GPS system recommendations.

Bluepan · #1 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 08:49 PM

My car is loaded up the ass except for one thing, and that would be a damn GPS system, Bmw thought it would be funny to build a coffee machine into my dash, but not give me the gps. Anyways my sense of direction is terrible and I'am looking for any recommendations from you guys. I have a 2004, M3.. Something small, prefer something that has a flip up screen..

Any help would be great, thanks!

Glucas21 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:27 PM

Are looking for an in dash GPS unit or something smaller like a hand held one? And how often will you be using it?

carstereopro · #3 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:35 PM

Wait until after the first of the year. Lowrance Electronics (over 20 years in the marine navagation, depth and fish finder market) will be releasing an automotive navagation line that kicks ass.

from $200 to $2000. Hand held, portables, perminant, touch screen..... You name it they will have it.

The coolest freature, most have hard drives built in (20-40 gig) with music and MP3 playback. So you can add a portable MP3 player to your car thats built in the Nav.

sab568 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:46 PM

hey guys, sorry for the hijack... but carstereopro, you seem to know your stuff with car electronics. Im also looking for a GPS but more in the hand heald (PDA) form. What do you recomend. I already have a compaq Ipaq h3600 what do you think some good options would be??? I looked at the navman 3450 and im liking it more and more every day.... let me know what you think

dunesforyou · #5 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:51 PM

a compass from the dollar store

tells your direction and can fit in your pocket!

Glucas21 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:59 PM

Check out the Garmin IQUE 3600 it is a sweet hand held nav system. I did a custom install in my friends brand new Audi A4 with that one.

carstereopro · #7 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:11 PM

sab568- my friend has the NAVMAN with his compaq pda, he loves it, except for long distance driving (from one region to another) he had to buy more memory to store all the maps. besides that he loves it.

best part about it, if you already have the pda, the nav is fairly affordable.

sab568 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:13 PM

i have a 256 mb stick in it already.... and i have the pda also. I was looking around to see how much it was, and its ranging between 150 (ebay) to 210 at different retailers... has he had any problems with connecting to satellites or loosing signal suddenly?

carstereopro · #9 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:31 PM

Not really, he used it to go from Mass to Florida, Florida to Pa, Pa to Vt, Vt back to Mass.

He said it worked the balls until he had to swap out the 2nd memory card and re-load the destination. they did it at a rest stop when they needed gas and food, so they didn't loose any time.

I guess he had to do it once between MA and Fl, again between Fl and Pa. He was fine every where in between.

carstereopro · #10 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:32 PM

he drives a 2004 Ford F250, and everything was sitting on a winsheild mount on top of the dash

sab568 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:32 PM

how big of a card did he use? and just wondering if you know if they kit brings everything it needs.... software mounting hardware etc, or are there any other optional things that i should get, like an external antenna

carstereopro · #12 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:38 PM

I think he had 2- 256 cards, and hade a region loaded on each. I guess you'd nees 4 or 5 256 cards to do the whole country, or two 512mb cards.

760List · #13 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 11:36 PM

Get one of the nice ones from Garmin that mount to your dash that run about 1200...they work really really well and look small and stylish. I think there is one with like a 2gb drive with it.
Personally I love the Dvd Nav system from BMW....they really keep you up to date on maps and love the interface...just too bad I'm getting carpel tunnel from my I-drive...lol

Bluepan · #14 (**permalink**) 11-18-2004, 07:51 PM

http://buyriteelectronics.com/Mercha...ct_Code=AVICN1

this is what i'am looking at right now, i just dont want some fuck smashing my window and taking it out, because it doesnt install Flush, so it will be a huge heat bag.

Glucas21 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-18-2004, 08:31 PM

The Avic-n1 is a whole different story. That is the top of the line DVD/CD/MP3/WMA/NAV system. You can get it to mount flush, but I have never seen one in an E46. They are expensive though, my brother just ordered on, but he works for best buy so he got a huge discount. One of the cool features with it is that you can display digital gauges which show what the car is doing. You can't go wrong with that as a head unit.