"Features" on new cars are out of control

Eric

Eric

Mama's lil stinker
Joined
Aug 10, 2020
Posts
14,910
Solutions
18
Main Camera
Sony
Great example. They're all getting way too over complicated.

 
Ha!

That's a poor design though, it's so easy to add a proper physical keylock as a backup. Our iX is pretty sophisticated with CarKey, app based lock control, NFC ... but press the little plastic cover inside the exterior door handles and that opens to reveal a regular ol' keylock (and the key is in the fob - and properly cut :D ).
 
My car has the annoying classical doors that require just the right amount of force to close. They slam shut just fine but if you use just too little force, they only semi-latch. I am sure there is some middle ground between classic and too fancy. I envision a hinge that has a drop-track in it that would just pull the door in from almost closed and the track would be vertical for the last quarter inch to hold the door closed. There would be no need for any kind of latching hardware on the back.
 
DT said:
Ha!

That's a poor design though, it's so easy to add a proper physical keylock as a backup. Our iX is pretty sophisticated with CarKey, app based lock control, NFC ... but press the little plastic cover inside the exterior door handles and that opens to reveal a regular ol' keylock (and the key is in the fob - and properly cut :D ).
Click to expand...
IMO any touchscreen that relies on a multi-tiered menu system is overly complicated for basic functions. Long gone are the days of pressing a simple button or turning a dial, doing away with the iDrive system is almost criminal as it was so well designed and functional. The biggest feature is the ability to access and change things by feel, never having to take your eyes off the road or tap an onscreen item with a shaky finger at 70 MPH.

Anyone remember the coffee cup holder that you just pushed in and it elegantly eased it's way out and worked great? I've always loved how they've engineered their cars.
 
I didn’t even know this about my iX until my wife told me.

 
Opposite problem: I just rented a Kia. Got in and couldn’t find the push button, then realized I had to flip the key out of the fob and start it the old fashioned way.

After reaching my first destination I left the key in the car because I’ve become so accustomed to having it in my pocket.
 
Cmaier said:
I didn’t even know this about my iX until my wife told me.
Click to expand...

Hahaha, yes, it's so secret! And what a great use of the badge (the rear badge is the rear camera cleaner):

 
Eric said:
IMO any touchscreen that relies on a multi-tiered menu system is overly complicated for basic functions. Long gone are the days of pressing a simple button or turning a dial, doing away with the iDrive system is almost criminal as it was so well designed and functional. The biggest feature is the ability to access and change things by feel, never having to take your eyes off the road or tap an onscreen item with a shaky finger at 70 MPH.

Anyone remember the coffee cup holder that you just pushed in and it elegantly eased it's way out and worked great? I've always loved how they've engineered their cars.
Click to expand...

Oh, I agree (that Mach-E key thing is it's own dumb :D)

Like I feel like the sort of minimum, physical controls, without wading into a screen based menu system should be:

Windows, door locks, rear hatch
Steering wheel (if not manual)
Seats
AC (both basic fan/mode controls and vents - f*** me did I hate the screen based vents on the Tesla ...)
Cruise/ADAS
Media, i.e., tracks, volume/mute

I feel like BMW gets a good bit of this right with the current cars, but the NK may greatly reduce a bunch of it (as in, migrate it to display controls)

That being said, if I can get an iX3 M60 with 600HP, and optional air suspension, I'll adjust my seats, wheel, and AC on a screen :D
 
Eric said:
Anyone remember the coffee cup holder that you just pushed in and it elegantly eased it's way out and worked great? I've always loved how they've engineered their cars.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it was for coffee cups, but we had a BMW 740i that had this pop-out cup (no a can holder) in front of the gear shift. Ok, so in the 80's into the early 90's BMW didn't understand the American culture of drinks in cars. So this thing popped out and you could put 2 12 oz cans in it. The problem was it was located right in front of the air sensor for the Automatic HVAC. So put a cold can there and the car thought it was cold, so on came the heat. In the summer. :oops:

Our dealer once told us a story about how BMW finally figured out American's desire to eat and drink in their cars. Some BMW execs from Germany were at the HQ in NJ and on the freeway saw a motorcycle with a large cup holder with a large drink in it. Supposedly that is what got them on board with real cup holders.
 
Herdfan said:
I don't know if it was for coffee cups, but we had a BMW 740i that had this pop-out cup (no a can holder) in front of the gear shift. Ok, so in the 80's into the early 90's BMW didn't understand the American culture of drinks in cars. So this thing popped out and you could put 2 12 oz cans in it. The problem was it was located right in front of the air sensor for the Automatic HVAC. So put a cold can there and the car thought it was cold, so on came the heat. In the summer. :oops:

Our dealer once told us a story about how BMW finally figured out American's desire to eat and drink in their cars. Some BMW execs from Germany were at the HQ in NJ and on the freeway saw a motorcycle with a large cup holder with a large drink in it. Supposedly that is what got them on board with real cup holders.
Click to expand...
You all with your fancy 740s and iXs are too rich for my blood, I've always drove the hooptyville models, last one was a 5 series and it was just a basic pop out, like a CD Rom drive tray but wasn't place in front of any vents that I recall.
 
Out of curiosity if the 12V battery dies in a BMW EV, how do you get the main contactors to engage the traction battery?

EDIT: I am not a fan of having to find a VIN just to look at an owners manual...

EDIT 2: Oh wow BMW doesn't tell you how to jump the 12V (at least not in an i7). Or even where the 12V battery is located.
 
Last edited:
diamond.g said:
Out of curiosity if the 12V battery dies in a BMW EV, how do you get the main contactors to engage the traction battery?

EDIT: I am not a fan of having to find a VIN just to look at an owners manual...

EDIT 2: Oh wow BMW doesn't tell you how to jump the 12V (at least not in an i7). Or even where the 12V battery is located.
Click to expand...
Eh. On my Tesla, the Tesla rangers had to
Come out and disassemble half the car to replace the 12v. Took them hours. My dashboard was sitting on my driveway while they were doing it.
 
Cmaier said:
Eh. On my Tesla, the Tesla rangers had to
Come out and disassemble half the car to replace the 12v. Took them hours. My dashboard was sitting on my driveway while they were doing it.
Click to expand...
They did make it better for the early 3 and Y's. Now it isn't supposed to be a consumption item (they switch the 12V to LFP). I would have thought all the car makers would have similar instructions, I didn't expect BMW to basically not tell you anything (again at least for the i7).


I will agree though, if you don't have frameless windows (or doors that open when you walk up to them like Rolls Royce) there is no point in electronic latches.
 
Speaking of BMW’s physical controls, my new car’s left turn signal stalk now doesn’t snap back automatically after a turn, which is really annoying! Grrr. No time to take it in for something so silly.
 
diamond.g said:
I thought they were stateless stalks?
Click to expand...
It “clicks” after completing a left turn, but the stalk never returns to center. It may be related to the self-driving features (where when you lane change, it will on it’s own return the stalk to center when done) and I suppose could be a software issue. But I’ll have to do some experiments. In any event, who wants to lose a car for a day and spend more than an hour of time dealing with something so silly? For now on I’ll only make right turns! Like a UPS truck!
 
Cmaier said:
It “clicks” after completing a left turn, but the stalk never returns to center. It may be related to the self-driving features (where when you lane change, it will on it’s own return the stalk to center when done) and I suppose could be a software issue. But I’ll have to do some experiments. In any event, who wants to lose a car for a day and spend more than an hour of time dealing with something so silly? For now on I’ll only make right turns! Like a UPS truck!
Click to expand...
Right, both our 2026 X5 and i4 click as well.
 
Back
Top