[M8Bimmer]

As far as these screens across the whole dash goes......YACK !!!
F@#k are those ugly.
I want a real dash with a cover on it as we are used to. I don't mind a digital display but at least make it glare proof. No cover equals " GLARE "
I've seen this glare on dozens of test drive videos for various vehicles.
Glare. Making the screens very difficult to see.
I predict this design of flat coverless screens will go away. They look like shit on a blanket.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

As far as these screens across the whole dash goes......YACK !!!
F@#k are those ugly.
I want a real dash with a cover on it as we are used to. I don't mind a digital display but at least make it glare proof. No cover equals " GLARE "
I've seen this glare on dozens of test drive videos for various vehicles.
Glare. Making the screens very difficult to see.
I predict this design of flat coverless screens will go away. They look like shit on a blanket.

I do wish they would give them a more integrated look as opposed to just a screen on stilts sticking off the dash. I haven't had a glare problem with my iDrive screen now or in the few ID8 cars I've test drove. As much as I don't think I want one and want to keep my physical buttons, if you read the reviews of the people that have actually owned them for awhile they actually seem to not mind and like them.

[M8Bimmer]

Originally Posted by snareman

I do wish they would give them a more integrated look as opposed to just a screen on stilts sticking off the dash. I haven't had a glare problem with my iDrive screen now or in the few ID8 cars I've test drove. As much as I don't think I want one and want to keep my physical buttons, if you read the reviews of the people that have actually owned them for awhile they actually seem to not mind and like them.

I'm with you on the buttons thing too Snareman. Gimme real buttons. The screen button stuff can stay, but only if the physical buttons are there too. I like the center screens but only if they are covered.
In some of the video's I've seen the reviewer was pointing stuff out on the screen and the light was glaring it unreadable mostly. Some of the screen was clear but the parts getting direct sun was very hard to see.
Same with the angled center screens.
For me anyway that large uncovered screen is a deal breaker. I could not buy one of those designs.
So many times I've been excited to see this or that car and, boom, it has a flat screen uncovered. Interest drops to zero.
Some of the reviewers feel the same way as me. YUCK !

[snareman]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

I'm with you on the buttons thing too Snareman. Gimme real buttons. The screen button stuff can stay, but only if the physical buttons are there too. I like the center screens but only if they are covered.
In some of the video's I've seen the reviewer was pointing stuff out on the screen and the light was glaring it unreadable mostly. Some of the screen was clear but the parts getting direct sun was very hard to see.
Same with the angled center screens.
For me anyway that large uncovered screen is a deal breaker. I could not buy one of those designs.
So many times I've been excited to see this or that car and, boom, it has a flat screen uncovered. Interest drops to zero.
Some of the reviewers feel the same way as me. YUCK !

Oh, I'm not saying everyone is in love with it, just that many of the people that hate it are people like me who have really never actually used it for any extended period of time. I'm surprised several iterations, years and cars in that BMW hasn't improved the design to make it more integrated. I'll likely eventually get a new X3 and it seems that its the same design on the interior of that, to BMW isn't making much headway in improvements there.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by snareman

Oh, I'm not saying everyone is in love with it, just that many of the people that hate it are people like me who have really never actually used it for any extended period of time. I'm surprised several iterations, years and cars in that BMW hasn't improved the design to make it more integrated. I'll likely eventually get a new X3 and it seems that its the same design on the interior of that, to BMW isn't making much headway in improvements there.

Looks like EU regulations is pushing for real buttons for Climate and Audio as well as screen size maximums. I wonder if that will impact further development into their current designs??

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Looks like EU regulations is pushing for real buttons for Climate and Audio as well as screen size maximums. I wonder if that will impact further development into their current designs??

I saw that. Don't we also have the flat front bumpers because of EU pedestrian regulations?

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by snareman

I saw that. Don't we also have the flat front bumpers because of EU pedestrian regulations?

Yeah but they don't need the rear and we do. lol

[M8Bimmer]

Originally Posted by snareman

Oh, I'm not saying everyone is in love with it, just that many of the people that hate it are people like me who have really never actually used it for any extended period of time. I'm surprised several iterations, years and cars in that BMW hasn't improved the design to make it more integrated. I'll likely eventually get a new X3 and it seems that its the same design on the interior of that, to BMW isn't making much headway in improvements there.

On any of the new BMW's I've looked at if they have that screen only design I can't get past it. The MB lineup is going to the ugly screen thing as well.
So many brands are as you point out.
But then I also see some models in various lineups that are not going that route. Whew ! Almost like they deliberately refuse to follow the trend.
To me the big uncovered screens just don't cut the mustard...in any vehicle.
I predict they go away after a number of years.

[xmanpro]

I have the new iDrive action in my 24 x6mc and the lack of buttons is super annoying. I find myself putting my finger in the dash looking for buttons and presets that are not physically there. Happy that the m8 still has buttons.

Supposedly the in car computer is supposed to be able to control the majority of fictions via voice command but I haven’t tried any of that shit yet.

[ledphut]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

Supposedly the in car computer is supposed to be able to control the majority of fictions via voice command but I haven’t tried any of that shit yet.

Prepare to be extremely disappointed when you do try the voice command. I had a ‘24 760i for a couple weeks as a loaner and I swear the voice recognition is 10-steps backwards vs my current ‘22 XB7. The system requires absolute silence to even begin to work, and even then it only understood my simple requests for directions 10% of the time.

Hard pass on iDrive 8.5!

[snareman]

While you can "Hey BMW" a lot of things I want the instant gratification of pressing a button. I can put my X3 into sport mode with a button next to the shifter, but you have to look down and search for it every time. I can ask the car to do it, but the action time is slower than I'd want.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ledphut

Prepare to be extremely disappointed when you do try the voice command. I had a ‘24 760i for a couple weeks as a loaner and I swear the voice recognition is 10-steps backwards vs my current ‘22 XB7. The system requires absolute silence to even begin to work, and even then it only understood my simple requests for directions 10% of the time.

Hard pass on iDrive 8.5!

Odd, maybe something wrong with that car or it needs a software update. I have a 2024 530i and the voice input works fine. I will admit that the majority of the time I'm in Android Auto, but the few times I've used the built in Nav or other functions, they worked just fine.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by snareman

While you can "Hey BMW" a lot of things I want the instant gratification of pressing a button. I can put my X3 into sport mode with a button next to the shifter, but you have to look down and search for it every time. I can ask the car to do it, but the action time is slower than I'd want.

I do agree the continued loss of hard buttons for certain things, especially climate control, is a long term bad decision.

[ledphut]

Originally Posted by claykin

Odd, maybe something wrong with that car or it needs a software update. I have a 2024 530i and the voice input works fine. I will admit that the majority of the time I'm in Android Auto, but the few times I've used the built in Nav or other functions, they worked just fine.

I was attempting to use the built in Nav. Once I long-pressed for Carplay it did improve, but not drastically.

I think the majority of owners want their buttons back.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by claykin

Odd, maybe something wrong with that car or it needs a software update. I have a 2024 530i and the voice input works fine. I will admit that the majority of the time I'm in Android Auto, but the few times I've used the built in Nav or other functions, they worked just fine.

I'm always in AA as well. I think Waze navigation is far superior in appearance and everything else compared to the car's almost DOS looking nav in comparison. Both Waze and Google Maps have such a better appearance. However, iD8 and above have some cool features like augmented reality that I assume you lose out if you're using AA.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ledphut

I was attempting to use the built in Nav. Once I long-pressed for Carplay it did improve, but not drastically.

I think the majority of owners want their buttons back.

I'm going to suggest that 7 series loaner had an issue

[ledphut]

Maybe so, but the iX I had prior was experiencing the same issues. There’s a chance it was because the eSim wasn’t activated? In any case, I was happy to get back into my button laden XB7.

[M8Bimmer]

I don't need no Etch-A-Sketch dash in my baby.

[edit]

Hello guys,
In a few months I will be in the market for a new car. Wanted to order the new 540xi but unfortunately this engine will not be available for the 5 series in the European Union.
So, it leaves me with the option of 840xi GC as the corporate discounts are huge here (25%) for such an old car in the BMW lineup.

Actually I will need the car in March next year and at that moment 8 series will be the oldest car BMW will have it in production.
I was one of the first people having the 5 series g30 since march 2017 (I replaced that 5 series in March 2021) and ordering now an 8 series seems to me as going back in time.
So at the moment of the delivery, 8 series will be the last one in the BMW range with iDrive7. I'm pissed off also because the 40i engine is also the old version of the engine and not the new one with 381HP+mild hybrid.

8 series is a fantastic beautiful car, but still doesnt feel right to me to order such an old design, old tech, old powertrain...it is giving me the feeling that I will buy an used Bmw, not a new one.
I'm not one of the people who loves the new design language of BMW, but still...

What is your opinion, am I wrong?

[Carlito_UK]

Originally Posted by edit

Hello guys,
In a few months I will be in the market for a new car. Wanted to order the new 540xi but unfortunately this engine will not be available for the 5 series in the European Union.
So, it leaves me with the option of 840xi GC as the corporate discounts are huge here (25%) for such an old car in the BMW lineup.

Actually I will need the car in March next year and at that moment 8 series will be the oldest car BMW will have it in production.
I was one of the first people having the 5 series g30 since march 2017 (I replaced that 5 series in March 2021) and ordering now an 8 series seems to me as going back in time.
So at the moment of the delivery, 8 series will be the last one in the BMW range with iDrive7. I'm pissed off also because the 40i engine is also the old version of the engine and not the new one with 381HP+mild hybrid.

8 series is a fantastic beautiful car, but still doesnt feel right to me to order such an old design, old tech, old powertrain...it is giving me the feeling that I will buy an used Bmw, not a new one.
I'm not one of the people who loves the new design language of BMW, but still...

What is your opinion, am I wrong?

Drive the car, like the car, buy it.
Drive the car, don't like the car, don't buy it.

If it doesn't feel right to you don't buy it. Doesn't matter whether you get the latest at some point it will be outdated. The 8 series for me is that last car's car if that makes any sense. Everything else is starting to feel like an apple phone with an engine or electric motor.

[snareman]

It may be the oldest car the lineup but I think it's the best looking. And if a V8 is old tech I will happily take it over an electric vehicle.

[edit]

The same felling here, no way to think electrics.

Unfortunately no V8 accesibility for me, so I need to stick with L6, 40xi.
As previous mentioned, I'm so dissapointed that when the facelift popped up, they didn't upgraded to the new engine of 381Hp.
The 40xi 8 series still have the old 333HP engine and that is at the bottom limit.
The 381HP engine could give me more happines.
This is the main dissapointment for me, because it looks like BMW kept the 8 series as NOT update at all.

I could have this engine today without problems if I had this car since 2-3 years ago, but ordering in 2024 with delivery in 2025 and to fit a 7 years old engine sems not respectfull.