BMW's DVD based iDrive system vs HD system

[Chamberlin]

Hi all- I currently have a M3 coupe with the newer HD based iDrive system (2009 model year, but build date is late 2008). I purposely got a 2009MY car so I could get the much improved HD based system. Now, I am looking at the X6 (to help me ease into family car life soon) and I noticed all the 2008-2009 X6's out there have DVD based old systems (and maybe '10+ too?). What gives? Why do these $80K+ cars back in 2009 have the crappier iDrive as compared to the M3 of the same year for $10K less?

The iDrive system is not a deal breaker for me buying a X6 or not, but it is going to be tough to go 'backwards' from what I have now... as a side note, I did also have a '08 E92 M3 for a few weeks, and I did not like the old system at all.

Upgrading a M3 with the newer system is not too bad if you can stomach the $2000+ price for parts and handle some international coding fun with a person over-seas, or just pay a tuning house to do it.... Anybody ever bothered to do it in an X6? Is it even possible?

Well I guess that's the nature of technology these days, moving faster than even a M car can keep up with!

Cheers

[Chamberlin]

update: looking at 2010MY X6's now.

[doug_999]

Honestly, I preferred the old system. The voice communication was easier and it was MUCH easier to work. That said, the 08/09 old system meant a low res screen so the backup camera was basically worthless and trust me, you need a good backup camera on this truck.

[AndreyATC]

I've had 2008 335i with this DVD-based NAV
I hated it
To search for anything takes forever
Unless you know the complete address it was ok, but for everything ese it was pretty shitty
New one is light years ahead
Besides being hi-res and faster, it's actually very useful
It's also very easy to use, once mastered
It took me few seconds to find kiddy store today, and all i knew was partial name
Once found, it gives you all info about store and number to call if needed, which you can dial by pressing on the phone icon

Oh, and you can send address from google maps or BMW remote app to your car
I use this all the time
And i just tell my friends to send it directly to my car if we get together some place
Very cool!

[Chamberlin]

Thanks for your input guys... I think if I was coming into things fresh (ignorance is bliss etc...) then it wouldn't be as big a deal. But since I am familiar with both systems, I am afraid I just won't fully be happy with my purchase if I went with an '08/'09. It's a shame really, since there doesn't seem to be very many (if any) mechanical differences with the '10+ and I am willing to go with a 40,000+ mile '08-'09 X6 otherwise.

It's too bad there was such a significant change to the electronics those years. I am somewhat of a tech-head, and I probably bias my purchases on tech stuff more than the average person would. Thanks again for your input!