08-17-2020, 04:13 PM | #23 | |
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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I strongly feel that iDrive's days are numbered, and I am as cranky about it as you. Screens are an easy way to say, "wow, look at us, we are so in tune with technology!" Please see this early example of this concept - this is the original Cadillac CTS-V interior: That giant tall and rectangular center stack was intended to remind people of a PC tower! Here's the Model 3, the times may have changed but Elon again wanted to drive that connection to a tablet computer because its a symbol of the advancement of the times: The traditional approach to luxury refinement and differentiating by feel is all but gone. The move to full touchscreens is endemic of the sickness infecting BMW of late, a move to follow the herd rather than blaze a path. BMW used to lead the charge and the others followed, now BMW is doing the following. The F-series BMW interiors married the screen with the traditional layout very well. The G-series has improved the usability overall but has become lost in design rather than function. Simple example, F10 M5 vs 2020 F90 M5: To BMW's credit, most elements of iDrive 7 have drastically improved from iDrive 6 in my experience. However I detest the new design-focused, cluttered, almost completely non-customizable instrument cluster. The old one was an elegant marvel of simplicity and information density that set the standard for years. And later when they began adding digital elements, they did so without losing this key feature. Here's three M5's, an E39 M5, an F10 M5 and the pre-2020 full analog flatscreen on the F90. Note here, as a full digital display there is literally NOTHING keeping BMW from offering this view as an option! The doubling down on this and similar design elements, coupled with the doubling down on controversial design elements, and insultingly feeding us piece after piece until we choke and say, "wow, that's not as bad as I thought!" makes me feel that this regime at BMW is more interested in swallowing quick sales than in nurturing goodwill and long-standing relationships. The engineers ironically haven't been torpedoed by this, just design and marketing. It's no mistake to say that BMW still drives very well and dynamically still shoots for driver engagement. But it's also clear that engineering seems to have less and less of a say. When the Ergonomics Product Planner at BMW gets told, "hey, we need to have a touchscreen only iDrive", they will do their best to get it to a good level but it will never be as safe as a system managed by feel. I'm drawing the line here. I buy BMW for many reasons but one of them is superlative active and passive safety. How can you champion a safe car when operating a key system in it is by definition unsafe? I expect I will be keeping my M340i a long time, and then either moving to electric with stronger and trusted autonomy features to allow for inherent touchscreen distraction, or simply go back in time on my purchases rather than forward.
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"Christy" - 2020 BMW M340i 8AT BSM / Black&BlueStitching
Gone! "Edna" - 2011 BMW 335i 6MT TiAg / BlackOyster - M-Sport, Premium, Comfort Access, Navigation, Heated Seats, Rollerblinds R.I.P. "Heidi" - 2005 BMW 330xi 6MT BSM / Black - Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, Harmon Kardon, Navigation Last edited by -EndOfAnEra-; 08-17-2020 at 04:18 PM.. |
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NorCalAthlete3166.00 |
08-17-2020, 05:47 PM | #24 |
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I have a proposition. We can make petition for BMW to keep all essentials ex. iDrive, direct controls for main functions, ergonomics, driving feel, steering feel, manual gearbox for sport models, not to make Asian market design for EU and US (rear lights for G Series). If Asian market wants big screens and kitsch design I respect that, they can make different layout for Asia. I do not want to BMW looks like KIA or something worse. We want mean and good design, original BMW design. If Asia want something different it is ok. It is huge market, they can make models for them. We need a petition because BMW must know what their fans and long term customers want. They are not sure about this my friends. Hey, they made FWD 1 series that looks like Ford Focus from 50 meters. Who knows when the time will come to see FWD 3 series with some Asian design rear lights and one square meter LCD dash board.
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08-19-2020, 11:15 PM | #25 | |||
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-EndOfAnEra-686.50 |
08-22-2020, 09:24 PM | #26 |
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I currently have a 2018 S4 and love the car. But Audi decided for 2020 to remove the MMI controller and add a touchscreen. It is ridiculous that they didn't just leave the controller and give you the option to use both. The touchscreen is ok but without the controller it's a deal breaker. Not only did they remove the controller and all the physical switches they replaced them with a worthless storage compartment with no door or anything. It looks like a planter in the middle of the console, super tacky.
Been following the M340 and consider it my number one choice for replacing the S4 when the time comes and having the controller and touchscreen is one feature I really like. I have never posted on this forum but when I read this thread I had to chime in since I am so mad at Audi for getting rid of the MMI controller. |
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08-26-2020, 11:17 PM | #28 | |
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08-26-2020, 11:25 PM | #29 | |
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08-27-2020, 05:50 AM | #30 | ||||
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08-27-2020, 07:06 PM | #31 |
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08-31-2020, 03:01 PM | #32 | |
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08-31-2020, 03:53 PM | #33 | |
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Bris-M340i74.50 |
08-31-2020, 06:40 PM | #34 | |
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I read an article that 75% of Audi, 73% of Land Rovers and 72% of BMWs in 2019 were leased. I wonder what these people trade more frequently, phone, cars, or partners? |
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08-31-2020, 09:39 PM | #35 | |
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09-01-2020, 01:52 AM | #36 | |
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09-01-2020, 10:20 AM | #37 |
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I will sign as well. Touchscreens suck. I've been using the iDrive controller for nearly a decade and can use it without having to look at the screen. You can't do that with a touchscreen, period.
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BMW11278.00 |
09-01-2020, 10:58 AM | #38 |
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The fact that you have to reach out of your seat to use the screen alone is enough for me.
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09-03-2020, 03:38 PM | #39 | |
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“Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men.”
Last edited by Rocket455; 09-03-2020 at 03:43 PM.. |
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BMW11278.00 |
09-04-2020, 01:46 PM | #40 |
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Merc gets rid of knobs in the new S class. Sad direction of the future.
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media...lt6quudkme.jpg I do like how the back wheels turn to steer though... https://jalopnik.com/this-2021-merce...rok-1844943480 |
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06-04-2021, 10:53 AM | #41 |
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Well, this is only getting worse with the release of the i4 and iX interiors. They still have the iDrive knob, but the iX is all capacitive buttons (steering wheel and center console), the 1-8 favorite buttons are gone, and all the HVAC buttons are gone. Somehow, BMW thinks it's better / easier to have to tap the bottom of the touchscreen to change the temp, and to change fan, seat heat, etc., having to press MENU first and then scroll through the options on the touchscreen. How is this an improvement over the dedicated row of buttons right beneath the vents in current cars? More taps and have to focus on the touchscreen. Plus the big black persistent bar at the bottom of the screen looks terrible. No one could argue this is a usability improvement. It's simply change for change's sake and following awful trends.
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06-04-2021, 01:50 PM | #42 |
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Yeah, glad I got a 2021 4 series with iDrive 7. I won't buy an i4 iDrive 8 with this design. (I jumped from Audi, replaced a 2014 also with physical controls,to BMW for the primarily reason that BMW kept the physical controls.)
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