[rocketman99]

So maybe I'm imagining things, it's been a while now. Anyway, when I first got my X1 I seem to recall that I could actually choose things in personal mode for my modes. I tried the other day and there is no gear icon or menu or anything to change a single setting in my modes. I can change sport and efficient, but not personal.

I'm X1 M35 on iDrive 9 on 3/24 software. So, can anyone change settings in personal mode or am I just imagining that I could at some point back when and no longer can? Yes, I've done multiple idrive resets.

[markronnie]

I’m not able to alter settings in any mode other than SPORT on my ID9. Never could.
I don’t like the transmission shifting in SPORT & prefer a tighter steering wheel. So I adjust the SPORT mode settings to the ones I prefer. The downside is once I change transmission setting out of SPORT, I have a 2nd step to disable the ASS

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by rocketman99

So maybe I'm imagining things, it's been a while now. Anyway, when I first got my X1 I seem to recall that I could actually choose things in personal mode for my modes. I tried the other day and there is no gear icon or menu or anything to change a single setting in my modes. I can change sport and efficient, but not personal.

I'm X1 M35 on iDrive 9 on 3/24 software. So, can anyone change settings in personal mode or am I just imagining that I could at some point back when and no longer can? Yes, I've done multiple idrive resets.

In Personal Mode, you can choose any color ambient lighting you want, and you can choose from 3 different IP displays (showing RPM, Power or nothing on the right side--press the steering wheel gear button <*> and tap the click wheel to the right to scroll). These settings cannot be changed in any other mode. I'm not aware of any other display settings that can be changed, other than what is displayed in the middle of the IP, which can always be changed.

[markronnie]

Tex2670 is correct.
There are driver screen changes you can make while in Personal mode but no personal setting changes are enabled within PERSONAL MODE.

[JAYtheVET]

I have sport mode set to comfort motor and sport on everything else. I just switch to that mode when I start the car. The motor is punchy enough for me in comfort but I like the better suspension response and tighter steering. It limits display options and ambient color but it still does what I want it to do.

Maybe try that...?

[schnell325]

I have a side question,

2024 X1 2.8….. how the hell do I turn off traction control without having to put the car in Sport Mode??

[Cam330i]

Originally Posted by rocketman99

So maybe I'm imagining things, it's been a while now. Anyway, when I first got my X1 I seem to recall that I could actually choose things in personal mode for my modes. I tried the other day and there is no gear icon or menu or anything to change a single setting in my modes. I can change sport and efficient, but not personal.

I'm X1 M35 on iDrive 9 on 3/24 software. So, can anyone change settings in personal mode or am I just imagining that I could at some point back when and no longer can? Yes, I've done multiple idrive resets.

Hello!

Being that you only have Personal, Efficient, and Sport mode(s) in your MY Modes menu, it looks like your Digital Premium subscription trial has ended! New X1's and X2's get a 3 month free trial period to the Digital Premium content! However, once the trial period is over, you are given the option to continue using the Digital Premium Content via subscription service and you can either pay monthly ($10 a month) or you can pay annually/yearly ($99 once a year) and you can have both of them be set up with automatic payments via the myBMWapp!
NOTE: If you like Digital Premium and you plan to use it indefinitely, they do give you a discount if you choose to renew your subscription annually/yearly!

If you re-activate your Digital Premium subscription, you will then have more "MY Modes" to choose from and all of them are purely themed based and will have no impact on your vehicle's handling and performance. The additional "MY Modes" are:
- Expressive Mode - a blue/yellow theme
- Relax Mode - a sage/tan theme + a "relaxing" sound via iconic sounds
- Digital Art Mode - a purple/mint-green theme + the control display will slowly change design

A few things to note about the MY Modes:
1. Personal, Sport, and Efficient are the only ones that will change the performance/handling of your car.
2. As mentioned, Expressive, Relax, and Digital Art are purely theme based, but they will alter/change the sound of the Iconic Sounds if you do drive with it on.
3. ALL of those modes can be saved to your Favorites/Shortcuts menu and they can also be activated there as well! This will make both the "MY Modes" button and app icon somewhat useless.
4. With the additional driving modes, you will be given a unique setting that will allow your X1 to default to whatever mode you want and your choices are: Personal, Expressive, Relax, and Digital Art!
(e.g., if you like expressive mode, you can have your X1 default to expressive mode and it will remember that setting)
5. Personal Mode, as of now, is the ONLY MODE that you can choose your own Ambient Lighting color - the other modes will change the color rather you like it or not!

Does it get any worse? The answer is: YES
The X5/X6/X7/XM with iDrive 8.5 have the ability/option/setting to separate the driving modes and the ambient lighting color! -____-

What else do you get with the Digital Premium subscription?
* SIX driving modes total: Personal, Efficient, Sport, Expressive, Relax, and Digital Art
* The ability to play games on the control display via: Air Console Games (You ain't playing games on that thing!!)
* Access to more streaming apps like Spotify (and a bunch of other apps that no one has ever heard of)
* BMW's A.I. - (aka: "Hello BMW") can appear with a face, as opposed to just bubbles
* Unique exterior welcome lighting settings when unlocking/locking the car
* The ability to use the "Automated Habits" setting/app - (you ain't using that either)
*Enhanced Maps and Navigation interface (e.g., 3D view, enhanced traffic alerts, etc.)
NOTE: Augmented Reality can be used with or without Digital Premium

Lastly, besides the myBMW app, you can also subscribe to Digital Premium using the control display in your vehicle, but I think the app is easier! Digital Premium can be found in the "Connected Drive Store" app/icon!

Lastly, if your X1 does NOT have Remote Engine Start and/or Driving Assistance Plus, they can also be added to your car and I believe they give you a free trial period!

Digital Premium, Remote Engine Start, and Driving Assistance Plus can all be found in the "Connected Drive Store" app/icon, and to my knowledge, you do NOT need Digital Premium to use Remote Engine Start or Driving Assistance Plus!

Down below I'll include the link to BMWUSA's Connected Drive Website, and there you can read more about their additional services + they also have offer PDF guides for additional support (incl. FAQ's)

https://www.bmwusa.com/explore/conne...html#resources

https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...6559202447.pdf

My thoughts on Digital Premium:
* No shade or judgement to anyone who likes and uses Digital Premium, but I think it is a bit insulting and absurd that you are paying a lot of money for a BMW X1/X2, only to have BMW charge more money via subscriptions for a "better experience" At the price of the X1/X2, all of that Digital Premium stuff should be included by default + I'll use the streaming apps that I already have on my own via Apple CarPlay!
* Again, no shade or judgement to anyone who likes and uses Digital Premium, but I wouldn't pay for it - I'm not a fan of all of these subscription-based services that many are switching to (e.g., dating apps, YouTube without ads, etc.)

I do have ONE VERY IMPORTANT question for you (y'all): ARE SIRI/ALEXA/GOOGLE STILL USEABLE AND FUNCTIONAL WITHOUT DIGITAL PREMIUM OR DO THEY BECOME LIMITED OR POSSIBLY NON-FUNCTIONAL?

If you (or anyone) can answer that, I'd be most appreciative!

Please let me (us) know if you have any additional questions and I am sorry for the long, lengthy, and detailed post! lol

Best,
Cameron (2025 BMW 330i - I named him: "Hayko")

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Cam330i

The additional "MY Modes" are:
- Expressive Mode - a blue/yellow theme
- Relax Mode - a sage/tan theme + a "relaxing" sound via iconic sounds
- Digital Art Mode - a purple/mint-green theme + the control display will slowly change design

I've had my car 21 months, and don't subscribe to Digital Premium and never have, but I have Expressive Mode and Digital Art mode.

[greengob]

Originally Posted by Cam330i

Hello!

Being that you only have Personal, Efficient, and Sport mode(s) in your MY Modes menu, it looks like your Digital Premium subscription trial has ended! New X1's and X2's get a 3 month free trial period to the Digital Premium content! However, once the trial period is over, you are given the option to continue using the Digital Premium Content via subscription service and you can either pay monthly ($10 a month) or you can pay annually/yearly ($99 once a year) and you can have both of them be set up with automatic payments via the myBMWapp!
NOTE: If you like Digital Premium and you plan to use it indefinitely, they do give you a discount if you choose to renew your subscription annually/yearly!

If you re-activate your Digital Premium subscription, you will then have more "MY Modes" to choose from and all of them are purely themed based and will have no impact on your vehicle's handling and performance. The additional "MY Modes" are:
- Expressive Mode - a blue/yellow theme
- Relax Mode - a sage/tan theme + a "relaxing" sound via iconic sounds
- Digital Art Mode - a purple/mint-green theme + the control display will slowly change design

A few things to note about the MY Modes:

1. Personal, Sport, and Efficient are the only ones that will change the performance/handling of your car.
2. As mentioned, Expressive, Relax, and Digital Art are purely theme based, but they will alter/change the [U]sound of the Iconic [...]

I do not have digital premium and my experience with Siri hasn’t changed. Though that is all through CarPlay. I can’t comment on Alexa.

[markronnie]

I completely agree with you about BMW’s global strategy to charge Subscription Based features which in the vehicles price point should be standard or be included in an upfront package that stays with the vehicle ALWAYS.

The only thing I missed once I let it lapse is Stop Light notifications & traffic conditions in the surrounding areas I’m driving with navigation on. (I see just traffic on my route)
Again, should have been included in the Premium Package I bought with my 2024 X1 28i or a standard feature navigation.

There are a couple of things you mentioned I am sure I could NOT get when I had Digital Premium.
* BMW's A.I. - (aka: "Hello BMW") can appear with a face, as opposed to just bubbles
* Unique exterior welcome lighting
*Enhanced Maps and Navigation interface (e.g., 3D view, enhanced traffic alerts, etc.)

I had Digital Premium for about 7 months Extended for Free) & never could find a setting that would change the appearance of HEY BMW within the drivers screen. It was/ is always bubbles. Never came across a face.

Never have been able to see what 3D navigation looks like. If it works it must not be working anywhere I go.

I also was unable to alter the LED front lights. I’ve heard that these alterations were not available within USA but I see that’s where you are. So I’m puzzled

BTW as soon as I let Digital Premium expire I lost the 3 additional modes you mentioned. So if anyone had them remain, that’s great but I dont understand why.

[MontyB1]

This is one of the reasons having ID8 and no 9 can be and advantage, all of the above with the exception of being able change the lights is included in the most part for free.

3D building, traffic, all the modes all just come included

[rocketman99]

Originally Posted by Cam330i

Hello!

Being that you only have Personal, Efficient, and Sport mode(s) in your MY Modes menu, it looks like your Digital Premium subscription trial has ended! New X1's and X2's get a 3 month free trial period to the Digital Premium content! However, once the trial period is over, you are given the option to continue using the Digital Premium Content via subscription service and you can either pay monthly ($10 a month) or you can pay annually/yearly ($99 once a year) and you can have both of them be set up with automatic payments via the myBMWapp!
NOTE: If you like Digital Premium and you plan to use it indefinitely, they do give you a discount if you choose to renew your subscription annually/yearly!

...

Please let me (us) know if you have any additional questions and I am sorry for the long, lengthy, and detailed post! lol

Best,
Cameron (2025 BMW 330i - I named him: "Hayko")

Yeah, there's really not really a single feature in that package that I'd be willing to pay for and 90% of those are completely useless. I'm clearly not the target market there.

[tmgp]

If there is a target market... I can't understand what goes through their minds at the meetings where someone sells those ideas 😅

[rocketman99]

No joke. The people that make viral tiktoks are not the people buying BMWs. We have no use for any of that crap.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by rocketman99

No joke. The people that make viral tiktoks are not the people buying BMWs. We have no use for any of that crap.

No - some of them are buying Maybachs.

[Cam330i]

Originally Posted by markronnie

I completely agree with you about BMW’s global strategy to charge Subscription Based features which in the vehicles price point should be standard or be included in an upfront package that stays with the vehicle ALWAYS.

The only thing I missed once I let it lapse is Stop Light notifications & traffic conditions in the surrounding areas I’m driving with navigation on. (I see just traffic on my route)
Again, should have been included in the Premium Package I bought with my 2024 X1 28i or a standard feature navigation.

There are a couple of things you mentioned I am sure I could NOT get when I had Digital Premium.
* BMW's A.I. - (aka: "Hello BMW") can appear with a face, as opposed to just bubbles
* Unique exterior welcome lighting
*Enhanced Maps and Navigation interface (e.g., 3D view, enhanced traffic alerts, etc.)

I had Digital Premium for about 7 months Extended for Free) & never could find a setting that would change the appearance of HEY BMW within the drivers screen. It was/ is always bubbles. Never came across a face.

Never have been able to see what 3D navigation looks like. If it works it must not be working anywhere I go.

I also was unable to alter the LED front lights. I’ve heard that these alterations were not available within USA but I see that’s where you are. So I’m puzzled

BTW as soon as I let Digital Premium expire I lost the 3 additional modes you mentioned. So if anyone had them remain, that’s great but I dont understand why.

Hello,

Sorry for taking so long to reply back!

Down below are some pictures (receipts) that explain and show what you get with Digital Premium! Specifically these are about your questions on the settings/features I had mentioned above.

DISLAIMER: All of these pictures came from a 2024 Loaner X1 that had already aged out of the initial Digital Premium trial subscription - pictured down below




BMW's A.I. - (aka: "Hello BMW" or the "Intelligent Personal Assistant") can appear with either a face or appear as bubbles - I believe the settings should be somewhere in the "Intelligent Personal Assistant" app/menu/icon.
NOTE: In vehicles with iDrive 8/iDrive 8.5, if you say "Change your Look" or "Change your Appearance", he'll/she'll then appear with a face as opposed to just bubbles. You also get some unique animations and facial expressions with the new look!





Exterior Lighting Animations - I believe the settings can be found in the Exterior Lighting Menu and you basically get unique lighting animations with the exterior headlights and taillights! In all honesty, blink and you'll miss it.




BMW Maps Extended - I was in an X1 with Digital Premium and did notice that you can have a satellite view of the map + 3D buildings and other stuff. In all honesty, I would use Apple Maps or Google Maps via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, which can offer similar features.



That said, I hope I was able to address/elaborate more on the features/settings that I had mentioned previously. Although I should mention that things are subject to change as BMW rolls out new software updates and changes to iDrive 9.

In all honesty, given the current reputation of the system, along with usability, I would just use Apple CarPlay/Android Auto for streaming/navigation/communication and call it a day. I'm also one of those people who has "Automatic Software Updates" on my iPhone disabled and thus my phone requires my manual approval to install updates. That said, I've never had an issue with CarPlay.
NOTE: When digging through the "Apps" section of the connected drive store, I found there is a setting to "Update All Vehicle Apps" and to enable "Automatic App Update" - this is NOT to be confused with the vehicle Software Update that results in your car not being useable for 20 minutes while the system updates!

My cousin got a late model 2023 X1 - xDrive28i that has iDrive 8 and has never had a problem with it and he is glad he got the MY23.

I trust that BMW will get it together - especially since the new X3 will be using iDrive 9 (incl. Digital Premium)

Please let me (us) know if you have any additional questions! I hope this helps! If Digital Premium is something you (or anyone else) plans to keep and use in the long run, I would recommend you do the Annual Subscription - they give you a discount with the annual subscription, which is cheaper than the month - to - month subscription!



Best,
Cameron (2025 BMW 330i - named: "Hayko")