[avi8tir]

Fiance is thinking of getting a 24. Having pre-LCI, I couldn't imagine not having, at the very least, the programmable buttons. Not to mention the AC MAX button I hit the second I get in the car, especially this time of year.

[biterror]

I would hate a greasy touchscreen full of fingerprints. I almost slapped the dealer when he was showing me around in the menus and Touching My Screen when I was picking up my car. I always use the physical buttons and the iDrive controller instead. Well, I'll save lots of money, never being able to buy a new BMW again

[B767capt]

I just got a 2024 last week and the max AC is easy. The climate control is always at the bottom center of the screen and after selecting that, the max AC icon is there at the top.

[RetSurfer]

Since this is my first BMW I have no reference on previous BMW's. My previous car was a Grand Cherokee, Summit.

I've had my 50e for about 2 months now and I'm still learning all the tecky stuff.

In my opinion, the future of all cars will be like this or even more so...

[FastMarkA]

Life without buttons is mostly just fine.

In fact, I'm getting used to it and, you know, the Earth hasn't spun off its axis, so that's a good thing.

My criticisms lie in some of the foolish programing of iDrive 8:

Climate Control: Imagine this BMW, sometimes I just want my heated seat on, and NOT the fan/HVAC. I'd like to do this without tapping a bunch of buttons, either. For some reason, BMW went all-in on coordinating the heated/cool seats with HVAC, and it was a really stupid idea. (Fortunately, I believe this complaint will be solved with iDrive 8.5.)

Voice Recognition: If you're going to nudge consumers to use voice activation, then provide tech that recognizes sentences, like Siri. Yesterday, I asked my BMW to "turn on the driver's heated seat to very high," and she came back and said, "turning on climate control to level 1."

The reality is all cars are headed this direction. While change is hard, try being the one left behind.

[parky1215]

I am using both semi-physical button with iDrive 7 on M5 and full touch with iDrive 8 on LCI X6.
I do not mind full touch screen at all and you can still use rotary dial and button on the center console to access most of the iDrive 8 menu. I also prefer simple & no cluttered dashboard look of modern BMWs. I cannot get rid of that feeling of being inside outdated car when I go drive M5.

Fingerprint can look bad when screen is off, but it's not that noticeable when screen is on. I recently purchased small waffle weave cloth to leave inside center console so that I can easily clean the screen whenever needed.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GWRGTQC

[TXPearl]

I was concerned about losing the physical preset buttons, but after a few weeks, I think I like the ID8 setup better (at least for this aspect of it). Just nudge the idrive control knob forward and your virtual presets appear at the top of the screen. Rotate knob to the desired preset and push. No need to even lean forward to find a physical button any more, and no touching the screen.

I find I'm able to do just about everything with the idrive rotary knob and don't need to touch the screen. I hate fingerprints. But, as noted above by FastMark, seat heating/ventilation needs a more convenient place in the system.

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Fiance is thinking of getting a 24. Having pre-LCI, I couldn't imagine not having, at the very least, the programmable buttons. Not to mention the AC MAX button I hit the second I get in the car, especially this time of year.

My wife drives an iX. She has zero problems and I also like it. Many people preferred the physical keyboard over the iPhone screen. The exact same arguments we see now happened then…I still see some people rocking pagers and blackberry’s here and there. People have different preferences.

I would put manual vs automatic in there as well.

JMHO.

[FastMarkA]

Originally Posted by TXPearl

Just nudge the idrive control knob forward and your virtual presets appear at the top of the screen. Rotate knob to the desired preset and push. No need to even lean forward to find a physical button any more, and no touching the screen.

I've been using it the same; relying on those preset "anchor" functions, and then using the control knob to access them.

The reality is, once all is set up, I need iDrive for 2 things on a regular basis -- climate control and CarPlay. Once I get to the CarPlay menu (obviously a preset), it's no different than my 45e, 40i, F15 35i...

[MJBradley1967]

Originally Posted by RetSurfer

Since this is my first BMW I have no reference on previous BMW's. My previous car was a Grand Cherokee, Summit.

I've had my 50e for about 2 months now and I'm still learning all the tecky stuff.

In my opinion, the future of all cars will be like this or even more so...

I came from 5 GC's (19 Limited, 15 Overland, 13 Overland, etc, etc) and find I'm not blown away by any major difference in quality, luxury or options (in fact, harder to get as many options on an X5).

I'm curious, where are you on the "upgrade" to an X5?

[realdah]

LCI is my first BMW, the new interior & exterior design is one of the key factors making me pulled the trigger.
Another is the Level 2+ autonomous driver-assist system, which is a life saver for long distance driving.


I like most of the techs and safty features which includes but not limited to panoramic parking assistant, collision avoidance etc.

Since it is just a LCI, it won't be changed too much from pre-LCI, but overall experiences are more desirable from my taste.


BTW. I like some new designs overall but felt very hard to accept the new split headlight design from X7.

[traron]

First time BMW owner and not a problem at all. As stated above this is the way all vehicles are going and eventally you will have to accept this. Its all about the $$ for car manufacturers and they will save a buck any way they can when designing a car.

[iTomH]

Originally Posted by B767capt

I just got a 2024 last week and the max AC is easy. The climate control is always at the bottom center of the screen and after selecting that, the max AC icon is there at the top.

I just push my mic button and say "MAX AIR" and my 50e starts blowing ice cold air!

In fact, I use my commands as much as possible to keep my fingers off the screen.

[B767capt]

Originally Posted by iTomH

I just push my mic button and say "MAX AIR" and my 50e starts blowing ice cold air!

In fact, I use my commands as much as possible to keep my fingers off the screen.

Thanks that's even better. Fun trying figure out all these bells and whistles.

[alic96]

Originally Posted by realdah

LCI is my first BMW, the new interior & exterior design is one of the key factors making me pulled the trigger.
Another is the Level 2+ autonomous driver-assist system, which is a life saver for long distance driving.


I like most of the techs and safty features which includes but not limited to panoramic parking assistant, collision avoidance etc.

Since it is just a LCI, it won't be changed too much from pre-LCI, but overall experiences are more desirable from my taste.


BTW. I like some new designs overall but felt very hard to accept the new split headlight design from X7.

This one will be my first BMW too for all the same reasons you stated. L2 driving is a key differentiator for me from the previous model year. Can't drive any car without advanced driving features now.

[avi8tir]

Originally Posted by MJBradley1967

I came from 5 GC's (19 Limited, 15 Overland, 13 Overland, etc, etc) and find I'm not blown away by any major difference in quality, luxury or options (in fact, harder to get as many options on an X5).

I'm curious, where are you on the "upgrade" to an X5?

Yikes, for the first time ever I stuck with only a company car for 3 years and had a GC for part of that time and a Ford Explorer for part of that time. Previously I always had a BMW, Porsche etc alongside my company car.

Finally decided to dump the company car and go with an allowance and am in a M50i now as my daily.

I would say my experience was polar opposite and have no idea how I dealt with driving a GC / Ford Explorer for over 3 years. Not even on the same planet. And honestly the worst part about it was having to deal with the morons at the dealerships when I had issues - which there were plenty of.

[Heavyd]

Interesting video

[DaveDBD]

Lots more of touching screen for HVAC vs using two fingers on buttons to adjust both driver and passenger settings. Can’t use Sync because it turns on rear HVAC. Radio buttons don’t exist so use presets to scroll through preferred stations. Highway Assistant is more pain than useful. Everytime driver tries to use screen because no buttons it beeps a loud warning of driver inattention and eventually turns off. HA is bad on curvy roads and must be turned off in construction zones. Also drops out on bumpy roads. Lost buttons on steering wheel for ACC distance but can do it quickly with voice. Lost heated steering wheel button which can also be turned on with voice. BMW should have left the buttons while adding more voice control.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by DaveDBD

Can’t use Sync because it turns on rear HVAC. .

Why wouldn't you want the rear HVAC on? That is the most efficient way to run the system.

[drbluedevil]

I have an iX that got wrecked. In the process of getting out of it and into an x5 50e. I’ll say that ID8 is a raging nightmare. It’s difficult and distracting trying to change the hvac settings. It’s nightmarishly laggy. And if you want to change the settings while backing up, you have to stop the backup camera. And if you’re driving in traffic, it’s more distracting than texting. I don’t mind the other functions being buried in a touchscreen menu, and I love a clean look. I predict that some minimal multifunction hvac physical controls will be what the industry settles on. What keeps me in a bmw other than the stellar build quality is the current state of their ADAS. It’s magic.

[DaveDBD]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Why wouldn't you want the rear HVAC on? That is the most efficient way to run the system.

It sucks a lot of energy in electric mode.

It is also very noisy as the openings are right at ear height for front passengers.

Only way to get heated steering wheel though.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by DaveDBD

It sucks a lot of energy in electric mode.

It is also very noisy as the openings are right at ear height for front passengers.

Only way to get heated steering wheel though.

There is no air separation between the front and back, it will use less energy having the rear running but of course you can do what you want.