[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Of all the buttons to have removed and yet the front and rear defrost buttons have remained?

Because of safety! If your windshield gets foggy you don't want to search in the touch screen.

Safety related controller will be easy to reach.

[J-RO]

Sucks

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

add:

cease selling cars to entusiasts
compete with Lexus
How can we win awards for ugliness?

Lexus doesn't exactly go nuts with cutting-edge electronics; their MMI is larded with buttons and most of their interior still looks like it stuck in the '90s era but new and that's actually by design.

They cater to a older crowd, where technology is not really what their demographic cares for. Like on the 2020 LS 500, they removed the Auto Parking Assistant feature because none of their consumers was using it anyways. So, I would say BMW is headed in the opposite direction, in this regard..

I don't know what's going on with BMW, I think they're now pushing more towards electronics and power, to compensate for their lack of creativity and styling. :

I'm just praying they don't F up the next gen M2, that's where I would take it personal.. You have one job BMW 🤨

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Poochie

I'm just praying they don't F up the next gen M2, that's where I would take it personal.. You have one job BMW 🤨

With BMW in its current state, I've given up on that prayer. I expect them to ruin that car. The M2 is having its E39 moment.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by jstein55

With BMW in its current state, I've given up on that prayer. I expect them to ruin that car. The M2 is having its E39 moment.

Going back to the original post...it doesn't bother me that BMW only offers the better leather with the upgraded seats. But what does bother me is that it them teams that with a sensatec dash. I have the Nappa seats and leather dash and they go together beautifully. I don't think I would like seeing the sensatec dash with the nappa seats.

I do believe that BMW has lost its way and it needs to get it back fast before it is too late.

[Peter5498]

I've always preferred analog controls over digital. They're more sturdy, satisfying to press, don't break as often, and they age MUCH better. These are the same reasons why Bugatti uses analog controls and interfaces.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

How is that statement fearing mongering? :

I wash my hands all the time

Still the screen ends up with prints. Go figure.

[ShahiniBmw]

Lmaoo I blame Tesla. They started this.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Suds

Touch systems don’t work, especially in M cars. I can’t hit the 10 buttons on the dash as it is now, especially when playing with the car.

Don’t be playing with buttons while you’re driving

Originally Posted by Miko M

Don't like the touch screen plus finger prints are all over

Understood, but I’ve found an aftermarket screen protector for my Tesla Model 3 that shows practically zero finger marks, plus cuts down on glare. It was about $60 USD.

Originally Posted by BSquared+

Yea, that's it. Make me take hands off the wheel more often to reach for a touch-screen!

How sensible, how safe! NOT

Don’t take your hands off the wheel. Just press a button on the wheel and speak the command. I do it all the time, “change the temperature to 68º”. It’s not really that hard.

Originally Posted by Kuato2084

I get why they want to ditch an analog controller for touchscreen only because future. But.... it's clearly much safer to keep hands closest to the wheel (analog dial control) rather then expect drivers to both look AND touch a screen while a 3500 lb+ machine is in motion. The probability of being distracted has got to be much higher if having to reach and touch a screen over something akin to a gear selector which is in a comfortable (and safe) place for the driver.

For the most part I keep my iDrive screen off while driving unless Nav is needed or I'm selecting media.

Keep your hands on the wheel, use your voice. Certain things are of course easier with fingers/thumbs, like changing the volume. That’s what steering wheel buttons are for.

Originally Posted by mbanck

I guess BMW bets their "Hey BMW" assistant will be good enough in a few years that people can tell it to change the temperature and/or substitute it for the favorite buttons. I think it's sad, but the i4 concept interior shots seem to indicate that. Though it seems that the i4 and the iNext might still have the iDrive rotary controller.

About wide screen, that's also in the i4 concept, and has been all but officially announced by BMW to arrive in the final i4 (and other later models like the iNext).

I had 4 cars with iDrive rotary controllers. If/when BMW gets their touchscreens “right”, you won’t miss them either.

Originally Posted by M5ZRH

The fundamental question is how many functions do you really need on a daily basis to operate the car ? ergonomics and function should dictate the style. And not the other way around.
Then how many clicks do you need to access the function ? Climate control on some cars ? Several touches on the screen. A button: one touch.
This is critical for safety and can be distracting when driving.
And finally health and design: how many germs on a screen ?�� and who enjoys seeing all those fingerprints on a screen ??? ��

Well exactly. You shouldn’t have to be fooling with 10 buttons every time you take a trip to the grocery store. Fingerprints are taken care of with the proper screen/shield.

Originally Posted by DS_BMW

Touch screens in a car is just annoying and distracting.

A million Tesla drivers seem to get along OK. I can’t imagine a time where I ever said “I need a real button for that!”. Do you wish your iPhone/Android had a big physical button in the middle of the touch screen that just did one thing like turn off Bluetooth??

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Of all the buttons to have removed and yet the front and rear defrost buttons have remained?

Ya, that is weird. I think the Hazard button is one of the few (only?) mechanical buttons in my car. Certainly a vestigial remain for safety purposes after an accident.

[themnmd]

Yucky

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by Tag

This months BMW meeting agendas...

• Think outside the box and break what's not broken
• Gaudy design changes (think BIG grilles) make our brand more recognizable
• MT and RWD are dead
• Plans to remove physical buttons and levers from the steering wheel
• Plans to remove the steering wheel in future models

Bravo! Best post I've read in a while.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by SamS

Don't take your hands off the wheel. Just press a button on the wheel and speak the command. I do it all the time, "change the temperature to 68º". It's not really that hard.

Sounds like a tip from a hermit.

What about when people are in the car with you? Do you shhh your occupants' conversation when you want to speak a command to your car, or do you just speak over them?

Can you even speak commands to your car while in a call? Since my car is my office, hour long calls happen with absolute regularity. Am I supposed to not operate any system in my car until the call is over?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

Sounds like a tip from a hermit.

What about when people are in the car with you? Do you shhh your occupants' conversation when you want to speak a command to your car, or do you just speak over them?

Can you even speak commands to your car while in a call?

This. How do you tell two crying babies to be quiet when the BMW assistant can't hear you?

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by AP

Ergonomics again.
Try using this on a bumpy road
Current controller you can use without looking just by feel.

Why are Bmw going fir fashionable technology just because it is " trendy"
And " looks good"

Classic form before function again.

The consumer AV industry already went through this with control interfaces. At first everyone saw the capabilities in the blank canvas that is a touchscreen. Quickly people found the inherent ergonomic disadvantage of not being able to rest your fingers on say, the channel up/down button. It sucks to have to hover your finger and glance down every time you have to press on the screen. A hard control interface lets you glance only once, then you can rest your hand on the control and adjust as needed. In a moving, bumpy car not having a tactile input adds even more challenge.

There should be a mix of voice, touchscreen, and hard controllers. It's a balance.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Let's get it right. We already have touchscreen control. This conversation really is purely about removing the iDrive controller and 1-8 presets.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

Let's get it right. We already have touchscreen control. This conversation really is purely about removing the iDrive controller and 1-8 presets.

And the HVAC controls.

[sward]

Strange looking gear selector. And it has volume controls next to it.

[AP]

I would genuinely like to have a face to face chat with whoever is behind these implementations whether proposed or has actually occurred and see :-
What are they smoking?
What is the thought process behind this , why do they think that this is better than what went before

I'm not against change, it I am against unnecessary (and fashionable) change.

Just because something is technically possible, doesn't mean it needs to be adopted.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Smooth 330i

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...fety-concerns/

The NHTSA was looking into touch screens for similar reasons but it appears any regulatory moves have been suspended. Touchscreens are a huge money saver (Tesla *cough*) for automakers. I don't see the US making a move on this unilaterally especially when the domestic darling Tesla is just turning a profit.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

I wash my hands all the time

Still the screen ends up with prints. Go figure.

If your finger tips don't have any oils on them, you need to see a dermatologist. Fingerprints and smudges are normal, even after washing

[VChenz]

Originally Posted by keylime503

This already exists. It's called Apple Carplay or Android Auto

Sort of - those apps require your cell phone to be present/compatible/paired/plugged in/etc. What what I was trying to get at is the OEMs shouldn't bother with things that are already handled by those apps (And allow for more to be developed - like HVAC controls, seat controls, etc. as well as the base "operating system")

Point in case, the OEM's are trying to develop their own voice recognition software - they will never get to a place where Amazon/Google and at some levels Apple are at.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

The NHTSA was looking into touch screens for similar reasons but it appears any regulatory moves have been suspended. Touchscreens are a huge money saver (Tesla *cough*) for automakers. I don't see the US making a move on this unilaterally especially when the domestic darling Tesla is just turning a profit.

This is why I wouldn't get overly concerned about this popping up in entry level vehicles where margins are smaller and companies have to cut corners where they can to remain price competitive. If we see this layout in prototype 3 series or greater vehicles then people can start to panic.