Is i-drive a must have on M3?

[X5-User]

Not sure if this is the right place to post to get more attention.

I am currently shopping for M3 and most what I can find around my area with fair price don't have idrive. I am looking for feedback weather if it is a must have in a car like M3 or I really shouldn't think about it when searching?

Will I regret one day not having i-drive in my M3?

[luxbmw]

Negative. I like my dash, sans hump. Plus you don't have to deal with all the e-glitches which are inevitable.

[xSOULJAHx]

You already know the answer to that. Don't fool yourself, apply patience, and get one with the iDrive (and any other options you know you want).

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Palestine

Not sure if this is the right place to post to get more attention.

I am currently shopping for M3 and most what I can find around my area with fair price don't have idrive. I am looking for feedback weather if it is a must have in a car like M3 or I really shouldn't think about it when searching?

Will I regret one day not having i-drive in my M3?

Last 2 M3s for the shop were sans i-Drive.

I'm a bit of a gadget hound, but would do it all over again as my phone has everything I need and more. However, this is strictly a personal preference.

[Law]

I wouldn't miss the pre-LCI nav (CCC iDrive) one bit but the CIC iDrive (09+) is very good.

Is it a must have? No, but it definitely makes daily driving a lot more convenient and enjoyable and I would probably miss it.

Simple advice to you: If you're even leaning towards getting nav, then i wouldn't settle because then you'd spend the rest of your ownership justifying why you didn't. On the other hand, if you're set on not getting nav (i.e., you don't want it; you can care less; you want to build a track car & strip the interior anyways), then get one without.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Law

I wouldn't miss the pre-LCI nav (CCC iDrive) one bit but the CIC iDrive (09+) is very good.

Is it a must have? No, but it definitely makes daily driving a lot more convenient and enjoyable and I would probably miss it.

Simple advice to you: If you're even leaning towards getting nav, then i wouldn't settle because then you'd spend the rest of your ownership justifying why you didn't. On the other hand, if you're set on not getting nav (i.e., you don't want it; you can care less; you want to build a track car & strip the interior anyways), then get one without.

It is not about that I will be using it a lot or not. For navigation, I usually use my phone which has google maps (best nav ever). It is about any other functions it has. Looks. And resale value. I noticed that the non-nav M3 stays in market longer until it is sold for really low price.

[Petros]

Originally Posted by Palestine

Not sure if this is the right place to post to get more attention.

I am currently shopping for M3 and most what I can find around my area with fair price don't have idrive. I am looking for feedback weather if it is a must have in a car like M3 or I really shouldn't think about it when searching?

Will I regret one day not having i-drive in my M3?

YES! Depending on which year you're buying, the difference between a stripped to a fully loaded car shrinks dramatically for a used car. So for basically peanuts you're better off getting the car with the most options. Even if you don't use Nav very often, at least it's there for the rare occasions when you want it. Also what hasn't been mentioned is that you get the functionality of iDrive with all sorts of added functionalities. You get M Drive which helps configure the car into your favourite performance mode, though I think you can have it coded into cars without iDrive. You also get the ability to adjust a whole bunch of different settings in the car's entertainment system, AC, communications, bluetooth, etc.

And one last bit, if you get a 2008 car and decide later to upgrade to the newer CIC Nav, you can do that if you already have the CCC Nav. If your car doesn't have Nav to begin with then that won't be possible.

And finally, VIVA PALESTINA!

[FogCityM3]

The 12 lbs that you save by opting out for no i-drive isn't worth it for a "stripper build", IMO given the conveniences it offers as a DD and if you like to listen to music and shuffle it around. Much better to go after wheels/brakes for performance gain (lose unsprung weight) and better feel on both street and track.

[Krockit1]

Don't settle for the generation 1 iDrive system. It is maddening. the CIC, generation 2 iDrive system is very intuitive and works quite well. If tunes are important to you it is a must. Great for setting M drive, phoning, all the stuff you shouldn't be doing while driving

[s85e90]

No Idrive/Nav for me in any of My m cars. Looks stupid IMO with the dash layout and my phone does all that crap. (Google Maps through bluetooth).

My phone always updates as well. No need for redundancy in car. I just need my exhaust to listen to.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Petros

And finally, VIVA PALESTINA!

Thanks for your comment and support man I also lived in Canada for more than 11 years. I lived in Ottawa and few years in Montreal. Where in Canada are you about?

[G80indy]

I drive / NAV = expiration date

Just sayin'

[Law]

Originally Posted by Palestine

It is not about that I will be using it a lot or not. For navigation, I usually use my phone which has google maps (best nav ever). It is about any other functions it has. Looks. And resale value. I noticed that the non-nav M3 stays in market longer until it is sold for really low price.

Maybe i was misunderstood when i used "nav". I mean't "nav" as a reference to the complete iDrive system, not just strictly the maps functions. Sorry if it was misinterpreted that way.
With that said, not everyone feels comfortable or safe to be searching for directions on their phone while driving. It may feel compromised for certain drivers, which is why i made the recommendation that if one wants a car with iDrive, he shouldn't settle for one that doesn't have it & vice-versa.

I wouldn't recommend basing a preference-based decision on resale alone.
That would be akin to buying a PRO CLUB that isn't your size so that it'll sell on eBay easier. What's the point?
Resale is important to an extent, but the E9X M3 is far from a collector's item so just buy the car with the options you want (or don't want) and enjoy the period of ownership; buy the shirt that fits you

[fuddman]

I bought my no nav car for the sake of simplicity. I did not want computer decisions over riding my decisions. Which is also why the car is a 6spd. It does, however, have heated seats
The only time I regret not having an I drive system is when I have to change the clock from Standard time to Daylight savings time. It's still on Standard time.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by fuddman

I bought my no nav car for the sake of simplicity. I did not want computer decisions over riding my decisions. Which is also why the car is a 6spd. It does, however, have heated seats
The only time I regret not having an I drive system is when I have to change the clock from Standard time to Daylight savings time. It's still on Standard time.

LoL funny; my clock is still behind too; It's easy to change I guess I just am lazy. I just look at know to add 1 hr.

[deletedelete]

iDrive is a must for me. I love seeing the album artwork from the song playing plus it's split screen and shows lots of useful things. As a weekend or track car then it's not needed but as a dd I think it's a must.

[ailikesiliu]

No, cause the sysyem will be dated sooner or later, plus everyone has a cellphone nowadays.

[Petros]

Originally Posted by bbs_lm

No, cause the sysyem will be dated sooner or later,

Why do people keep saying that? What does that even supposed to mean? The whole car is now outdated, and in fact the entire E90 platform is outdated. By that logic the OP shouldn't even be buying an E90 M3 at all and instead wait for the F80.

Anything and everything you can possibly think of will become outdated at one point in time. Does that mean we should not buy anything at all then so that we don't have outdated property?

[G80indy]

LOL
The e9x driving experience is far from outdated.
Have you read the reviews?

[vegaseric]

Nav/Audio/BT technology advances much faster than automobile tech. I can definitely understand not making iDrive a priority when selecting an M3. Only the buyer (the OP in this case) can decide.

[Petros]

Originally Posted by 330indy

LOL
The e9x driving experience is far from outdated.
Have you read the reviews?

A 13 year old S2000 drives even better. And yes, it too is outdated.

[Lalit@autocouture]

Not having idrive is such an eyesore. The dash looks dated and just plain ugly without it IMO. It really looks as if something is missing. Not for nothing, scrolling through a large playlist/phonebook without idrive is a total pain in the ass. Do you really want to be using a phone or windshield mount navigation system in your M3? So ghetto if you ask me lol. Regardless of CCC or CIC (I've had both), make sure you get it!