road name even if it is not
labelled at any of the zoom levels.

I would say that you have to use the nav as just something that gets you to a known destination or something that helps you plan a route.

I know what you mean by situational awareness... Unfortunately it's clunky and requires the use of interactive mode to achieve that.

When i first saw the on the test drive i assumed it worked ok. Its only when you live with it day to day you realise how s**t it is.

[cfm56d7b]

I noticed the same NAV behavior yesterday while driving. While in 3D perspective mode, the next street where I had to make left turn did not have a name. And it was a major street - only 200 feet from the where my car was at that moment.

I changed NAV to non 3D mode (North) and the street names appeared as one would expect.

Very unusual since other NAV systems manage the display of street names in 3D mode more intuitively.

[DJHakim]

I too am noticing that the F30 nav (CIC) is pretty slow, possibly slower than the E90 nav (CIC).

[Gt5422md]

Originally Posted by DJHakim

I too am noticing that the F30 nav (CIC) is pretty slow, possibly slower than the E90 nav (CIC).

Startup seems slow sometimes on my F30 Nav... Slower than my '09 Subaru or after market Alpine. I realize a lot more is going on w/ the iDrive, but it is still somewhat annoying in a $50k+ car.

[DJHakim]

Originally Posted by Gt5422md

Startup seems slow sometimes on my F30 Nav... Slower than my '09 Subaru or after market Alpine. I realize a lot more is going on w/ the iDrive, but it is still somewhat annoying in a $50k+ car.

Agreed. Startup is slow, too. E90 used to "preload" the iDrive the moment you unlocked the vehicle. By the time you got in and started up, iDrive was ready (or near ready). F30 does not seem to do that, or it just takes noticeable longer to startup!

[zenmaster]

I've had a 2007 and now a 2010 E90. Takes a good couple of minutes to start up nav, and after that start up you still have to get satellite lock which can be up to 3-5 minutes longer. Perhaps my GPS is not working properly, or it is due to my area surrounded by buildings. I do not know how fast it is supposed to be under certain conditions, but you can always count on forum members' exaggerations to add to the confusion.