[Mako]

Doesn't it have a ton more voice options

Like "set temperature to 70 degrees"

How is that more difficult than buttons?

Steering wheel still has all the important stuff
I hardly use anything but my steering wheel on old system.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Mako

Doesn't it have a ton more voice options

Like "set temperature to 70 degrees"

How is that more difficult than buttons?

Steering wheel still has all the important stuff
I hardly use anything but my steering wheel on old system.

Who the f wants to talk to their car? Pressing a button is infinitely easier than yelling instructions to your car.

No matter how you spin it, this is all 100% cost cutting on the manufacturer's side.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Mako

Doesn't it have a ton more voice options

Like "set temperature to 70 degrees"

How is that more difficult than buttons?

Steering wheel still has all the important stuff
I hardly use anything but my steering wheel on old system.

Because stopping a conversation with someone in the car or on the phone to set my destination or anything else useful that a button could accomplish is poor UI design. Your phone, or tablet, or laptop, or whatever you may use could also respond to voice commands for most things too, but I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that you use the (virtual or physical) buttons.

This seems like one step forward and two steps back, which isn't crazy considering it's an early iteration, but I really hope it improves across brands. It isn't just BMW fwiw. They all kind of suck right now. Like early iPods.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Bird~Dawg

These Luddite comments are…hmm, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yes, Pathetic!!

Criticizing a lackluster UI doesn't make someone a Luddite. Let's be honest, the macro buttons were probably one of the best features of BMW cabins since they were first implemented.

That BMW couldn't incorporate them into the new cabin and software doesn't mean they're necessarily terrible at implementation, but they were incredibly nice to have. Moving forward though, they probably don't have room for them in the overall design language. Maybe they'll come back in some form in the future, who knows

[Igor_M5]

The fact that I just can't press a button, or wave a gesture to make the screen disappear on demand is kinda pathetic….

[Malfunkshun'd]

Originally Posted by Jklotz

Na, I like having my A/C buttons accessible and now that I've gotten used to the 8 programable buttons, which I thought I'd never use, I'd hate to have to go without them.

I wonder if this new screen collects finger prints like 7 does?

Originally Posted by Jklotz

Na, I like having my A/C buttons accessible and now that I've gotten used to the 8 programable buttons, which I thought I'd never use, I'd hate to have to go without them.

I wonder if this new screen collects finger prints like 7 does?

Last time I changed my AC settings was in 2018.
68 degrees. Auto. (And some triggers when hitting sub 36).
DONE.

I love the buttons, but I could live wo them in the end.

[EthanEJC]

Originally Posted by 50shadesofhockenheim

I was able to play around with iDrive 8 and then go sit in a G80 immediately after and the iDrive 7 setup felt so small. This was in the iX so maybe for the G80 they'll add more physical controls?

Doubt it… it will be the same dash from the i4 M50 or another example being the the i3 for China looks cheap and tacky imo prefer the current lay out of 7 specially in a M car.

[bholler]

Car tech cycles are notoriously long, several years, you can see how this tech looks 4-5 years old even at launch.

Has similar look, feel, and screen speed to the system in 2019 Volvo XC90. Not hating just my observation.

In my F80 I pushed out my delivery date 4 months so I could get apple carplay. Being 100% in apple eco-system I run music, nav, Waze for police advance notice, voice to text messages everything through CarPlay and so thankful I waited. Siri voice to text actually really useful.

Screen is small yes but apple updates keep everything fresh. Never actually never used idrive in the 5 years I've had the car.

Highly recommend the full screen coding to get rid of stupid split screen makes massive difference

[themnmd]

Digital dashboard and infotainment is where all cars will eventually be. BMW doesn't have it dialed in yet. It all looks to stuck on. Perhaps more flush with the dashboard?

[DavidXJ]

It's funny--though, alas, completely predictable with this design 'innovation'--that a video intended promote how snazzy and sexy all the tech is ends up making it look as tacky and awkwardly (in)accessible as one might have feared. (You've got to sympathise with this poor reviewer, striving to fulfil the formidable task of 'advocating' its myriad features.) But that's not the only performative contradiction here: the point, about a minute in, where he claims that 'We're all going to get used to it, and we're all going to love it, for sure' is uttered so unenthusiastically as to belie the fact that he's really not convinced by what he's just said. Nor am I. Moreover, I wouldn't simply assume that anyone would get so 'used to' this thing that they would actually begin to 'love it'...

Come on BMW: some of us, retrogrades though we evidently are, still prefer to see a binnacle rather than some generic widescreen cinema glued on like an afterthought when we climb into our cars.

[Kayanarka]

Atleast it has a touch screen, could be worse:

[Hegge]

Originally Posted by Bird~Dawg

These Luddite comments are…hmm, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yes, Pathetic!!

The reason it is pathetic is because it is going in the opposite direction by getting worse. It will be harder to maneuver one’s car and thus make the whole car experience infuriating. Basic things like temperature control should not be part of the screen. As one poster said, this change is cost cutting disguised as “progress” which is pathetic.

[Hegge]

Originally Posted by P1

Who the f wants to talk to their car? Pressing a button is infinitely easier than yelling instructions to your car.

No matter how you spin it, this is all 100% cost cutting on the manufacturer's side.

Exactly pressing a button is so much easier. I could see myself not wanting to drive a iDrive 8 car as much due to the aggravation factor.

[PLF69]

I miss the days you could order your BMW without iDrive, nav or screen...

[kring]

is the puck button gone and the only way to access it touchscreen Tesla style?

I really liked the puck.

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by kring

is the puck button gone and the only way to access it touchscreen Tesla style?

I really liked the puck.

I believe it it is.

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by Hegge

Exactly pressing a button is so much easier. I could see myself not wanting to drive a iDrive 8 car as much due to the aggravation factor.

I do like the tech part of it, but not how the screen looks stuck on

[Bird~Dawg]

Originally Posted by themnmd

I believe it it is.

It still has the "puck" aka idrive controller in its usual spot beside the gear selector.

[MUFCbmwbear]

I was not impressed in both look and usability. Prefer the 7 layout.

[Kayanarka]

Originally Posted by kring

is the puck button gone and the only way to access it touchscreen Tesla style?

I really liked the puck.

The puck is still there. Also there is a quick link to climate control that is always at the bottom of the screen. It is not the Armageddon some are making it out to be.

You can also program the climate controls to do certain functions based on the outside ambient temps. You can program the car to "prep" itself at a certain time each day, kind of like a remote start, but you do not have to remember to push remote start, it is automatic.

I agree that it sucks not having dedicated buttons. I like buttons just as much as the next person. I can not stand the Tesla with the I pad only setup. But, how much do I desire buttons? Not enough to swtch vehicles. The Kia EV6 has a dedicated row of buttons that switch between climate controls and radio buttons. I tried them, and they are nice. But then I sat in the demo i4 again, and the affair was over. No need to go out for burgers when you have prime steak at home.



My experience talking to the car sucked. It is very slow to respond, feels like a gimmick more then a feature that is useful.

Igor_M5

Hand gestures are an option, atleast they are in the US. I was not really considering it, but it sounds like it might be worth it? I do not know what all gestures are available, but I would think you should be able to turn the display off with a gesture?

[Ugly Kar]

I prefer something that doesn't look like it was lifted from a Tata Nano.

[spotcom]

I'm new to BMW. Do they upgrade the current iDrive systems OTA? Or is this new iDrive going to be in 2023 models only?