[stormchaser]

I own a 23 530I and have rented nearly every BMW, Audi, and VW in the past twenty years (World Travel). I wouldn't say I like the industry trend of screen-centric cars. Tesla might be the worst example, or perhaps the first-generation ID cars from VW. If you google the topic, it appears that car manufacturers are listening to criticism and bringing back knobs. Screen-centric vehicles are far less expensive to make. The G30 is one of the nicest cockpits of any car I own.
Regarding simplicity, my 3 VW Sport Wagons and even the 24 JETTA are the most straightforward (3 big round nobs for AC/HEAT, Blower, etc. Hyundai and Kia, I believe, also kept knobs. It is simply not safe to have to tap on two ikons or tap tap tap (Mercedes) with hepatic buttons (VW is getting rid of hepatics on the GTI). I wouldn't say I like voice commands; they take the fun and control out of driving and are slower. ECO/SPORT, Comfort should be easily accessible buttons also. DOES ANYONE AGREE OR DISAGREE? IS BMW LISTENING? If I post this on the G60 forum, I wonder how many would disagree since they own a screen-centric car, but BMW has done a better job than most! I heard Tesla wipers are on the screen, or is it the steering wheel? The EU has mandated buttons come back in 25 to fulfill NCAP safety ratings if manufacturers want a high score. I support this.

[adhrp]

I think safe to say most of us here don't. Absolutely not on my end. One of the big reasons why I bought 2020 and 2021 BMWs once I started seeing the trend. Set with proper physical buttons for years to come. Still miss the center hot/cold air dial on the dash that I had on my F30...

[ab1752]

No. Not at all.

[tsbrown]

Really dislike the touch screen only “button” controls. As you say, the G30 controls are nearly ideal. It’s even better than the up/down toggle controls on our ‘22 X3, which are the same climate controls as the 8 series. I don’t see how that’s more luxurious and worth the $20k premium. I’m keeping my G30 as long as I can, or trading for a newer M550i and a lot of that is down to the dash controls.

[HerkHealer]

It's crazy to me Police can pull you over and write tickets for talking on your phone, but it's ok to stare at a screen for several seconds trying to adjust your A/C or radio.

[Chappers 71]

I like a nice knob

I also prefer the ‘old skool’ dials. Am not keen on the later G3x digital dash, for me dials & gauges should be round

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

…for me dials & gauges should be round

I’m all in on this. I totally dislike the new digital (overly busy) instrument clusters which remind me of the 1980s. Hopefully the traditional round gauges will return or at least engineer/design an option to have the cluster appear to have round gauges.

Digital cluster from the 1984-89 Corvette:

[ab1752]

I was in a buddy's SQ7 the other day. Nice rig but there is literally one stranded knob in the entire console/ dash. At least it's for volume bit I'd go crazy with all the finger prints and Oops wait til you spill your latte and watch the sparks fly.

[Chappers 71]

I really dislike the touch screen in my Discovery, I find that I’m looking where my fingers going as well as trying to read the screen & look where I’m going all at the same time.
Whereas with my G31 & my previous e92 I don’t need to look at what my fingers are doing on the I drive controller & can read the screen as well as being able to watch the road ahead

[Gautam]

I don't really care after having an iX loaner. I mostly rely on the HUD and rarely change temperature. The menus were a little annoying to navigate for the first couple of days. If I had to choose, I'd pick iDrive 7 over it, but the amount of hubbub around the screens feels like much ado about nothing. It's a thing off to the side. Yeah its an obvious cost-cutting measure, but how the car feels to drive matters a lot more. I just need the infotainment to show me my directions and play the podcast or music I want.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I’m all in on this. I totally dislike the new digital (overly busy) instrument clusters which remind me of the 1980s. Hopefully the traditional round gauges will return or at least engineer/design an option to have the cluster appear to have round gauges.

Digital cluster from the 1984-89 Corvette:

Ditto. The whole idea of a simple dial instrument cluster is that you can see where the needle is on the dial with peripheral vision and keep your eyes on the road. HUD helps with this but speed is digital so you actually have to look at the number to see how fast you’re going.

[G30M]

nope. that's why this is my last BMW

[AP]

No I don’t like this trend either
As far as bmw is concerned, anything idrive 8 or later is a turn off for me
So as things stand, my 2023 m550 I anticipate will be my last car .

Touch screens are gimmicky, it’s portrayed as “modern” but a classic case of form before function

My osd kicks in as regards finger prints aswell

I visited the IAA in Munich last year where along with bmw there were a load of manucafuters showing off their latest cars. These iPads slapped on a dash board approach was prevelant. What amused me was that each stabd had someone running round continually wiping these screens to clean off the finger prints. It just looked horrendous

As mentioned earlier it’s a potential danger as you have to look at the screen while driving

Touch screen may be ok when stationary but it certainly has no place whilst the car is moving

The g30 was starting to breach the divide between conventional button and knobs and touch screens
I operate mine exclusively using the idrive controller . But the 4 zone climate control is touch screen and I feel the pre LCI 2 zone I had previously was better
Gesture control. Well another gimmick that’s not effective
Voice control has its place and I use mine for certain functions.

I think Euroncap will be marking down cars from next year where common functions are not a knob or button so I think this silliness is recognised but I’m not convinced we’ll see a reversal of this trend as it’s got to be cheaper for the manufacturers.

[Dephead2004]

Anyone tried operating a touchscreen with gloves on?

Didn't think so.

Solution is to remove gloves with teeth. Another dodgy step

Shake gloves off. See last step

Buy special constructive fingertip gloves from abroad. Not usually nice leather. Made from old tyres.

Don't wear gloves. Get cold hands

Get heated steering wheel then only top half of hands get cold.

[Johnny Grabble]

Originally Posted by G30M

nope. that's why this is my last BMW

Same here...

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Ditto. The whole idea of a simple dial instrument cluster is that you can see where the needle is on the dial with peripheral vision and keep your eyes on the road. HUD helps with this but speed is digital so you actually have to look at the number to see how fast you’re going.

Ditto, ditto.

One of the reasons I prefer idrive 6 is the round, traditional dials. On my idrive 7 X5, I feel like I’m driving an arcade game. There so much shit going on with the clusters with hockey stick meters everywhere.

[Warp Ten]

Originally Posted by G30M

nope. that's why this is my last BMW

I, too, hate the big touchscreens and really like the iDrive interface of my 2019 540xi. Others are right that they are probably here to stay due to lower costs but hopefully the government will wake up and limit these, although I am not holding my breath. So I would modify your statement to say, "That's why this is my last new BMW". My 2019 has only 23,000 miles on it and I plan to keep it a long time. It may even outlive me. But if not, I will find an old, low mileage 2019-2020 G30 and soldier on. Maybe next time it will even be an M550xi. --Bob

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

I, too, hate the big touchscreens and really like the iDrive interface of my 2019 540xi. Others are right that they are probably here to stay due to lower costs but hopefully the government will wake up and limit these, although I am not holding my breath. So I would modify your statement to say, "That's why this is my last new BMW". My 2019 has only 23,000 miles on it and I plan to keep it a long time. It may even outlive me. But if not, I will find an old, low mileage 2019-2020 G30 and soldier on. Maybe next time it will even be an M550xi. —Bob

That's the spirit, Bob!

[stormchaser]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I’m all in on this. I totally dislike the new digital (overly busy) instrument clusters which remind me of the 1980s. Hopefully the traditional round gauges will return or at least engineer/design an option to have the cluster appear to have round gauges.

Digital cluster from the 1984-89 Corvette:

The real issue is that these engineers are all young and experts in IPADS and other screen tech. No clue from a driver perspective.

[Warp Ten]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

The real issue is that these engineers are all young and experts in IPADS and other screen tech. No clue from a driver perspective.

Especially from an old driver perspective! --Bob

[stryder011]

Dislike it very much. Recently had the i4M as a loaner and just basic stuff like getting the seat warmers or setting temp was just so non-intuitive and distracting.

Even on my 2021 m550i; it there was 1 thing I could change it would be the instrument cluster. Wish there was a way to get the analog or even digital but round gauges back.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by stryder011

Dislike it very much. Recently had the i4M as a loaner and just basic stuff like getting the seat warmers or setting temp was just so non-intuitive and distracting.

Even on my 2021 m550i; it there was 1 thing I could change it would be the instrument cluster. Wish there was a way to get the analog or even digital but round gauges back.

I had an i4 loaner last week. Like you said, nothing is intuitive. I had the car for 3 days and could never find the basic things like how to read my texts. Everything seems to be menu-driven. The iDrive is very distracting being menu-driven. I just gave-up on most things.