What is iDrive?
Thread Starter
Members
Senior Members
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 2
From: USA
My Ride: BMW
What is iDrive?
iDrive is that little silver knob you see behind the gear shift and it's the brain of this car. iDrive allows access to a variety of comfort functions displayed on the monitor. The turn/press button enables front-seat occupants to access the menu system and fine-tune settings for climate control, audio system, navigation system and communication with BMW Assist. Dedicated buttons for radio, climate, and other more often used functions do exist to keep things simple.
If you have any additions or comments please post them below for other forum members and web site visitors to read.
iDrive is that little silver knob you see behind the gear shift and it's the brain of this car. iDrive allows access to a variety of comfort functions displayed on the monitor. The turn/press button enables front-seat occupants to access the menu system and fine-tune settings for climate control, audio system, navigation system and communication with BMW Assist. Dedicated buttons for radio, climate, and other more often used functions do exist to keep things simple.
If you have any additions or comments please post them below for other forum members and web site visitors to read.
Members
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
My Ride: My Bimmer's info is in my sig, so I'll tell you about my garage toy. It's a 1997 Porsche Boxster. The car is black on black and I have replaced every single thing on the car (interior, exterior, drivetrain, suspension) except for the sheet metal and the convertible top (both of which will be next I guess). I love my Pcar more than any other car I have ever owned and will probably keep it for the rest of my life.
Porsche. There is no substitute.
If you ask me, iDrive is a pain in the arse. It's slow, cumbersome, and while I find myself a very techno-saavy person, I still cannot get into the depth of the menus easily and the navigation module is not intuitive.
I wish my car did not have it.
I wish my car did not have it.
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: Northamptonshire UK
My Ride: Week 17 Build, 2008 E60 535d M Sport - Titanium Silver, Black Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Automatic gearbox, Steering Wheel Heating, M Double Spoke 172 19" Mixed Wheels, Auto-Dim+Exterior Mirror, Comfort seats, Front Seat Heating, Aluminium Pentan interior trim,DAB Tuner, TV Function, BMW Individual Audio System 825W !!
Originally Posted by Parson' post='940258' date='Jul 12 2009, 10:54 PM
If you ask me, iDrive is a pain in the arse. It's slow, cumbersome, and while I find myself a very techno-saavy person, I still cannot get into the depth of the menus easily and the navigation module is not intuitive.
I wish my car did not have it.
I wish my car did not have it.
I would have to disagree with you, I actually quite like it, and find it relatively easy to navigate ( Takes a bit of practise though
)My two girls 9 & 5 seem to have got the hang of it too... CD changer takes a hell of a beating at times!!
Contributors
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
Wait, isn't the iDrive the adverising slogan? "Idrive, youDrive, we allDrive BMW"?
j/k anyway, I love the system, maybe because I have been in IT for so many years, but it's great.
j/k anyway, I love the system, maybe because I have been in IT for so many years, but it's great.
Senior Members
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Uk
My Ride: 535d
Originally Posted by Parson' post='940258' date='Jul 12 2009, 10:54 PM
If you ask me, iDrive is a pain in the arse. It's slow, cumbersome, and while I find myself a very techno-saavy person, I still cannot get into the depth of the menus easily and the navigation module is not intuitive.
I wish my car did not have it.
I wish my car did not have it.
here is the thing. yes in time we can get used to it but only if the BMW is the main car used. If one has different cars to chose from, then its never easy to remember. I always used to say this to my engineers who were planning the process flow (manufacturing). Everything should be simple so that a money can do the job.
The same applies here. The simple reason why iDRIVE fails is this. One can't use it on day one without the manual or help by the salesman. Its not like other cars where you can get in, play with the system and work it out easily. When I bought my car, on the drive back I wanted to put SOME music. Anything!! The whole journey back, not a single bloody sound came out. I was trying everything but could not work out how to tune the radio to the area.
I had to get home, read the damn manual from front to back. Never have I ever needed to do that for my previous BMWs.
iDrive is another aspect where BMW has lost its way. They used to design cars with superb logic put into the design. How the hell idrive passed, God only knows.
cheers
Contributors
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by craigm1841' post='949501' date='Jul 21 2009, 07:04 PM
HOW did this thing get revived?
It's a debate on a five-year-old FAQ!
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10,301
Likes: 0
From: New York, New York
My Ride: See my signature
Originally Posted by CWS530' post='949759' date='Jul 21 2009, 11:42 PM
It's a debate on a five-year-old FAQ!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EuropeanArtz
E60 Discussion
2
Sep 23, 2015 08:21 PM
Claudiupromotion
E60 Discussion
2
Sep 17, 2015 08:02 PM