Doing research on whether to add the Nav package to my new MINI order. (Super pumped!!) I'm looking for pros and cons from users, please. Thanks for the guidance. Looking forward to being a fellow owner.

- LAS

 

If you are intrested in the nav function,my Garmin takes care of that for me just fine,for several hundred dollars less.Q

 

Good advice. I use a Garmin too and it works better and more easily than any GPS I have ever used.

 

I have an R56 with Nav. It is amazing. Has never failed me and is the first navigation I've experienced that works in the heart of new york city... no matter what the weather or skyscrapers in your vicinity. Although the UI may not seem as intelligently put together as a portable, it looks very sophisticated in the dash and I like seeing the map turning with the car when you have it on "show direction of travel," like you would see on an Iphone with gps.

 

The main reason I'd add nav is for the DVD drive. Well, that and the turn-by-turn directions will be easier to hear since they'll be louder. However, if Connected without nav has the DVD drive I'd consider that and using a Navigon portable simply because you can't do split screen like in a BMW.

 

In the 2011 cars, the Nav doesn't use a DVD drive - the maps/info are stored in flash memory and update via the USB port in the glove box.

 

I know that. My M3 had the new iDrive. With the base system you get a cd drive. With navi you get a DVD drive. I was wondering what you get with Connected but no navi because I'd be using it for movies with a portable unit for navi. And before you tell me about the lockout, it can be bypassed.

 

Sorry, I think I misunderstood your question. On my 2011 MCS with Navi, the entertainment system doesn't recognize a DVD at all - I just went out and put one in, thinking I was about to discover a feature I didn't know about. It seems unlikely that a car with Connected would handle a DVD if the Navi system doesn't, but I have yet to encounter a car that only has Connected.

That said, to the OP: The Navi is neat; I like the traffic conditions display, although that depends on local transmissions, and not all roads have equal coverage. I've only played with the navi a little bit so far, but I've already gotten it to tell me to "Please make U-turn"! It is pretty spendy though, since the center armrest is a required add-on for another $250 on top of the Navi/Connected price.

 

Forgive my newbie-ness, but it seems all that DVD talk doesn't apply to me, right? Because the '11 Nav uses flash memory, yes?

So I guess I have another 'for' and another 'against' Nav?! Hahaha.

Thanks for the insight, guys. I'm hoping to order mine in another couple days!!!

 

That is correct. The 2011 Nav does use flash memory to store its database, unlike earlier models, which used a DVD to store the info. The database can be updated via a plug-in connection in the glovebox.

I played around a little more with the Nav in my '11 Clubman this afternoon, going through the points of interest menus. When the Nav is giving instructions, it doesn't tell you to turn left on Carson Steet; it just tells you to turn left at the next street. It does give you a couple of 'heads up' instructions beforehand, such as prepare to turn left in 800 feet; or stay to the right. I like that it seems to know where freeway entrance ramps are, which is handy since in LA they're not consistently placed.

I would encourage you to look at a Nav-equipped car before making your purchase decision, if possible. The other thing that you get with the Nav is a larger display for the radio/iPod controls. Instead of working all the radio menus through the ***** and buttons in the bottom of the speedo, most of it gets done with the joystick controller in the center console between the shifter and the handbrake.

 

I have a car with connected and NO nav. I am told I can install any updates by way of my iPhone or USB port. I don't think my cd player will play DVDs. I will try one. I really like the connect system and wife copilot loves playing with in too. The interface with my iPod is so easy, I wonder what would happen if I plug in my iPad. I have a garmin for finding stuff.
My $.02 worth.

 

I've seen multiple new cars on the lot with just Connected and no nav. I shake my head as the cost to add Nav is ridiculously low. Now if Mini ever gives in and passes the output from an iphone onto the screen allowing maps.app to show onscreen, then it would be fantastic. I think the apps versions would be better as you can choose from any of the available GPS apps then. Call yer congressman and request it!

 

I HATE stuff hanging off my dash so I would go for the factory nav if I had it to do over. I have tired a few different garmin mounts and they all end up bugging me. Now I use my phone.

 

I have connect only. It is cheap as it included Comfort Blue which I think is $500 and the arm rest included another 250. So I figure for $250 it was a bargin. I run a Tom Tom for nav which for $169 included free traffic for life and free map upgrades for life. I am sure they will not be free with MINI. I prefer the Nav on the left a pillar as it more in the line of site to keep you eyes on the road if you want to view the map. Other great part is I can run my nav and have the full mini connect options to play with. If you have the nav screen going thats about all you see, no album art etc.

 

Pros - Its integrated into the car. The turn by turn directions will play over the car speakers and mute music playing. It looks very cool and you get a bigger display to make changes to the cars setup.

Cons - EXPENSIVE. Updating maps is expensive. If you have a portable GPS and leave it in the car while at the mall or parked on the street and you come back to your car with a smashed window and no GPS... don't be surprised.

I did not have a choice as I got a sweet deal on my car which was already on the dealer lot. It was loaded with everything except Navigation.

At first I used a TomTom with its suction cup mount.

Then I got the GoMINIGo mount:

Its just to the left of the tach. Its in a stealthy spot but its hard to use while driving.

So I got the Craven Speed TomTom GPS mount and put my GPS there:

Its to the right of the tach and is mounted to the back of the tach in a "W" shaped system that has arms extending left and right. On the left is a Scangauge mount. The GPS is also hardwired. It turns off when I turn off the car.

Then I got the TomTom app on my iPhone 4 and bought the TomTom car kit and this is what I use today:

 

I've been using the MINI built in Nav for a year now. Initially it was difficult to get used to since it is so much different than my built in Nav in my Dodge truck. I like the Nav but there are much better systems out there. Acura has the best IMO. Mini needs to provide a better index of the symbols it uses. They are non standard. Whatever POI you search for those symbols stays as the default icon/symbol and so if you search for hotels that is all you get. If you want gas stations you have to do a new search. Not good. My Dodge nav shows all the symbols and you can select one and it gives all the contact info etc. Not so in the MINI. You only get 1 type of symbol at a time and you can't select it to find out any info on that item.

One advantage in the MINI system it lets you program or change a destination while moving. US auto manufactures don't let you do this. They want you to stop, then reprogram your destination. It's a safety issue.

So even given the drawbacks. I like built in systems because of no wires and less chance of theft.

 

You guys are misunderstanding my question. I know the nav equipped models run the navi from a HDD. My 2010 M3 with iDrive does the same thing. My M3, however, got a dvd drive when equipped with navi (not sure why since updates are not done with a dvd), while the non navi M3s get a cd drive.

I wanted to know if a navi equipped CM got a dvd drive as well. If it doesn't, I'd order connected so I can play iPod movies and add a navigon since you can't do split-screen in a CM.

 

hey spates,
In my SUV, which has cavernous interior, I use an aftermarket Garmin. I like it. In my 2006 Mini I have in-dash factory. I like it. I thought about going aftermarket and not in-dash in my Mini, but I didn't want the interior cluttered up. It's small and there isn't much room for "stuff." The in-dash system is tidy the way I like my Mini to be.

 

In Canada, the Comfort Pkg now includes MINI MediaConnect (and sunroof + heated seats) which is enough for me... I just want pause/next/previous music control of my iPhone4.

When using GPS directions or phone calls on my iPhone4, the music is automatically paused or muted for directions/talking - works very well with a ProClip mount/holder combo. I already have the iPhone, plus the GPS software is relatively cheap. I can easily upgrade the software later or completely switch to another GPS software, all for a smaller fee.

I guess it's a very personal decision, I just can't justify CAD$1750 for Navi, but I CAN justify that much for the comfort package which includes the sunroof and heated seats which I love. :-)

I'll also be keeping my next MINI for a long time... just think of how dated that fancy integrated Navi might look 6+ years from now.

 

That's the beauty of the HDD-based navi system. I know the BMW version has already gone through at least one revision with no hardware changes. There's no reason the Mini version is should be any less upgradeable. I may add navi just for resale value, especially since I'm going to get Connected anyway (I want iPod video capability), and for $750 it's a "what the hell" kind of thing for me.

 

Simply, it takes a trademark MINI element--the dinner plate speedo--and compromises the look. Needle reminds me of old ribbon speedo's, last seen occasionally in 60's , or a mouse running around a track. Dinner plate speedo is classic. Agreed on the other hand, if one really wants Nav, aftermarket units also invariably look, well, aftermarket. But Garmin now does have the cool tie in to OBDII for faux gauges and data, which obviously MINI (or others') factory Nav doesn't do.