2009 BMW M3: iDrive Isn't So Bad Anymore

How do you scroll through video menus without taking your eyes off the road?

What an amusing day. Chevrolet is ridiculed for the placement of the recirculate ac knob, but iDrive is a-ok!

I totally agree Ed. I used to erupt in a flurry of expletives at the mere thought of iDrive, but after using it pretty extensively in the new 7-Series I can tell you that it really isn't bad at all anymore.

Are we sure that as a collective group journalist and BMW owners aren't just getting used to it?

hallelujah finally... the COMAND system is a bigger pain in the ass than the iDrive IMHO. The navigation interface in my CLK63 is horrible.

The Dark Ages end, buying an iDrive BMW is no longer a 'hold your nose' operation. I've put it off for 5 years, now I can start looking again.

@thedream21479-

The COMAND system in your CLK63 is of the first generation variety and it really is a bear to get used to (my wife's E63 wagon utilizes the same system). However, I can assure you that COMAND 2.0 that is now making its way throughout the brand's entire lineup is one of the best in the business.

"Are we sure that as a collective group journalist and BMW owners aren't just getting used to it?"

@srlracing

iDrive was completely overhauled for the 2009 MY. It does not operate like the 1.0 version, so I'd say no. As a veteran iDrive user (since 2004) I can say the new system is vastly easier to use.

The biggest problem with iDrive 1.0 is the steep learning curve. It takes about a week to really get the hang of it, and nobody has the patience for that. Once you get to know it, you fly through the menus and it's pretty efficient. The 2.0 system is so much better because it betters the navigational efficiency of 1.0 but is much easier to navigate right away. The learning curve is probably 1-2 days, if that.

The biggest problem with iDrive 1.0 is that it was really poorly executed.

I brought home a new 328i with navigation last week. The learning curve wasn't even a day. I felt I'd mastered it before driving away from the dealer. In fact, I think that setting up a bluetooth connection to the phone, running an iPod, etc. would be much tougher through the standard stereo head unit.

My other car right now is an '04 Touareg with navigation. It works but I've had five years practice. I also spent a few weeks with the Mercedes system in a European C-class this summer. BMW's approach with the hard buttons definitely helps. I also prefer the round knob metaphor for inputing letters and numbers vs. having to scroll through horizontal lines of characters with VW and Mercedes.

And if all else fails, BMW's voice recognition system has been pretty full-proof as well.

2007 BMWs have really crappy iDrives. 5 and 7 series have different setup. In a 7, you have to push the knob in six different directions where as you don't have that in a 5. The worst part was that you can't easily change the AC mode. You can go in the menu and adjust how much ventilation your head/torso/feet get but there isn't one switch that will help you redirect the air flow. That really pissed me off big time. Another thing that pissed me off was the tire reset thing. Run flats suck ass and I kept on getting a warning sign saying my tire blew up (happens a lot when I go golfing with buddies with three sets of clubs squeezed in the trunk). Took me quiet awhile to find where the tire pressure reset function was because the menu set up was different from a 7 series.

How about a comparison between SYNC and iDrive? I know that iDrive has more functions, but it would be a fun comparison....$90,000 Bavarian vanity mirror vs a hard working Ford.

Did Micosoft design SYNC? I would hate to get one of those blue screen of death while I'm driving. I would say SYNC is better just because iDrive sucks hard but I would not want anything from Microsoft in my car.

idrive 1.0 was easy to use, imho. Just SLOOOOOOOOOW. iDrive 2.0 is easier still but like 1.0 using either system for navi is an exercise in patience. BMW has the worst entry system around.

^ Agreed

@blueguydotcom
Go look at a Mercedes Comand system, iDrive is simple compared to Comand, the graphics on the Mercedes look 10 years old.

The reason it's not bad to use anymore is that it has essentially nothing to do with the first iteration except the knob. Which is to say that its interface arguably has more in common with a clickwheel iPod than the first generation iDrive. It's so different that BMW should have taken the opportunity to change the name of the system in order to avoid the association with the truly wretched first-generation system.

However, I still prefer Cadillac's system where for most operations you can decide to use either the wheel or the screen, and that also leaves physical buttons for more commonly used features.

@jeepsrt-

Are you sure you aren't talking about 1st-generation COMAND (still used in the ML, GL, R, SLK, and SL as well as all early-mid 2000 sedans)? Because in that case the graphics literally are 10 years old. And I agree, that system was terrible.

@Mercedesfan, Yes I was comparing to the old Comand, my Parents have an '08 GL450 that they love but the Nav is just a joke. I didn't realize they had updated it.