[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by claykin

Moving from iDrive 7 to iDrive8+ requires a dash redesign to accomodate the curved display. For the 8 series the time to do this would have been for MY2023 LCI, but BMW showed their lackluster commitment to the 8 series with very little changing for the LCI. Given the 8 series pretty much goes away after MY2025 (except possibly the GC) it's unlikely BMW will bring an iDrive upgrade to this model.

This is precisely why I’m contemplating an M8 GC for my next car. Some may think lack of idrive 8 is bad, but, for me, this is what is keeping me buying BMW’s.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

This is precisely why I’m contemplating an M8 GC for my next car. Some may think lack of idrive 8 is bad, but, for me, this is what is keeping me buying BMW’s.

Yes! Just keep buying whatever has iD7. That’s what I did. Traded the M3 ‘23 with iD8 for a Z4 with iD7. Happy again

[Ritu_o0o]

Originally Posted by eddj

meanwhile, I think idrive 8 is great with the new enhanced voice commands and with the idrive controller on the centre console. And after some muscle memory training you can use the idrive controller with your eyes closed.
I do everything in my car 100% only via these 2 functions. I think I 've used only 1 or 2 times the touch screen to change something in my car since taking delivery last year... And after that never again.
Also this way I can avoid possible scratches or fingerprints on the big screen and it always looks so clean and beautiful.

Exactly, I don’t understand why one want to be so old school!! Yes there were people praising “Blackberry” phone with the same claim “muscle memory” when iPhone came!! Lot of them claimed they secured the best latest “Blackberry” phone and iPhone will die in few….. and rest is the history!!

I personally like buttons, in X7, I like the clean look! I don’t have to remember anymore on which number I preset what!!

[gnolivos]

Idrive 7 is KING. Glad I have it on my m340i. It's near perfection, and I'm a real stickler for GUI.

[M Division]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

Any chance ID8’s will be able to be software updated to ID8.5? They already have the curved display.

As they're both Linux based yes in theory all iDrives 8 should be able to be updated to 8.5.

[wavyyyy]

Originally Posted by M Division

As they're both Linux based yes in theory all iDrives 8 should be able to be updated to 8.5.

The fact that it’s a . update makes me hopeful. I’ll feel shafted if 2025 M3s are getting 8.5 when 2023 was the first year to get 8.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

Use CarPlay or android auto and it won’t matter. No wonder car owners are shifting to these platforms. Much more upward compatibility.

That makes no sense because neither allows you to access car specific functionality through the CarPlay or Android auto interface.

[prjkthack]

I'll be really disappointed if my iDrive 8 curved-screen display can't support a .5 update. iDrive 9, maybe not. But at least 8.5 should work on existing 8-capable systems.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Personal experience
Your timing is off. 2023 is iD8.

iD8 was in the 2022 i4.

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by prjkthack

I'll be really disappointed if my iDrive 8 curved-screen display can't support a .5 update. iDrive 9, maybe not. But at least 8.5 should work on existing 8-capable systems.

Looks like a new head unit is needed for 8.5

https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/01/10/b...ve9-idrive8-5/

[NLJ]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

Looks like a new head unit is needed for 8.5

https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/01/10/b...ve9-idrive8-5/

Not sure I would trust that article since it is older than the press release.
ID9 seems to be for lower end vehicles. And 8.5 for mid to higher end vehicles.
Most likely than not, 8 will be upgradable to 8.5.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by claykin

Moving from iDrive 7 to iDrive8+ requires a dash redesign to accomodate the curved display. For the 8 series the time to do this would have been for MY2023 LCI, but BMW showed their lackluster commitment to the 8 series with very little changing for the LCI. Given the 8 series pretty much goes away after MY2025 (except possibly the GC) it's unlikely BMW will bring an iDrive upgrade to this model.

Why is the curved screen required?
Behind that curved screen are 2 displays
So same as having a dash display and an idrive display no?

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

LOL that’s absurd!!

The only thing I think Audi MMI does right is being able to manually force OTA map updates by state/region. Everything else, BMW wins.

They also do lifeless steering better than anyone else

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by Alexvier

Would be nice if it was just a plug and play with older car models….

Heck even if they had an upgrade pack that current owners could buy
Pay $1000 and get the latest screen and hardware for it

They are so keen on charging monthly features (heated seats )
Have one that allows you to upgrade your tech to the latest version
People would pay for that
$30 a month to always have the latest hardware for the car

[Mako]

Originally Posted by prjkthack

I'll be really disappointed if my iDrive 8 curved-screen display can't support a .5 update. iDrive 9, maybe not. But at least 8.5 should work on existing 8-capable systems.

Well car and driver makes it sound like the id8 will be updated to 8.5 BUT for some reason the 3 series/M3 aren’t mentioned as getting the update which wouldn’t make sense. If the i4 can get it, why can’t my M3

[Jimjamz]

Originally Posted by apw2607

That makes no sense because neither allows you to access car specific functionality through the CarPlay or Android auto interface.

Music? Nav?

[Tamalpais]

Which one from the Apple Store should I download?

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by NLJ

Not sure I would trust that article since it is older than the press release.
ID9 seems to be for lower end vehicles. And 8.5 for mid to higher end vehicles.
Most likely than not, 8 will be upgradable to 8.5.

No, ID9 is the future with BMW having already talked about the commitment to Android moving forward.

If anything, X1 is getting it first so BMW can use lower end buyers as guinea pigs before potentially angering all of their buyers.

[RCtennis3811]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

If anything, X1 is getting it first so BMW can use lower end buyers as guinea pigs before potentially angering all of their buyers.

This. MB did the same thing with MBUX when the current A-Class launched. They wanted them to test out the new “Hey Mercedes” features.

[diablo2112]

There’s a whole lot of defensive justification in that BMW press release about how customers are now used to touch screens, etc. IMHO, touch screens in a car are far, far from ideal. You have to look closely at the screen to do anything, and you get no tactile feedback. Taking your eyes off the road is the opposite of good design. And, in a vehicle, you have substantial movement and g-forces which make precise use of a touch screen that much more difficult.

The real reason for this change is cost, plain and simple. Elimination of the iDrive controller just compounds this whole problem, with cost (again) the main driver. I predict that this will eventually be seen as an enormous mistake. Lawsuits and/or customer dissatisfaction will force a reconsideration of the cost/ benefit balance.

I’m certain BMW engineers recognize all this, and there was a huge fight with management about these decisions. A shame, really.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by diablo2112

There’s a whole lot of defensive justification in that BMW press release about how customers are now used to touch screens, etc. IMHO, touch screens in a car are far, far from ideal. You have to look closely at the screen to do anything, and you get no tactile feedback. Taking your eyes off the road is the opposite of good design. And, in a vehicle, you have substantial movement and g-forces which make precise use of a touch screen that much more difficult.

The real reason for this change is cost, plain and simple. Elimination of the iDrive controller just compounds this whole problem, with cost (again) the main driver. I predict that this will eventually be seen as an enormous mistake. Lawsuits and/or customer dissatisfaction will force a reconsideration of the cost/ benefit balance.

I’m certain BMW engineers recognize all this, and there was a huge fight with management about these decisions. A shame, really.

Exactly! Finally someone agrees with me. Having a tesla model y and two bmws with i7 and previously one with iD8, and going back and forth between them, I will tell you bmw is abandoning any differentiation in the cabin. The digital tach and speed are useless also and distracting. Leather is good if you can get it, and in the X5/6/7 at least you have some buttons for seat massage and other functions. The bmw is by far still better, but they’re on this roadmap to push toward full EV lineup

[sgyX3]

I have a 2020 x3m40i with ID7 and a 2023 x1 with ID8. If my wife didn’t want the smaller SAV I would have gone with another X3. She prefers to drive our 2018 320xi over the brand new SAV and only uses it when she needs it to do something with the grandkids. The WORST thing they did is take away the controller. That is what she misses most and I have to agree with her. The response of the system is good, the graphics and display are crisp and clear. But the lack of tactile buttons and removal of the controller is a big mistake.