Exclusive Photo: The new iDrive in the 5-Series

Exclusive Photo: The new iDrive in the 5-Series
We are back with our exclusive news and today, we have the opportunity to show you the new iDrive knob that will be available in the next generation 5 Series, probably the 7 and the 3er's as well. Our friends at bimmerfile have already shown you the new iDrive system in a 3 series test mule.

Obviously BMW has learned from their mistakes and the new iDrive system seems to be simplifying things for the driver and the new row of buttons around the knob will help navigate faster through menus and settings.

From an engineering and designer point of view, I can certainly see how the new added buttons will help tremendously the iDrive user, cutting some unecessary steps. The Back and Option buttons are placed in a comfortable position, behind the knob, which in a way works as a computer mouse, with 2 click buttons. I haven't seen the new system myself, but as soon as I have a chance to play with it, I will report back on how the functionality on it really is.

P.S Love the shifter as well.


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lewishamiltonpimplewishamiltonpimp - 5/5/2008 11:53:33 AM
+1 Boost
Good. I have iDrive and it is the most godawful interface I have ever had the misfortune of using. It is bad bad bad and anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves. It should be as easy to use as a $150 Garmin Nuvi. It isn't.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 5/5/2008 2:58:48 PM
-4 Boost
It's a total disgrace that iDrive is still around. Does BMW not have any pride?


supermotosupermoto - 5/5/2008 3:26:22 PM
+4 Boost
I've had i-drive for a year and love it. Have had owned an Audi with their system as well driven Acura and think BMW's is best.

For people who have grown up with computers, can RTFM, and learn the voice commands, i-drive works great.


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 5/5/2008 4:35:14 PM
+3 Boost
people keep trashing i drive im confused, why would you purchase a car you cant operate?????


FactsRuleFactsRule - 5/5/2008 5:20:30 PM
+4 Boost
I own a 2008 335i coupe with idrive and it is far easier to navigate and master than most other auto makes.

Jap and Chinese touchscreens suck, and I should know because I have owned several, ie Lexus, Acura...

After only a few minutes anyone with a brain can master BMW's idrive. You can stay focused on the road and driving experience instead of smudging up your screen and taking your eyes off the road.

idrive gets a bad rap by people who have never used it or taken a few minutes to learn the very simple navigation oriented system.

Give me idrive over Jap and Chinese touchscreens anyday!!!


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/5/2008 6:00:58 PM
+2 Boost
We have iDrive, and I'm indifferent. I don't think it's great, but I don't think it's particularly bad either. Voice control certainly helps.


MunichRobMunichRob - 5/5/2008 9:58:59 PM
+1 Boost
"lewishamiltonpimp" I feel the total opposite about i-drive as I think it's one of the better in car systems in production. I'm not just stating that out of some biased delusion that everything BMW creates is spot-on, but merely out of hours of using the system everyday in my car & finding it to be a delight.

Truthfully I do get the odd passenger here or there who will attempt to navigate the i-drive, fail, & ask for my assistance. However a little tutorial as I'm driving will solve the issue.

My Dad, a 68 year-old man whom was born well before the computer age revolution, was able to basically master the system after riding in the car a couple times. I always say if he can do it & like it, then what the hell is wrong with the people whom cannot figure it out & hate it!?




AShul007AShul007 - 5/5/2008 10:28:32 PM
+1 Boost
EnnNorak I think that is just it...They have too much pride. I have a bimmer and I love it otherwise though. They still make the best driving car in my opinion.


daydaydayday - 5/6/2008 6:14:52 PM
+2 Boost
i ve been using idrive for 3 years now. i ve never felt it was hard to use.i have many friends using idrive too, they all found it easy to use. i ve also tried the new merc nav, its great to use,too. but i just dont know why there are soo many people on the internet saying the audi's MMI is easy to use. i ve tried a few times. still think its confusing, either the graphic or the buttons, there are just too many.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/5/2008 12:10:14 PM
+2 Boost
Looks good.

When will it be available? That looks like a current E60 5 Series.


LUXCAR32LUXCAR32 - 5/5/2008 12:52:41 PM
-5 Boost
Can someone please explain to my why touch screen navs are like nonexistent? A friend of mine has a new Lexus IS 250 with touch screen Nav and it works great. It is amazing how much more user friendly it is than iDrive or mmi or whatever MB calls their nav system. The little scroll wheel might keep your arms at your side and maybe might help you keep eyes on the road if you memorize absolutely every function, but otherwise i'd go touch screen all the way.


Ironman273Ironman273 - 5/5/2008 1:51:19 PM
+6 Boost
I'll tell you. Touchscreens work great when the car is stopped. Tell your friend to change some information or settings while the car is in motion... he can't. The idea behind having a scroll wheel is that you don't have to look at the screen to see where to touch (which is why the touchscreen systems "gray-out" in motion).


RupertRupert - 5/5/2008 2:35:23 PM
+7 Boost
It's quite dangerous to have to lift your body to stretch your arm up to a screen, it means you're supporting yourself on the steering wheel, which of course means you don't have full control.


nicecarsnicecars - 5/5/2008 3:48:59 PM
+5 Boost
Have you seen a touch screen in a Lexus/Toyota after about 3 years. All the corners are permanately damaged and are unfixable without ordering a new one. Seems to be nice with greasy fingers all over it.


stonestone - 5/5/2008 1:09:51 PM
+2 Boost
I have wondered the same think, touch screens went almost as quickly as they came on the scene. I have noticed that manufacturers are now putting thier nav screens deeper into the dash, farther away from the driver. Maybe its a better use of real estate or maybe surveys and focus groups are telling them that drivers still want their buttons. I have I-drive in my 745 and while its not the rocket science that many have made it out to be, a nice touch screen would have been much easier but I can see that being quite a stretch for a shorter person, at least in the 7...



Stone


AdmiralT20AdmiralT20 - 5/5/2008 1:30:25 PM
+2 Boost
Touch screens tend to leave a lot of oil(from the fingers) on the screen which cause glaring when light is reflected off it.



sholemonsholemon - 5/5/2008 1:49:06 PM
+2 Boost
Wasnt the story that said the 3series would get the update idrive wrong?


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/5/2008 6:02:39 PM
+1 Boost
I was wondering the same thing. But this is the 5 Series.


hao420hao420 - 5/5/2008 1:58:53 PM
0 Boost
No way, not again,5 series gets a whashing machine button


LexusKindaGuy12LexusKindaGuy12 - 5/5/2008 3:06:19 PM
-2 Boost
back to buttons again.

i hate to say it, but they changed to idrive as an extreme to get rid of buttons, but they all come crawling back.


FactsRuleFactsRule - 5/5/2008 5:42:15 PM
+4 Boost
Watch Lexus copy BMW and Audi when their next generation Nav/MMI interface becomes available.

Touchscreens suck big time..






FactsRuleFactsRule - 5/5/2008 8:10:18 PM
+5 Boost
huu76, evidently you've never driven a BMW because not only do they DUAL auto climate control, but you can turn the temp. dial just like on any other luxury car.. You don't have to use idrive to change anything with the climate control system, but you do have that option if you would prefer it..

Seriously dude, you need to study up more before you start making comments like the above crap..

I've owned Lexus, BMW, MB, Audi(loved it too), Acura, GM, Nissan, Mazda and Infiniti and know who makes what. Too bad you don't!


FactsRuleFactsRule - 5/5/2008 8:13:50 PM
+5 Boost
As long as you are not on the road at the same time I don't see any problem..

Thank God the Germans know how to engineer a proper automobile for those of us you deem motor skill challenged.. LOL

I guess we prefer to enjoy driving instead of punching buttons on a Nav screen...


bmwfan1513bmwfan1513 - 5/5/2008 9:16:54 PM
+3 Boost
I like the current iDrive but that new iDrive looks so cool.


ktu01ktu01 - 5/6/2008 3:14:36 AM
+1 Boost
I love the touch screen on my Honda. It's very simple to use. I have a stick, so whenever both hands are occupied, i just use voice command. I can control nearly everything by voice, including entering navigation addresses, climate settings, audio, and trip computer and car/interface/gps settings.

I guess to each his own. I'm sure some ppl like a physical control with tactile feedback, some like iDrive or MMI, and some like touch screens.


M53RM53R - 5/6/2008 10:38:07 AM
+1 Boost
Everything new needs some time to get used to. For example, this new idrive, you will need to know where the back button is, menu button is, to be able to operate it quickly, so as usual people will complain -_-. I'm actually a fan of the current idrive, as Im used to it, so it takes me seconds to get what I want. Now, whenever I get into a car with a screen, I automatically start searching for idrive!


jt716jt716 - 5/6/2008 9:19:17 PM
+1 Boost
Isnt That shifter in the current 5 series?? Its just one movement up or down I know because my family has it in Singapore.


cbro980cbro980 - 5/8/2008 5:16:11 PM
0 Boost
It is inconceivable to me (an ex BMW owner) how the factory ignores the drivers who, in general, do not want I Drive. Is this a case of "you VILL do ase you are tolt" and to heck with opinions of their customers. That is a shame, we are those who purchase their cars and make them rich and our opinion should really matter but, alas, it seems they do not. I really have no respect for any factory who ignores their clients no matter what they manufacture.


huntrhuntr - 5/9/2008 10:17:54 AM
+2 Boost
The reason BMW has I-Drive is that if they did not the dash would have over SEVEN HUNDRED buttons to control everything that I-Drive does. It is amazing to me how many people on this site say things about cars when they know sooo little about them. It is truly amazing that these people can operate a computer but cannot master the I-Drive.


cbro980cbro980 - 5/9/2008 2:31:46 PM
0 Boost
huntr
Isn't it amazing that most other cars do not use an I drive type controller and they don't have over 700 buttons on the dash. My car has Nav, Premium audio etc etc and EVERTHING is readily accessable without an excess of buttons. Maybe BMW has forgotten the customer is king or how to design a logical radio/nav system. It is not a matter of mastering I drive - no problem, it is a matter of putting up with an inconvenient device that is shoved down your throat by a factory who does NOT listen to its' customers. Until I Drive disappears from the car I will NOT purchase another BMW --------------EVER!!!!


huntrhuntr - 5/9/2008 6:22:24 PM
+2 Boost
It is not shoved down anyone's throat, you do not have to purchase the car if you do not want one. BMW also offers several models that do not have I-drive. As usual BMW came out with this type system first and it gets crushed by the media, but then the other car makers come out with thier own version of the system. Look at the styling of the 2002 seven and how it was blasted by the media and the genral public, now even a camry has those same styling queue's.


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+1 Boost
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+1 Boost
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