VIDEO: BMW to take lead in technology over competitors?

I do believe BMW has great ideas. I even believe BMW can lead the way in technology if they want to. But I don't believe the technology will work. In fact, I am very wary of buying new technology from BMW and having it break on me, and needing to rent a loaner car while they figure out the problem, or even worse, having to pay out-of-pocket in an out-of-warranty situation 4-5 years down the road.

Fair or not, BMW has a huge reputation for things going wrong. The Japanese generally don't. I'm more apt to want technology from Japan, and simple engineering from Germany. Until BMW can show a 3-5 year track record of things working like a charm, keep it simple Germany, or you'll just lower your reputation even further on the execution.

your opinion is your set of preferences, but most people dont mind being early adopters especially if they are leasing a car. No out of warranty problems, and they even do free maintenance. Works for me, and I get the best ideas first.

My opinion is my set of preferences. Gee, you think?

I'm sorry I didn't include the opinions in your mind while writing my own post. I'll try to think of what you--a stranger--might think on the subject next time.

Yes but i still hate PAYING FOR A 4.8is and driving around for 8 weeks in a 325d Courtesy Car while they try to figure out the problem.

Now they have reduced Loaner Cars to the 120d

You'd better hope BMW doesn't start making bicycles :)

Yes but i still hate PAYING FOR A 4.8is and driving around for 8 weeks in a 325d Courtesy Car while they try to figure out the problem.

Now they have reduced Loaner Cars to the 120d
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Cool. We got those BMW diesels here now!?

SARCASM...

Yes but i still hate PAYING FOR A 4.8is and driving around for 8 weeks in a 325d Courtesy Car while they try to figure out the problem.

Now they have reduced Loaner Cars to the 120d
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Cool. We got those BMW diesels here now!?

SARCASM...

SPEEDINGTICKETS, Did you made up that scenario? My '02 4.6is is over 4 years and the only issue is a weak battery, which I do have to pay out of pocket to have it replace. Other than that it's been flawless.

It's amazing how BMW's become Toyota's in quality when you're on a message board. You guys are trying to argue against the obvious.

My first car in the US was a 1993 Camry. Bought it brand new back then. The battery die in 3 years 1 month. Had to pay out of pocket to have it replace. My current X5's original battery lasted 4 years 10 months. There's your BMW vs Toyota

And the Camry started leaking oil after 4 years. I suspect too much oil change. I had it chance about every 3000 miles as recommended. Those damn mechanics probably did a poor job at it. My X5 hardly need any service, only an oil change every 16k-18k miles.

Will......... toyota use 30 yr old technology there not pioneering anything are they if they were to be on the pioneering forefront like MB and BMW they wuld have terrible terrible quality its just they wait 30 yrs til the technologys perfected until they implement it....

WHcih happens to be the exact point of this thread........ BMw the leader in new technology or Toyota the leader in 30 yr old technology

crackityjones is a total lowlife. flaming strangers on the internet sure boosts your ego, big boy!

BMW quality vs. Toyota quality.

TOYOTA x 1 infinillion!

Anyone who disagrees needs to stay away from this forum.
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You Toyota fanboys are getting on everyones nerves with your constant "Toyota = quality" crap.

Quality is important, but so are other things - and your average Toyota is a pretty dull car when compared to ANY BMW.

Listen guys, my original post said
a) BMW is tech savvy
b) they are a leader
c) they have been known to have problems which takes the shine off of their leadership position.

How is that a flame? It's giving credit where credit is due. It's also saying, they have work to do.

When a couple of BMW drivers chime and say, "my BMW doesn't have any problems" -- that doesn't discount the many many drivers who have problems. You can't turn the tide on problems with a couple posts into an internet site. BMW has to make cars with fewer hassle-inspiring issues.

This has nothing to do with Toyota, except when BMW drivers deny the obvious = BMW is not Toyota on quality.

When you argue that your cars are trouble-free and ergo all BMW's are trouble-free, it's just not true.

That makes you the flamers.

And yes cowman, I am a total lowlife. Welcome to my world.

thanks for admitting it

Well Will, you for one always try to PROVOKE people using subtle comments.

BTW, who runs this site anyway? is it Agent001 that has editing powers?

Crackity... BMW do make bicycles

MAIKOAZU!!!
DID I MAKE IT UP ??? DID I F*@%

Listen up, I am glad you had no problems with your 4.6 but i can supply you with a list of about 10 of us with RECURRING Problems with our BMWs & MBs, We all FORKED OUT For the Top Performing Vehicles and we all have spent more time in Loaner Vehicles than our own cars.

I had a 4.8is from Oct 2004 till Jul 2005 Spent total of 12 Weeks in BMW Repair Centres (Almost 50% of the time I had it)

My Cousin has the CLK 55 AMG CONV, Got it Sep 05, It is still in the MB Repair Shop ( Again Spent more time in the shop than with him)

My Business Partner CL 65 AMG F1 Pace Car, Aquired Sep 2005, Been to shop twice ( Best Record of Reliability out of the Bunch of us)

The list is Endless. Everytime we have to drop it off for more CHECKS we meet others with the same GRIPE,
WE ARE THE BUTT OF ALL OUR "LEX or AUDI" Driving Friends

I LOVED THE 4.8is (When it was working) and I have the new model on Order but i am keeping my Fingers & Toes CROSSED that this one will be okay.

ahh they will get technogically advanced i saw the new 2008 / 2009 bmw 5 series testing out in the desert unfortunately no camera but i will describe : it looks like its going to be larger but not by much , the front lights are different from what edmunds said, yes they wont have a tail thing on the side looks like a big oval sort of, but the taillamps remain the same the roof looks the same so i think its just a refresh on the front and the length so bmw fans wait till 2010 oh and oh yeah the interior looks the same just some button rearangements it seems

sorry i forgot about the tail thing , its on the front lamp no more

Utah, these BMW owners don't listen to anything. They're a bunch of Paris Hiltons, living off some sense of "heritage" they think it their birthright because they bought a used Bimmer somewhere. These guys don't listen to rational ideas.

The BMW crowd is ruining this site.

The Audi and Lexus folks seem to give and take, I've noticed.

thats one of the most rational things I have ever read on this site. I must say I agree with you Will when you say "we ALL know BMWs have quality issues, but their owners are willing to make that "small" sacrifice for sportiness." Hopefully this thread will become a constructive one rather than rampant fanboyism (myself included)

The main thread of this post began, does BMW leading the way in technology cause more of those "small sacrifices" to happen or not.

No one has been impressed with iDrive, active steering isn't pleasing the enthusiasts and SMG has been a big disappointment in the M5 (with The Truth About Cars calling it "the world's worst gearbox).

Honest question. Do we really want BMW to be leading the way in technology?

I think some fans hear a question like that and think it's a flame or something. It's just an honest question. BMW isn't a video game like some other car makers. It's a finely-tuned piece of machinery.

BMW drivers should have an opinion on this better than anyone. Not how reliable their BMW is. But how well BMW has integrated technology into the driving experience, and whether the technology has been a help or a hinderance (thus far) either in how it works or in how it has not worked (or broken down).

NO its the hyundai fans ruining this site and the ford fans and the honda fans (acura mdx is purty)

So many people in here generalise and stereotype.

For instance, If you say "No one has been impressed with iDrive" then you are incorrect. It is a sweeping generalisation which I know is inaccurate.

Stereotyping owners is also a total waste of time - bare in mind (as an example) Hitler had a Mercedes Benz, Nelson Mandella and Bob Marley both had BMW's, and my boss drives an Audi.

The only sweeping statements I would make is that ALL cars have faults at some stage - it depends how long you keep them. How well the dealer deals with them will ALWAYS vary from place to place - some ARE better than others, and americans and europeans will ALWAYS argue about cars.

Bottom line: people like what they like, buy what they can afford and should remember that it's only the customer that thinks they are always right.

Matt365,

I guess you think your sweeping generalizations are more accurate than the ones you are posting about?

Dude, you are the one splitting hairs about iDrive. No feature in a serious car has been so universally panned over the past 2-3 years as iDrive. That is no generalization or stereotype. It's a verifiable fact. Go to Car & Driver, Edmunds, Automobile, Auto Week, Road & Track, (any other buff mag you like) and the user forums at Bimmer.com.

It's cool to come in and have an opinion. But to lay down a blanket "everything everyone says is subjective, no one is smart enough to use a fact" is not the way to do it. You in fact make your own sweeping statement--that all cars have about the same problems, etc.--which is not true.

This is an enthusiast forum. People in here generally have a fact or verifiable reason to state what they state. If you did the same, great. Let's discuss.

Crackity... "No-one has been impressed with iDrive" isn't a fact, it's an opinion. Simple. It suggest that not one person who's car is fitted with i-drive likes it - which is simply not true.

I also did not say "that all cars have about the same problems, etc".. I said "all cars have faults at some stage - it depends how long you keep them".. big difference there. If someone keeps a car for 6 months then renews it the chances of them experienceing a fault is minimal, someone who keeps a car for 7 or 8 years is going to experience a fault at some stage.

And I also made my generalisations sooooo general that that they are 99.9% true. Can you honestly disprove any of the statments I made..

1) Stereotyping is pointless
2) All cars do eventually suffer from faults at some stage throughout their life
3) Not all dealers are the same
4) Americans and Europeans will always argue about cars.. (okay this is more of a general observation than a statment of fact - it was an attempt to reflect that fact that the US and Euro markets are fundamentally different)


Actually I'm not sure why I'm explaining my post when to someone who thinks
..."These BMW owners don't listen to anything. They're a bunch of Paris Hiltons, living off some sense of "heritage" they think it their birthright because they bought a used Bimmer somewhere. These guys don't listen to rational ideas"...
is somehow a fact based statement by an enthusiast that should be discussed.

Too many people colour facts with their own opinions before they post.

I'm sure if you poll toyota owners they can list problems with their vehicles as well. No car is problem free. That being said I've never had any major issues with any of my BMW's, but I have heard some horror stories, but I've heard that from every other manufacturer out there as well. Certainly nothing to deter me from buying more in the future either way.

Matt, if a sampling of your automotive logic includes saying iDrive is not a disasterous piece of BMW technology, that it has not been widely panned by the very enthusiasts and journalists we use to start Autospies articles with, then there's not much else to say. Your everything-is-everything zen high priest act is just not a substitute for actual auto knowledge or facts. You are absolutely not-logical.

The current thread has been stated about 5 times, was ... should a company with a verifiable history of hassle-related problems take on technology as a centerpiece of their automotive strategy. No one has responded to that question, but at least most people used their own experience and their own take on facts to put forth an opinion. You have done nothing but say everything-is-everything and that there's not much point in having an opinion as it will be stereotyping and pointless.

And yes, sometimes a few BMW drivers on the site fall back on their heritage shtick to explain away opinions, facts or ideas they don't feel like answering on their face. I called them Paris Hiltons :) because she has a rich famous name, and not much else. Agreements are hopefully earned through reasoning and not just , my BMW has heritage and so I don't have to deal with your assertion that Lexus (or Audi, or whatever brand) is a better car in this or that respect. If you follow Autospies, you know the BMW drivers (and MB people sometimes ) do fall back on that. My calling them Paris Hiltons was definitely a jab, but at least I respect their having an opinion instead of trying to be above the conversation like you seem to want to do.

But if that's your thing, that's your thing. We should probably just ignore each other and save the internet from running out of room with our back/forth. :)

first of all, if you have ever used the idrive and you cant figure it out after the frist couple times of using it, you are a complete idiot. Most people like it after they understand it, and why would MBZ and AUDI and others copy that interface if it sucked so bad. Again, if you take a risk and innovate, you will have higher realiablity issues, and most people are ok with that. BTW, heritage counts, and its the hiltons and the kennedys that run the world, not lower middle class folk.

It's not a matter of people being too dumb to figure it out, but iDrive being needlessly difficult to use. You probably know that. iDrive is very slow to respond and sometimes freezes up. People have to stop the car and "reboot" (restart the car) to get the nav working again. There has also been the issue of doing 5-6 clicks for changing a radio station.

I hope all those rich and powerful folks running the world don't miss a turn in their slick Bimmer!

its too bad that MBZ and AUDI are copying IDRIVE if its a bad idea? Maybe you have a unfounded greivence.

Automakers are copying (if that's the correct word) an interface that controls multiple functions with a single, or a limited number, of inputs.

They are not copying the slow, buggy iDrive functionality. There is a huge difference but you are either willfully ignorant of such a difference (which I hope for your sake) or you just don't know the difference.

funny how they are all dial based, although I will admit they are not as buggy. I think the model works, well, let BMW design it, and others make it realiable. I would rather that it work perfectly, but the driving experience makes up for it. Maybe you dont care about precise steering or feedback and thats OK.

I want BMW to be an excellent tech company (see 1st post in this thread). I could have pulled the trigger on a 330i with navigation, but I didn't and it bothers me that I could pass it up. Some of the tech issues (or if not issues, then shortcomings) made it easier to pass that car by. I LOVE BMW's. But I'm of that tech-generation (as I'm sure you are) where I'd like to "have it all" and I'm hoping BMW gets even to where my wife's Accord is, very slick and simple.

In the meantime, yes, there is the driving dynamics which are of course the main event.

There is a razor-thin line between "taking the lead in technology", and "gadget laden". Since 2002, when iDrive first appeared and was universally maligned by the auto critics and BMW customers alike, BMW has revised it several times -- and iDrive still has few fans. And do we really need computerized turn signals that CANNOT be manually cancelled? Or a "check engine" light that goes on a few days AFTER you put on your has cap "wrong"?

The last sentence in my previous post should have read "gas cap".