BMW releases first dynamic traffic system in US

At the rate that these newfangled car technologies trickle down, we'll finally be able to afford one of these traffic thingamajiggies on our measly salaries perhaps around the next World Cup. Today, BMW announced that it would be including Real Time Traffic Information on select 2007 models, including the 3-, 5-, and 6-series models, and on the X5, M5 and M6. That means that for the first time in the US (or so the company claims), drivers will be able to dynamically reroute their way home based on traffic data provided by Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network to 44 major American cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, and Orlando. If you already have BMW's navigation system in your ride, this additional service will be free to you for the next four years.

[Via Autoblog]

[Bill @ Sep 7th 2006 7:14PM]

Oh that's funny, seems like XM has been doing that for almost two years now in the US.

[KrisL @ Sep 7th 2006 6:25PM]

I'm pretty sure the Acura RL has had this for a year or so.

[lakiolen @ Sep 7th 2006 6:26PM]

Is it just me, or is the directions font in that picture really crappy?

[KrisL @ Sep 7th 2006 6:27PM]

Update: Looks like it's the first to use ClearChannel's TMS system - I believe the RL uses XM's TMS system.

I've been able to buy the TMS add-on for my BMW and have this option for a year or two as well (Ever since ClearChannel launched the system). However, ClearChannel is the devil and I refuse to give them money.

[Fragnetic @ Sep 7th 2006 6:28PM]

first? Acura has had this type of service now for at least a year...

[Cyrus Farivar @ Sep 7th 2006 6:29PM]

As Autoblog said:

"We wanted to double check that statement so we checked with Acura, which was one of the first automakers to offer real-time traffic info, and indeed Acura's system on the RL will not reroute a path for the driver when traffic is encountered."

[Steiner @ Sep 7th 2006 6:37PM]

Hey, and what about 7- series and M7? It's weird that these models won't have such system.

[Gur @ Sep 7th 2006 6:40PM]

Acura's service will not reroute you based on traffic conditions. It will only show you congestion. BMW's system automatically reroutes you based on both distance and expected travel time due to traffic conditions.

[Tarek @ Sep 7th 2006 7:07PM]

Acura RL has had this for a long time now.

[Netboy17 @ Sep 7th 2006 7:53PM]

@Steiner: There is no M7 so that's moot but it does seem odd that it is not available on the 7-series...

[Nit @ Sep 8th 2006 2:36PM]

My RL definately has this...

[TSW @ Sep 7th 2006 8:09PM]

@Netboy17:

People wait for folks in 7-series', so traffic is irrelevant.

;)

[Andrew @ Sep 7th 2006 8:10PM]

forget BMW and forget Acura. My TomTom has been doing this for a while now. BMW is definitely not the first, and the pre-installed options of all car manufacturers are far more expensive (not to mention inferior) than the TomTom

http://tomtom.com/plus/service.php?ID=3&Language=4

[Andrew @ Sep 7th 2006 8:11PM]

Moreover, I can move my TomTom to my rental car when I travel (i.e. when I REALLY need navigation in my car)

[D2 @ Sep 7th 2006 11:39PM]

your tomtom screen has nothing on the BMW super widescreen

[MK @ Sep 8th 2006 7:19AM]

Point 1:
The Acura can show traffic information, but can't use the information to recalculate the route
Point 2:
In Europe this is old news. TMC has been around for years, works reasonably well and has no even found its way in mobile devices. Sadly TMC doesn't exist in the US of A

[Dax @ Jan 7th 2007 9:33PM]

TMC does exist in the U.S. i have been a subscriber for over two years now to TMC here in California. TMC is broadcast on an FM subcarrier, unlike NavTraffic which is broadcast with XM. Both TMC and NavTraffic require separate receiver units for most navigation systems, except for some portable-type GPS units which have the navigation receiver built into the unit (some Garmin, TomTom units for instance). In Europe, TMC has been free for many years now. TMC is controlled by ClearChannel here in the U.S. and requires a $5 subscription to activate the serial number of your unit or add-on unit.

[Cello @ Sep 8th 2006 8:29AM]

How does that differ from TMC (Traffic Monitor Channel) technology (signal travels on FM radio) used in Europe?

[MikeV @ Sep 8th 2006 9:57AM]

I believe Pioneer's latest AVIC line, which uses XM's NavTraffic for its data source, does reroute around traffic, or at least prompts the user if they want to reroute. BMW may well be the first OEM to put that feature into their vehicles, but I think Pioneer's had at least a few months on 'em for the aftermarket...

[Paul Christensen @ Sep 8th 2006 10:21AM]

Garmin has been selling TMC receivers for both US and Europe for a while now as options. The latest nuvi 660 (just announced) has them built in. When connected to a Garmin GPS, options are provided to re-route. Maybe BMW is the first in the US to include this a part of your auto. But not the first to offer this service.

http://www.garmin.com/traffic/

[halobiafra @ Sep 8th 2006 4:29PM]

So will this work in existing cars? The engadget post implies yes, the autoblog post implies no.

[Joel A @ Sep 8th 2006 8:41PM]

Cadillac has this feature as well, being the second automaker to implement it.

[G. Snyder @ Sep 11th 2006 12:13PM]

"My RL definately has this..."

NO......it DOES NOT

I guess no one understands the whole "dynamic" part.

[Andy Phillips @ Sep 11th 2006 7:13PM]

G. Snyder is ABSOLUTLY CORRECT!!! I may not install navigation systems 24 hours a day but 10 hours a day still keeps me in the loop. Not to seem cocky but I would like to believe I have a little less than a lot of credibility.
Lastly, I'd like to ad believing something without sufficient proof does not make you appear more intelligent. So, it would save the ones that believing the wrong information a lot of embarrassment if the would spend five extra minutes looking up and refereed article or two.

[Dax @ Jan 7th 2007 9:31PM]

BMW Navigation systems are OEM implementations of VDO-Siemens navigation units (formerly Philips-Dayton/VDO) which are more popular in Europe.

A little over two years ago, i noticed that the navigation system in my E46 BMW was a re-packaged VDO-Siemens navigation drive & brain. So i switched it with a VDO MS5500 DVD system & plugged in the MT5011 TMC receiver. i called VDO & subscribed to TMC (they contact ClearChannel internally) for $5 per month (the first year is actually free with unit purchase of an MT 5010 or MT 5011). Everything worked perfectly & i got automatic dynamic routing according to traffic conditions which is an option that became enabled after subscribing. i must admit it's not great here in southern California where there aren't many traffic alternative routes & everything is jammed during rush hour.

Something to note is that in all metro areas, XM NavTraffic & ClearChannel TMC re-broadcast highway & freeway info ONLY (which is provided by the local transportation depts, same info on the news, etc), which has limited value in some areas. Jumping off the freeway & trying to cut through L.A. has met with limited success or advantage.

BMW's new offering is BMW finally un-crippling the TMC capability in their version of VDO's system, just 10 years later.

[VDO-Siemens navigation systems aren't the best in my opinion, but for whatever reason, BMW & Audiovox systems are made by VDO-Siemens. Pioneer has a contract with XM NavTraffic, & they produce OEM units for many factory systems: Cadillac, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus which is why they all use the XM NavTraffic system instead of ClearChannel TMC.]

It is a shame that ClearChannel bought up the TMC service & charges $5 per month, unlike Europe where it has been completely free for over 15 years or something. By the way, Garmin & TomTom both use the TMC FM subcarrier receivers. Subscribing to Garmin or TomTom's service is actually subscribing to ClearChannel TMC.

We use a Garmin Nuvi 350 with the traffic receiver in our other car. It works very well also & we enabled the menu option to avoid traffic when routing. Neither system performs dynamic traffic-based routing perfectly, but it does work.

[mObridge @ Sep 26th 2007 5:50PM]

Joel A. is correct: actually, BMW was not the first factory system in the U.S. to have this. Cadillac has it in the CTS using XM NavTraffic, which they launched 2005 model year. Can't say whether it works well or not, just that they were first.

MK and G.Snyder are correct: 2005 to 2007 Acura RL, while it has XM NavTraffic (what some might call "dynamic" or real-time traffic), does not have dynamic rerouting (also known as Dynamic Route Guidance).