[ASAP]

Damn... bmw copies Audi on just about everything

[BMthusiast]

I get why they want to ditch an analog controller for touchscreen only because future. But.... it's clearly much safer to keep hands closest to the wheel (analog dial control) rather then expect drivers to both look AND touch a screen while a 3500 lb+ machine is in motion. The probability of being distracted has got to be much higher if having to reach and touch a screen over something akin to a gear selector which is in a comfortable (and safe) place for the driver.

For the most part I keep my iDrive screen off while driving unless Nav is needed or I'm selecting media.

[VChenz]

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 Digital displays simply become outdated and get redesigned with each generation of vehicle.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.

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

[Encanto]

Seems to me that lately BMW wants to be exactly like everybody else.

[yousefnjr]

Our X7 has both a large touchscreen and the rotary knob. My wife prefers the touchscreen, and I suspect a lot of people do. I’m a knob guy myself, prefer not having to reach.

Fingerprints not a big deal imo, I keep a rag to wipe the dust/lint off the screens every few days anyway

[stein_325i]

I wouldn't mind the touchscreen if the HVAC controls were still physical, along with the 8-presets, not a fan of getting rid of everything and making it all touch, some things will always work better as physical controls.

[Hegge]

Awful. The iDrive controller and preset buttons are great. Definitely don't want a touchscreen.

[iamvanja]

No, don't copy Benz!
BMW has IMHO one of the best interiors/infotainments in the biz. iDrive controller rules!

[mbanck]

I guess BMW bets their "Hey BMW" assistant will be good enough in a few years that people can tell it to change the temperature and/or substitute it for the favorite buttons. I think it's sad, but the i4 concept interior shots seem to indicate that. Though it seems that the i4 and the iNext might still have the iDrive rotary controller.

About wide screen, that's also in the i4 concept, and has been all but officially announced by BMW to arrive in the final i4 (and other later models like the iNext).

[M5ZRH]

The fundamental question is how many functions do you really need on a daily basis to operate the car ? ergonomics and function should dictate the style. And not the other way around.
Then how many clicks do you need to access the function ? Climate control on some cars ? Several touches on the screen. A button: one touch.
This is critical for safety and can be distracting when driving.
And finally health and design: how many germs on a screen ?😀 and who enjoys seeing all those fingerprints on a screen ??? 🤣

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

I don't base my opinion of all interiors off a test mule of the cheapest looking vehicle in the lineup.

Yes, but BMW, like all the German car makers, is very consistent. They're not going to introduce a fully new tech design for for just one model (and certainly not just for this model). If there's something radically new coming - and this horrifying picture seems to indicate there is - I would expect BMW to introduce it on the next 7er, like the original iDrive and then trickle it out with the next generation of the other models. But this pic is very worrying, not only because of the lack of buttons and controller knob, but also because of that "shifter".

[DS_BMW]

Touch screens in a car is just annoying and distracting.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Yes, but BMW, like all the German car makers, is very consistent. They're not going to introduce a fully new tech design for for just one model (and certainly not just for this model). If there's something radically new coming - and this horrifying picture seems to indicate there is - I would expect BMW to introduce it on the next 7er, like the original iDrive and then trickle it out with the next generation of the other models. But this pic is very worrying, not only because of the lack of buttons and controller knob, but also because of that "shifter".

As you mentioned- new tech never starts at the bottom of the food chain. Unless it's well hidden in other models, I don't expect to see it first in a an entry level, region only type of vehicle. Unless it's a part of the i4 or iNext platform and being tested in other ways.

[flightz71]

BMW invented iDrive, everyone ripped it off. Looks like MBZ set the trend this time around. What I found interesting though is BMW still put a unique spin on it - they made the center console screen tilt towards the driver keeping that "driver centric' BMW design. Very cool!

[-EndOfAnEra-]

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT BMW!!

If BMW abandons the extremely intuitive, extremely safe iDrive controller which can be operated entirely by feel for a touch screen/voice controlled system which abandons utility for "style" I am out.

Forget about titanic grilles, questionable styling choices, ///M saturation and Asian market shifts. This is the only item for me, 100%, that would make me leave new BMWs behind forever.

This interface is unacceptable for the safety of myself, my family, and all the families on the road killed by driver distraction. It will become acceptable only when level 5 autonomy exists and is proven. Until then, it is patently DANGEROUS!

Even iDrive has become more geared to style than feel. My E90's iDrive controls were much more intuitive simply because you could feel the individual buttons unlike the membrane pad on my G20.

If this happens, my G20 will last until it dies or until I trade "down" for an older M car. This is so depressing for me, and I can't even talk about leaving BMW because Audi, Porsche, Mercedes and Tesla are all the same now or very soon!

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Looks a lot like what Mercedes is doing with the current E and C.

[AP]

Ergonomics again.
Try using this on a bumpy road
Current controller you can use without looking just by feel.

Why are Bmw going fir fashionable technology just because it is " trendy"
And " looks good"

Classic form before function again.

The more the way Bmw are going , the more inclined I am to hang on to my g30

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

I don't base my opinion of all interiors off a test mule of the cheapest looking vehicle in the lineup.

Those worried about fingerprints should worry more about washing their hands 🤣

Please stop the fear mongering

[heavyD^2]

I personally think iDrive is the best infotainment system and part of that is due to their implementation of the scroll-wheel controller so to me it would be a mistake to remove it but I have to laugh at the sky is falling crowd. Every single automaker is going to this dual screen setup because it brings the screen closer to the driver where it should be. There's nothing wrong with making interiors more user friendly even if you weren't the first to bring it to the market and before you jump off a bridge maybe wait to see what it actually looks like in a production vehicle and not a development 2 series car full of molded black plastic. Maybe if they introduced this in a flagship model without the wheel we should worry but there's really nothing here to panic about. This current outrage culture is the worst.

[Lady Jane]

Maybe you can get the optional supply of Windex™...

[LSM]

Wow innovative they now have MB setup that's been around for 6 years and about to be replaced

[ferrarifast]

iDrive is legitimately one of the best parts of BMW. MB/Audi and everyone else sucks. I use CarPlay in those vehicles. But I much prefer iDrive over everything else, including CarPlay.

The iDrive controller has been around for 20 years......why get rid of it?