 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / BMW Cars / January 2005iDrive?
Who has iDrive in their BMW? I have been looking at the very recent articles on the new 3 Series in various British motoring magazines, and they almost all look negatively on it. Why is this, is it just because it is 'fiddly' to use, or what? All thoughts appreciated. tim > Who has iDrive in their BMW? I have been looking at the very recent > articles on the new 3 Series in various British motoring magazines, and > they almost all look negatively on it. Why is this, is it just because it > is 'fiddly' to use, or what? I suggest you go down to your nearest BMW dealership and test drive a 5 or 7 series. Both of those cars come with idrive and you should be able to decide whether its complex or not. The idrive in the 5 series is supposedly alot more "user-friendly" than the 7 series' version. Try it out and see. Some find it easy to use, most don't. Btw, for the 3 series, idrive is suppose to be an "option", especially if you want NAV. Personally, I find BMW's NAV to be inferior to the Japanese mfrs and wouldn't get it. But that's a personal choice.... >> Who has iDrive in their BMW? I have been looking at the very recent >> articles on the new 3 Series in various British motoring magazines, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > inferior to the Japanese mfrs and wouldn't get it. But that's a > personal choice.... IMO the best is the one in the Mini! It has fewer features, but the problem with these things is often too many features. Strip it down just enough, and the user interface can be so much more elegant. This one's a winner. The regular iDrive is as mediocre as a typical aftermarket stereo -- not horrible, but not particularly good, either. Matt O. >> Who has iDrive in their BMW? I have been looking at the very recent >> articles on the new 3 Series in various British motoring magazines, and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >you want NAV. Personally, I find BMW's NAV to be inferior to the Japanese >mfrs and wouldn't get it. But that's a personal choice.... I tried the 7 series I-Drive demo. It was a wonderful example of technology being used to sex up the car... unfortunately it was difficult to use without training. After 15 minutes I realized it made what I wanted to do more difficult without sufficient compensation. If it had supplied a simulation of analog systems as one of it's skins, I would have put up with it. But it didn't have such options. I thought it a vintage 1990 user interface... ie as crude as Windows 3.1 Heard on the net: My I-Drive crashed and so did I. BTW... notice that Lexus with it's Bluetooth interface is now subject to worms? Drive within 15 feet of an infected Lexus and your Lexus becomes infected! Adds a new dimension to 'where do you want to go today' ... where ever the hacker wants you to go! '-) Fortunately the I-Drive only simulates console systems and hopefully isn't linked to engine or braking control systems... But non-computer people are so naive they might start doing that. Germans and Japanese may be wonderful mechanical engineers but they generally have crap for native computing systems. (I'll have 3 Nexdorfs and a Seimens to go. '-) And if they use US systems, they tend to use Windoze, oh fools that they are. bill@microsoft.com haute in die Tasten: > Germans and Japanese may be wonderful mechanical engineers but they > generally have crap for native computing systems. (I'll have 3 > Nexdorfs and a Seimens to go. '-) You run Siemens-Nixdorf computers? Keep an eye on them, because soon museums will ask you to donate them...) As for iDrive: In the new E90 iDrive will be an option, linked together wirt the navi system and a different dashboard which contains a big LCD screen. So the decision is simple: No Navi system - no iDrive. I personally would buy my car with Navi and with iDrive. I do not mind the critics of the journalists. They always criticise when they come across a solution you have to get used to before you can use it flawlessly. If I were a test driver, testing three cars a week, then I would also prefer cars which do not require learning. As an E90 owner, I would have plenty of time to get in touch with the car. Frank  Signatureplease replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact Citroen - Made in Trance > bill@microsoft.com haute in die Tasten: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > critics of the journalists. They always criticise when they come across a > solution you have to get used to before you can use it flawlessly. The problem is....i-drive is flawed even when you get used to it (I've been driving one since April 2004). But the upside is that it isn't flawed to any greater degree than the ridiculous button orgy of previous cars. I've just been curious why the "journalists" are so vocal about i-drive, yet have never complained about the worse situation that was present in previous cars. If it doesn't have to do with driving specifically, BMW has never done ergonomics particulalry well. It's almost as if they have never really cared how much work or time it takes a person to raise the fan speed and lower the radio volume. But some of that has changed with the new 5, 6 and 7. The stalks around the steering wheel are better placed and functionally more effective. The seating orientation has improved substantially (probably because the bigger cabins have allowed better diversity). With your elbow on the console your hand naturally falls on the i-drive knob (no reaching or looking down on the dash). Despite criticisms to the contrary, the location of the LCD screen is high enough on the dash that your eyes don't fall far away from the windshield. They haven't got it right yet, but they are moving in the right direction. To me, their one big disaster, has been Active Steering. The Sport models should have the option of the standard rack. > Who has iDrive in their BMW? I have been looking at the very recent > articles on the new 3 Series in various British motoring magazines, and > they almost all look negatively on it. Why is this, is it just because it > is 'fiddly' to use, or what? I have i-drive in my 545. You are right, most of the magazines don't like it. That said, I can see why some would not like it. It is not the most efficient setup because at times it makes you run thru a number of menus to get to where you want to be. Myself, I find that a lot less distracting than having to look down, and find, and then push any number of times the multitude of buttons and rocker switches my previous E39's had. In fact i find the screen for I-drive...which is high on the dash...better located for the driver than having to look down to find buttons. With i-drive you still have the same steering wheel controls you had before and with I-drive you hand naturally falls on the console control knob and you don't have to lean over to reach buttons, knobs or dials on the dash. One of two compaints I ever had about my e39's was "what idiot decided 40 some buttons was the way to control the radio, HVAC and vehicle functions". The only complaint I have about my E60 is "what idiot decided you have to visit 3 menus before changing the radio station". I actually don't see the difference between the two complaints. Bottom line: I just don't think BMW does ergonomics particularly well if it has nothing to do with driving. They never really have. Both the current I-drive and the button orgy of previous cars (The non-I-drive 3 series will have the button orgy) are substandard. That's just a fact....why nobody ever complained before is simply a matter that they got used to pushing a button 8 times to get the fan speed increased etc. Here's what I recommend: if you have any intention of getting Sat radio...then get I-drive. It is the best Sat radio interface I have ever seen. If you have no intention of getting Sat radio then the basic dash is equally functional...though no easier to use (by the way is I-drive a "pay for option" on the new 3?). Really, in terms of functionality one is not better than the other. Of course if you want NAV then you have to get i-drive. The other thing I recommend is taking a good hard look at Active Steering (if that is going to be an option on the new 3). I don't like it and so bought a 545 without it. Don't let a salesperson talk you into it. Get out on the road, toss the car around, and see what you think. To me, it is the thing **everyone** should be bitching about, rather than I-drive and exterior design. It's not a good option and it is way too bad that you get it on a E60 Sport model by default. It is the most "un-BMW" thing they offer. It's no surprise to me they didn't include it in the new M5. The new 5 series is a better car than the E39 and I have little doubt the new 3 will surpass the e46 as well. BMW has to make them drive right if they are going to make substantial changes in the design and ergonomics. Thanks for the post. >(by the way is I-drive a "pay for option" on the new 3?). Not sure as yet as few details are available, but for sure it'll be an 'extra' on some models if not all. > Of course if you want NAV then you have to get i-drive. Sure don't 'need' it, but I like gadgets so if it isn't stupidly priced as an option then I'll certainly consider it :o) > The other thing I recommend is taking a good hard look at Active Steering > (if that is going to be an option on the new 3). It will be yes. Again I think the magazines are not keen on it, but it wouldn't be something I would waste money on anyway (not if I'm gonna waste money on i-drive!!) Well I have to wait until the E90 coupe is released which doesn't look like it will be before early/mid 2006 in the UK. Time to save up, although I'm not convinced of the 'look' of the car, so that may stop me from buying one (but probably not!!) cheers tim > Thanks for the post. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > wouldn't be something I would waste money on anyway (not if I'm gonna > waste money on i-drive!!) Be careful how much stock you put into magazine comments about current and future BMW's. I have not seen a run a stupidly put opinions and ridiculously inaccurate comments about content and functionality, as I have with recent BMWs. I dislike AS as well, but for reasons that differ from most magazines. On the other hand I know people who really like it and wouldn't do without it. I only meant to tell you to "really *test drive* it" before deciding. > Well I have to wait until the E90 coupe is released which doesn't look > like it will be before early/mid 2006 in the UK. Time to save up, although > I'm not convinced of the 'look' of the car, so that may stop me from > buying one (but probably not!!) > cheers > tim I've only seen the pictures but I have never thought the 3 series was a particularly good looking car anyway. I've always been partial to BMW's bigger car designs and less thrilled with their smaller cars. My e21 was still the best looking small BMW I ever owned. But their new cars drive much better than their predecessors and I don't think that trend will change with the E90. > I've only seen the pictures but I have never thought the 3 series > was a particularly good looking car anyway. I've always been partial > to BMW's bigger car designs and less thrilled with their smaller > cars. My e21 was still the best looking small BMW I ever owned. Eew! To me, BMWs of that period were butt-ugly, except for the lovely 6 Series. Which shows how much this is subjective. > But their new cars drive much better than their predecessors and I > don't think that trend will change with the E90. Some people never like the new stuff. Not me. I think every new model BMW was tremendously improved over the old. The exception is performance and styling with the late 70s cars, but blame smog controls and everything in the 70s being ugly for that. In every other way they were immensely better than before -- structure, refinement, comfort, ventilation, ergonomics, convenience, durability, etc. Matt O. >> I've only seen the pictures but I have never thought the 3 series >> was a particularly good looking car anyway. I've always been partial [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Eew! To me, BMWs of that period were butt-ugly, except for the lovely 6 > Series. You're not the first person to disagree with me on this point :^) "tim" <timmuffty@nospam.yahoo.co.uk> haute in die Tasten: > Not sure as yet as few details are available, but for sure it'll > be an 'extra' on some models if not all. iDrive is an option, which comes together with the Navi system and the additional LCD screen in the dashboard. Frank Signatureplease replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact Citroen - Made in Trance > Bottom line: I just don't think BMW does ergonomics particularly well > if it has nothing to do with driving. They never really have. Both [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > matter that they got used to pushing a button 8 times to get the fan > speed increased etc. I agree, but I don't agree that they were never good at this. BMW controls were exemplary through the mid-80s. I especially liked the old three levers and a knob HVAC controls. Nothing has ever been simpler or easier to use. It could have been straight out of Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things." But BMW dropped the ball when everything became electronic. This is a common problem, though. It's hard to make a good user interface out of little buttons, and hard to make a cheap one out of anything else. Matt O. >> Bottom line: I just don't think BMW does ergonomics particularly well >> if it has nothing to do with driving. They never really have. Both [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > could > have been straight out of Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things." I think I didn't explaim myself completely. They are good at some things some of the time, but have yet to put together a car that is good at everything. Yes, the standard dial controls for HVAC were perfect (I remember wondering at the time why American cars were still using the, horizontal siding lever) the dash on my '82 320i was about as good as BMW ever got, but in the mid-eighties BMW didn't make a single car that had the drivers seat oriented to the steering wheel correctly. They were always off-center. They are so much closer to getting it right today than they have ever been. I believe we will see them pull this all-together over the next few models and refreshenings. I find it strange that BMW afficianados haven't found the patience to allow the company the time to explore and perfect this new direction. After all, the one thing the company has always tried to do is to present a better driving car. It's why I like them so much. The company hasn't gone off the rails, they are just a few years ahead of the curve everyone else will have to follow, and appear out of touch because of it. If the changes to the 2006 E65 are evident of the direction they will take with the new design, I think I will like them ever more. > I agree, but I don't agree that they were never good at this. BMW > controls were exemplary through the mid-80s. I especially liked the old > three levers and a knob HVAC controls. Nothing has ever been simpler or > easier to use. It could have been straight out of Donald Norman's "The > Design of Everyday Things." Yes. However, I'd say it's because the climate control isn't that good at maintaining the actual perceived cabin temperature. If it did, you'd not need to use the controls that often. Signature*If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages? Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > I agree, but I don't agree that they were never good at this. BMW > controls were [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > buttons, > and hard to make a cheap one out of anything else. The "manual" HVAC controls on my '03 Z4 are also simple. There are 3 knobs for distribution, air temp and fan speed, and 3 on/off buttons for A/C, rear defrost and fresh/recirculated air. Unfortunately, the Z4 is currently the only U.S. model with a non automatic climate control system as an option! Tom > Bottom line: I just don't think BMW does ergonomics particularly well if > it has nothing to do with driving. They never really have. Yup. On the E39, I've never understood why the steering wheel positioning lever should be more accessible than the cruise on/off. And the DSC on/off being so close to the heated rear screen button. And the ashtray being in a stupid place and of a stupid size - since you can delete it if not wanted. And the even more stupid cupholders that you can't use with the car parked up without taking it out of park. Signature*i souport publik edekashun. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.