[LuckyW]

BMW is shipping new cars with its infotainment system, like normal, except several models won’t have touchscreen functionality, according to reports. Instead, you’ll have to use BMW’s iDrive control in the center console. The horror!


Certain models are going to lose their touchscreen functionality to save silicon and allow BMW to maintain its current production levels. The news broke on the Bimmerfest forum.

The following models are going to be shipped without touchscreen functionality.

BMW 3 Series
BMW 4 Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe (excluding the i4)
BMW X5
BMW X6
BMW X7
BMW Z4


Autoblog also says that customers will get a $500 credit instead of the functionality, which really may be a blessing in disguise for everyone involved, given that touchscreens in cars are generally bad and useless, or at least I have never encountered one that wasn’t, if it can be controlled any other way. And I do mean the touchscreen functionality, specifically, given that the screens in modern cars are often sort of far away and small and the touchscreen experience isn’t how you might imagine it. Which is to say that it isn’t at all like using an iPad. It is like using an iPad but 100 times clunkier, even if it looks cool momentarily while the salesperson fiddles around with it at the dealer.

[P_Leotardo]

Ok

If I’m paying nearly 70k for a car (really $75k after taxes) I want all the bells and whistles. YMMV

[Colliwobbles]

See existing thread

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1870408

[Redditor9000]

I feel like we've been talking about this for *weeks* here already.

[GranCoupay]

Well, at least you won’t be one of the first 1600 G26s to be without power seats.

[sikotic]

Yeah no thanks I'll pass. BMW is making this easy lol

[Airplane]

Originally Posted by sikotic

Yeah no thanks I'll pass. BMW is making this easy lol

I fully agree with you. It should be there, once was introduced on the market.
On the other hand, this might be the only option I would accept to be deleted from my build. I have it in my current car and I use it very very rarely. I like the idrive very much and prefer a clean screen instead of all the finger prints.
The touchscreen can be handy, sure. Not so much while driving, I guess.

[bavarianride]

Wow sooner or later, BMW will ship base G20s without power mirror, power lock, rain sensor wiper, garage door opener, LDW, FCW(KAKAS camera), etc, etc.

[Paul Moran]

My M340i is being delivered to Spain in December and my dealer told me I can’t get the wireless phone charging because of the world shortage of semiconductors. Bummer

[zazzau]

Originally Posted by Paul Moran

My M340i is being delivered to Spain in December and my dealer told me I can't get the wireless phone charging because of the world shortage of semiconductors. Bummer

You'll cry about it for a day but you likely won't miss not having it. Not worth it in my opinion considering all the issues users on this forum have been reporting about the option.

Side note: if you want it badly it can be retrofitted. There are several posts on this forum that cover "how to."

[TiMSport]

I almost never use the touchscreen even though it's there. I'm used to using the iDrive center console. I don't like greasy fingerprints on the screen.

[drseuss19]

My SA has told me numerous times the touch screen delete does not just include the touch screen. There's also a back up assist removal and he also stated hand gestures. We obviously won't know until it is here, but he's told me on three different occasions that the touchscreen delete includes other option removal.

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by zazzau

You'll cry about it for a day but you likely won't miss not having it. Not worth it in my opinion considering all the issues users on this forum have been reporting about the option.

Side note: if you want it badly it can be retrofitted. There are several posts on this forum that cover "how to."

Several posts? Link please.

[zazzau]

Originally Posted by springerdrive

Several posts? Link please.

Have you at least tried searching the forum or Google?

[chenry]

I totally forgot I had a touch screen until I saw this topic

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Paul Moran

My M340i is being delivered to Spain in December and my dealer told me I can’t get the wireless phone charging because of the world shortage of semiconductors. Bummer

You can't get wireless phone charging because the current implementation stinks and overheats phones causing charging to pause until the phone cools down. A $30 charger off Amazon works better. Sadly. But yes, the semiconductor shortage is also to blame.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by chenry

I totally forgot I had a touch screen until I saw this topic

If you're a regular Carplay or AA user, I doubt you'd stick by that statement. But, OK.

Reality is, get used to no touchscreen (and backup assistant) for the time being. It's not the end of the world, just an annoyance.

[zazzau]

Originally Posted by claykin

If you're a regular Carplay or AA user, I doubt you'd stick by that statement. But, OK.

I use CarPlay by default but can't remember the last time I used touchscreen. That means the screen stays fingerprint-free avoiding the need to clean it all the time. Really don't care for touchscreen. Happy to trade mine for the $500 credit

I use the console when needed - although the voice assistant is my go-to more often than not. Also preassigned my most used apps/functions to the radio buttons so that gets the job done too.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by zazzau

I use CarPlay by default but can't remember the last time I used touchscreen. That means the screen stays fingerprint-free avoiding the need to clean it all the time. Really don't care for touchscreen. Happy to trade mine for the $500 credit

I use the console when needed - although the voice assistant is my go-to more often than not. Also preassigned my most used apps/functions to the radio buttons so that gets the job done too.

Radio buttons to preprogram common functions - YES!

If you use Carplay or AA using the controller only, then you're ok with lots of controller twirling and clicks. No big deal, but lots of users prefer some direct input.

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

For now, this is the new normal.

We need to get used to it.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Benjamin_Nicholas

For now, this is the new normal.

We need to get used to it.

Well, not exactly. You need to accept it. Or buy something else.

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by zazzau

Have you at least tried searching the forum or Google?

Bless your sweet heart! ❤️