paasan

It's also important to distinguish between the iDrive of the 7series and that of the 5 - the simplification had a cause and so forth.


-paasan

mooseman

From a design perspective, it allows clearing the dash of hard switches and then permits the designer to evaluate which switches are important and where to put them. The upgradability of the SW adds flexibility that cannot exist in simple dash switches. As with any new feature, it will take time for the masses to adapt to it. You may not like the layout or the need to drill down to the feature that you need to change in the i-drive, but hopefully in future iterations of i-drive, the user will be able to personalize the screens and their order and function.

erk

I remember sitting in a 2004 Mercedes E500 at night with the lights turned on. I felt like I was in a rave!!! There were so many red, blue, white, and orange lights that it just looked cheesy, annoying and intimidating.

The iDrive definitely simplifies the dash, in a very good way. And I think it allowed BMW to add more useful functions including the car/trip monitors, audio, nav and climate without making the dash a rave nightmare like the E-class.

It was extremely easy to learn. I felt VERY comfortable with iDrive after skimming through the manual and fooling around with it while it was parked in the garage.

Overall, I think it's an awesome idea and I predict more car companies to follow bmw's footsteps.

cidair

Have driven my new E60 for 400km and are very comfortable with using the iDrive. The menu system are quite logical and reasonably easy to use. Just love the controller.

What can be questioned is that you have to scroll through several menus to be able to change balance, treble, bass etc. Could have used a few more buttons for the stereo!

Alan

I have had a 525 for three months and got used to the i-drive quickly. I have had some software issues and the car is currently in the dealers for an upgrade (for THREE days!!). They gave me loan 3-series and I cannot believe how difficult it is to operate anything when you have buttons for everything. They now all seem so small, hard to read, all odd shapes and sizes. Give me back the i-drive.