iDrive from the new owner perspective
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From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' date='Apr 22 2005, 10:56 PM
[quote name='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.
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[/quote]Correct, only a NAV feature.
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From: Frederick Maryland
Originally Posted by Bart001' date='Apr 22 2005, 09:13 PM
I've been using iDrive for almost 72 hours, I find it to be pretty straight-forward, easy to use, and intuitive.
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From: Voorhees, NJ
I really think that the I drive is the most intuitive control for a graphical user interface in an automobile.
With all of the features constantly being added to high tech cars, think of how many buttons there would be on the dashboard without it.
Lexus is headed toward touch screens which is another solution to controlling the amount of buttons, but you can't beat the location of the I drive, just off the armrest.
I think that other car manufacturers will follow BMW's lead.
With all of the features constantly being added to high tech cars, think of how many buttons there would be on the dashboard without it.
Lexus is headed toward touch screens which is another solution to controlling the amount of buttons, but you can't beat the location of the I drive, just off the armrest.
I think that other car manufacturers will follow BMW's lead.
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From: San Luis Obispo, California
My Ride: 2007 Titanium Gray 550i, with sport, nav, HUD, Logic7, sat radio, cold weather, rear side airbags, rear seat heaters, and it goes like a bat outta hell!
The only people that seem to not like I Drive are the people that initially reviewed the E60.......since then, it seems there are very few complaints, and it really is a very easy, intuitive...and best of all, flexible system. Now.......LOL......the cupholders are a completely different subject......but.....I won't go there.....today, anway!! 
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: X3 | 3.0 | 6-speed manual
Originally Posted by drjochen' date='Apr 22 2005, 08:43 PM
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?
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?
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From: So. California
My Ride: '05 545 Sport Week 9
Originally Posted by drjochen' date='Apr 22 2005, 05:43 PM
[quote name='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?
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[/quote]Yes, I noticed this too...force feedback fighting me from scrolling fast down a list...not sure why. My car has perspective NAV so I think I have the latest software.
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From: London, UK
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)
To be honest, it is easy to use, but not always intuitive or consistent - for example the force feedback on the address book - I think its deliberate, a way of not scrolling too quickly down the list - but completely inconsistent with (for example) the way of scrolling through place names in the nav screen (similarly alphabetised).
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
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From: Voorhees, NJ
Originally Posted by New535' date='Apr 23 2005, 04:37 PM
To be honest, it is easy to use, but not always intuitive or consistent - for example the force feedback on the address book - I think its deliberate, a way of not scrolling too quickly down the list - but completely inconsistent with (for example) the way of scrolling through place names in the nav screen (similarly alphabetised).
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
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I do think that BMW's current implementation of the I-Drive could use improvement and that the Main Menu should have more choices and it should hibernate, rather than completely reset when you cycle the key.
Overall though, I still think it is a huge improvement, and much more intuitive, than a dash full of 40 buttons with "take a guess" icons.
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Originally Posted by skipper' date='Apr 22 2005, 01:34 PM
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.
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From: San Jose, California, USA
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
Originally Posted by wnrussell' date='Apr 23 2005, 05:47 PM
[quote name='New535' date='Apr 23 2005, 04:37 PM']To be honest, it is easy to use, but not always intuitive or consistent - for example the force feedback on the address book - I think its deliberate, a way of not scrolling too quickly down the list - but completely inconsistent with (for example) the way of scrolling through place names in the nav screen (similarly alphabetised).
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
It needs a serious user interface person looking at it to sort it out, and the fact that you can turn, push, nudge and get feedback actually gives the software designer quite a number of permutations. This needs to be standardised and ironed out accross all the apps, to give it the kind of interface that, say, an ipod has.
Its really not bad as far as cars go, but it does need a bit of work before it is truly intuitive.
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I do think that BMW's current implementation of the I-Drive could use improvement and that the Main Menu should have more choices and it should hibernate, rather than completely reset when you cycle the key.
Overall though, I still think it is a huge improvement, and much more intuitive, than a dash full of 40 buttons with "take a guess" icons.
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[/quote]oh yeah - I just can't understand why non-E60 owners (and motor journalists) can't see this either. One of my friends from work has a C230 and had it in for a service, she got a new C240 as a loaner and showed it to me. The number of buttons etc on the dash was just totally ridiculous.
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