Check the options, there must be some configuration about taking the fastest road, or only main roads, etc.

But waze and Google maps will always outperform bmw's or other proprietary brand GPS system, because bmw ones rely on info sent only by other bmws passing by the roads where you are driving, while waze and Google rely on multi brand users, which are many more.

As for the connected drive options, the main purpose people use it for (I think) is searching and sending destinations to the car's GPS (while you can do it from Google Chrome, Edge, etc on a computer, it's sometimes hit and miss);

The option to open/close the car can ultimately be very handy... It already avoided me having to leave work to go open my car (1 km away), so that a colleague could recover his keys that he had dropped inside it.

The option to horn or blink the lights is useful if you are parked in a crowded and unknown parking lot and you can't find it.

As is the option to locate the car, which allows you to then walk towards it following the map's indications... Or simply to check its whereabouts, if you are away from it and are afraid it could be "moved".

 

BMW make use of the same data points as the others, but Google (also owns Waze) are way better in processing big data than lets say a car manufacturer.

I don't think the issue is with the data - but rather the logic the iDrive uses to calculate it.

Also - I don't think BMW takes the smaller roads into the equation when calculating alternatives where Waze and Google do.

It's better than nothing - and not having Carplay and not liking a phone stuck to the dash this is the best alternative...

 

From what I've read so far, my understanding is they take their data from their (vehicle) cellular data, and from their GPS fleet data.

The idrive may be at fault as to how it calculates the itinerary, but I was referring to the traffic information - green, orange or red roads, which certainly is info provided by bmw's servers to the car.

 

From an article about when BMW first started getting this traffic data they said they were also paying for data from a major UK mobile network provider along with licensing it from another major provider (e.g. Garmin or TomTom) though they might have stopped doing that once they got more cars on the road that could report back. I also feel that in my previous BMW it used to spot red roads and send me off through some roads with no traffic data that would end up being much worse as they were small roads with schools on etc. My new BMW doens't do this and seems to prefer to stay on the road with the red traffic jam, so perhaps they got a lot of complaints about their more 'creative' routes.

Anyway I think a big issue is that BMW makes no consideration for real speeds on roads compared to TomTom etc. TomTom has 'real' speed data for roads at different times of day so it'll know the A4 into London has a real speed of say 13mph at rush hour whereas BMW still thinks it is a 40mph road. The amount of times BMW has sent me up some windy single track country road and the time calculation indicates it thinks I can do 60mph along it even though it is a road you have to do more like 25-30mph along for most of it and so the time gets further and further away. I have noticed Waze and Google Maps is generally pretty good at this as well, generally only being about 5 - 10 minuntes off in its arrival time estimation versus BMW at about 20 - 25 minutes usually and TomTom that is usually 5 minutes off (often pessemistic).

Edit: (I've never used a TomTom in a car, only on my motorcycle so that is not a direct comparison for my journey. Though Waze vs BMW is a direct comparison. I also tried a Garmin in my car with real time traffic and that was about as rubbish as the BMW for arrival estimation etc. TomTom and Waze have been by far my most accurate and reliable mapping tools).

 

I use Waze, it's the best I've found.

 

Waze is absolutely the best. Google's ability to process large amounts of data and all data - i.e not just certain roads that BMW take into account, allows the app to recalculate across any road imo.

I have found with my car that it will realise there's traffic - update the +20min it thinks you're likely going to be stuck and then after you have started driving for 5 mins - already on your way to the jam - it will recalculate the route and just take you down a road that they have no data on - but is actually also gridlocked.

I think it will get better over time as they possibly get more data available (i.e from other roads).

If only I could get CarPlay on my NBT and use Waze through the iDrive... [emoji17]

 

Waze is absolutely the best. Google's ability to process large amounts of data and all data - i.e not just certain roads that BMW take into account, allows the app to recalculate across any road imo.

I have found with my car that it will realise there's traffic - update the +20min it thinks you're likely going to be stuck and then after you have started driving for 5 mins - already on your way to the jam - it will recalculate the route and just take you down a road that they have no data on - but is actually also gridlocked.

I think it will get better over time as they possibly get more data available (i.e from other roads).

If only I could get CarPlay on my NBT and use Waze through the iDrive... [emoji17]

You can.

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1487330#p1487330

 

Waze is absolutely the best. Google's ability to process large amounts of data and all data - i.e not just certain roads that BMW take into account, allows the app to recalculate across any road imo.

I have found with my car that it will realise there's traffic - update the +20min it thinks you're likely going to be stuck and then after you have started driving for 5 mins - already on your way to the jam - it will recalculate the route and just take you down a road that they have no data on - but is actually also gridlocked.

I think it will get better over time as they possibly get more data available (i.e from other roads).

If only I could get CarPlay on my NBT and use Waze through the iDrive... [emoji17]

You can.

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1487330#p1487330

Not a huge fan tbh... maybe there's some modules out there that looks closer to the OEM look and feel, and also it will have to be wireless before I would be tempted.

I have a bit of OCD and would want my phone to stay safely in the armrest...

I guess a full retrofit of a NBT Evo is probably what I would need - but not willing to pay £1000's

 

Waze is absolutely the best. Google's ability to process large amounts of data and all data - i.e not just certain roads that BMW take into account, allows the app to recalculate across any road imo.

I have found with my car that it will realise there's traffic - update the +20min it thinks you're likely going to be stuck and then after you have started driving for 5 mins - already on your way to the jam - it will recalculate the route and just take you down a road that they have no data on - but is actually also gridlocked.

I think it will get better over time as they possibly get more data available (i.e from other roads).

If only I could get CarPlay on my NBT and use Waze through the iDrive... [emoji17]

You can.

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1487330#p1487330

Not a huge fan tbh... maybe there's some modules out there that looks closer to the OEM look and feel, and also it will have to be wireless before I would be tempted.

I have a bit of OCD and would want my phone to stay safely in the armrest...

I guess a full retrofit of a NBT Evo is probably what I would need - but not willing to pay £1000's

It's just android auto or carplay.....it all looks the same. There is a wireless version somewhere. 200 quid beats 1000.

 

You can.

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1487330#p1487330

Not a huge fan tbh... maybe there's some modules out there that looks closer to the OEM look and feel, and also it will have to be wireless before I would be tempted.

I have a bit of OCD and would want my phone to stay safely in the armrest...

I guess a full retrofit of a NBT Evo is probably what I would need - but not willing to pay £1000's

It's just android auto or carplay.....it all looks the same. There is a wireless version somewhere. 200 quid beats 1000.

Any info on the wireless version ?

 

Not a huge fan tbh... maybe there's some modules out there that looks closer to the OEM look and feel, and also it will have to be wireless before I would be tempted.

I have a bit of OCD and would want my phone to stay safely in the armrest...

I guess a full retrofit of a NBT Evo is probably what I would need - but not willing to pay £1000's

It's just android auto or carplay.....it all looks the same. There is a wireless version somewhere. 200 quid beats 1000.

Any info on the wireless version ?

I think It's this one:

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bHHI3AYY