https://www.motor1.com/news/784057/people-do-not-want-bmw-idrive-knob-back/

The news from Motor1 is that people won’t miss the iDrive knob with iDrive10.

Just my personal opinion but having a big touchscreen alongside the iDrive knob was what iDrive9 offered in the 2025/2026 X3’s. I can do everything on the touchscreen but the knob is more instinctive when I’m driving. The combo differentiates the X3 from the new Chevys, Cadillacs, and Teslas. Oh well. Ol’ School is Cool. The knob is now OG.

I have just purchased a new X3 simply because non of its competitors have an iDrive (or similar) access to common functions.

If BMW ditch the physical access to functions, this will be my last BMW

I have not touched the knob since I bought my car. It actually reflects sunlight perfectly into my eyes at certain times of day while driving. Good riddance!

minus.spire wrote

I have not touched the knob since I bought my car. It actually reflects sunlight perfectly into my eyes at certain times of day while driving. Good riddance!

Haha same.. only time I touch and spin it is by accident when I’m trying to wipe off all the fingerprints from the center console 🤣

The only thing I use it for is to slam it with my closed fist to make the NO ONE READS THIS DISCLAIMER BUT HIT OKAY ANYWAY screen. It’s not needed anymore.

Rogerbu wrote

I have just purchased a new X3 simply because non of its competitors have an iDrive (or similar) access to common functions.

If BMW ditch the physical access to functions, this will be my last BMW

This was my initial thought when they first presented the new X3 and when I got my M50 over a year ago.

Actually I rarely use it anymore as most of the habbits are faster and better by voice or touchscreen. Sometimes I use it to zoom into the map.

If someone would disable or remove the knob now, I actually wouldn't miss it.

It's not as good as the one in previous G01. Requires precise pressing in the centre. I only use it to access shortcuts by pushing up on it then cycling through my shortcuts.

We had an X2 rental this week and it did not have the iDrive dial. I felt that I had to come inside a lot to do basic things, changing the radio station for example. The X2 that we had did not have a HUD so that would make a difference. I guess that I am so used to it, our last three BMW's had it, that I missed it in the rental.

I think that you can get used to anything after a while though.

It's not even a good knob, like the traditional BMW I-drive knobs, it's some capacitive touch BS knob that works 50% of the time.

Yes it’s bad but I use it a lot. I don’t like touching the screen while driving.

Anyway wondering is it worth asking the dealer to check/replace the knob or it is by design to be like this (miss a lot). It’s worse than the knob in my F30.

It doesn’t work all the time. I thought it would be convenient to click OK for the startup disclaimer screen, after I press the START button, because both buttons are a few inches away from one another. But the iDrive knob only works about 50% of the time.

Janjohn wrote

https://www.motor1.com/news/784057/people-do-not-want-bmw-idrive-knob-back/

The news from Motor1 is that people won’t miss the iDrive knob with iDrive10.

Just my personal opinion but having a big touchscreen alongside the iDrive knob was what iDrive9 offered in the 2025/2026 X3’s. I can do everything on the touchscreen but the knob is more instinctive when I’m driving. The combo differentiates the X3 from the new Chevys, Cadillacs, and Teslas. Oh well. Ol’ School is Cool. The knob is now OG.

I agree 100%.

The main question should be how did bmw mess up even installing a decent knob. Center click abruptly register left or right click all the time. The up down side tilting need a force and it just doesn't work along with center click.

How on the earth bmw can't even put a functional knob in 2026? Think about it. A ducking knob. In 2026. The only reason bmw needs to get rid of this knob should be because they are embarrassingly not able to make a simple functional knob. Period.

We've had a few BMW's and never used the knob. I won't miss it.

vrnsn wrote

The main question should be how did bmw mess up even installing a decent knob. Center click abruptly register left or right click all the time. The up down side tilting need a force and it just doesn't work along with center click.

How on the earth bmw can't even put a functional knob in 2026? Think about it. A ducking knob. In 2026. The only reason bmw needs to get rid of this knob should be because they are embarrassingly not able to make a simple functional knob. Period.

Perhaps part of BMW’s “migration” initiative to make it less attractive to the user before removing it and relying exclusively on the touch screen. Alternatively, like many aspects of recent BMW’s, it just cost cutting, and a cheaper unit.

Even worse on the new NA5 because the front vents for driver and passenger must be adjusted via the touch screen. Just another gimmick adding complexity, cost, distraction, and more points of failure down the road.

Unfortunately, the G45 is kinda stuck between old and new parts bin, so the LCI will be interesting.

i use it all the time in both my newer bmw's. zero issues. works great. much easier than trying to reach over and precisely aim my finger at some tiny icon on the screen in a bouncing car.

M2M3M3 wrote

i use it all the time in both my newer bmw's. zero issues. works great. much easier than trying to reach over and precisely aim my finger at some tiny icon on the screen in a bouncing car.

Ditto

It may depend on seat position. My seat is setup so that the touchscreen is much easier to manipulate than the console. In fact, the 'shortcuts' screen is a huge help to getting the fastest and safest access to the most used settings.

Those of us who use CarPlay have nice, large icons to tap and if one masters Siri you don't even need to do that either. This takes care of Navigation, Music, Texting, Weather, Calendar, all of it.

Those of us who have our Climate Control set up properly only have to tap the + or - at the bottom edge of the center display to get the temperature / fan speed / intensity right, and most trips we don't even need to touch it at all because it does such a great job of managing it all for us.

Those of us utilizing the BMW Shortcuts and/or BMW Steering Wheel Controls have nice big buttons or scrollable lists that have equal-or-better functionality than what the iDrive knob can provide drilling through cumbersome menus.

That only leaves things like Starting the car, Disabling ASS, Engaging Sport mode, Downshifting, and a myriad of other things for which there are physical buttons on the console adjacent to the iDrive knob.

There really is no need for the iDrive knob. Which is why BMW is getting rid of it. Remember, they have decades worth of data from millions of owners on every click and swipe we make. They know who is (and more importantly who is not) using these things, and that's why they are comfortable eliminating them.

Yeah, looking down at the console to find the right button feels like a safety issue to me. Doesn't feel natural. I have Modes, Parking, Interior Lighting, all in the closest shortcut spots. Swipe down on the screen and everything I need is there.

The bottom trim piece under the screen is a useful pinky anchor when needed.