Frustrating BMW Nav Flaws

arch57 · 12-23-2018, 11:54 AM

My wife’s new 2018 330iX has the heads-up display and we both find that is one of the coolest unexpected options. Having the BMW nav directions is very desirable but we have been totally frustrated by the inaccuracies so far in 2 months of use.

Example 1) Bringing daughter to Portland Maine airport Google Maps always takes a short, fast route using tertiary state highways and town roads and the trip is about 55 minutes. BMW nav was trying to direct us another route (even though fastest was route option) that I never take and was 1h 10m which was unacceptable. I told my daughter to take out her phone and use Google Maps to reassure her we would get there on time.

Example 2) Sunday right before Christmas I was heading to Evergreen Walk in South Windsor CT about a 35 minute drive. The brain-dead BMW nav tried to take me off the HOV lane left exit after passing the correct exit on the right. I was assuming it found a better route so I didn’t override the correct exit until I saw ¾ mile later it really wanted me to use the HOV lane, which in CT is for 2 or more drivers and I was the only passenger. How in 2018 can BMW nav designers NOT KNOW THIS???
Then on way back home it wanted me to enter the highway in the HOV Ramp (not the regular ramp which was actually closer to my starting point). AGAIN UNACCEPTABLE!!!
My only “explanation” is that I have Toll Roads selected (because when we drive outside of CT we use toll roads). However, in CT we DON’T HAVE TOLLS (yet) and the HOV lanes are not Toll Lanes, so the BMW Nav should have NO business taking a single driver down the HOV lane. I could maybe forgive the system if somebody was in the passenger seat and some intelligent algorithm detected a 2nd occupant and therefore enabled HOV lane travel but this was not the case.

Anyone else have these issues? Is there a way to inform BMW to make improvements? like you can with Google Maps (and I’ve done that many times)

ThereGoesForNothing · 12-23-2018, 12:16 PM

Isnt there an option on the map to use fastest route or highways? Did you check he map options?

montr · 12-23-2018, 12:18 PM

I have a 2018 430i with Navigation, Head up display and CarPlay. I found that the BMW navigation often take me to less than optimal route and it is not accurate for business that recently moved (I have the latest Map update from BMW Connected).

Now, I use exclusively Waze or Google Maps with CarPlay. They are much more accurate for destinations, route and traffic. With Waze or Google Maps, I do all my search and the destination input with Voice control. With Waze, the voice entry works 100% time for me but with the BMW Navigation success rate is maybe 50%. The thing that I miss with CarPlay is the lack of integration with the HUD.

arch57 · 12-23-2018, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThereGoesForNothing

Isnt there an option on the map to use fastest route or highways? Did you check he map options?

Yes Fastest Route option is selected...still it should recognize HOV exits.

IK6SPEED · 12-23-2018, 01:53 PM

BMW info in car is often 12-24 months outdated and only updated twice a year.

Google is able to immediate update info as soon as Recieved as info is not stored locally.

Local outdated info will always be inferior as the data will always be outdated.

mbanks21 · 12-23-2018, 01:59 PM

I hate that it doesn't tell you what side of the road your destination is on. My wife's 2014 Sonata does.

Billfitz · 12-23-2018, 04:48 PM

My Nav does.

arch57 · 12-23-2018, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

BMW info in car is often 12-24 months outdated and only updated twice a year.

Yeah the HOV lanes on I-84 have only been there since 1989. Maybe they will update it in 2028!

IK6SPEED · 12-23-2018, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arch57

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

BMW info in car is often 12-24 months outdated and only updated twice a year.

Yeah the HOV lanes on I-84 have only been there since 1989. Maybe they will update it in 2028!

So would a NAV know whether to take a HOV lane or not as number of occupants are not specified?

Also, if there is construction going on (see I4 through Orlando) where HOV and exits, along with temporary roads are being used, no way will an in vehicle data system get it right. Worse, it might be using old data from the time of construction which doesn't exist any longer.

mbanks21 · 12-23-2018, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

My Nav does.

Just the voice. No on screen or HUD display

montr · 12-23-2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

So would a NAV know whether to take a HOV lane or not as number of occupants are not specified?

Also, if there is construction going on (see I4 through Orlando) where HOV and exits, along with temporary roads are being used, no way will an in vehicle data system get it right. Worse, it might be using old data from the time of construction which doesn't exist any longer.

Here in Atlanta, we have HOV lanes that can be used for free with mutiple occupants or you pay a toll if you are alone in the car. I have an RFID in the windshield for the PeachPass (https://www.peachpass.com/). When you have multiple occupants, I use the PeachPass App on my phone to enable the toll free for the next 4 hours. In the Waze settings, I enter all the toll pass that I have. Waze figure out if it will save me time or not by taking the HOV lane. Waze is free and constantly updated. The BMW navigation does not have this feature and you have to pay to get it updated (after the 3 years of free update).

IK6SPEED · 12-23-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montr

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

So would a NAV know whether to take a HOV lane or not as number of occupants are not specified?

Also, if there is construction going on (see I4 through Orlando) where HOV and exits, along with temporary roads are being used, no way will an in vehicle data system get it right. Worse, it might be using old data from the time of construction which doesn't exist any longer.

Here in Atlanta, we have HOV lanes that can be used for free with mutiple occupants or you pay a toll if you are alone in the car. I have an RFID in the windshield for the PeachPass (https://www.peachpass.com/). When you have multiple occupants, I use the PeachPass App on my phone to enable the toll free for the next 4 hours. In the Waze settings, I enter all the toll pass that I have. Waze figure out if it will save me time or not by taking the HOV lane. Waze is free and constantly updated. The BMW navigation does not have this feature and you have to pay to get it updated (after the 3 years of free update).

And the over the air updates are obviously outdated in a changing environment.

luckstr · 12-25-2018, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

My Nav does.

As does mine (2017 440i convertible), but it also wants to send me into HOV lane; WHY??

Billfitz · 12-25-2018, 11:02 AM

I can't say. Mine has never done that when passing through Hartford.

upsidedownfunnel · 12-26-2018, 12:03 PM

The amount of mapping data that Google has is simply unmatched by any other competitor. It's like expecting the upcoming BMW voice assistant to be as good as Alexa or OK Google. It's just not going to happen.

For example 1, did you actually take the 1h10m route? Or is that just what the ETA said? It's not uncommon for those estimates to be off by a fair amount.

Also, for example 2, there should be an option in the menus to use HOV or not (Prefer Car Pool Roadways). You might want to assign that setting to one of the shortcut keys if you find yourself switching that often.

12-23-2018, 11:54 AM	#1
arch57 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2018 330 iX Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Frustrating BMW Nav Flaws My wife’s new 2018 330iX has the heads-up display and we both find that is one of the coolest unexpected options. Having the BMW nav directions is very desirable but we have been totally frustrated by the inaccuracies so far in 2 months of use. Example 1) Bringing daughter to Portland Maine airport Google Maps always takes a short, fast route using tertiary state highways and town roads and the trip is about 55 minutes. BMW nav was trying to direct us another route (even though fastest was route option) that I never take and was 1h 10m which was unacceptable. I told my daughter to take out her phone and use Google Maps to reassure her we would get there on time. Example 2) Sunday right before Christmas I was heading to Evergreen Walk in South Windsor CT about a 35 minute drive. The brain-dead BMW nav tried to take me off the HOV lane left exit after passing the correct exit on the right. I was assuming it found a better route so I didn’t override the correct exit until I saw ¾ mile later it really wanted me to use the HOV lane, which in CT is for 2 or more drivers and I was the only passenger. How in 2018 can BMW nav designers NOT KNOW THIS??? Then on way back home it wanted me to enter the highway in the HOV Ramp (not the regular ramp which was actually closer to my starting point). AGAIN UNACCEPTABLE!!! My only “explanation” is that I have Toll Roads selected (because when we drive outside of CT we use toll roads). However, in CT we DON’T HAVE TOLLS (yet) and the HOV lanes are not Toll Lanes, so the BMW Nav should have NO business taking a single driver down the HOV lane. I could maybe forgive the system if somebody was in the passenger seat and some intelligent algorithm detected a 2nd occupant and therefore enabled HOV lane travel but this was not the case. Anyone else have these issues? Is there a way to inform BMW to make improvements? like you can with Google Maps (and I’ve done that many times)
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12-23-2018, 12:16 PM	#2
ThereGoesForNothing Private 20 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 5'er Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: MotherEarth iTrader: (0)	Isnt there an option on the map to use fastest route or highways? Did you check he map options?
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12-23-2018, 12:18 PM	#3
montr Captain 157 Rep 716 Posts Drives: 2010 335d, 2018 430i G-Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I have a 2018 430i with Navigation, Head up display and CarPlay. I found that the BMW navigation often take me to less than optimal route and it is not accurate for business that recently moved (I have the latest Map update from BMW Connected). Now, I use exclusively Waze or Google Maps with CarPlay. They are much more accurate for destinations, route and traffic. With Waze or Google Maps, I do all my search and the destination input with Voice control. With Waze, the voice entry works 100% time for me but with the BMW Navigation success rate is maybe 50%. The thing that I miss with CarPlay is the lack of integration with the HUD.
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12-23-2018, 01:53 PM	#5
IK6SPEED Banned 4491 Rep 10,473 Posts Drives: BMW M3 / AH3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cali iTrader: (23)	BMW info in car is often 12-24 months outdated and only updated twice a year. Google is able to immediate update info as soon as Recieved as info is not stored locally. Local outdated info will always be inferior as the data will always be outdated.
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12-23-2018, 01:59 PM	#6
mbanks21 Colonel 1275 Rep 2,962 Posts Drives: 2015 335i MSport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: High Bridge, NJ iTrader: (8)	I hate that it doesn't tell you what side of the road your destination is on. My wife's 2014 Sonata does. __________________ 2015 335i Msport/6 JB4/EWG/E30/VRSF DP/ER CP/ VRSF Race Exhaust/ Injen Intake/Verde Axis 19x8.5/9.5 245/35/275/30 Conti Extreme CS/ H&R Sports / Motorsport Hardware Stud Conversion
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12-23-2018, 04:48 PM	#7
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8274 Rep 16,137 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	My Nav does.
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12-25-2018, 11:02 AM	#14
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8274 Rep 16,137 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I can't say. Mine has never done that when passing through Hartford.
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12-26-2018, 12:03 PM	#15
upsidedownfunnel Colonel 2001 Rep 2,499 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (4) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i [0.00]	The amount of mapping data that Google has is simply unmatched by any other competitor. It's like expecting the upcoming BMW voice assistant to be as good as Alexa or OK Google. It's just not going to happen. For example 1, did you actually take the 1h10m route? Or is that just what the ETA said? It's not uncommon for those estimates to be off by a fair amount. Also, for example 2, there should be an option in the menus to use HOV or not (Prefer Car Pool Roadways). You might want to assign that setting to one of the shortcut keys if you find yourself switching that often.
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