[stormchaser]

I own a 23 530I and have rented nearly every BMW, Audi, and VW in the past twenty years (World Travel). I wouldn't say I like the industry trend of screen-centric cars. Tesla might be the worst example, or perhaps the first-generation ID cars from VW. If you google the topic, it appears that car manufacturers are listening to criticism and bringing back knobs. Screen-centric vehicles are far less expensive to make. The G30 is one of the nicest cockpits of any car I own.
Regarding simplicity, my 3 VW Sport Wagons and even the 24 JETTA are the most straightforward (3 big round nobs for AC/HEAT, Blower, etc. Hyundai and Kia, I believe, also kept knobs. It is simply not safe to have to tap on two ikons or tap tap tap (Mercedes) with hepatic buttons (VW is getting rid of hepatics on the GTI). I wouldn't say I like voice commands; they take the fun and control out of driving and are slower. ECO/SPORT, Comfort should be easily accessible buttons also. DOES ANYONE AGREE OR DISAGREE? IS BMW LISTENING? If I post this on the G60 forum, I wonder how many would disagree since they own a screen-centric car, but BMW has done a better job than most! The 3 series is a nice blend of buttons and screens. I heard Tesla wipers are on the screen, or is it the steering wheel? The EU has mandated buttons come back in 25 to fulfill NCAP safety ratings if manufacturers want a high score. I support this. While I own a G30, and I am also considering the 25 3 series (A nice blend of screen and buttons) for its slightly smaller size and perhaps better MPG.

[Tommo3]

"Is BMW listening?" you ask. Probably not to one persons preferences. The other 99.9% of owners who are happy will not even answer this thread. BMW have done their market research and have implemented changes that most people are happy with, and that keeps the car affordable.

[Gaviatrix]

I think the latest (LCI) 3-series has gone too far with the lack of buttons. The dash on pre-LCI cars was superior in my view. I entirely agree with you that having e.g. aircon controls that have to be accessed through multiple menus, or the virtual off buttons for many of the nanny systems that go bong also similarly buried, is a bit of a nightmare. I had a rented Hyundai recently and it was terrible in that respect. In my car I have a 90% failure rate with voice commands for sat nav but otherwise the system works fairly well for other purposes. I'm glad the EU is mandating buttons again.

[zlatko]

This topic was discussed here and elsewhere ad nauseam. Anecdotally - most drivers(me included) and car/tech reviewers prefer physical buttons for major functionality. The pre-LCI G2X had really nice balance, the LCI went too far. The other connected topic is how the screens are used - UI, configurability, information display. Here BMW had gone backwards again with iD8, but it is still one of the better systems. Nowadays some companies trending back to more physical inputs will hopefully improve the situation.

PS. Now wait for a certain, well-esteemed member of this community to jump in and start denying you the right to prefer pre-LCI cockpit, physical buttons and screen layout

[Tommo3]

Can anyone post the reference of this EU document forcing the return to buttons? This has now been mentioned twice without any references.

[LostInSpace]

I seriously doubt they're going to bring back a bunch of buttons.

[hrf]

It will get worse in the future. Do not dream of buttons, insted worry about governments enforcing how our cars should drive or behave. I bet in 5 years all good cars will loose their last souls and become another dishwasher. Look at the latest Ferrari, pure POS that cost millons, V6, bunch of hybrids with ugly Lego design.

[stormchaser]

Originally Posted by zlatko

This topic was discussed here and elsewhere ad nauseam. Anecdotally - most drivers(me included) and car/tech reviewers prefer physical buttons for major functionality. The pre-LCI G2X had really nice balance, the LCI went too far. The other connected topic is how the screens are used - UI, configurability, information display. Here BMW had gone backwards again with iD8, but it is still one of the better systems. Nowadays some companies trending back to more physical inputs will hopefully improve the situation.

PS. Now wait for a certain, well-esteemed member of this community to jump in and start denying you the right to prefer pre-LCI cockpit, physical buttons and screen layout

Agree. What Car actually did a study on how long it takes to change certain functions with the new screens. They compared many manufacturers. Some were significantly longer. Overall the time spent pushing ikons on a screen were slower.

[stormchaser]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

Can anyone post the reference of this EU document forcing the return to buttons? This has now been mentioned twice without any references.

There are many articles on this if you google it. The bottom line is that the EU will not award cars with screen-centric controls as the top safety pics. I agree with this!

https://www.theautopian.com/europe-i...we-should-too/

[stormchaser]

Originally Posted by LostInSpace

I seriously doubt they're going to bring back a bunch of buttons.

I think that some will come back. VW already ditched the hepatic crap on the steering wheels

[stormchaser]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

"Is BMW listening?" you ask. Probably not to one persons preferences. The other 99.9% of owners who are happy will not even answer this thread. BMW have done their market research and have implemented changes that most people are happy with, and that keeps the car affordable.

Many folks I know have snapped up older models or paused interest in many new cars as a result. That said, it is not just the screen-centric reasons, some of which are style. While some new Bimmers look bad, many new ones drive better and have upgraded appealing technology. We are still moving forward in those areas. BMW is reversing course a bit with comfort a priority with less on performance (Appealing to a broader market).

[Motorwerke_man]

Originally Posted by Gaviatrix

I think the latest (LCI) 3-series has gone too far with the lack of buttons. The dash on pre-LCI cars was superior in my view. I entirely agree with you that having e.g. aircon controls that have to be accessed through multiple menus, or the virtual off buttons for many of the nanny systems that go bong also similarly buried, is a bit of a nightmare. I had a rented Hyundai recently and it was terrible in that respect. In my car I have a 90% failure rate with voice commands for sat nav but otherwise the system works fairly well for other purposes. I'm glad the EU is mandating buttons again.

I was just in a 2024 330e loaner for a week with ID 8.5.

Back in my Pre-LCI today it was SO nice driving to work without having to talk to my vehicle or touch the screen.

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

Many folks I know have snapped up older models or paused interest in many new cars as a result. That said, it is not just the screen-centric reasons, some of which are style. While some new Bimmers look bad, many new ones drive better and have upgraded appealing technology. We are still moving forward in those areas. BMW is reversing course a bit with comfort a priority with less on performance (Appealing to a broader market).

Not sure where you get your information from. For me, I went from a 2018 F31 to a 2022 F21 and don't regret the change. The lady who bought my F31 is waiting till I change this one as she wants it.

[jg4c]

Originally Posted by zlatko

This topic was discussed here and elsewhere ad nauseam. Anecdotally - most drivers(me included) and car/tech reviewers prefer physical buttons for major functionality. The pre-LCI G2X had really nice balance, the LCI went too far. The other connected topic is how the screens are used - UI, configurability, information display. Here BMW had gone backwards again with iD8, but it is still one of the better systems. Nowadays some companies trending back to more physical inputs will hopefully improve the situation.

PS. Now wait for a certain, well-esteemed member of this community to jump in and start denying you the right to prefer pre-LCI cockpit, physical buttons and screen layout

LOL, was thinking the same exact thing.
Not sure about the well esteemed comment.
OP will be told he may as well be driving
a horse and buggy!

[phileaglesbmw]

I have a 24 G26 M440i xdrive and the main thing Indont like is the climate control. Lack of buttons is one thing but different ranges of the fan is another. At least the heated steering wheel button is on the steering wheel in 24s. Heated seat buttons thst automatically turn off when the car is locked would be nice.

[madpistol]

I think iDrive 8 and 8.5 would be fine if they would have just kept the HVAC controls from iDrive 7. We will see where it goes from here.

[drwankel]

I voted with my wallet. I could have bought a new LCI car.

I intentionally bought a used pre-lci car as I absolutely cannot stand the dash of the LCI cars.

A G80 could have been considered as well, but I just absolutely hate the front, and I'm not a fan of the rear either.

I want a proper separated gauge cluster and physical buttons.

Had considered jumping to an M5 one day, but it seems that the F90 will end up being peak M5. The G90 with that horrific dash, and drop in interior quality, combined with all the extra weight from the hybrid system make it a no go.

If I can find a nice condition F90 in the spec I want, then I might move to that one day.

For now, I'll stick with my supercharged E92 M3 (forever car) and my pre-lci M340 x drive.

Hopefully BMW makes another car I'd actually want to buy one day, otherwise this is going to be my weekend/daily combo for many years to come.

[Montaver]

I have owned a pre LCI G20, and now an LCI. On balance I like the LCI for the better screen and configurabilty. Ideally it would include more physical controls but it’s really not as bad as some people make it out to be. Idrive overall is still exceptionally well developed. At least the 3 series still retains a premium feeling with good use of materials in the cabin, just look at what they did to the interior of the X3.

[Eric_M328i]

Originally Posted by Montaver

I have owned a pre LCI G20, and now an LCI. On balance I like the LCI for the better screen and configurabilty. Ideally it would include more physical controls but it’s really not as bad as some people make it out to be. Idrive overall is still exceptionally well developed. At least the 3 series still retains a premium feeling with good use of materials in the cabin, just look at what they did to the interior of the X3.

I agree, its not that bad at all.
The only bad loss imo is the climate functions. The rest of the essential functions like drive modes and idrive shortcuts are still buttons in your center console. If they took that out then it would be a problem.

[cyam]

The worst part of LCI screen, for me, is not the"loss of buttons", although I do prefer them. For me it's the child-like, game- like dashboard. It's looks cheap and nothing like a sports car dash. BMW went too far and it's loses the sports car feel. The stupid graphics on the main dash I just absolutely hate. Porsche have done it right, wish BMW learnt a thing or two from Porsche on that one.

[zlatko]

I quite agree with cyam - BMW completely overlooked the biggest positive of having screens instead of physical dials: FLEXIBILITY! Give drivers an option to choose between several themes, e.g. Classic-Modern-Minimal. Give the option to configure 2-3-4 elements of the dashboard according to your usage: rev counter, power meter, maps, tyre pressure, etc. It really frustrates me, that if you want to have rev counter in comfort, you need to change to narrow screen display. Wide screen goes only with the useless power meter.

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

There are many articles on this if you google it. The bottom line is that the EU will not award cars with screen-centric controls as the top safety pics. I agree with this!

https://www.theautopian.com/europe-i...we-should-too/

So it seems that Europe, as in the EU, has mandated nothing. NCAP, a UK organisation, (UK is not part of the EU but is on the continent of Europe) have said that they will not give the highest rating to some cars. This will not make EU car manufacturers change anything.