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      09-04-2012, 10:41 PM   #1
Kiernan
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Revised iDrive controls?

As I've mentioned in the 'UK orders' thread, I've recently placed an order for an X3 and so I'm waiting patiently until my new car arrives.

I'm currently on holiday in Florida and just happened to be passing the local BMW dealer today, so took a quick look at the cars on the forecourt (unlike the UK, dealers leave their new car stock on display ready to sell) and noticed that the iDrive was slightly different. On cars with professional navigation, it was almost the same, but the CD button has now been replaced with a MEDIA button (makes sense in these days of USB sticks and Bluetooth audio).

On cars without navigation (they don't do business nav so it's easy to tell) the iDrive controller was the new simpler unit that I've seen in the new 1 and 3 series cars. I took a few pictures which I'll upload when I get home, but the controller now has 3 buttons at the front of the wheel, for MEDIA, MENU and TEL - the NAV and RADIO buttons have been deleted. The BACK and OPTION Buttons are the same as before. It also looks as though the wheel can only be clicked to the left or right, but not forwards or backwards (can obviously still be rotated).

I checked the build dates of the cars using the vin numbers and they were all built on or after 15th August. My car was built 23/08 so I guess I'll be getting the simpler controller (no navigation for me), but wondering if anyone knows any more. Is this exclusive to the US spec cars, or will Euro spec X3's, including mine, have the new controller. I'm sure I read about changes to the 5 series iDrive controls, but I don't remember anything about the X3.

Not sure which I prefer, as the NAV button would always remind where I've saved money, but the new controller looked a bit cheap, and doesn't look as though it lights up a nicely as the 'full fat' version.
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      09-05-2012, 06:24 AM   #2
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I understood that the simpler iDrive controller was only going on the F30 and not the X3. I do agree with you in that it looks cheap... They use a coarser plastic for the buttons and the knob has a bit less weight to it as well.
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      09-05-2012, 12:55 PM   #3
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When I picked mine up the dealer said another customer had one with simpler controller, they had no options - where as I had the 6NH Bluetooth hands-free (but no navigation)
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      09-05-2012, 01:44 PM   #4
Kiernan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyTheHand View Post
When I picked mine up the dealer said another customer had one with simpler controller, they had no options - where as I had the 6NH Bluetooth hands-free (but no navigation)
That's interesting, any idea when yours was built? You can check on BMWVIN.com by putting in the last 7 digits of your vin no. I've ordered 6NH, so it's anyone's guess, but if you car was built a few weeks before mine (most likely since you've now taken delivery) it still seems possible I'll get the new controller.

Not really a biggie, but I'll find out in the next 3 or 4 weeks.
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      09-05-2012, 03:25 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiernan View Post
That's interesting, any idea when yours was built?
Week 30 (23 - 29 July)

edit: I guess the other one must have been made at similar time as mine has only been sat at dealer for about 2 weeks -

Last edited by JimmyTheHand; 09-05-2012 at 03:43 PM..
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      09-06-2012, 12:44 PM   #6
Kiernan
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Just thought I'd update this thread with some pictures of the simplified controller in an X3.

Doesn't look too bad I suppose (trying to convince myself as I think this is what I'll be getting).



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