[LuckyW]

BMW is shipping new cars with its infotainment system, like normal, except several models won’t have touchscreen functionality, according to reports. Instead, you’ll have to use BMW’s iDrive control in the center console. The horror!


Certain models are going to lose their touchscreen functionality to save silicon and allow BMW to maintain its current production levels. The news broke on the Bimmerfest forum.

The following models are going to be shipped without touchscreen functionality.

BMW 3 Series
BMW 4 Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe (excluding the i4)
BMW X5
BMW X6
BMW X7
BMW Z4


Autoblog also says that customers will get a $500 credit instead of the functionality, which really may be a blessing in disguise for everyone involved, given that touchscreens in cars are generally bad and useless, or at least I have never encountered one that wasn’t, if it can be controlled any other way. And I do mean the touchscreen functionality, specifically, given that the screens in modern cars are often sort of far away and small and the touchscreen experience isn’t how you might imagine it. Which is to say that it isn’t at all like using an iPad. It is like using an iPad but 100 times clunkier, even if it looks cool momentarily while the salesperson fiddles around with it at the dealer.

[claykin]

Fortunately the G30 is unaffected, at this time.

The iDrive controller is perfectly fine to control many screens in the GUI. However iDrive 7 has some screens where a quick tap is far simpler than a twirl, flick and push of a controller. Specifically when using Carplay or AA.

That said, the loss of touchscreen is only part of the story. For the affected models anyone who orders Park Assist Plus will also lose the Backup Assistant.

The true horror is for BMW parts procurement staff and BMW engineering who love to customize parts, connectors, etc. just for the sake of forcing people to buy replacement components through the BMW ecosystem. Now, it's biting them in the backside. BTW, I'm in no way picking on BMW. It's an auto industry problem that needs to be addressed.

[nicky dj]

For Apple Car Play users this will be a travesty.

[TacticalGunnarM550]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

For Apple Car Play users this will be a travesty.

I honestly hate touch screen.. i can't stand fingerprints on it lol i always use the dial.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by TacticalGunnarM550

I honestly hate touch screen.. i can't stand fingerprints on it lol i always use the dial.

I still haven't remove the protective film over the screen lol. I almost never use the touch screen and I use Waze and SoundCloud all the time but that's pretty much it for apps. That and maybe reading/replying to text messages. The only time I ever touch the screen is to Stop a Waze route.

[G07xG80]

This has been posted for weeks.. also the 5 series is unaffected so why even post this here and potentially confuse people

[Sxs1687]

Originally Posted by TacticalGunnarM550

I honestly hate touch screen.. i can't stand fingerprints on it lol i always use the dial.

haha same. I actually forgit it was a touchscreen until I saw this thread.

[DNYC1919]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

For Apple Car Play users this will be a travesty.

So there are couple reasons that I do like touch screen. The main one which may be minor but helpful for me, is when I use google maps on regular routes to see the traffic situation there are a couple of areas on the highway that I can get off an exit and go around the slight traffic build up. When in those approaching areas I move the Navi screen with my hand to view a little further down the highway to see if there is any upcoming traffic build up. Google maps is usually on point with the red/yellow traffic build up so it's been good in those situations.

[ejlover06]

Except activating split screen and input something on keyboard I never used touch screen on iD6.

[Joe-BMW33]

Ditto on Apple Carplay, this totally sucks. I am fairly certain Apple Carplay equipped cars from all manufacturers have always had touchscreens. They kind of go together. It would be like an iPhone without a touchscreen.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Ditto on Apple Carplay, this totally sucks. I am fairly certain Apple Carplay equipped cars from all manufacturers have always had touchscreens. They kind of go together. It would be like an iPhone without a touchscreen.

The way things are headed, the iPhone 14 might have no touch, but will come with an iDrive controller.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by claykin

Fortunately the G30 is unaffected, at this time.

The iDrive controller is perfectly fine to control many screens in the GUI. However iDrive 7 has some screens where a quick tap is far simpler than a twirl, flick and push of a controller. Specifically when using Carplay or AA.

That said, the loss of touchscreen is only part of the story. For the affected models anyone who orders Park Assist Plus will also lose the Backup Assistant.

The true horror is for BMW parts procurement staff and BMW engineering who love to customize parts, connectors, etc. just for the sake of forcing people to buy replacement components through the BMW ecosystem. Now, it's biting them in the backside. BTW, I'm in no way picking on BMW. It's an auto industry problem that needs to be addressed.

BMW has done better selling cars than its major competitors (MB, Audi, etc.). It has done so by making various prioritization decisions. While I don't always agree with those decisions, I must admit that it has enabled BMW to continue to make and produce cars at a greater pace than its competitors.

These are difficult times to buy (or sell) a new car.

[PterionCrusher]

Disappointing.
No other way to describe the pull back of features by luxury manufacturers.

[ZulaM5]

Only 30% of people use the touchscreen.

I don't want my screen with finger prints all over it. My hand is usually down by the shifter/idrive controller anyways.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by ZulaM5

Only 30% of people use the touchscreen.

I don't want my screen with finger prints all over it. My hand is usually down by the shifter/idrive controller anyways.

Do you have some kind of data on this or a link to a study? 30% seems low. Remember the majority of the owners of BMWs aren't anal retentive OCD Bimmerpost members. They buy them, drive them and touch the screen like they are supposed to.

[ZulaM5]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Do you have some kind of data on this or a link to a study? 30% seems low. Remember the majority of the owners of BMWs aren't anal retentive OCD Bimmerpost members. They buy them, drive them and touch the screen like they are supposed to.

BMW's Data. No link, sorry.

You'd be surprised how many owner's don't even know they have a touch screen.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ZulaM5

Only 30% of people use the touchscreen.

I don't want my screen with finger prints all over it. My hand is usually down by the shifter/idrive controller anyways.

Stop eating French fries while driving.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ZulaM5

BMW's Data. No link, sorry.

You'd be surprised how many owner's don't even know they have a touch screen.

BMW data now that they have to create excuses for loss of touchscreen?

Every enthusiast knows iDrive supports touch. Nearly every consumer does as well. If you ever watch a genius teach a new customer, they do most teaching via touch. It's just quicker and faster.... I've watched several car deliveries and I always see the trainers jump right to touching the screen. And, I bet Geniuses likely received a memo asking them to train more exclusively using the controller. Lol

Many dealers leave the protective film on the iDrive screen and wait for customers to remove it once training is complete. I left mine on for weeks.

We have to get back to what really matters, which is - how inconvenient is a non touch iDrive for most drivers? I say it's not terribly inconvenient, but there are screens such as Carplay and AA which now become a royal pain to use efficiently.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by claykin

We have to get back to what really matters, which is - how inconvenient is a non touch iDrive for most drivers? I say it's not terribly inconvenient, but there are screens such as Carplay and AA which now become a royal pain to use efficiently.

It would be very inconvenient. I pretty much live in Apple Carplay and it was designed with touchscreen in mind. I can't imagine having no touchscreen and having to follow that blue box cursor around.

We are really only talking about entertainment here. I mean what do you actually use the screen for on a regular basis while driving etc.? I never touch the screen to go into car or ID settings. It's usually done while stopped or parked all with the wheel. Basically, the real inconvenience is with Apple Carplay or AA. That's huge to me.

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

It would be very inconvenient. I pretty much live in Apple Carplay and it was designed with touchscreen in mind. I can't imagine having no touchscreen and having to follow that blue box cursor around.

We are really only talking about entertainment here. I mean what do you actually use the screen for on a regular basis while driving etc.? I never touch the screen to go into car or ID settings. It's usually done while stopped or parked all with the wheel. Basically, the real inconvenience is with Apple Carplay or AA. That's huge to me.

Not having a touchscreen would be a deal killer… I don't understand how people can use CarPlay and not use the touchscreen it's so much more intuitive.

[ZulaM5]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I pretty much live in Apple Carplay and it was designed with touchscreen in mind.

The first BMWs that had carplay did not have touchscreen.