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04-21-2026LAST POST
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TurtleBoy wroteI appreciate the conversation. I think this has to be done with great care. There are new suspension technologies coming out of China that the Germans don't seem to have thought that much about yet that I would want to see them explore.Thankfully they are a company that will adapt to changing market conditions and customer preferences. Sticking to the old generally leads to missed opportunities and eventually a demise.
In order to get the funding for what a company does best they need to make sure they have the revenue to fund engineering, development, etc, and that often means offering products that appeal to a wider audience.
Any company in this pursuit of avoiding the old and keeping up to gain wider consideration doesn't want to become the next CrackerBarrel who not only reverted to the old logo but also is canceling "modernization" programs for their restaurant interiors. Painful lesson when a company does not understand that they are walking away from their customers. It does all come down to who BMW sees as their customers, and the evolution you suggest may indeed be what has happened to the market and older guys like me are fading out.
I'm going for a RWD, 3 pedal drive now!
The family car can stay home this afternoon!
;)
What we as forum members and enthusiasts often forget is that we are a small percentage of BMW's customer base. The overwhelming majority of customers do not get into the specifics of driving dynamics, suspensions, engines., etc. They get them as status symbols, they like the looks, favorite color, to keep up with the Joneses, etc. For those people, BMW needs to make sure they offer the features/options that other manufactures do.
https://www.bimmertoday.de/2025/09/17/debrecen-vorab-fotos-zeigen-serien-produktion-des-bmw-ix3/
OHV_44 wroteSuch a nice plant. Had a chance to visit it.Here are some pictures from the factory in Debrecen, Hungary.
https://www.bimmertoday.de/2025/09/17/debrecen-vorab-fotos-zeigen-serien-produktion-des-bmw-ix3/
That is a non-starter for me. MB customers were freaking out about the lack of manual controls in their cars and they are reverting in future models. They admitted they designed too heavily for the Chinese market (They prefer the touchscreen/voice only interface) and didn’t realize how severe the ROW blowback would be.
Now you have a touchscreen interface and some little motors buried in the dash somewhere controlling airflow direction. This is case of engineers trying to be cute or solving for problems that don’t actually exist.
6SPDG82 wroteI have seen a few posts about it but my guess is that most just figure it does no good complaining about it and the rest don't know it is an issue. I believe it was the designers' idea rather than engineers.I can’t believe more people aren’t freaking out about having to dig into a menu to be able to adjust the HVAC direction of airflow from the vents!
That is a non-starter for me. MB customers were freaking out about the lack of manual controls in their cars and they are reverting in future models. They admitted they designed too heavily for the Chinese market (They prefer the touchscreen/voice only interface) and didn’t realize how severe the ROW blowback would be.
Now you have a touchscreen interface and some little motors buried in the dash somewhere controlling airflow direction. This is case of engineers trying to be cute or solving for problems that don’t actually exist.
I think the Neue Klasse interior design is a few years behind the market but the product was already cooked by the time the market started moving away from not having physical controls and it was too late to change. My guess is that in the LCI's we will see them reverting back to more traditional controls unless the current design is generally accepted by the marketplace.
TurtleBoy wroteBMW is not really known to change directions so fast. I think we're going to see this interior design for the next 10 years. Makes no sense to invest so much in the Panoramic Display and the new interaction with it, just to remove it in 3 years. On top of this, there are plenty of products that are finalized and will come out by 2030, so again, makes no sense to split again the interior design.I have seen a few posts about it but my guess is that most just figure it does no good complaining about it and the rest don't know it is an issue. I believe it was the designers' idea rather than engineers.
I think the Neue Klasse interior design is a few years behind the market but the product was already cooked by the time the market started moving away from not having physical controls and it was too late to change. My guess is that in the LCI's we will see them reverting back to more traditional controls unless the current design is generally accepted by the marketplace.
hb wroteDepends on market acceptance right? If sales are in the tank (I'm not saying they will be, this is just an academic discussion) and they determine the major factor in that is the interior then they would likely change the design earlier that usual in an effort to win back market share. I don't think sticking to a design for an extended period of time just because they always did it that way is a good business strategy. Besides, changing the design and adding some physical controls doesn't preclude them from keeping the Panoramic Display.BMW is not really known to change directions so fast. I think we're going to see this interior design for the next 10 years. Makes no sense to invest so much in the Panoramic Display and the new interaction with it, just to remove it in 3 years. On top of this, there are plenty of products that are finalized and will come out by 2030, so again, makes no sense to split again the interior design.
Edit: Thanks by the way for asking about the adaptive beams. I had a feeling that would be the answer but was hoping.
Something else to go wrong that probably isn't really that helpful in the long run I suspect.
6SPDG82 wroteI couldn’t care any less about it. It is a set it once and forget it type of thing for me. I would imagine it is the same for a lot of other individuals as well. 🤷🏻♂️I can’t believe more people aren’t freaking out about having to dig into a menu to be able to adjust the HVAC direction of airflow from the vents!
That is a non-starter for me. MB customers were freaking out about the lack of manual controls in their cars and they are reverting in future models. They admitted they designed too heavily for the Chinese market (They prefer the touchscreen/voice only interface) and didn’t realize how severe the ROW blowback would be.
Now you have a touchscreen interface and some little motors buried in the dash somewhere controlling airflow direction. This is case of engineers trying to be cute or solving for problems that don’t actually exist.
TurtleBoy wroteI hear you, but even tiny changes like this, it's costly and unless there is a huge business case, it won't happen. As far as the iDrive controller, I gotta say, they do have a good point: the UI/UX is now structured a bit differently on the screen so navigating with the controller is not as easy as before because of the structure of elements and direction. You will see when you get to play with it.Depends on market acceptance right? If sales are in the tank (I'm not saying they will be, this is just an academic discussion) and they determine the major factor in that is the interior then they would likely change the design earlier that usual in an effort to win back market share. I don't think sticking to a design for an extended period of time just because they always did it that way is a good business strategy. Besides, changing the design and adding some physical controls doesn't preclude them from keeping the Panoramic Display.
Edit: Thanks by the way for asking about the adaptive beams. I had a feeling that would be the answer but was hoping.
hb Thanks for the video. In it, he mentioned the US market iX3 50 will offer Adaptive Suspension as an option with the MSport package (whereas it seems in other markets this may just be in the M60 and/or a delayed offering).Any idea how that will differ from the current adaptive suspension offerings in the i4 or anything else?
Also with the Heart of Joy, does it eliminate the annoying roll back that currently happens when stopping on a hill in one pedal mode in the current BMW EV models?
Sudtirol wroteDon't know. Will test the new suspension in November. Yes, no roll back. You can see that in my BMW iX3 prototype video. Search for it on our youtube channel
Any idea how that will differ from the current adaptive suspension offerings in the i4 or anything else?
Also with the Heart of Joy, does it eliminate the annoying roll back that currently happens when stopping on a hill in one pedal mode in the current BMW EV models?
Sudtirol wroteDoes this happen when you have Auto Hold on or only when off? I haven't experienced this in my iX when I'm on hilly roads, but I tend to keep AH on most of the time.Also with the Heart of Joy, does it eliminate the annoying roll back that currently happens when stopping on a hill in one pedal mode in the current BMW EV models?
ubercruise wroteWith the i4 when driving in one pedal mode ("B") when you come to a stop on gentle slopes the car will sometimes roll before it recognizes it's still moving and then jams on the brakes. On steeper slopes, sometimes that handoff happens right away but is still abrupt. It's like if you just cranked the handbrake while rolling in neutral with a manual.Does this happen when you have Auto Hold on or only when off? I haven't experienced this in my iX when I'm on hilly roads, but I tend to keep AH on most of the time.
If you're in "D", it wouldn't happen because your foot is already on the brake instead of just lifting off the gas pedal.
Assume that with one chip controlling both the motors and brakes it should feel more natural.
Sudtirol wroteRight, but in B mode do you have Auto Hold on or off? It only ever rolls on me in B with AH if I'm ever so slightly touching the accelerator pedal but otherwise it engages fine on slopes. I haven't driven in B mode without AH enough to say if it works similarly in that setup.With the i4 when driving in one pedal mode ("B") when you come to a stop on gentle slopes the car will sometimes roll before it recognizes it's still moving and then jams on the brakes. On steeper slopes, sometimes that handoff happens right away but is still abrupt. It's like if you just cranked the handbrake while rolling in neutral with a manual.
If you're in "D", it wouldn't happen because your foot is already on the brake instead of just lifting off the gas pedal.
Assume that with one chip controlling both the motors and brakes it should feel more natural.
ubercruise wroteWow. Mind blown. For whatever reason I thought autoiold was alway engaged in B mode. Thanks!Right, but in B mode do you have Auto Hold on or off? It only ever rolls on me in B with AH if I'm ever so slightly touching the accelerator pedal but otherwise it engages fine on slopes. I haven't driven in B mode without AH enough to say if it works similarly in that setup.
Sudtirol wroteBMW did suggest that the lack of air/adaptive suspension was down to weight, the same reason rear steer isn’t offered, will be interesting to see if they offer the different suspension on the normal more range focused models like the 50 but if the US market do get offered it I can only assume it’s down to that old thing that Americans want/need more equipment.
Any idea how that will differ from the current adaptive suspension offerings in the i4 or anything else?
Also with the Heart of Joy, does it eliminate the annoying roll back that currently happens when stopping on a hill in one pedal mode in the current BMW EV models?
Regarding roll back with B mode, I currently drive an i5M60 and this is something I have never experienced and wonder is that due to me always using the Auto Handbrake. I actually drive all the time in B mode and reckon it’s one of the selling points of an EV.
footie wroteThere will be an adaptive suspension. Still lots of iX3 models to be unveiledBMW did suggest that the lack of air/adaptive suspension was down to weight, the same reason rear steer isn’t offered, will be interesting to see if they offer the different suspension on the normal more range focused models like the 50 but if the US market do get offered it I can only assume it’s down to that old thing that Americans want/need more equipment.
Regarding roll back with B mode, I currently drive an i5M60 and this is something I have never experienced and wonder is that due to me always using the Auto Handbrake. I actually drive all the time in B mode and reckon it’s one of the selling points of an EV.
hb wroteAre they doing the same that Porsche did when the first Cayenne was released, it was only available with the steel springs on the V8 model but later within the year the air suspension became available as an option.There will be an adaptive suspension. Still lots of iX3 models to be unveiled
Also, in respect the the apparent perfect linear stopping of the regen braking, my Model 3 is probably 98-99% as good. There is no lunging forward when it comes to a stop as some of the videos suggest is otherwise the case for EV's.
I don't mind my vent fan control on the screen at all. One reviewer makes a point that people could require changes on a longer drive due to sun orientation/time of day or personal feeling. In 7 years of using an EV in this manner, I have never had the urge.
I swear, sometimes they make these distinctions more to drive drama that any real world requirement. And I don't have to dig through the menu for it and I suspect you could also pin the HVAC in the iX3 to a convenient location. So what the big deal is, it's 100% lost on me.
If BMW has struck their future on Neue Klasse, I think they have done an admirable job but how they expect to sell a lot of these in North America with this charge port location is beyond me. I was keen to buy one till I thought this through and it's a bit of a deal breaker for my charging requirements. Not a concern for people who will encounter V4 chargers but I'm not seeing that for my semi-frequent travel route or anytime in the near future and I'm not changing my route just to work around this.
