I-Drive . . . there's no turning back
#11
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best controls ever by far are in Mitsubishi Outlanders, I had an 07 fully loaded with Nav, HDD and such and the reason it's better than the rest is simple... Touch screen. I don't understand why luxury cars such as BMW and MB haven't implemented touch screen on their vehicles, it's absolutly beyond me why I should have to spin a wheel or click a multitude of buttons when I could just click on what I want directly in this day and age.
In my mind making a simple clean and practical interface isn't rocket science, the answer is simple and widely available...Touch Screen.
Anyways, that's my 2 cents, the day BMW has a perfect interface will be the day it goes touch screen.
In my mind making a simple clean and practical interface isn't rocket science, the answer is simple and widely available...Touch Screen.
Anyways, that's my 2 cents, the day BMW has a perfect interface will be the day it goes touch screen.
#12
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 10,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: See my signature
Originally Posted by ObD' post='832992' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:17 PM
I-drive in a nice concept but BMW's execution of it sucks. Navigating menus to a funtion is a PITA. Once your done navigating it works quite well as a multiuse knob. The LCI dash shortcut buttons are a huge improvement. I don't get the new I-drive controller. The button functions already exist on the old controller and work much simpler in the old application.
Perhaps the hard-drive based new I-Drive in the 2010 5 Series with Nav is a big improvement. My 2006 Infiniti M45's controls were much faster, more logical and easier to use. But it drove like a pig compared to my 550i crashing and shuddering over every bump. As you can see, I don't buy my cars based on the electronic controls. I'm a driver first.
#13
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Sapphire Black on Black M5 - loaded sans soft close doors
Well it is not perfect - but personally, I rarely change the venting positions other than to turn on defrost. And this I do with buttons, not the iDrive. My 2008 is much faster than my 06 and it works for me. Rumor has it the next gen stuff (in 3 series and 7 series right now and the 5-series starting with the 2010s is pretty sweet). Most people here find it to be no big deal and I agree. I had a touch screen GS430 and it was terrible to try and use while driving - and yes, I had to use the screen to change vent positions....
#14
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York und Wien
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Scoops' post='833291' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:22 PM
Best controls ever by far are in Mitsubishi Outlanders, I had an 07 fully loaded with Nav, HDD and such and the reason it's better than the rest is simple... Touch screen. I don't understand why luxury cars such as BMW and MB haven't implemented touch screen on their vehicles, it's absolutly beyond me why I should have to spin a wheel or click a multitude of buttons when I could just click on what I want directly in this day and age.
In my mind making a simple clean and practical interface isn't rocket science, the answer is simple and widely available...Touch Screen.
Anyways, that's my 2 cents, the day BMW has a perfect interface will be the day it goes touch screen.
In my mind making a simple clean and practical interface isn't rocket science, the answer is simple and widely available...Touch Screen.
Anyways, that's my 2 cents, the day BMW has a perfect interface will be the day it goes touch screen.
#15
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York und Wien
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll refer interested parties here to the in-depth article on iDrive at http://www.bmwcca.org/forum/showthre...1501#post11501
#16
Members
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Frisco TX
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 535i, Platinum Gray, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim
Premium Package | Sport Package | Navigation
The Idrive version in my 2008 535 is ok. It really helps you can create shortcut buttons and that the heat/ac has knobs you can turn. It would be cool if you could create macros.
I have heard the the system in the Audi and infinity are better designed however have never used them.
The lexus GS is crazy, do they still have tape decks in their cars ?
I have heard the the system in the Audi and infinity are better designed however have never used them.
The lexus GS is crazy, do they still have tape decks in their cars ?
#17
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 10,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: See my signature
Originally Posted by James_2008_535' post='836006' date='Apr 4 2009, 06:50 AM
The Idrive version in my 2008 535 is ok. It really helps you can create shortcut buttons and that the heat/ac has knobs you can turn. It would be cool if you could create macros.
I have heard the the system in the Audi and infinity are better designed however have never used them.
The lexus GS is crazy, do they still have tape decks in their cars ?
I have heard the the system in the Audi and infinity are better designed however have never used them.
The lexus GS is crazy, do they still have tape decks in their cars ?
I had an Infiniti M for over 3 years prior to my 550. The controls in the M involve buttons and an I-drive like controller. The interface's electronics were much faster than I-drive and did not involve the multiple layers of menus in my 2009 550's I-drive.
But the Infiniti's electronic control have one huge achilles heel. Many of the controls, including 99 percent of the nav's functions cannot be operated while the car is in motion. Talk about a pain in the rear.
If my purchase/lease decision were based on the elecronic controls, I would have stayed with Infiniti. But I am a driver first and, while the Infiniti was pretty fast and its suspension was responsive -- not at all like a Lexus -- its suspension totally lacked refinement and crashed over every bump. Plus the steering tramlined severely, following every road irregularity.
I would love to hear from people how the 2010 new hard drive-based I-Driver performs. It certainly should be a lot faster and I hope BNW has found a way to cut back on the illogical submenus that plague I-drive.
#18
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 7,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
The new cars have so many functions these days the iDrive is a must.
Luckily BMW was the first one to develop it.
I hope they are the first to develop it so, that us grown ups can work it out,
not only the 10 yo kids.
Luckily BMW was the first one to develop it.
I hope they are the first to develop it so, that us grown ups can work it out,
not only the 10 yo kids.
#20
My issue with i-drive is lagging and multiple clicks make it less usable. Sounds like something coming out from Microsoft.
Audi MMI has better design and useable. I have 08 535i and comparing it to my sister 09 A4 and Audi enginner and testers are better. I think new i-drive is much better and no longer using Microsoft codes.
Audi MMI has better design and useable. I have 08 535i and comparing it to my sister 09 A4 and Audi enginner and testers are better. I think new i-drive is much better and no longer using Microsoft codes.
Originally Posted by Bimmer32' post='832526' date='Apr 1 2009, 12:17 AM
I was looking for a new Lexus LS for my father recently, and all those buttons on the dash made me dizzy. The I-drive is so much more cleaner look and less cluttering. Maybe I'm just bias . . .
It seems overly "buttoned" for every control. A button for vent seat, a button for heat seat. What ever happen to consolidation and using electronics to make more efficient selection? There is no luxury in a car with bunches of buttons to press. Come on, Lexus car should not look like a cockpit of an airplane.
It seems overly "buttoned" for every control. A button for vent seat, a button for heat seat. What ever happen to consolidation and using electronics to make more efficient selection? There is no luxury in a car with bunches of buttons to press. Come on, Lexus car should not look like a cockpit of an airplane.