[Drj161]

idk what the love is for Merc interiors. I hate the dash connected to the infotainment screen. and now BMW moving in that direction really sucks!!!!

[A6bullet]

Originally Posted by RinconHeat

Did you guys know that this wonderful example of BMW minivan hell was brought to you by none other than Domagoj Ducek? Yup the guy who oversees the humiliation of BMW icons and design philosophy also made this awesome piece of BMW art.

Can someone at BMW please fire this fucking tool!
Seriously what in the actual hell? Who's is running things, pathetic.

[nateg]

They darn well had better not make the fan speed control touch screen. i need that knob!

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by nateg

They darn well had better not make the fan speed control touch screen. i need that knob!

Agree, I hate touch screen controls for things like the HVAC system. Seat heaters are also now likely to be buried inside a menu!

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Please stop the fear mongering

How is that statement fearing mongering? :

[Tag]

This months BMW meeting agendas...

• Think outside the box and break what's not broken
• Gaudy design changes (think BIG grilles) make our brand more recognizable
• MT and RWD are dead
• Plans to remove physical buttons and levers from the steering wheel
• Plans to remove the steering wheel in future models

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Tag

This months BMW meeting agendas...

• Think outside the box and break what's not broken
• Gaudy design changes (think BIG grilles) make our brand more recognizable
• MT and RWD are dead
• Plans to remove physical buttons and levers from the steering wheel
• Plans to remove the steering wheel in future models

*Plans to change slogan to; "The Ultimate Virtual Driving Machine"

[Tag]

Originally Posted by Poochie

*Plans to change slogan to; "The Ultimate Virtual Driving Machine"

Plans to change plans to "The Ultimate Drive Me Machine"

[BMW-ALPINA]

SCOTT26 For some years ago, you said the iDrive controller will remain on future BMWs. Are this plans changed? Please confirm

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Tag

Plans to change plans to "The Ultimate Drive Me Machine"

Originally Posted by BMW-ALPINA

SCOTT26 For some years ago, you said the iDrive controller will remain on future BMWs. Are this plans changed? Please confirm

I agree with him, I don't believe the iDrive will be completely eliminated, for every single model..

BMW invested too much into their interface, with the center knob, from them to just scrap it and start from scratch.

Even the current generation of touch screen seems to be more of an afterthought, to appease the current generation, than a segue into the future.

I say, for the next generation at least, the knob will linger on, on most future models.

[Prissy]

Been using iDrive for years and now currently have a g20 with touchscreen, I rarely use the nob now to select things anymore. Not sure why people think digital is harder to use.

We also see the new steering wheel and drive mode shifter. Pretty cool.

[SteveinArizona]

The current IDrive systems (6 and 7) work very well in my opinion and we have switches and buttons for the major features that one might want to modify while driving (radio channel, volume, HVAC, etc.).

Hopefully, BMW won't do away with one of the things it does best. But given the new Edsel grills, I am not hopeful. May be my last BMW.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by BMW-ALPINA

SCOTT26 For some years ago, you said the iDrive controller will remain on future BMWs. Are this plans changed? Please confirm

LOL, BMW once said same about manual transmissions, RWD, normally aspirated engines, etc., but here we are and there they go. Frankly, I'm more dishearten at the fading of these than I am about the iDrive.

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Dear BMW,

Please stop.

[advantage20]

Now pop out the steering wheel badge and good luck getting this identified as a BMW.

[Vucko]

maybe this is bmw i2 active tourer, just like i4 grancoupe will get this kind of dashboard although regular 4 GC will get regular dashboard, this could "bmw i only" thing

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Part of the appeal of digital systems should be the ability to apply OTA updates as software develops and improves. This gets more complicated the more physical buttons you have, so I can see why some manufacturers would want to migrate away from them. You could buy a physical car that ages, but gets upgrades and improvements via software over time, thereby prolonging the effective life of the vehicle. Obviously, there's a point of diminishing returns, but on paper it seems like a good selling point. However, other than Tesla, this hasn't really come to fruition. Digital displays simply become outdated and get redesigned with each generation of vehicle. Plus, to your point, it seems to weaken the safety profile of a car if the UI is completely new every few years, never mind the loss of physical controls.

Yeah like you said the new tech ages fast since the cars become computers on wheels.

The biggest issue for me is driver education. The tech is changing constantly and driving scools are horrid. Also, I am yet to find a non-enthusiast that reads a manual.

You have drivers that passed their driving tests 40 yrs ago and now they are expected to migrate to new interfaces. What happened to continuous education in driving like in many other professions!?

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by VChenz

agreed.
I've also thought the car manufacturers need to work on a unified operating system that makes it easier for the user to transition from a BMW to a merc or porsche, etc. It would make it much safer for the end user because it would always be something they are familiar with vs. having to relearn a cockpit of a 3000lb hunk of steel. (well carbon and aluminum but you get the point)

billions of dollars being spent to redesign stupid things and then their is no money to keep it up to date because they moved over to a new system every few years. The capability and processing power of a cell phone far exceeds the computational needs of the "infotainment" and the functionality is far greater. Using that as a basis, you could keep more cars on the road for longer without having to write off a perfectly good vehicle due to an interface/hardware no longer being available.

the OEMs could develop their own apps for certain proprietary functions but there's nothing proprietary about 90% of the shit we need to access in a car (tuner, audio controls, seat controls, etc.). The OEMS also don't have the best programmers or UI people on staff so there is a wealth of benefit that could come from opensourcing and allowing third parties to take on the optimization of some of these universal functions.

obviously safety would be a concern, but there could be a "working group" that certifies and QA's the revisions

This already exists. It's called Apple Carplay or Android Auto

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Vucko

maybe this is bmw i2 active tourer, just like i4 grancoupe will get this kind of dashboard although regular 4 GC will get regular dashboard, this could "bmw i only" thing

I believe this is exactly what it is

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Poochie

I believe this is exactly what it is

This could definitely be the case, however, it wouldn't be a surprise to see this make its way into the entire range over time.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Poochie

*Plans to change slogan to; "The Ultimate Virtual Driving Machine"

add:

cease selling cars to entusiasts
compete with Lexus
How can we win awards for ugliness?

[chicagofan00]

Of all the buttons to have removed and yet the front and rear defrost buttons have remained?