iDrive from the new owner perspective
04-22-2005, 11:13 AM
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My Ride: X3 | 3.0 | 6-speed manual
OK I'm honestly not a total BMW fanboy, but now that I've been using iDrive for almost 72 hours, I find it to be pretty straight-forward, easy to use, and intuitive. I wasn't saying that after 1 hour, but was after owning the car for 1 day! This was WITHOUT reading the manual, and just learning from trial-and-error.
Now the radio operation itself is not as simple for me. I'm actually going to have to RTFM ("read the fine manual") to figure out how to create and use AM and FM presets!!!! (Yes, I actually listen to AM, for traffic and Red Sox games!)
I'm enjoying the combo of iDrive and Voice Command.
Now the radio operation itself is not as simple for me. I'm actually going to have to RTFM ("read the fine manual") to figure out how to create and use AM and FM presets!!!! (Yes, I actually listen to AM, for traffic and Red Sox games!)
I'm enjoying the combo of iDrive and Voice Command.
04-22-2005, 11:15 AM
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My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
You should probably RTFM anyway but as far as radio presets go, just press down on the controller while tuned to a station and "store" will be one of the choices on a pop-up menu.
04-22-2005, 11:34 AM
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Another good thing to know is that if you want to return to your last position within a category, hold the knob towards that item for 3 seconds. (ie you were in your FM presets and then went back to the main IDrive menu. Instead of going to Entertainment, then down clicking 2x to get back to select a channel, you just hold it down for 3 secs.
04-22-2005, 12:37 PM
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My Ride: 535d Sport (M sport steering, M sport sills, M sport suspension, 18inch M style wheels) Carbon black, black nasca, dark wood, dechromed, folding mirrors, extended lights, sun protect glazing, grad tinted winscreen, servotronic steering, heated, ventilated active comfort seats, extended voice control, hi-fi speakers, hud, active cruise, split folding rear seats, rear electric blind, rear manual blinds visbility pack (xenons, adaptive headlights), media pack (6 CD, prof nav, bluetooth with telematics and assist)
Also, noone seems to have mentioned that the iDrive knob has force feedback - it stops you turning when there are no more options - pretty cool - not just a passive wheel.
04-22-2005, 03:41 PM
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My Ride: 535D Sport Auto
Originally Posted by New535' date='Apr 22 2005, 03:37 PM
Also, noone seems to have mentioned that the iDrive knob has force feedback - it stops you turning when there are no more options - pretty cool - not just a passive wheel.
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04-22-2005, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' date='Apr 22 2005, 05:41 PM
[quote name='New535' date='Apr 22 2005, 03:37 PM']Also, noone seems to have mentioned that the iDrive knob has force feedback - it stops you turning when there are no more options - pretty cool - not just a passive wheel.
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[/quote]Yep - it is going to be my excuse for a software update
04-22-2005, 04:37 PM
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My Ride: 545i - ordered in January delivered April 21st! Black Sapphire Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple.
Originally Posted by Bart001' date='Apr 22 2005, 02:13 PM
OK I'm honestly not a total BMW fanboy, but now that I've been using iDrive for almost 72 hours, I find it to be pretty straight-forward, easy to use, and intuitive.? I wasn't saying that after 1 hour, but was after owning the car for 1 day!? This was WITHOUT reading the manual, and just learning from trial-and-error.
Now the radio operation itself is not as simple for me.? I'm actually going to have to RTFM ("read the fine manual") to figure out how to create and use AM and FM presets!!!!? (Yes, I actually listen to AM, for traffic and Red Sox games!)
I'm enjoying the combo of iDrive and Voice Command.
Now the radio operation itself is not as simple for me.? I'm actually going to have to RTFM ("read the fine manual") to figure out how to create and use AM and FM presets!!!!? (Yes, I actually listen to AM, for traffic and Red Sox games!)
I'm enjoying the combo of iDrive and Voice Command.
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04-22-2005, 04:43 PM
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My Ride: 530i 6 speed
Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' date='Apr 22 2005, 07:41 PM
[quote name='New535' date='Apr 22 2005, 03:37 PM']Also, noone seems to have mentioned that the iDrive knob has force feedback - it stops you turning when there are no more options - pretty cool - not just a passive wheel.
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[/quote]I also have this problem in the NAV menues.
E.g., if I want to select a state, it shows the white arrow but doesn't let me scroll down and I have to fight it.
Anybody else have this?
04-22-2005, 05:49 PM
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My Ride: '05 545i, silver gray, black leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, cold weather package, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat, satellite radio prep, PIAA 4150K fogs, red rear reflectors, hardwired Valentine One
iDrive is great, and with nav (w/ voice command), it's wonderful. Remember when a PC came without a mouse? We'll look back in 5 years and laugh... 
04-22-2005, 07:56 PM
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My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Originally Posted by New535' date='Apr 22 2005, 12:37 PM
Also, noone seems to have mentioned that the iDrive knob has force feedback - it stops you turning when there are no more options - pretty cool - not just a passive wheel.
[snapback]118828[/snapback]