From digest.v7.n185 Thu Aug 28 16:20:43 1997
From: Steve Martin <martin_at_metronet.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 97 16:09:01 -0600
Subject: Alpine/BMW Navigation systems compared

I now have Alpine's CVA-1000 head end and NVA-N751A Navigation system installed in my new '97 M3. Since I also have the BMW Navigation system in a 540i, it is easy to compare them so here goes...

They both get their data from Navigation Technologies <http://www.navtech.com/>
Info on the Alpine unit is_at_<http://www.alpine1.com> BMW used to have a very nice Shockwave demo of their system but the site has been reworked
and I can't find it any more. Perhaps it will be in the new "Experience" section when it is finished. See <http://www.bmwusa.com>. Now, on to it...

The BMW Navigation System:

+Nicer looking "map" display, more "refined". +Nice city/street auto completion when entering addresses. +Next CD update due in the fall.
+Arrival is announced "You have arrived!". Great for self esteem :-)

• -Slow map drawing/zooming
• -Voice (male) sounds digitized.

The Alpine NVA-N751A (with CVA-1000 head end)

+Nice voice (female).
+More routing options (additions: avoid toll roads, minimize turns) +James Bondish flip out LCD w/CVA-1000 (although the factory BMW one is very elegant)
definitely impresses the passengers.
+Nicer looking "turning directions" display +Faster displays in general (zooming, etc.)

• -Next CD update due in the spring.
• -Chimes with every voice direction, annoying after a while, just the voice would be fine.
• -Delay between end of voice instruction and resumption of normal radio/CD is much longer than necessary.
• -CVA-1000 blocks the center air vents and is a little close to the hands. Not a problem for everyday driving, but you do want to make sure it is not in motion when you go into a turn or your hands flying by might hit it. Definitely close it for serious driving.
• -Slow to switch between navigation/audio screens (CVA-1000)
• -Doesn't auto-complete cities/streets, but scrolls a list to what you've entered so far. If you have 6 cities starting with "capitol", you have to enter all those letters before you can go on to the later distinquishing letters.
• -Juggling two remotes in the car?!? (Most functions can be done with the LCD buttons, though) The remotes velcro quite nicely to the underside of the arm rest.
• -Won't let you change destinations while driving (passenger can't look for nearby restaurants while cruising on the highway)
• -Has trouble with my work address, saying it can't give you directions from where you are. Changing the destination slightly (street number) seems to work.
• -There is a bug at the 1/2 mile and 2 mile scales, it places bizarre Interstate markers on random nearby roads. (I was shocked to see I-410 and I-10 running through north Dallas.)
• -Ease of theft?

I still have a few issues with the installation to work out. The antenna is on the rear deck and reception is adequate, but I've noticed that moving it an inch or two changes the reception dramatically. I suspect the heater elements in the window are obstructing. Moving it to the front is pretty major surgery and moving it to the exterior would be ugly so I'm tempted to let it be, it hasn't had any problems with mislocating me after a couple of minutes on the road.

The original installation left the screen very flickery when dimmed (headlights on). This turned out to be due to a poor choice of which dimmer signal to switch it to. They are supposed to fix that tomorrow.

Matching the CVA-1000 output to the factory amp was also problematic and took a trip back due to extremely high volume at low settings and loud alternator whine. I'm not sure of the technical details but there was no cut & dry easy way to connect the two without some kind of attenuator or something. It was corrected and all is well.

All in all, I recommend either. According to Roundel, the BMW system will be available for the 3-series as a dealer installed option later this year, but with a stalk mounted LCD requiring you to use a remote to control it. I'm not thrilled with the asthetics of that and am quite happy with the Alpine solution.

Steve Martin
1997 540iA, Alpine White/Grey (7,500m)
1997 M3 Sedan, Boston Green/Magma (350m)