This is a two part question.
First question. For those of you who have a built in navigation system in their MINI I would like to hear feedback as how good or bad the Nav System are, is it practical or worth it?..
Second question. Has anybody found a substitute or equivalent navigation system that is less pricey than the factory installed ones.?
I currently do not have a navigation system on my MINI but after a short demo by my brother Dave who has a portable Garmin Street Pilot III (deluxe model) I was impressed. Now I am shopping around to find out if there are any other Nav Systems out there that are better and cost less. The way this unit works, after an operator has entered the address of his destination this Nav System commence to work by saying that it is calculating followed by voice instructions on which direction to go and tells you the distance in feet for every turns that are coming up and while driving on the freeway it lets you know which lane to take, and the distance to the exit, it lets you know when to make left or right turn and also tells you that you have arrived at your destination. At one point the GPS told me that I have arrived at my destination but I could see the place so by thinking out loud I said which one the GPS smartly answered to the Right and when I looked again sure enough the GPS was right again. There are other functional uses of this little gadget but too lengthy to explain. The cost of this unit was around $700-$800. I really like to hear from those who have Nav System before I buy one. Thanks in advance.

 

I have a couple different replies to your question:

1. The new PDA module looks to be a retro-fit installation that has some very cool features not in the NAV system: checkout Mini.com International website for more info. No idea about cost.

2. The NAV system is great for areas that you're not familiar with - questionable usefulness in areas you already know :smile:

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Pure Silver w/ black MC, Premium, Sports, and Cold-weather pkgs, CVT, + NAV system - and that little shark-fin antenna! (too much fun!)

 

Just a few additional thoughts on the Nav System...

Although I don't have my MINI yet, I've ordered the Nav System primarily because of it's "factory" installation. I've used GPS systems for years (in my car) during long trips. But because they were generally hand-held systems, I was always stringing power cords, and external antenna cables, and then using suction cups or sand bags to hold the little devil in place. And even then, it was too little to read the display easily; and it would routinely get loose and tumble across the car dash.

With the MINI unit, you get a system that is large enough to be legible; it's not going to come loose, or require additional cables; and it's seamlessly integrated into the car interior (and speaker system).

You probably could get a 3rd party Nav system with as many (or more) features, and even one that is "built-in". And if you found a good installer, you MIGHT get it to work with the stereo speakers, steering wheel controls, etc.

But the MINI unit already does all of that!

Sooo.... unless you intend to spend a great deal of money on stereo equipment, and custom fittings, and a Nav system with very sophisticated or specialized capabilities (differential GPS, anyone?); the standard unit didn't sound too bad to me.

 

I didn't get the factory system because I wanted one of these instead.

Magellan GPS 750

 

After a cursory review of that link, I can say that the MINI system does do almost all of that! The major things I saw that the MINI NAV lacks are the Points of Interest locations and the Exit Services Information. (And maybe these are features I haven't figured out without the manual) I think a DVD based system will address those even it doesn't have it now.