View Poll Results: Should the iDrive be scrapped, maintained as an option or standardised with improvements?
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iDrive concept Perfect or should be improved?
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
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From: Ghana - Africa
The iDrive concept has today been adopted by many vehicle manufactures. An innovation that was initially seen as highly unfriendly and in this case perfected by the late adopters e.g. Audi, Mercedes etc. in your opinion, what are the floors with iDrive and how can it be improved to meet the functionality it intended to achieve:
1. Reduce number of buttons and controls cluttered over the dashboard
2. Central management of cars options
3. Provide for easy wiring
4. Introduce the concept of a Car mouse/pointer?
1. Reduce number of buttons and controls cluttered over the dashboard
2. Central management of cars options
3. Provide for easy wiring
4. Introduce the concept of a Car mouse/pointer?
Contributors
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,363
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
My Ride: 2007 E63 AMG | Obsidian Black | Schwarzes Nappa | Black BirdEye Maple | Premium II Package | Electronic Trunk Closer | Parktronic
Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
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ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
The iDrive needs to be maintained but improved. They have to ditch the Windows OS and use Linux. 
Members
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 79
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From: London/Surrey, UK
Originally Posted by jiio' post='309425' date='Jul 11 2006, 04:23 PM
The iDrive needs to be maintained but improved. They have to ditch the Windows OS and use Linux.
to really interfere wit CIP updates :'(
Members
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 183
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From: Near Toronto
My Ride: 06 530Xi w/ M-Sport Package
07 335i Cabriolet w/ M-Sport body kit
The iDrive is a great concept but BMW definitely missed the mark on designing a menu structure that is intuitive. They need to throw out the old design and start again with a clean sheet of paper, rather than try to beat on a dead horse.
Contributors
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,790
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From: Helsinki, Finland
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.
Originally Posted by jiio' post='309425' date='Jul 11 2006, 06:23 PM
The iDrive needs to be maintained but improved.
It's really hard to see how modern cars with such extended features
could be handled in any other way.
I.e. the E-series M-B has so many buttoms, that I do not understand how
anyone can handle them all.
Many on you may not remember when the first computers and Windows
was introduced.
It was a shock for many adults, including me!
Members
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Southern California, USA
My Ride: 530i, Sport Package, Premium Package, Navigation.
I believe that iDrive as is, for a Gen Xer like myself, is quite intuitive. My only gripe is that the system needs a more powerful processor for quicker boot-up and reponse to input. On a side note, I have been training myself to rely on Voice Commands and find myself interacting with iDrive less and less daily. Speak up people!
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 775
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From: Wiesbaden, Germany
My Ride: E60 2006 525d Steptronic, Carbon Black, M Sport-Package, Style 135M Rims, Beige Interior, Dark Poplar Wood Trim, Comfort Seats, Professional Navigation with BMW Online and BMW Assist, HUD, Logic7, TV, Bluetooth, Speech Control, Active Steering, Adaptive Bi-Xenon, 6-Disc Changer, Heated Seats (front and back), Extended Climate, PDC, Sunroof, Auto-Dim. Int + Folding Exterior Mirrors, Electric Rear- and Side Blinds, Foldable rear seats, Electric Adjustable Steering Wheel
Originally Posted by jiio' post='309425' date='Jul 11 2006, 05:23 PM
The iDrive needs to be maintained but improved. They have to ditch the Windows OS and use Linux.
Linux is much faster than windows. Do you have Linux? If so, what distribution? I use Debian.
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
From: L.A., California
My Ride: 2013 535i (White with Oyster Interior. Premium Package, Navigation, Technology Pacakge, Park Distance Control, and Rear View Camera)
iDrive is a great idea. But BMW still has a long way to go to make it good.
Members
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Grantham. UK
My Ride: 2006 520d M-Sport / Silver Grey / Maple Wood / Black Dakota Leather / Heated Comfort Seats / Media Pack With Extended Voice Control / Space Saver Spare Wheel / Sun Protection Glass
It is too slow and therefore distracting. It is a cost saving measure to enable features to be added and modified at little expense. Because it runs the MP3 and Navigations it runs slowly. Route calculation is slow and sometimes extremely inaccurate (try it in central Nottingham if you really need a laugh).
It is a nice idea. But poorly thought out, very poorly executed and in reality of limited benefit to the consumer. We aren't able to change element that we are dissatisfied with for superior items, eg radio and cd player.
I'd personally rather have buttons than crap.
It is a nice idea. But poorly thought out, very poorly executed and in reality of limited benefit to the consumer. We aren't able to change element that we are dissatisfied with for superior items, eg radio and cd player.
I'd personally rather have buttons than crap.