I Drive
#11
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When the new 7 came out a few years ago, I test drove one and had the sales guy show me iDrive (in the parking lot!), and it was a bit complicated (and the fact that the sales guy didn't exactly know how to use it didn't help). When thinking about a new car, I'll admit that I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of having iDrive. I've had my car for 4 weeks now, and I think iDrive is great. The first day (setting up all the variables after reading the manual) takes a while, but so does that process on any new car with lots of technology. After that it's no big deal, and I actually think it's a very elegant solution.
I have nav with voice command, which makes things like switching to a different cd in the changer or switching from cd to radio very easy, but even without voice command, you can program one the 2 programmable buttons on the right side of the steering wheel (a diamond and a star as I recall) to switch between audio inputs, for example. And the iDrive control knob is in a much more convenient position than having to figure out which small button on a cluttered dash to press. Have you seen the new Carrera dash--something like 50 small buttons:
![I Drive-center_console.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-discussion-2/5180d1482363142t-i-drive-center_console.jpg)
I can see how my grandmother--who never used a PC in her life--wouldn't like iDrive. Then again, she's not BMW's target demographic.
I have nav with voice command, which makes things like switching to a different cd in the changer or switching from cd to radio very easy, but even without voice command, you can program one the 2 programmable buttons on the right side of the steering wheel (a diamond and a star as I recall) to switch between audio inputs, for example. And the iDrive control knob is in a much more convenient position than having to figure out which small button on a cluttered dash to press. Have you seen the new Carrera dash--something like 50 small buttons:
![I Drive-center_console.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-discussion-2/5180d1482363142t-i-drive-center_console.jpg)
I can see how my grandmother--who never used a PC in her life--wouldn't like iDrive. Then again, she's not BMW's target demographic.
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#12
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Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' date='Feb 14 2005, 07:17 PM
Has anyone got an E60 without sat nav, bluetooth and A/c advanced. If so have you ever thought what a waste of time that big silver knob is?
Joking apart I love the I drive system and all the bad press it attracts. The British press say its difficult to operate - Difficult to operate! Theres only 2 x button's. It certainly breaks up long journeys and is a great talking point with passengers
Good idea?
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Joking apart I love the I drive system and all the bad press it attracts. The British press say its difficult to operate - Difficult to operate! Theres only 2 x button's. It certainly breaks up long journeys and is a great talking point with passengers
Good idea?
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I also makes the dash look a lot cleaner
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#13
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Originally Posted by black1444' date='Feb 15 2005, 12:44 PM
I love idrive. I would love to have COMAND (mercedes system similar to i-drive but less modern) in my company S500 here in hong kong. i wanted to get a 545i like my old one but it costs about 115k USD here base price. So i will have to stick with my big benz with a hole in the dash.
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How come you don't have COMAND? In out country its standard (nav not inclus)
#14
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I like I-drive, and it works really well with voice command, in fact, I think voice command is the way of the future. I can do everything I need with voice and the steering wheel buttons, so I never take my eyes of the road and I never take my hands off the steering wheel.
Most controls that require a little input should be done before driving off, IMHO. For example, entering Nav data or adjusting the temp. To be honest, I just set the temp to automatic and let the car do the job, it is always at a comfortable temperature.
My biggest problem with I-drive? The slow load time, that is annoying, but I have Nav.
Most controls that require a little input should be done before driving off, IMHO. For example, entering Nav data or adjusting the temp. To be honest, I just set the temp to automatic and let the car do the job, it is always at a comfortable temperature.
My biggest problem with I-drive? The slow load time, that is annoying, but I have Nav.
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Originally Posted by KenTO' date='Feb 15 2005, 10:29 AM
Most controls that require a little input should be done before driving off, IMHO.? For example, entering Nav data or adjusting the temp.? To be honest, I just set the temp to automatic and let the car do the job, it is always at a comfortable temperature.
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#16
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Originally Posted by stream' date='Feb 15 2005, 02:35 PM
[quote name='KenTO' date='Feb 15 2005, 10:29 AM']Most controls that require a little input should be done before driving off, IMHO.? For example, entering Nav data or adjusting the temp.? To be honest, I just set the temp to automatic and let the car do the job, it is always at a comfortable temperature.
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[/quote]Perhaps that's for people that don't use the auto climate. I use auto climate all the time and also just adjust the temperature knobs - no need for iDrive. For those that don't use auto, then they need to use iDrive to set their vent settings, etc. Perhaps this is it? I can see it being a bit annoying, but I have not found a reason to NOT use auto so far. I have to say one of the best things about this car is how well the auto ventilation system works.
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Originally Posted by urbo73' date='Feb 15 2005, 01:30 PM
[quote name='stream' date='Feb 15 2005, 02:35 PM'][quote name='KenTO' date='Feb 15 2005, 10:29 AM']Most controls that require a little input should be done before driving off, IMHO.? For example, entering Nav data or adjusting the temp.? To be honest, I just set the temp to automatic and let the car do the job, it is always at a comfortable temperature.
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[/quote]Perhaps that's for people that don't use the auto climate. I use auto climate all the time and also just adjust the temperature knobs - no need for iDrive. For those that don't use auto, then they need to use iDrive to set their vent settings, etc. Perhaps this is it? I can see it being a bit annoying, but I have not found a reason to NOT use auto so far. I have to say one of the best things about this car is how well the auto ventilation system works.
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[/quote]You still don't need to use the i-drive because you don't need to change the vent settings often. I rarely us the Auto and even more rarely do I change the vent settings. I know I switched from cool air on the body to warm air sometime in the fall and I suppose I will switch it back in the spring.
Of course, if you were stupid enough to think you needed to adjust the temperature with the i-drive (and apparently some of the auto-mag. columnists are), I can see how it would be frustrating trying to figure out how to do it (because it isn't in there).
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Originally Posted by DXXXi' date='Feb 15 2005, 12:41 PM
Of course, if you were stupid enough to think you needed to adjust the temperature with the i-drive (and apparently some of the auto-mag. columnists are), I can see how it would be frustrating trying to figure out how to do it (because it isn't in there).
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#19
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Originally Posted by stream' date='Feb 15 2005, 04:52 PM
[quote name='DXXXi' date='Feb 15 2005, 12:41 PM']Of course, if you were stupid enough to think you needed to adjust the temperature with the i-drive (and apparently some of the auto-mag. columnists are), I can see how it would be frustrating trying to figure out how to do it (because it isn't in there).
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[/quote]Maybe it's the not very intuitive (at least to me at first) cooling or heating of the body vents that HAS to be done in iDrive - auto or not. Maybe that has people thinking it also controls the temperature for other things.
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Speaking of heating & iDrive, I have the cold weather package, and in iDrive, you can adjust the position of the heat on the bottom and back of the seats--I never heard of a car with heated seat backs!! How's that for more information than you needed...
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