- #How to install idrive control unit in bmw how to#
- #How to install idrive control unit in bmw drivers#
- #How to install idrive control unit in bmw update#
- #How to install idrive control unit in bmw driver#
You may find independent suppliers willing to carry out iDrive upgrades like this but BMW dealers don’t generally offer the service. For instance if you want to upgrade an older BMW to Apple CarPlay you may need to add a WiFi antenna. Updating iDrive is possible for minor software upgrades, which can be carried out by dealers, but moving from one generation of iDrive to a more advanced version often requires a new unit in the dash or other hardware upgrades.
#How to install idrive control unit in bmw update#
This is particularly important if you want to make use of the much wider personalisation of graphics, menus and layout options that the latest iDrive system allows.īehind the scenes, iDrive 8 offers an increased capacity for over-the-air updates, including an ability to update a car’s autonomous driving features. With all-new selectable graphics, cloud connectivity for updates, and features like an updated onboard assistant you can name yourself, you really need to explore the system in detail to get the most out of it. The iDrive 8 system will also be fitted to the new electric BMW i4 saloon that’s due out imminently.
The big 14.9-inch main central touchscreen runs into the 12.3-inch digital dashboard display, creating an impressive sense of the power of the tech at your fingertips.
In the latest iDrive system, one of the most notable hardware features is a central display curved towards the driver. Over time, iDrive displays have got bigger and the simple text-based menus of the original systems have been replaced by tiled menus and carefully considered on-screen graphics that all help to create a safe and enjoyable interface. The latest version of iDrive, revealed in the new BMW iX electric SUV, uses a new eighth-generation operating system, hence it’s known as iDrive 8. Early versions consisted of a rotary dial between the seats that controlled menus on a central touchscreen but later iterations of iDrive have integrated touchscreen technology and can be activated by voice command, gesture recognition and steering wheel controls. Not only was BMW iDrive one of the first infotainment systems on the market but it has become something of a benchmark system for controlling functions within a car. Frustration, stress and distraction are the enemies of relaxed and safe driving, and that’s why from the very first version of BMW’s iDrive launched in 2001, the focus has been on user-friendliness.
#How to install idrive control unit in bmw driver#
It all sounds like a recipe for disaster, which is why it’s vital that the interface between the driver and a modern digitally connected car has to be as simple and intuitive to use as possible. Instead, you need to run everything through a central display screen using menus that are selectable in turn - or often simultaneously - for all the different onboard technologies. If we were all still limited to analogue switches and dials on the dashboard, there simply wouldn’t be room for all the controls necessary to configure the array of onboard systems in a modern luxury car.
#How to install idrive control unit in bmw drivers#
In a luxury car such as an expensive BMW, drivers need iDrive to access an incredibly diverse range of menus including climate control settings and telephone contacts, settings for sport, comfort or eco driving modes, emails, text messages, and seat settings, all while requesting navigation directions to the nearest restaurant via voice command and scrolling through their favourite playlist.
#How to install idrive control unit in bmw how to#
In this guide we’ll explore the features of iDrive, how to use it, common problems and how it compares to the infotainment systems employed by rivals. iDrive is BMW’s name for the control system it fits to its cars and iDrive 8 is the latest version of it. New cars are becoming increasingly complex and as you’d expect, premium brands like BMW are leading the way with advanced control systems to help drivers make the most of all the technology.
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