I'm placing an order for my MCSa and I'm debating NAV but can't find an answer to this question:

Does the NAV system give you access to anything in the on-board computer you can't access without it?

I know it provides additional audio displays and a PDC graphic but anything else (besides NAV). I just can't see paying $2100 for NAV so trying to figure out if the other benefits make it worth the funds.

thanks

 

It displays your songs/artists/playlist etc. if you spring for the iPod adapter. Also it gives a TPMS graphic which shows the status (low or normal, not actual PSI) of all four tires. And it seems you can only activate the hourly chime if you have NAV. I'm guessing that goes for setting a speed limit warning as well. Finally keep in mind that it has real time traffic updates. Pretty much everything you can access through the turn stalk - tach display, albeit not quite as conveniently.

 

It also displays tracks on mp3 CDs in the built-in CD player. Has nice option for balancing speakers side-to-side and back-to-front, as well as bass & treble.

There are some onboard computer features and settings that are only available with the NAV. I don't recall which they are at the moment.

There is a trip computer that displays an number of parameters. Not sure if you get that without the NAV.

The NAV has real-time traffic system that guides you around congestion in major cities. Worked well for me in Los Angeles and San Jose at rush hour.

One of the selling points for me was that it replaces the cartoon speedometer with a Star Trek NAV screen and a very cool outer band speedo. Impressed my passengers. Which is better than having to justify a pie pan sized speedo.

I'm very glad I spent $2100 on the NAV. At the time I wasn't sure I'd get much use out of it, but it has been extremely useful, and is very handy as a general interface to the car.

 

It has a good visual integration with Bluetooth (contact lists, etc). The programmable settings only available through the Nav are more obscure things like sensitivity of auto headlights and wipers. But amazingly, without Nav even a dealer cannot set them.

It is hard to justify Nav if you analyze in terms of dollar vs function value. It does offer some appealing and desirable features.

 

Where are settings for "sensitivity of auto headlighs and wipers"?? I have not seen those in there anywhere?

 

and don't forget about the phone integration......

 

And for the 2008 model MINI's the factory nav system has now dropped in price by $100. It's now $2,000 instead of $2,100. Still pricey for sure, but personally, I wouldn't buy a 2nd gen MINI without one.

 

That was my recollection from a thread I saw on MINI2. Maybe the settings weren't exactly those but I can't find the thread right now.

 

If I recall, the user manual states that the auto headlamps can indeed be adjusted for sensitivity. However, there's no such feature to be found on our nav equipped 2nd gen MINI.

 

From finding a few posts on mini2 it looks like you do need nav in order to change the sensitivity of the lights but there does not seem to be a sensitivity setting for the wipers.

The thing I find really stupid is the post I found had scanned manual pages. The manual clearly shows how to adjust this via on-board computer but those without nav don't have this setting.

Anyone care to confirm?

 

It's completely opposite for me. There is a setting (on the OBC - no nav required) for setting the sensitivity of the auto wipers, but none that I can find for setting the sensitivity of the auto headlamps.

 

That must be a later build feature. My March car does not allow the changing of the sensitivity for either the headlights or the wipers. I have the nav system.

I spoke to Ask Mini soon after I picked up my car and they said the headlight sensitivity feature was deleted for US cars after the manual was printed. Didn't give an explanation.

 

It is in fact a later build feature. Showed up around week 32 (August) along with the new TPMS system, updated door sills, cruise control display and sport button status in the tach and 'gong' sound.

Like TheOfficeMaven said, it allows you to adjust sensitivity of the rain-sensing wipers (to 1 of 4 settings) regardless of NAV or not.

 

Before ordering my MCS I was lucky to drive an MCS with the NAV system.
I was dissapointed to find out that it is the same crap as used by BMW in their beemers. (slow, no maps for quite some european countries etc etc)
Compared to a decent TomTom whatever NAV system (even the TomTom version for pocket PCs is much more intuitive, faster) the price MINI asks for it is gently put a robbery.

So I went for Bluetooth/audio usb function and phone prep. I received my MCS couple of weeks ago just to find out that the voice command works only with the telephone but not with the audio system (although it was promised by the sales representative it willl work with the audio system without the NAV) THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT VOICE COMMAND DOES NOT WORK with the Audio system if no NAV is installed !