[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

There were ways to get music (memory stick) prior to screens & apps.

The current iDrive 8 in my M2 is a just a jumbled mess of completely unnecessary apps. The integrated Nav is good enough - if you consider it an app.

I added an aftermarket head unit to my Z06 only because the oem Nav was 10 years outdated and there are no updates for it after 2015. It also allowed me to add front & rear cameras (front important so I don't unexpectedly damage the $2k front splitter that is no longer available. Other than that, I don't need any other features and enjoy driving that vehicle so much for it's simplicity & lack of unnecessary tech.

Sure, you can put music on a memory stick. But you know what you can't put on a memory stick? Every song. But streaming gives me that, and I fail to see how it's not vastly superior. I guess if you only ever listen to a set number of songs, but that doesn't really work for me.

Nav is absolutely an app – it's literally a piece of software that runs on a computer. Without those screens, you wouldn't have it without adding some obtrusive, ugly third-party screen. Remember those stupid Garmin units? The integrated solution is miles better, IMO.

As for the "unnecessary apps," just don't use them? You never even have to see them on the iDrive screen if you don't want to. I never see a single app – other than nav – unless I purposefully go into the apps menu or purposefully add them to a widget. It kind of feels like this is just something to bolster the anti-screen argument that's in reality a non-issue.

I 100% agree that high-use functions should have dedicated physical buttons. Hiding them behind a screen is not only stupid, unintuitive, and inconvenient, but it's also unsafe. No one will ever convince me that putting this stuff only in the touchscreen interface is better or good. But screens aren't the problem here – manufacturers are. They can easily have both, but choose not to in order to save a couple of bucks per car.

[M-technik-3]

Very much dislike TV interiors! I like a great set of VDO Analog displays simple and don't wash out over time due to cold killing the pixels. Cars should come with Oil Temp and Pressure as well as Coolant temp have a volt meter is nice but not as important.

[jab23]

The biggest loss for me in the giant screen in front of you era is the loss of the gauge hood and physical buttons for climate and the iDrive dial for radio. I don't mind digital screens, but the dash just looks strange to me without a hood. I especially don't like BMWs execution of it. I also don't need to tap a screen 3 or 4 times to turn on a heated set when I used to press one button. As for the radio, my wife likes to play DJ when she's in the car and the screens biased to the driver and touch screen make it challenging to change stations frequently. The iDrive controller is like a turntable for her.

BTW - I'm 53, so that explains a lot. I like tech, but not in excess in my car.

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by jab23

As for the radio, my wife likes to play DJ when she's in the car and the screens biased to the driver and touch screen make it challenging to change stations frequently. The iDrive controller is like a turntable for her.

BTW - I'm 53, so that explains a lot. I like tech, but not in excess in my car.

Yeah , it is REALLY challenging to press Media button to open radio stations list, and then, here comes the real calorie burning workout, you HAVE to turn Idrive wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll through stations
sooooo much work and so confusing

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

Yeah , it is REALLY challenging to press Media button to open radio stations list, and then, here comes the real calorie burning workout, you HAVE to turn Idrive wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll through stations
sooooo much work and so confusing

Challenging? No. Exhausting? No. Less convenient? Yes.

Why would you want something changed to be less convenient? Arguments that something isn't difficult so we shouldn't be unhappy when it's changed to be objectively worse and less convenient are so lazy and add nothing to the conversation.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

Yeah , it is REALLY challenging to press Media button to open radio stations list, and then, here comes the real calorie burning workout, you HAVE to turn Idrive wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll through stations
sooooo much work and so confusing

I don't mind idrive, but when once upon a time all you had to do was reach down and push the button or turn a dial you could feel for and job done. No need to look at anything could be argued as safer. That also goes for the ol graphic equalizer. You could easily adjust a bit more base, less tweeter etc on the fly without even taking your eyes off the road. Doing that with idrive or any screen on the fly is not so great.

[bandersen]

We pay more…and get less. Every year now for awhile.

Didn’t used to be that way.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by bandersen

We pay more…and get less. Every year now for awhile.

Didn’t used to be that way.

Ain't that the truth, halogen glass sealed beam $12, halogen glass head light with replaceable bulbs $25, halogen glass head light with LED retro $50. Plastic molded LED head light that fogs in 7 years, $1000.
Looks cost, but all I can really tell is the bit you need has gone from a yellowish light to a white. Plus I'm blinded more than ever by oncoming traffic.

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Ain't that the truth, halogen glass sealed beam $12, halogen glass head light with replaceable bulbs $25, halogen glass head light with LED retro $50. Plastic molded LED head light that fogs in 7 years, $1000.
Looks cost, but all I can really tell is the bit you need has gone from a yellowish light to a white. Plus I'm blinded more than ever by oncoming traffic.

Sorry but this is really pushing it. It is expensive, but comparing halogen lights from 15y ago and today Led/Laser technology, it isnt even in the same league, those new Laser lights have like 3x the reach and they cover angles from left to right like no halogen light came even close...

[Janjohn]

The navigation on our 2013 X3 was a pain to use and had a small screen. Having to input the address with the idrive was time consuming. My 2026 navigation is much easier to see and I can send the location to my vehicle via my iPad. The ultimate driving machine benefits greatly with an easy to use, easy to read on board satellite navigation. Just my humble opinion.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

Sorry but this is really pushing it. It is expensive, but comparing halogen lights from 15y ago and today Led/Laser technology, it isnt even in the same league, those new Laser lights have like 3x the reach and they cover angles from left to right like no halogen light came even close...

I had to replace one laser light in an accident. $6000. For one light. They ain’t that much better. But they sure look sexy. And my under 40 dates sure liked them. 🤪

[Three Stents]

I'm 69, purchased my rig in July. I like everything, even the things that I have yet to find out how to use. Putting the X5 in R, D or P is the thing that I mess up sometimes.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by bandersen

I had to replace one laser light in an accident. $6000. For one light. They ain’t that much better. But they sure look sexy. And my under 40 dates sure liked them. 🤪

Think that my point, even at 1000 bucks they aren't that much better.

[jab23]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

Yeah , it is REALLY challenging to press Media button to open radio stations list, and then, here comes the real calorie burning workout, you HAVE to turn Idrive wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll through stations
sooooo much work and so confusing

You missed my point. We actually like the iDrive wheel. With that said, I thought the iDrive wheel went away with the current screen focused dash. Looking at pictures, I was wrong.

[Phillies8008]

Anyone who doesn't think today's headlights are significantly better than the old halogens should go back and drive a car with them. It's a night and day difference (no pun intended). That being said, the LED replacement headlights are priced ridiculously, like a lot of car parts these days. I have to believe that the profit on parts has risen dramatically over the last decade or so.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by jab23

You missed my point. We actually like the iDrive wheel. With that said, I thought the iDrive wheel went away with the current screen focused dash. Looking at pictures, I was wrong.

The iDrive controller, much to my enormous dismay, is going away in the NK vehicles and I believe it's already been removed from the X1. Personally I think it's a mistake and a huge regression in usability, especially with more and more functions being hidden behind screens (which I also hate).

[OC40]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

The iDrive controller, much to my enormous dismay, is going away in the NK vehicles and I believe it's already been removed from the X1. Personally I think it's a mistake and a huge regression in usability, especially with more and more functions being hidden behind screens (which I also hate).

This is one of the reasons we jumped at a 2026 m340. Love the wheel plus physical buttons for driving modes.

We quite liked the screen in all of the cars that we test drove (m340, 330 msport, x1 m35). I do wish there was a shifter, but my wife is happy we won’t have one once the car is delivered. I constantly fidget with it when I drive. lol

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by OC40

This is one of the reasons we jumped at a 2026 m340. Love the wheel plus physical buttons for driving modes.

We quite liked the screen in all of the cars that we test drove (m340, 330 msport, x1 m35). I do wish there was a shifter, but my wife is happy we won’t have one once the car is delivered. I constantly fidget with it when I drive. lol

Yeah, I'm actually very happy to have the older iDrive 7 in the Z4 I have on order. Like you said, a bunch of physical buttons, plus the amenities that a screen provides, and an iDrive controller. Best of all worlds, IMO.

My i4 doesn't have the shifter either, and I honestly don't miss it nearly as much as I thought I would; on the whole I'd prefer to have it, but it's turned out not to be that big of a deal. I also would fidget with it, but now I just fidget with the little nub, lol. I get that a shifter is kind of superfluous now that it's all by wire anyway, but I just like the feel of it. The fact that the cars I've driven for decades had them probably contributes to that feeling as well.

[25 V8 IS]

As an owner of a 2025 Lexus IS500, I can safely say my interior is as old as the BMWs.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Anyone who doesn't think today's headlights are significantly better than the old halogens should go back and drive a car with them. It's a night and day difference (no pun intended). That being said, the LED replacement headlights are priced ridiculously, like a lot of car parts these days. I have to believe that the profit on parts has risen dramatically over the last decade or so.

No doubt there is much improvement in most areas. Just makes you wonder if profits and CEO bonuses matches jobs lost from manufacturing origin and customer's value for money. Not forgetting most modern cars plumet in value outside their warranty.

On the lights, I live in an area with no ambient lighting. The white modern light needs dimming. When you have a center line and nothing else and a blinding light approaching, it may be good marketing for the sale/consumer, but shit for other road users. Chuck in rain, windy roads, wildlife, dirt and its more about design/profits then user safety. And given we all use the road its not just all about the individual.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by jaffles

No doubt there is much improvement in most areas. Just makes you wonder if profits and CEO bonuses matches jobs lost from manufacturing origin and customer's value for money. Not forgetting most modern cars plumet in value outside their warranty.

On the lights, I live in an area with no ambient lighting. The white modern light needs dimming. When you have a center line and nothing else and a blinding light approaching, it may be good marketing for the sale/consumer, but shit for other road users. Chuck in rain, windy roads, wildlife, dirt and its more about design/profits then user safety. And given we all use the road its not just all about the individual.

I agree whole-heartedly that the cost of these things is ludicrous. No argument there. I also agree that some of today's headlights are probably too bright, and that there needs to be a happy medium. But having recently driven a car with haologens, I can tell you that they're just too dark; even given their faults, I'll take today's LEDs, hands-down.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I agree whole-heartedly that the cost of these things is ludicrous. No argument there. I also agree that some of today's headlights are probably too bright, and that there needs to be a happy medium. But having recently driven a car with haologens, I can tell you that they're just too dark; even given their faults, I'll take today's LEDs, hands-down.

I sometimes wonder if 5000 lumes is where it should be, or even possible. Halogen 4000 yellow and soft, white 6000 white and hard. 5000 might be it.

I have a choice of 5 experiences. Halogen bulb in a faded plastic light case, halogen light in a none faded light case, Xenon in it repaired light case 2K cleared, led in not yet faded yet case, and halogen swapped for led in not yet faded light cases. Lets assume all the reflectors are in good shape.

For me I have found the halogen V white light debate more marketing then actual difference beside colour and straight cut off lines. If anything a led with its straight cut hinders greater special awareness as it gives a definite lit and none lit area. Skippy is not seen till he pops into the zone.

No doubt halogen in faded cases is the worst performer. It seems to me however with no ambient light all do their job, give the speed limit is obeyed. Yes the white seems better but if you drive a clear case on halogen and really look at is the light more, fuller, I find no. Its just different as in white not yellow. The white gives the impression is clearer but if really look I can say it is.
Chuck ambient light in and more light from the car driven is required to get a sense of where one is going. That ambient light includes oncoming head lights and the darker it outside is the brighter the oncoming.

My experience is yellow (halogen) if adjusted correctly are the easiest to deal with oncoming. White light with their cut off lines takes the on comer from black to white, where as a halogen tends to pre load the eyes as they are not straight cut lumination.

I was once a white light marketed fan, but after swapping my halogen over to led in a relatively late model 4x4, then drive the same roads I'm not so sure its better performance in reality. I can vouch whiter halogen bulbs (blue) are marketing BS that life's span blows way to quick for the money paid.

Still everyone to their own. I got my last pair of prescription glasses treated for night lights and it has made oncoming traffic far less blinding. I enjoy the xenon's, the led, and the halogens, just oncoming cars I'll take halogen every day.

Perhaps if a manufacture wanted to make something new and useful, a windscreen that takes ALL the glare out of oncoming head lights would be a good edition. Then they can change $10000 for it.