From digest.v7.n1327 Tue Mar 17 16:32:48 1998
From: "Bill Romanowski" <billr_at_prairie.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 13:00:53 -0500
Subject: Re: gps / navigation systems <GPS>

>Has anyone had any experience with gps or navigation components? I did see
>one the other day that looked nice. Bad news was that it was about $80,000
>good news you got a 7-series to go with it.

The BMW unit is a somewhat OEM'ed version of the Philip's Carin system: see www.carin.com

After a web search, I emailed USA Global Link http://www.usa-globallink.com/global/carin.htm

about prices and got this response:

The CD for your area is $150.00
and the entire set of seven CDs are $650.00. Shipping is from Texas, therefore no sales tax. Shipping cost is approximately $30.00. Installation can be arranged with advanced notice.

Should you want to use another vehicle (such as an RV tow-vehicle)
all that would be required is the 2nd vehicle installation kit which retails at $495.00. (this is wire harness and sat antenna only no display or CD head unit)

Thanks for your inquiry.
I am looking forward to receiving your order.

Sincerely,
Gary Wells

Just thought I would let you know.

Leigh Woolhouse
Marketing Director

The official line from philips is that they want you to go to Circuit City or Pep Boys and have the kids in the back room install it.

If you want to play with GPS and without the $2k commitment, try a Garmin GPS III.

www.garmin.com

It's fun, costs about $350 and sits on the dash nicely. It won't direct you to a destination like the Carin unit but locks on to the sats every time and has a moving map of the entire US that shows all interstates and most "major" roads. Green backlight, sorry no red.

Bill Romanowski
'90 535i (GPS enabled)
'94 K75s (also with a GPS III)