discussion BMW’s New Infotainment System Is A Boomer’s Nightmare

[Blue Shirt]

https://jalopnik.com/bmw-s-new-info...=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=dlvrit-feed

The new BMW iDrive "Panoramic Vision” probably works really well, but old folks are going to hate it.​

BMW has apparently seen your complaints about an influx of screens and tech in cars and decided that you can go to hell. The automaker’s latest iDrive system – debuting 24 years after the original – is information-maxxing and heads-up display-pilled. Still, its main screen hasn’t grown too much and there’s no gauge cluster. Instead, you get a massive “Panoramic Vision” screen that runs pretty much the length of the windscreen and an even more detailed heads-up display. BMW says it’ll be standard on every Neue Klasse model going forward, whether they’re gas-powered or EVs. There are four elements that make up this new interior: Panoramic Vision, a 3D heads-up display, a central display and a multi function steering wheel.

 

[TurboLlew]

Ah yes producing cars for 25 year olds that only 55+ can afford.

Bold strategy...

I will say this layout looks a HELL of a lot better than the dogshit that is the current generation dashboard that looks like you should be trading stocks on it.

 

[Blue Shirt]

This just gives me more grounds for my complete disinterest in any BMW offering after 2018 or so.

1. I am a boomer
2. I would rather push my broken E46 down the road than to "drive" a car with a 50" touchscreen in front of me and a gazillion "infotainment" functions that nobody is the least interested in having.

YMMV.

 

[Blue Shirt]

I cannot seem to embed a twitter link here, perhaps because I am a boomer.

 

[Tinuva]

The subject of this thread already had me

 

[modocrat]

https://jalopnik.com/bmw-s-new-info...=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=dlvrit-feed

The new BMW iDrive "Panoramic Vision” probably works really well, but old folks are going to hate it.​

BMW has apparently seen your complaints about an influx of screens and tech in cars and decided that you can go to hell. The automaker’s latest iDrive system – debuting 24 years after the original – is information-maxxing and heads-up display-pilled. Still, its main screen hasn’t grown too much and there’s no gauge cluster. Instead, you get a massive “Panoramic Vision” screen that runs pretty much the length of the windscreen and an even more detailed heads-up display. BMW says it’ll be standard on every Neue Klasse model going forward, whether they’re gas-powered or EVs. There are four elements that make up this new interior: Panoramic Vision, a 3D heads-up display, a central display and a multi function steering wheel.

That speedo gives off 2007 Honda Civic vibes..

 

[PsyCLown]

I really hope that steering wheel does not make it to production 🤮

Feels as if there is no longer much of a dash either, more of a floating shelf.

 

[Holiman]

If you understand Zulu, the song title of this song makes sense wrt to the new infotainment screens

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk

 

[henriZA]

I also hate it. Must mean I'm old

 

[TBP88]

View attachment 26640

I cannot seem to embed a twitter link here, perhaps because I am a boomer.

In fairness that's LSB interior spec on what looks like an E46M3 in LSB. Pretty much goat tier BMW there.

 

[dvst8]

As a GenX whos early years were analogue then growing up at pretty much the start of the Digital era, working in tech, I'm loving the tech and gadgets in newer cars.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[TBP88]

I think the lack of analogue dials is a big miss for me. Nothing like seeing a needle move about (IMHO). But a touchscreen to run the infotainment is a godsend, cars are so complex now that having a simple cellphone-like interface is definitely more efficient.

 

[PsyCLown]

As a GenX whos early years were analogue then growing up at pretty much the start of the Digital era, working in tech, I'm loving the tech and gadgets in newer cars.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I am all for new tech, but it needs to be functional.
Don't just add it for the safe of it, gimmicky tech does not age well and can be frustrating.

BMW's gesture control is a good example, it doesn't work well and doesn't make sense. Fortunately it is not invasive and one can operate the vehicle without it without any issues... unlike with climate control buttons hidden behind multiple menus in touch screens or touch sensitive buttons which can be difficult to find when driving and trying to keep your eyes on the road.

I would like to see what the Panoramic Vision is like in person and how it actually works and how well it works. Whether it is more of a distraction while driving or not and whether it is easy and simple enough to navigate and make changes while driving.

 

[Holiman]

View attachment 26640

I cannot seem to embed a twitter link here, perhaps because I am a boomer.

I much like the second picture (ID 8). I think it looks and works well and is usable. If it only had the physical buttons for climate control as with ID 7 then it would be the perfect blend.

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk

 

[Holiman]

BMW Is Abandoning Gesture Controls

With the iDrive X infotainment, BMW is waving (pun intended) goodbye to gesture controls. Instead, it will focus on touch and voice controls.

www.bmwblog.com

More info

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk

 

[msm]

I'm old. And yes, I understand and respect this as personal preference too. But I hate the direction this is taking - not just for BMW, but across the industry.

Don't get me wrong though - I love progress with tech - I think Apple CarPlay is the next best thing since sliced bread and having Google maps integration in a car is simply amazing and next level convenient, etc, etc - BUT when it comes to car controls, part of the driving experience for me is the tactile feeling of the car. Pressing the buttons, turning the dials, feeling/hearing the physical click of a real button provide that subtle feedback that elevates the driving experience.

For me, something like the below was the perfect blend of old and new. Some digital screens in the dash, complimented by real dials. A decent screen in the centre complimented by real buttons. The more buttons I saw, the more I felt like I was in a "real driving" machine.

 

[TurboLlew]

I'm old. And yes, I understand and respect this as personal preference too. But I hate the direction this is taking - not just for BMW, but across the industry.

Don't get me wrong though - I love progress with tech - I think Apple CarPlay is the next best thing since sliced bread and having Google maps integration in a car is simply amazing and next level convenient, etc, etc - BUT when it comes to car controls, part of the driving experience for me is the tactile feeling of the car. Pressing the buttons, turning the dials, feeling/hearing the physical click of a real button provide that subtle feedback that elevates the driving experience.

For me, something like the below was the perfect blend of old and new. Some digital screens in the dash, complimented by real dials. A decent screen in the centre complimented by real buttons. The more buttons I saw, the more I felt like I was in a "real driving" machine.

100% this

The problem is not technophobic Boomers or Gen Xers or the (much maligned) Millennials like me rejecting anything new... far from it.

There is a sweet spot of tech vs. the aesthetics, ergonomics and functionality. New cars (and I mean this very latest batch of 2024/5 ones) are an ergonomic nightmare to work around and it isn't even like they are aesthetically pleasing either, with slabs of screen and zero effort on design/integration.

It isn't like I haven't bought cars with tech in them for myself before but, 90% of these 'features' and tech turn into party tricks you show off once or twice. If you have Carplay and Android auto you're good to go entertainment wise. I have the same core experience across the Porsche, M5 and Alfa which is also great... but the best way to use even Carplay is with the rotary idrive controller. Sony 25 years ago understood haptics and ergonomics with their strange controllers on high end head units. Now we think 'touch screen is the way'- A hybrid will always be preferable... especially when your screen starts to degrade and components start to fail in the heat...

Anyway this topic has been beaten to death before... and even though it is saving manufacturers tons of money to go with screens, good luck to you when that shit fails. The savings are not for you....

These two were still somewhat acceptable... Left being a little too far with the digital cluster, but it was still well integrated. The right is a little bit "tacked on" but with the benefit of having pseudo analogue gauges.



The automotive press release jockeys, masquerading as journalists while suckling at the teat of manufacturers want to gaslight everyone into thinking they are wrong for not liking a slab of glass that doesn't even look like one panel - its clearly two screens hacked together... POORLY... on a multi-million rand vehicle.

There is nothing cohesive or innovative about that AT ALL.