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      04-29-2008, 10:44 PM   #5
fq1
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Drives: 545i, 325i, X3 3.0
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: US

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Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasBeemer View Post
* The i-drive is really a convoluted non user-friendly device. It's about as bad as all the car magazines describe, but I've already pretty much figured most things out. Non intuitive, and not nearly as functional as what I had in my Infiniti. Like other users, I'm sure this will be a non-issue for me later on, but unfortunately electronic technology and human factors is not where the Germans excel.
Congrats on what appears to be a great vehicle! Please post some pics.

I would totally disagree with you on iDrive operation friendliness though. I have not used the current X5/X6 iDrive but have used it on E60s and E65s and had none of the learning curve issues that you (and most American journalists) mention. On my 02 745, the salesman did not have to give me much of a tutorial and I had the hang of it in a couple of minutes. Within the first 15mins of use I had mastered it. My 7-year old had mastered most functions (music, climate and nav) within the first two long rides in that car. And remember that that first gen iDrive did not even have the home/menu button and in the E65 the controller moved in 8 different directions/menus as opposed to the current version's 4 from the home screen. In fact, in my opinion the dumbing down of iDrive from that original version (because of all the journalists' moaning) has made it less user friendly. Now, I would not consider it perfect but it was still very very good. The addition of the soft keys was a necessity and making it faster will move it in the right direction.

I don't know which Infinity you are referring to, but I rented an M35 for a week and found its "idrive" to be much less user friendly than BMW's. [Edit, just saw your sig that states you have/had an M45]

Last edited by fq1; 04-29-2008 at 10:49 PM.. Reason: Saw the OP's sig
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