[wknddrivr]

Originally Posted by Astrodoge

Did you ever see the Virtual Cockpit from Audi in action with Google Maps? When i am using the navigation system in my A3 i turn on Google Maps fullscreen and i personally would never want to go back to solely rely on navigation by speech or a simplified 2D map. Imo that system is the benchmark and already available in A3s from mid 2016 and up. Their advantage probably was that the system was already close to market when the aquisition of Here happened. I want Here to succeed and my next car will likely be a BMW, but that display right there is a bitter pill to swallow coming from Google Maps.

Why is it even relevant? With HUD in my G30 I almost never look at the guages in the instrument cluster, the directions are right in the windscreen without having to take your eyes off the road. I only use the IDrive screen to change settings once in a while

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by stvding

The point is that some people(like you) like conservative design and me want a manual. But BMW is moving to new design and automatic. Why? Because we are small percentage. They are in business to make money. So they have to satisfy the majority. But no latest design and tech in a premium model but debut in cheaper model, is not a good business decision. Most people who pay premium want the latest tech. When they pay more but get old tech while the cheaper model has it. They won't be happy. BMW is used to have new tech in 7 then 5 then 3, for example new parking camera, new driver assistance, etc. But this time is odd

Wow you should be running bmw

[hinckley]

The point of these digital displays, or any good user interface - imo - is to present information in the way the user wants to see/use it. So many of us that are complaining about BMW's live cockpit are not complaining about the fact that it's a digital display; we're complaining that it's a very poorly executed digital display. The design is overly complex. It presents data in an unconventional manner (counter-clockwise tach) for no discernable purpose other than design. It's main element - the center map - has such a discernable lack of detail that it renders it almost useless. And the most glaring flaw is that it provides the user with almost zero customizability.

I say all of this not because I don't like tech or change. Quite the contrary. I say all this because I love tech. I love smart tech. And I'm incredible disappointed that BMW - a company that was once known for its driver focus - developed this new user interface to be something pretty, rather than something that is useful to the driver.

[geddylee]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I'm disappointed in this trend towards complete digital instruments. It feels a bit like mechanical watches vs. digital watches, I much prefer the happy mediums we've seen already that combine digital elements with real guages.

Could not agree with this more. I'ts a horrible trend. I'd pay extra for analog.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by hinckley

And I'm incredible disappointed that BMW - a company that was once known for its driver focus - developed this new user interface to be something pretty, rather than something that is useful to the driver.

I'll continue my rant for just a bit more -

Consider the tach - the sacred instrument for real driver focused cars. Forget about its counter-intuitive design. We'll get used to that. But take a close look at how the other info is displayed within the tach. The entertainment screen not only shows album art (which is nice), but it takes it a step further by showing a large shadow of the album art behind the tach. This is a purely form over function design. It makes the tach info much more difficult to read. But who cares? The display will look "cool".

Done now.

[Buckett76]

I think this iteration is very useful. Having used the Audi Live Cockpit for a few years I only need 2 things - Digital Speed and a Route/Map. The Audi solution works well but the rest of the options are noise. I've also used RR's version and that has more customization which is distracting to alter on the fly so once it's set to your liking you never really change it. I think both work well but be careful what you wish for with customization/options as you will complain about unnecessary options and/or frustrating operations to work the system.

I like this set up as it gives you all you need on the map front (roads nearby and a line to follow), without having to play around in menu's, plus a permanent digital speed readout. A zoom in/out feature would be nice if it's not there but other than that I think this seems to fit a good balance of features without getting overly complicated. Given the market it's designed for it seems to fit the purpose of the car very well.

Wanting your X5 to look, smell, act, feel like a weekend sports car is like getting upset that the pizza you ordered doesn't look or taste like a burger!

[stvding]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Wow you should be running bmw

Just my opinion. I want to switch to a more premium 5 after 6 years in a 3 and a 4. But 5 doesn't have latest tech now. Bummer for me

[georgere]

Hmmm it's not even that great... I drove the new Porsche Panamera which supposedly has better implementation of this tech and it was blah.. not bad but to say this is the iPhone of the car industry- no it is not...

[Big boi m5]

Sad the VW digital cockpit is better.

Tbh the whole thing is cheap and cost saving, I prefer the old mechanical version better, I hope it's an option.

[PARTS@STBMW]

This is amazing, thank you for sharing!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I'll continue my rant for just a bit more -

Consider the tach - the sacred instrument for real driver focused cars. Forget about its counter-intuitive design. We'll get used to that. But take a close look at how the other info is displayed within the tach. The entertainment screen not only shows album art (which is nice), but it takes it a step further by showing a large shadow of the album art behind the tach. This is a purely form over function design. It makes the tach info much more difficult to read. But who cares? The display will look "cool".

Done now.

I have a good feeling that the display will have a "Sport" mode where all the nonsense info will disappear and we will only have the speed and tack along with one or two telemetries ie oil temp, g-meter etc. Hopefully at least the M cars should have this.

Let's also keep in mind that most Super cars already have similar setups and that the tach doesn't always go clockwise.

[Doc5513]

Originally Posted by Buckett76

I think this iteration is very useful. Having used the Audi Live Cockpit for a few years I only need 2 things - Digital Speed and a Route/Map. The Audi solution works well but the rest of the options are noise. I've also used RR's version and that has more customization which is distracting to alter on the fly so once it's set to your liking you never really change it. I think both work well but be careful what you wish for with customization/options as you will complain about unnecessary options and/or frustrating operations to work the system.

I like this set up as it gives you all you need on the map front (roads nearby and a line to follow), without having to play around in menu's, plus a permanent digital speed readout. A zoom in/out feature would be nice if it's not there but other than that I think this seems to fit a good balance of features without getting overly complicated. Given the market it's designed for it seems to fit the purpose of the car very well.

Wanting your X5 to look, smell, act, feel like a weekend sports car is like getting upset that the pizza you ordered doesn't look or taste like a burger!

Very well balanced perspective. Let’s all take a deep breath!

[ScottMZ3]

Also keep in mind that the entire iDrive 7.0 OS can be upgraded to new releases over the air for free from BMW. I believe I remember the trainer saying 3 years are covered for major updates and 10 years for security related fixes to the OS.

Its very possible that BMW might make some tweaks to the look and feel of the cluster and the car would receive those updates automatically.

I'm not overall amazed with the layout of the new cluster, but after seeing it in person I was very impressed with how sharp and clear the display was. Will just take some getting used to I think.

Switching to Sport mode doesn't change the display very much, the layout remains the same.

[cc3]

Sadly Audi does this a lot better. Pretty disappointing BMW. I can see this having a big revision within 12/18 months pre LCI

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by stvding

Just my opinion. I want to switch to a more premium 5 after 6 years in a 3 and a 4. But 5 doesn't have latest tech now. Bummer for me

Seems to me you care more about the video game aspect of the car... Bummer for you.

When I get behind the wheel all I care about is the driving experience. The electronic gizmos are certainly nice but secondary. The G30 is a terrific car and a nice place to spend time in.

Try it sometime. Really..electronic gimmickry is not the end and be all of a worthy road car.

[NorthBuddy]

I'm just happy not having it. Love the old look in my 530e even more now.

[sq86]

This is dumb but they're doing it because of the competition. It's more poorly executed though. The generic girl with headphones "album art" is distracting and not useful. Just show the entertainment text info. The album art can be reserved for the primary iDrive screen, especially since it's doubled up.

The reason, IMO, for the small, reverse tach that everyone is opposed to (including myself) is because without a manual transmission it's not needed anymore. It's still "informational" but not required. This is a total break from "The Ultimate Driving Machine" mantra but if that's the way they choose to go then someone else will have my money. They don't have to do this, see what Porsche does, but they don't seem to value prior customers input.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by sq86

This is dumb but they're doing it because of the competition. It's more poorly executed though. The generic girl with headphones "album art" is distracting and not useful. Just show the entertainment text info. The album art can be reserved for the primary iDrive screen, especially since it's doubled up.

The reason, IMO, for the small, reverse tach that everyone is opposed to (including myself) is because without a manual transmission it's not needed anymore. It's still "informational" but not required. This is a total break from "The Ultimate Driving Machine" mantra but if that's the way they choose to go then someone else will have my money. They don't have to do this, see what Porsche does, but they don't seem to value prior customers input.

For better or worse the majority of the market rules. BMW, as any other carmaker, is in the business of making money and bringing profits back to the controlling Quandt family and their stockholders and investors.

Enthusiasts are a statistically insignificant portion of the market audience of BMW products. The soft and luxurious cars that most decry in these forums pay the bills and found your high performance variants and M cars.

When Porsche came up with the Cayenne SUv over a decade ago, Porsche purists and enthusiasts were up in arms in the face of such blasphemy. But it turns out the Cayenne was a success and it paid the bills plus development of the focused hard core models.

[Axman85]

What an ugly display....... Give me the analog dials any day.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

For better or worse the majority of the market rules. BMW, as any other carmaker, is in the business of making money and bringing profits back to the controlling Quandt family and their stockholders and investors.

Enthusiasts are a statistically insignificant portion of the market audience of BMW products. The soft and luxurious cars that most decry in these forums pay the bills and found your high performance variants and M cars.

When Porsche came up with the Cayenne SUv over a decade ago, Porsche purists and enthusiasts were up in arms in the face of such blasphemy. But it turns out the Cayenne was a success and it paid the bills plus development of the focused hard core models.

Agree but if displays such as this are decision makers for prospective buyers then the car industry as a whole should be worried.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Agree but if displays such as this are decision makers for prospective buyers then the car industry should be worried.

Honestly, I have to see this new digital cockpit in person to see what the hoopla is all about. But same as you, I much prefer a traditional an easier to read gauge cluster arrangement with round Speedo and tach. This is why I prefer the current G30, G11 digital dash. I feel is a better looking, safer and more agreeable compromise if one is to go with a full digital alternative.

[sheepboy]

Just for the sake of comparison, here is the Tesla Model S display... back in 2012. It could be configured to display other information, such as media source, album covers and such.

To call this "new" BMW display outdate is quite an understatement...