The BMW Thread

[Eric]

This is disappointing to say the least, the tactile wheel is one of the best features of the car and the main reason I wanted to go back to it. The Tesla really turned me off to the touch screen experience and it seems like several other automakers have listened to consumers and are reverting to buttons. Hopefully BMW will follow suit.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a63353043/bmw-kills-the-idrive-knob/

 

[Cmaier]

This is disappointing to say the least, the tactile wheel is one of the best features of the car and the main reason I wanted to go back to it. The Tesla really turned me off to the touch screen experience and it seems like several other automakers have listened to consumers and are reverting to buttons. Hopefully BMW will follow suit.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a63353043/bmw-kills-the-idrive-knob/

Oof. Bad news. It’s funny, despite years of driving BMWs, my wife seems to only use the touchscreen on her i4. When I am sitting in the car with her and need to adjust the air or whatever, I use the knob with my left hand. I guess we’re uncool old fossils.

The good news is that BMW has lots of buttons around even if you remove the knob. Hopefully they include dedicated buttons for things like air, radio, etc. for those who don’t want to use the screen. I’ll miss the knob, though.

 

[Eric]

Oof. Bad news. It’s funny, despite years of driving BMWs, my wife seems to only use the touchscreen on her i4. When I am sitting in the car with her and need to adjust the air or whatever, I use the knob with my left hand. I guess we’re uncool old fossils.

The good news is that BMW has lots of buttons around even if you remove the knob. Hopefully they include dedicated buttons for things like air, radio, etc. for those who don’t want to use the screen. I’ll miss the knob, though.

I'll be opting out and am bummed over it but it is what it is.

My next car will look like this.

 

[Cmaier]

I'll be opting out and am bummed over it but it is what it is.

My next car will look like this.

oof. Flashbacks to my hand-me-down bonneville

 

[Yoused]

I am still slightly intrigued by the Olympian 01, which you cannot get, yet, is not particularly attractive to look at and and seems a bit overpriced for a 300-mile car. But, the cockpit looks darn nice.

 

[rdrr]

I am still slightly intrigued by the Olympian 01, which you cannot get, yet, is not particularly attractive to look at and and seems a bit overpriced for a 300-mile car. But, the cockpit looks darn nice.

That looks like a VW bug had angry sex with a Porsche 911

 

[Yoused]

That looks like a VW bug had angry sex with a Porsche 911

The first impression is that it is a Mini Cooper with cancer of the neurofibromatosis, but it is actually a little longer than my Ariya and just as wide, and my Ariya is a non-small vehicle.

 

[DT]

I've found myself using mostly using the touch screen. Like I know I can scroll through lists - and probably more efficiently - via the knob, but so many years of using touch screen devices, I just sort of naturally swipe the display.

Like I occasionally use the knob, since we paid for it

 

[Eric]

I've found myself using mostly using the touch screen. Like I know I can scroll through lists - and probably more efficiently - via the knob, but so many years of using touch screen devices, I just sort of naturally swipe the display.

Like I occasionally use the knob, since we paid for it

Fair enough, with my shaky fingers it can be a challenge sometimes but much less so in the BMW because I don't have to use it as much. In the Tesla I would regularly hit wrong buttons trying to navigate around.

 

[DT]

Fair enough, with my shaky fingers it can be a challenge sometimes but much less so in the BMW because I don't have to use it as much. In the Tesla I would regularly hit wrong buttons trying to navigate around.

Like the knob is better for many interactions, hahaha, I've just got touchscreenitus The other day, I was sitting with one of our MBs on the sofa, showed the wife something, reached up to touch ... the ... oh yeah ...

Bonus knob perk: less fingerprints on the display

Did you know the knob itself is a touch surface? I forgot the few places where it does something, native maps, and maybe some text input using the weird alpha-dial[?]

 

[Cmaier]

Argh. My iX order was supposed to go in, but the dealer hasn’t gotten a july allotment because BMW is cutting back production on iX and i4 (presumably because of Trump’s tariffs). So, for now, I have to wait.

 

[DT]

Argh. My iX order was supposed to go in, but the dealer hasn’t gotten a july allotment because BMW is cutting back production on iX and i4 (presumably because of Trump’s tariffs). So, for now, I have to wait.

I was wondering about your order status.

This "pre-review" of the upcoming BMW iX3 (based on the new NK platform) sounds fantastic!

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/ix3-prototype/first-drive

Several other sites reporting the same driving experience (MT, C&D, R&T, etc)

This is pretty compelling:

The one we're driving is the iX3 50 xDrive. It has 407bhp between its front and rear motors, and a total of 442lb ft. That's good for a sub-5.0 second 0-62mph time, says BMW. The WLTP efficiency is 4.1m/kWh.

Energy comes from new cells in a new battery structure. It runs at 800 volts to save more weight, and charge faster. The motors and inverters are new. Everything's optimised for efficiency, and the result is that 500 mile WLTP figure, or 400 in the more realistic US EPA test.

Right, but this is the future of BMW. How does it drive?

Like a real BMW ought to. Not like a bulky EV crossover, or soulless digital-first zombiemobile. Cornering and ride match a particularly well set-up AWD 3 Series. But the powertrain is vastly smoother and more responsive.

It's relaxed when the going's easy. It holds true to a straight line and peels into curves with an intuitive weight and gearing to the steering, brakes and accelerator pedal.

A lot of talk about the driving experience, and also how it's like an X3 on the outside dimensions but as roomy as an X5 on the interior. Rumor / speculation there will be an iX3 M60 with a lot more power, that might be our jam.

 

[Cmaier]

I was wondering about your order status.

This "pre-review" of the upcoming BMW iX3 (based on the new NK platform) sounds fantastic!

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/ix3-prototype/first-drive

Several other sites reporting the same driving experience (MT, C&D, R&T, etc)

This is pretty compelling:



A lot of talk about the driving experience, and also how it's like an X3 on the outside dimensions but as roomy as an X5 on the interior. Rumor / speculation there will be an iX3 M60 with a lot more power, that might be our jam.

yeah, if it becomes possible to order an ix3 before I can order an ix, i might have to switch to that. But for now I just wait, I guess. Dealer’s had my deposit for months, and I’m tempted to ask for it back just to be difficult.

 

[DT]

A lot of talk about the driving experience, and also how it's like an X3 on the outside dimensions but as roomy as an X5 on the interior. Rumor / speculation there will be an iX3 M60 with a lot more power, that might be our jam.

Oh wow, apparently there will be an M70 flavor, things are going to be exciting when our new purchase cycle comes up!

yeah, if it becomes possible to order an ix3 before I can order an ix, i might have to switch to that. But for now I just wait, I guess. Dealer’s had my deposit for months, and I’m tempted to ask for it back just to be difficult.

Dang, I'm glad we had a lot of "on lot" options (one of which was perfect) and just went through a broker, we had like 10 minutes of dealer interaction.

 

[Eric]

My wife ended up getting a 2025 X5 (gas powered) and this one has all the bells and whistles, the assisted driving plus is pretty awesome. It also plays big brother like the Tesla but is far less intrusive, the steering isn't rigid and it feels a lot more natural.

The overall drive of the car is really smooth and comfortable as well so I'll be using it more of the time for my SF trips while keeping the i4 more for around town stuff.

 

[DT]

My wife ended up getting a 2025 X5 (gas powered) and this one has all the bells and whistles, the assisted driving plus is pretty awesome. It also plays big brother like the Tesla but is far less intrusive, the steering isn't rigid and it feels a lot more natural.

The overall drive of the car is really smooth and comfortable as well so I'll be using it more of the time for my SF trips while keeping the i4 more for around town stuff.

Oh nice, the X5 is so good, it would be easy decision for us to get another one, it's like the default in a case statement Any factors X/Y/Z makes an EV not make sense, we're on to an X5. I'm always doing configs on the BMW site, this (M60i) was my last one ...

 

[Eric]

Oh nice, the X5 is so good, it would be easy decision for us to get another one, it's like the default in a case statement Any factors X/Y/Z makes an EV not make sense, we're on to an X5. I'm always doing configs on the BMW site, this (M60i) was my last one ...

View attachment 35590

Nice! I'm going to start diving into the world of filming my car, sort of like travel/comercial vibe. I've got all the right camera gear and the new X5 will be my first subject.

 

[DT]

Was it delivered already? If so SHAME FOR NO PICS

 

[Eric]

Was it delivered already? If so SHAME FOR NO PICS

Oh shit I'll get on that.