[PsychDoc]

Don't get me wrong, I love all the functionality that it offers but trying to figure out where something is in the UI can be maddenly complex. There's got to be a better way to improve its usability and drastically cut down on the myriad apps and sub-menus to find what you're looking for.

Most of us are reasonably (or extremely) tech savvy but I strongly suspect that a significant number of buyers won't have a clue how to access all, or even most, of this car's functions.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

Don't get me wrong, I love all the functionality that it offers but trying to figure out where something is in the UI can be maddenly complex. There's got to be a better way to improve its usability and drastically cut down on the myriad apps and sub-menues to find what you're looking for.

Most of us are reasonably (or extremely) technically savvy but I strongly suspect that a sizeable portion of buyers won't have a clue how to access all, or even most, of this car's functions.

There is a search function, so you can type what you’re looking for (e.g., parking) and be taken directly to the correct area or app. The climate control is a huge improvement over iD8.

[Scrapula]

Just pressing the icons on the left hand side - Vehicle and Infotainment, puts only those icons on the iDrive screen. Press vehicle and you see Doors and Windows, etc. No need to scroll all over.

[deutsch100]

...and yet iDrive 7, 8, 8.5, 9 is beyond easy compared to Audi, VW, Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar and Land Rover.

I had iDrive 8 in our iXs and I am finding 8.5 to be pretty amazing and easy. But, I will admit, I have had EVERY version of iDrive since it debuted in the now infamous 7 Series, so I am very used to and love iDrive.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

probably just me... but since I've had the 2023 X1 with iDrive8, I've done most things by voice. During the last several months, these included: open/close windows and panoramic roof, adjusting AC temperature, dome lights on/off, etc... I've gotten so used to it. Sure hope that's enough by the time I get into the 530i?

Maybe for my next BMW with iDrive10, I only have to think "open window" and the car will open the window? Obviously BMW will force me to agree to allow the car and BMW's server to have direct access to my thoughts, but I'm okay with that. Got nothing to hide.

[RichardInCA]

Early on I completely agreed, but over time I’ve grown accustomed to the layout and appreciate the level of customization that is possible. But yeah, Apple probably could have done a better job.

[MikeElmendorf]

Short answer: Yes.

And I’m very tech savvy. But plenty of functions here (like the seat adjustments!) are just way more complicated than could ever make sense.

[BMW5151]

Separating the seat adjustments from the seat is really as stoopid move. Ergonomic nightmare. I predict they may return to the side of the seat with the LCI. Probably a lot is going to be "fixed" with the LCI.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by BMW5151

Separating the seat adjustments from the seat is really as stoopid move. Ergonomic nightmare. I predict they may return to the side of the seat with the LCI. Probably a lot is going to be "fixed" with the LCI.

There are physical seat controls (on the side of the seat in the 5 series, on the door on the iX) with redundant controls in iDrive. Some seat features (at least on the iX) are indeed adjusted only through iDrive (lumbar, side bolsters, massage).

[Trevor G]

Think we need to set up a brain trust and have a BMW iDrive 8.5 meet up soon. Together I am sure we can figure this thing out.

[PsychDoc]

Originally Posted by Trevor G

Think we need to set up a brain trust and have a BMW iDrive 8.5 meet up soon. Together I am sure we can figure this think out.

Yup! I'm in.

[digriz]

Experimenting with options is very enjoyable for me, but sometimes (e.g., eSim) some of the explanations are sooo convoluted… and I’m the apparently rare one who likes reading manuals.

[COBodom]

I look forward to the automotive AI advancement specifically in the are of Autonomous Driving and Natural Language Processing.

The seat adjustment is beyond dumb. I was in sport mode, then I switched to "personal" (or whatever that regular one is called now), bolstering widened so I wanted to adjust it, but there is no button for that. I had to click through menus, once I arrived at the right screen that "dot" on the seat bolster was grayed out. In the end, I got a comm to the effect of...the feature was unavailable while driving or something like that. I gave up....and switched back to sport mode.

It is really poorly executed. How some of these brilliant ideas passed the Beta\User Acceptance Testing is beyond me. I would be perfectly fine If I could actually tell the car to adjust bolstering, but that's a no go for now.

Gotta have hope though, we are only on the G chassis, there are still few letters left in the alphabet. BMW will get it right few letters down the road

[Trevor G]

I have used the assisted driving plus in my i5. It works great in stop and go traffic and is way to polite for New York. At higher speeds though I am not as confident in its abilities to maintain the lane around bends. A few times it has needed my help. I will say though that being a New Yorker people that slow down for a turn tend to piss me off. I turned the slow down for turns off in my assisted driving plus settings and that may have something to do with it.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by digriz

Experimenting with options is very enjoyable for me, but sometimes (e.g., eSim) some of the explanations are sooo convoluted… and I’m the apparently rare one who likes reading manuals.

You're not the only one - I also like reading manuals. For example, when computer games stopped coming with manuals I was very sad. I remember buying a game like Jane's Longbow (a chopper sim) where the manual was at least an inch thick. I read the whole thing.

For me, I feel like I'm not getting all I can out of something if I don't read the manual and learn how to do everything possible with the product. Some would consider it a sickness I suppose, but it gives me satisfaction to know what my product is capable of.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by COBodom

The seat adjustment is beyond dumb. I was in sport mode, then I switched to "personal" (or whatever that regular one is called now), bolstering widened so I wanted to adjust it, but there is no button for that. I had to click through menus, once I arrived at the right screen that "dot" on the seat bolster was grayed out.

I'm not sure how many more clicks are necessary to get to the bolsters specifically, but can't you get directly to the seating adjustment screen by just pressing the seating menu button on the driver's door? Are you able to adjust the bolsters on that screen?

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

You're not the only one - I also like reading manuals. For example, when computer games stopped coming with manuals I was very sad. I remember buying a game like Jane's Longbow (a chopper sim) where the manual was at least an inch thick. I read the whole thing.

For me, I feel like I'm not getting all I can out of something if I don't read the manual and learn how to do everything possible with the product. Some would consider it a sickness I suppose, but it gives me satisfaction to know what my product is capable of.

Me too. My dear old dad always told me whenever you get a new car sit down and read the manual cover to cover. I do like the BMW digital guide much more than a paper manual, but I read both of them.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by LVBMW

I do like the BMW digital guide much more than a paper manual, but I read both of them.

The annoying part is when the paper manual differs a little somewhere from the digital manual. I suppose we should consider the digital manual more up-to-date since it can be updated on the fly as needed.

[Bklyn]

Originally Posted by Trevor G

I have used the assisted driving plus in my i5. It works great in stop and go traffic and is way to polite for New York. At higher speeds though I am not as confident in its abilities to maintain the lane around bends. A few times it has needed my help. I will say though that being a New Yorker people that slow down for a turn tend to piss me off. I turned the slow down for turns off in my assisted driving plus settings and that may have something to do with it.

This and what about the drivers who swing left to make a right hand turn or vice versa. Absolutely infuriating.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

The annoying part is when the paper manual differs a little somewhere from the digital manual. I suppose we should consider the digital manual more up-to-date since it can be updated on the fly as needed.

I must be the only older person who dislikes the tiny paper owner's manual. Having to put on reading glasses is annoying. They can make the manuals bigger with bigger fonts, but I'm sure they make it that small to cut cost. Well, I guess I should be grateful that they are still printing paper manuals at all?

When I got my X1 last year(my first Bimmer in a long time), I was shocked by how tiny the manual was. So I entered my VIN# and downloaded the PDF manual. Took it to a Staples and had them print the 380+ pages on 8.5x11 32-pound paper and in a nice big binder, which I put in my garage.

Will do that with my 530i PDF manual next month. Still has some Staples gift cards left. Yes, I know it sounds nutty, but why not? You all already think I'm nuts anyway.

[OHV_44]

I have used these so far.
https://g60.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...0&d=1699691018

From now on only that.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

I'm not sure how many more clicks are necessary to get to the bolsters specifically, but can't you get directly to the seating adjustment screen by just pressing the seating menu button on the driver's door? Are you able to adjust the bolsters on that screen?

G30 bolster adjustment- reach down and press the physical button on the side of the seat without having to take your eyes off the road or take your other hand off the steering wheel.
G60 bolster adjustment-press a series of screen buttons in multiple places, switching hands on the steering wheel and having to avert your eyes from the road to see if you’re pressing the right button, going through multiple screens to do so. Not very ergonomic or driver focused to save a couple euros on a €80k car. 😳

IF BMW corrects this, it will probably happen before the LCI in years.

Edit…probably WON’T happen before LCI.