[TheMandalorian]

As it looks like iDrive 8 is gradually being added to the entire BMW fleet, how do you feel about being an owner of a vehicle with iDrive 7.

I ordered a 2022 M240i which I will be receiving idrive 7 and am kinda annoyed they already upgraded the OS for the vehicle practically in the same model year.

Idrive 8 seems like it will work really well with the new CarPlay coming out next year even though BMW was not listed an an explicit partner

[itrocks4u]

There are a number of threads on this. In short most people are indifferent with Id7 or id8

[mzwerner]

Originally Posted by TheMandalorian

As it looks like iDrive 8 is gradually being added to the entire BMW fleet, how do you feel about being an owner of a vehicle with iDrive 7.

I ordered a 2022 M240i which I will be receiving idrive 7 and am kinda annoyed they already upgraded the OS for the vehicle practically in the same model year.

Idrive 8 seems like it will work really well with the new CarPlay coming out next year even though BMW was not listed an an explicit partner

I'd prefer i8, but I'm content with i7 on my 2021 G82. It's just not that big of a deal to me.

[Westside Guy]

My attitude is that if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

The iDrive 7 on my Z4 satisfies all of my needs and more content would only distract me from looking at the road when driving.

[TheMandalorian]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

My attitude is that if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

The iDrive 7 on my Z4 satisfies all of my needs and more content would only distract me from looking at the road when driving.

That is fair, I just wish we had carplay integration into the instrument cluster and I would not really need anything else

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by TheMandalorian

That is fair, I just wish we had carplay integration into the instrument cluster and I would not really need anything else

Now that you mention it, I would love to see Waze work with my HUD. That is the only thing missing with my iDrive 7.

[br438]

Further integration would be neat, but I would hate to give up my hard buttons for aircon, radio, etc. ... no thanks. I like dedicated, hard buttons in a car.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by br438

Further integration would be neat, but I would hate to give up my hard buttons for aircon, radio, etc. ... no thanks. I like dedicated, hard buttons in a car.

I am old fashioned and like hard buttons for certain controls also.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Now that you mention it, I would love to see Waze work with my HUD. That is the only thing missing with my iDrive 7.

This seems to be one of the few areas where Android beats Apple with car stuff. I get almost identical HUD notifications with Waze as with the stock nav

[snareman]

As much as I always want the latest tech and iD8 has some fancy stuff I HATE the idea of not having any buttons. Those 8 programmable are one of the best things. My only iD8 experience was on an iX test drive Having to go into menus for so many things seems horrible, not to mention potentially dangerous as its more time with your eyes off the road. I'm getting 2 new cars this year, both of which will have iD7 and I'm not the least bit upset about it. It's still a great system.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by snareman

This seems to be one of the few areas where Android beats Apple with car stuff. I get almost identical HUD notifications with Waze as with the stock nav

In my opinion the issue has to do with the rivalry between Apple and Google (who owns Waze). While Waze is an app you can download on your iPhone, only Apple Maps will appear on your HUD and not Waze or Google maps.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

In my opinion the issue has to do with the rivalry between Apple and Google (who owns Waze). While Waze is an app you can download on your iPhone, only Apple Maps will appear on your HUD and not Waze or Google maps.

Yea, good question. I guess I'm not sure who the rate limiting step is there for allowing stuff to appear in the HUD, whether Google or BMW controls what gets pushed through to the HUD or why.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by snareman

This seems to be one of the few areas where Android beats Apple with car stuff. I get almost identical HUD notifications with Waze as with the stock nav

Originally Posted by snareman

Yea, good question. I guess I'm not sure who the rate limiting step is there for allowing stuff to appear in the HUD, whether Google or BMW controls what gets pushed through to the HUD or why.

It appears that the culprit is Apple CarPlay if an Android phone allows Waze to appear on the HUD.

[heavyD^2]

Seems like every even number version of ID is where real improvement happens. ID7 had improvements over ID6 but was worse in some aspects. The dark and dingy displays of ID7 was a bit of a step backwards IMO. ID8 looks to be a return to form from ID6.

[Quadruple VANOS]

I don't think anyone can provide meaningful feedback unless they've owned both systems for an extended period. What's happening is people are mostly commenting on the screen implementation; and removing physical controls. That makes for a weak evaluation of id8.

[Equilibrandt]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

I don't think anyone can provide meaningful feedback unless they've owned both systems for an extended period. What's happening is people are mostly commenting on the screen implementation; and removing physical controls. That makes for a weak evaluation of id8.

^this. People are speculating purely off of teasers of ID8 cars on YouTube. No one owns one yet.

We get it: lack of buttons suck, fingerprints, etc. I'd venture to say ID8 with voice commands will be a huge step up, software-wise (neglecting anything related to hardware). Not sure how long ID7 will get updates when ID8 becomes all you can get.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Equilibrandt

^this. People are speculating purely off of teasers of ID8 cars on YouTube. No one owns one yet.

We get it: lack of buttons suck, fingerprints, etc. I'd venture to say ID8 with voice commands will be a huge step up, software-wise (neglecting anything related to hardware). Not sure how long ID7 will get updates when ID8 becomes all you can get.

Agreed. I am certain the buttons were reduced as BMW is aiming to shift us to voice commands. If the implementation is done well it will be less distracting than the buttons. My iDrive 7 car an already accurately discern between driver and passenger for commands.

I agree it will take personal use to really tease out how well they executed.

[Hegge]

Originally Posted by snareman

As much as I always want the latest tech and iD8 has some fancy stuff I HATE the idea of not having any buttons. Those 8 programmable are one of the best things. My only iD8 experience was on an iX test drive Having to go into menus for so many things seems horrible, not to mention potentially dangerous as its more time with your eyes off the road. I'm getting 2 new cars this year, both of which will have iD7 and I'm not the least bit upset about it. It's still a great system.

The eight programmable buttons are the best part of a BMW interior and now they are going away.

[Quadruple VANOS]

Originally Posted by Hegge

The eight programmable buttons are the best part of a BMW interior and now they are going away.

This was my initial concern, but it was unfounded. The Shortcuts still exist but are now part of the software.

I wish some iD8 user would show us this capability on YouTube.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

This was my initial concern, but it was unfounded. The Shortcuts still exist but are now part of the software.

I wish some iD8 user would show us this capability on YouTube.

This doesn't seem like an equivalent, though. Like removing the hot/cold dials and putting it in a menu. By the time I'm in the menu it would have been easier to just adjust the target temp with the buttons that thankfully still exist.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

This was my initial concern, but it was unfounded. The Shortcuts still exist but are now part of the software.

I wish some iD8 user would show us this capability on YouTube.

That's the problem, part of the software. They are not on the screen and you can't just reach over and press a button like you could with the physical buttons. I tried to find them on my iX test drive and couldn't figure out where they were.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by snareman

Those 8 programmable are one of the best things.

Originally Posted by Hegge

The eight programmable buttons are the best part of a BMW interior and now they are going away.

I've never, ever used mine. I'm not saying it's OK they are going away, I've just never used them. So I'm asking, out of genuine curiosity and because maybe I'll learn something cool - what do you guys actually use them for?