iDrive 8 question

jonatious · 03-05-2021, 11:59 AM

I am new to BMW. I know the iDrive 6 and iDrive 7 were significantly different and cars with iDrive 6 could not just do a software upgrade to go to iDrive 7. But the new iDrive 8 is coming out this year. Do you think BMW will let the iDrive 7 cars to upgrade to iDrive 8 or BMW generally reserves them for the new cars? Looks like the hardware of iDrive 7 might just be still compatible

ifr · 03-05-2021, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonatious

I am new to BMW. I know the iDrive 6 and iDrive 7 were significantly different and cars with iDrive 6 could not just do a software upgrade to go to iDrive 7. But the new iDrive 8 is coming out this year. Do you think BMW will let the iDrive 7 cars to upgrade to iDrive 8 or BMW generally reserves them for the new cars? Looks like the hardware of iDrive 7 might just be still compatible

There's future coding for it on the G05, but it's currently slated for July 2022. Might just be a placeholder

codex57 · 03-05-2021, 03:50 PM

I had an 18 X3 with iDrive 6 and upgraded to a 21 X5 with iDrive 7. I wouldn't call it a "significant" difference. Overwhelmingly similar IMO. That said, I'm not holding my breath that we'll be able to get iDrive 8 when it comes out.

jonatious · 03-05-2021, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codex57

I had an 18 X3 with iDrive 6 and upgraded to a 21 X5 with iDrive 7. I wouldn't call it a "significant" difference. Overwhelmingly similar IMO. That said, I'm not holding my breath that we'll be able to get iDrive 8 when it comes out.

yeah most likely not, but I just like to stay on latest tech. Also only the latest operating system gets the latest updates

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifr

There's future coding for it on the G05, but it's currently slated for July 2022. Might just be a placeholder

nice

jlin101 · 03-05-2021, 09:44 PM

it depends on whether there will be significant hardware and functional change; for example, ID5 could easily be upgraded to ID6 because it was only minor cosmetic change; but ID6 couldn't be upgraded to ID6.

thereef510 · 03-06-2021, 09:26 AM

I dont really want it to change? it took so long to learn where everything is in ID7, i dont want to have to do that all over again

nosnoop · 03-06-2021, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thereef510

I dont really want it to change? it took so long to learn where everything is in ID7, i dont want to have to do that all over again

I would say you have nothing to worry about.
Given BMW history, there is no chance that they would upgrade existing car to iDrive 8.

Paladin1 · 03-06-2021, 08:58 PM

There's a substantial difference in display screens (the main interface for iDrive) on the iX (iDrive 8) and the current X series (iDrive 7), so if that's an indication I'd guess not.

03-05-2021, 11:59 AM	#1
jonatious Lieutenant 250 Rep 581 Posts Drives: BMW X7 Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	iDrive 8 question I am new to BMW. I know the iDrive 6 and iDrive 7 were significantly different and cars with iDrive 6 could not just do a software upgrade to go to iDrive 7. But the new iDrive 8 is coming out this year. Do you think BMW will let the iDrive 7 cars to upgrade to iDrive 8 or BMW generally reserves them for the new cars? Looks like the hardware of iDrive 7 might just be still compatible
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03-05-2021, 03:50 PM	#3
codex57 Lieutenant 214 Rep 485 Posts Drives: 2021 X5 45e, Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I had an 18 X3 with iDrive 6 and upgraded to a 21 X5 with iDrive 7. I wouldn't call it a "significant" difference. Overwhelmingly similar IMO. That said, I'm not holding my breath that we'll be able to get iDrive 8 when it comes out.
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03-05-2021, 09:44 PM	#5
jlin101 First Lieutenant 107 Rep 398 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i, 2016 750i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	it depends on whether there will be significant hardware and functional change; for example, ID5 could easily be upgraded to ID6 because it was only minor cosmetic change; but ID6 couldn't be upgraded to ID6.
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03-06-2021, 09:26 AM	#6
thereef510 Lieutenant Colonel 1165 Rep 1,778 Posts Drives: '16 X5 35i, '20 X5 40i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0)	I dont really want it to change? it took so long to learn where everything is in ID7, i dont want to have to do that all over again
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03-06-2021, 08:58 PM	#8
Paladin1 Brigadier General 5556 Rep 4,504 Posts Drives: 2022 iX xDrive50, DGM Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 iX xDrive M60 [0.00] 2022 iX xDrive50 [10.00]	There's a substantial difference in display screens (the main interface for iDrive) on the iX (iDrive 8) and the current X series (iDrive 7), so if that's an indication I'd guess not.
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