[jdong]

Originally Posted by SamS

The sound quality of audio via Bluetooth is substandard, compared to the USB connection.

Plus, when listening to Pandora via USB, you can thumbs up/down and skip to a next track or change your channel.

Wow I can barely hear the difference with my music connection. The music is piped through as AAC and the bitrate may cause some input files to be transcoded lossily, but I can't appreciate the difference.

The ability to do Pandora control is definitely nice.

[SamS]

A minor update to my work around:

You don't actually have to launch an app, before you start streaming music from the iPhone, you just can't be already listening to your iPhone/iPod music via USB. If you are, you have to disconnect/reconnect the Lighting/USB cable.

In other words, it's rather straightforward, once you understand how it works.

[DJHakim]

Still waiting for NBT photos!

[bringonthenite]

Why can't they just put this in the F30 ASAP!!!

[SamS]

Originally Posted by DJHakim

Still waiting for NBT photos!

What would you like to see a picture of?

[DJHakim]

Originally Posted by SamS

Yes, took delivery today, and I'm on the road. AH3 and NBT are both fantastic. Further thoughts and pictures to come Sunday or Monday.

Whatever photos you want/intended! Maybe highlights?

[SamS]

Originally Posted by DJHakim

Whatever photos you want/intended! Maybe highlights?

I might be able to this weekend.

The highlights are that it is FAST! Scrolling throw your phone contacts, lists like Albums/artists is just instantaneous. As mentioned elsewhere, the minute you put the car in Reverse, the backup camera pops on the display. No delay.

Address entry in the Navigation seems faster and more predictive. You get immediate auto-predictive suggestions on the right side when after you've entered the first few characters. With the old Nav, I was always thinking my brain/fingers were going faster than it could keep up. That's not the case with the new system.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by SamS

I might be able to this weekend.

The highlights are that it is FAST! Scrolling throw your phone contacts, lists like Albums/artists is just instantaneous. As mentioned elsewhere, the minute you put the car in Reverse, the backup camera pops on the display. No delay.

Address entry in the Navigation seems faster and more predictive. You get immediate auto-predictive suggestions on the right side when after you've entered the first few characters. With the old Nav, I was always thinking my brain/fingers were going faster than it could keep up. That's not the case with the new system.

Has anyone confirmed the 2014 335i will have this new Nav?

Still after all this time, cannot believe it wasn't upgraded...

[SamS]

Originally Posted by jk3355

Has anyone confirmed the 2014 335i will have this new Nav?

Still after all this time, cannot believe it wasn't upgraded...

No one can confirm that US F30s will get the updated Nav until BMW announces the changes for MY2014, probably in May or June. However, it is pretty much a sure-thing at this point.

[bringonthenite]

Originally Posted by jk3355

Has anyone confirmed the 2014 335i will have this new Nav?

Still after all this time, cannot believe it wasn't upgraded...

Agreed.

I see the hybrid needing the upgraded unit for it's processing but in Canada 335i's can get expensive. BMW should have upgraded the system by now. Makes me think there is not much coming for my2014.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by bringonthenite

Agreed.

I see the hybrid needing the upgraded unit for it's processing but in Canada 335i's can get expensive. BMW should have upgraded the system by now. Makes me think there is not much coming for my2014.

it held up my order... i was a go for 2013 M sport. It stopped me and then i began to question my choice of line. All the rest is down hill..

[claykin]

Originally Posted by bringonthenite

Agreed.

I see the hybrid needing the upgraded unit for it's processing but in Canada 335i's can get expensive. BMW should have upgraded the system by now. Makes me think there is not much coming for my2014.

Actually I believe the reason why the AH3 got the NBT upgrade from day 1 is that BMW needed the space used by the fairly large Combox to place batteries. I doubt the NBT is required for AH processing. The Nav only displays info/data. The disconnected car management computer handles everything else.

My bet is the MY14 gets the NBT Nav for F30. If not, I'll be seriously surprised!

[jdong]

Actually the nav does influence the hybrid system. Altitude changes, speed limits, and proximity to destination makes the smart power management choose whether to use eDRIVE, eAssist load shifting, or charging.

But that doesn't actually require NBT. The first run of AH5's had CIC.

[bringonthenite]

Originally Posted by jk3355

it held up my order... i was a go for 2013 M sport. It stopped me and then i began to question my choice of line. All the rest is down hill..

Same here. The other was later than expected build/delivery. Decided to wait out the winter. Not sure what to get now. Should have just bought it in the fall.

[bringonthenite]

Originally Posted by jdong

Actually the nav does influence the hybrid system. Altitude changes, speed limits, and proximity to destination makes the smart power management choose whether to use eDRIVE, eAssist load shifting, or charging.

But that doesn't actually require NBT. The first run of AH5's had CIC.

Claykin & jdong,

So why no upgraded unit in the F30 if hybrid does need the extra processing power?

[SamS]

Originally Posted by claykin

Actually I believe the reason why the AH3 got the NBT upgrade from day 1 is that BMW needed the space used by the fairly large Combox to place batteries. I doubt the NBT is required for AH processing. The Nav only displays info/data. The disconnected car management computer handles everything else.

My bet is the MY14 gets the NBT Nav for F30. If not, I'll be seriously surprised!

In the AH3, the space where the Combox would go is just an empty compartment.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by SamS

In the AH3, the space where the Combox would go is just an empty compartment.

Didn't BMW lift the trunk floor for the AH3 to accommodate the batteries? The Combox in the F30 is mounted on the trunk floor just forward of the storage bin. Its not on the right or left. Its right in the center of the trunk floor.

[jdong]

Originally Posted by bringonthenite

Claykin & jdong,

So why no upgraded unit in the F30 if hybrid does need the extra processing power?

Presumably because they're gonna sell less than 1000 of the hybrids, and it is the most expensive F30? They probably don't have enough NBTs produced to put it on every F30.

[JonoNZ]

Originally Posted by jdong

Presumably because they're gonna sell less than 1000 of the hybrids, and it is the most expensive F30? They probably don't have enough NBTs produced to put it on every F30.

I think they put NBT on the AH to avoid a build change so early in it's lifecycle.

My 335i has NBT, New Zealand got NBT on F30's from December production.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by claykin

Didn't BMW lift the trunk floor for the AH3 to accommodate the batteries? The Combox in the F30 is mounted on the trunk floor just forward of the storage bin. Its not on the right or left. Its right in the center of the trunk floor.

Ah. The Combox in the E9x cars is behind the left (driver's) wheel well. On the AH3, it's empty there. There are some electronic modules ahead of the battery back there.

Originally Posted by jdong

Presumably because they're gonna sell less than 1000 of the hybrids, and it is the most expensive F30? They probably don't have enough NBTs produced to put it on every F30.

Yes, no doubt the NBT is $$$ for BMW to buy/develop from their supplier. Given that the volume of the standard F30 is so high, it may have just been a supply chain issue.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by jdong

Presumably because they're gonna sell less than 1000 of the hybrids, and it is the most expensive F30? They probably don't have enough NBTs produced to put it on every F30.

The hardware was done well before the November planned introduction for Europe and December intro for Australia/Asia. I doubt the delay has anything to do with availability/production quantities. Its actually more of a pain in the rear, from a production/logistical standpoint, for the German/SA factories to do something "different" for the NA market. More parts to house, more variations for builds and probably differences in wiring harnesses (to say the least).

My take on this is that NA wanted something credible to call a feature upgrade for MY14. NA has a LOT OF SAY with AG. BMWNA is the division that drives a tremendous volume of sales for AG. Nothing more, nothing less!

My 2 cents.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by SamS

Ah. The Combox in the E9x cars is behind the left (driver's) wheel well. On the AH3, it's empty there. There are some electronic modules ahead of the battery back there.

Also empty back there on F30. Its a little storage shelf. Battery is behind right wheel well (which is pretty standard in 3 series). The REM and a couple modules are back there near the battery (the SLA battery).