BMW is to become the first volume premium car brand in the UK to fit satellite navigation as standard on all new models from September 2015.
Starting with the new generation 1 Series, now arriving in UK dealers, the firm will move to include sat nav on all new cars where it isn’t already standard – beating premium rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz which currently charge for the feature on key affordable-price variants.
The newly standardised BMW Navigation system won’t be a stripped-back system either; it will have the latest generation graphics and processors, 3D city modes and a fuel-saving Eco Pro routing algorithm to choose the greenest route.
It will also offer the full range of BMW ConnectedDrive services, including three years’ free concierge access, real-time traffic information and even wireless sat nav updates – with three years’ subscription to ongoing updates included in the car’s list price.
BMW claims the move is a market-first: no other car brand offers sat nav included in the list price of such a broad range of cars – from £20,000 to £120,000, says the firm.
It’s set to benefit secondhand values too, used value experts CAP has confirmed. Cars forecasting editor Jeff Knight said: “BMW introducing navigation across its entire model range is a first for any mainstream manufacturer in the UK and will inevitably pave the way for others to follow.
“On-board navigation systems now offer so much more technology than previously seen with the likes of 2D & 3D navigation map displays, traffic information and particularly with BMW standard e-call functionality which is a key safety feature.
“As well as having standard navigation across the range all BMW models will see an improvement on their residual value from between £300 to £600 (model dependant) so this is good news all round for the customer.”