BMW has just announced a massive OTA update for about 750,000 cars fitted with the iDrive 7 operating system Therefore, iDrive 7 will have the new BMW Maps navigation system available, which is now faster to calculate routes and more accurate in terms of traffic prediction. Does the new 2020 BMW 330i Touring do the 3 Series lineage proud? It can also be pushed forwards, backwards and to … As you may well know, you can unlock various functions in your car, by paying for them using the infotainment system. All Rights Reserved. Support for Android Auto is said to be coming in 2020, but a specific date isn’t locked-down as yet. Jonathan M. Gitlin - Jan 12, 2021 3:27 pm UTC So the 2020 X3 might have the new digital dash and 7.0 iDrive but it may not control as many features as it can in a brand new X5 or 3 series. It seems there’s no simple way to quick switch, and it's one or the other. Traditionally vehicle occupants had to rely only on a rotary dial controller to interact with iDrive, but this latest version also makes use of the touchscreen, voice activated features and gesture controls to work with the computer. In the near future, additional functions will be added that can access the vehicle’s existing hardware and software, such as certain comfort functions or driver assistance systems. Therefore, iDrive 7 will have the new BMW Maps navigation system available, which is now faster to calculate routes and more accurate in terms of traffic prediction. It controls a vast number of the car’s entertainment, navigation, communication, media controls and vehicle systems, but can also integrate seamlessly with a phone’s internet connection and even connect to the internet itself. We’ve had hit-and-miss experiences with vocally commanding the navigation system. Familiarity is key with BMW iDrive. The carmaker even released a teaser video that literally has the latest iDrive system (on the BMW iX) teasing the first-generation one, found on the 2001 E65 7 … It’s worth noting that while iDrive with OS 7 is now available on a number of new BMW models, it doesn’t reach every single car on the dealership floor. Subscribe to any of our motoring magazines and save up to 49%. These features had been announced for the new 5 Series LCI model previously but they are now being rolled out to all cars. BMW’s iDrive is software that’s housed within the infotainment system. The AI working behind has been upgraded to work better with free speech. Not sure what version you have? Select cars to compare from your search results or vehicle pages. Bit of a gimmick – just easier to give it a miss. Currently available examples of these services are the High Beam Assistant, Active Cruise Control (ACC) driver assistance system with Stop & Go function, BMW Driver Recorder, BMW IconicSounds Sport, and Adaptive M Suspension (the offer may vary in individual markets). Mercedes-Benz’s brand-new MBUX system and MMI from Audi have both become much better in recent years however, so there is less of an infotainment technology gap than there used to be - at least as far as premium German cars are concerned. Yes! One of the hardest things about getting a new car is getting it set up so you feel at home again, including transferring your music and media. © Copyright Are Media Pty Limited. This is why BMW software update ensures that your applications and your BMW always keep pace with the latest advances. KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — BMW users with Android smartphones rejoice! SOFTWARE UPDATES FOR YOUR BMW. The new-gen iDrive system is now in its 7th generation, however, it still is based on BMW’s Professional NBT Evo architecture which was unveiled back in 2016. BMW made this really weird short film to celebrate 20 years of iDrive The 2002 7 Series is now a graybeard arguing with a whippersnapper 2022 iX. Fast-forward to today and while other manufacturers have sharpened up their act, BMW remains steady with its latest iDrive system which runs BMW Operating System 7.0. Last but not least, BMW is expanding its array of remotely activated functions. Maps are clear and easy to read, and destination entry is easily done by drawing your destination on the trackpad on top of the rotary dial. PODCAST EP:43, How to use the BMW Reversing Assistant - DEMO, BMW iDrive System - A Look At The Old vs. New iDrive. The layout of the customisable home screen now gives a quick-view of important systems like navigation, audio and communication, while other items are accessed in a column on the right hand side. Notable current exceptions are the 5 Series, 4 Series, much of the X range apart from the X5, X6 and X7, and the BMW i3 and i8. As promised, a few years back, over the air (OTA) updates are starting to pop up more frequently in modern-day BMWs. With the help of vehicle data such as the GPS signal, the assistant can also automate the driver’s routines and adapt accordingly, for example, by automatically opening the window when entering a parking garage. Furthermore, the virtual character now turns towards the person talking and can distinguish between addressing the driver and the passenger. Smartphone mirroring is all the rage right now and iDrive supports Apple CarPlay with OS 7. BMW’s iDrive 7 infotainment system is available on all 2019/2020 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and 8 Series sedans, as well as the newest X3, X5, X6, and X7 SUVs. What are the new features of the BMW iDrive 7.0? BMW 7 Series owner's handbook. Retain Original Settings You can still access all your BMW settings and … Navigational commands using the rotary controller are satisfying to issue and you get the hang of the joystick aspect of the dial quickly. The WhichCar Network: Everything car buyers need and car lovers want. Read next: BMW teases dashboard of the near future. In addition, the various driving modes can be activated by voice. Decisive and accurate, once you get the hang of it, it’s very easy to cycle through menus and shortcut between screens. As mentioned, a notable omission is the lack of Android Auto support which will hopefully be rectified at some point this year. For the ultimate customised experience, you can set up a driver profile to store all your preferred settings if different drivers are regularly getting in and changing things around. The customisability and connectivity achieved through iDrive is top notch, and although it’s a cliché, you really could consider an iDrive-equipped BMW as a mobile office. Page 82 Accepting a call If all points in this list have been checked and the required function is still not available, con‐ Via iDrive tact BMW Customer Relations or the service "Accept" center. Infotainment Technology | BMW iDrive and its many features, Using Waze to avoid police is "just stupid". We have seen it used in higher grade models like the BMW 8 Series, however. 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As a holistic infotainment system, iDrive pretty much has all bases covered. After an excruciatingly long wait, the German carmaker will soon be integrating wireless Android Auto to all its vehicles equipped with iDrive Operating System 7.0 (iDrive OS 7.0). It is always best to use BMW iDrive system identification. iDrive is an in-car communications and entertainment system, used to control most secondary vehicle systems in late-model BMW cars.It was launched in 2001, first appearing in the E65 7 Series.The system unifies an array of functions under a single control architecture consisting of an LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a control knob mounted on the center console. iDrive 7.0 is definitely more advanced than 6.0 and offers more features, however I find that 6.0 is just a lot easier to use and has a better layout with less clutter. iDrive is an in-car communications and entertainment system, used to control most secondary vehicle systems in late-model BMW cars.It was launched in 2001, first appearing in the E65 7 Series.The system unifies an array of functions under a single control architecture consisting of an LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a control knob mounted on the center console. The main part of the BMW iDrive system is a control wheel, which can turn clockwise and anticlockwise like a volume dial. Read next: Infotainment Technology | BMW iDrive and its many features. Canadian April 2019 build with iDrive 11/2019.40. BMWBLOG is an independent private enthusiast site dedicated to BMW fans around the world and is in no way affiliated or owned by BMW USA and/or BMW AG, BMW: Host of new features coming to iDrive 7, free via OTA updates, Goodbye, Dual-Clutch Transmission — We’re Gonna Miss You, BMW X8 Render from Auto Express Looks Like A Production Ready Model. Overall though, version 5.0 of BMW’s iDrive system is the best yet and more importantly, it puts Audi and in particular, arch-nemesis Mercedes-Benz, on the backfoot. Systems for smartphones, music players and tablets are developing all the time. With our unit, you can easily switch between iDrive 7, 6, 5 style menu's for a more OEM feel. iDrive is a computer system used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. BMW iX debuts as EV tech flagship with 500 bhp, 300-mile range; The video has a 2001 BMW 7 Series, which marks the introduction of iDrive, talking with an … While it’s nice that BMW is placing more emphasis on touch, gesture and voice control, the rotary controller still remains king for quick navigation of the infotainment screen. The platform also underpins the infotainment system found in Rolls-Royce vehicles and, under the brand name "Connected", can be found in current-generation MINIs. As these models reach their mid-life updates and facelifts, it's likely iDrive 7 will be included. Click into one of these options and the screen changes to a more familiar list style. Remote Services Since its debut in the BMW E65 7 Series in 2001, iDrive has spread to all modern BMW models. Is BMW’s iDrive 7.0 still the benchmark? BMW has tried to make its iDrive infotainment system feel more streamlined, and while there’s still plenty of work to do, the latest changes are starting to make a difference. Ever since car infotainment systems started to become mainstream throughout the 2000s, BMW has consistently provided one of the better systems for connecting with your car. CCC iDrive. The iDrive version in the 2018 X3 was put first in the old 2017 X3 but without support for touchscreen or gesture control. BMW offers a number of apps to enhance its iDrive experience, which includes weather information, news, email and BMW Connected. While other systems come and go, vastly reinventing themselves with each new iteration of car model, iDrive has walked the fine line between staying true to what it’s known for while also introducing new features alongside. It becomes frustrating to the point that you just forget to bother with it after a while. Download the how-to guide. Notable current exceptions are the 5 Series, 4 Series, much of the X range apart from the X5, X6 and X7, and the BMW i3 and i8. The latest version of BMW’s iDrive still holds out as one of the best infotainment systems on the market. That's how BMW's excellent iDrive came about, making its debut on the 2001 E65 7 Series. Pairing a phone for the first time via Bluetooth is fairly painless, and recurring pairing is quick once you get back into the car. That way you can use your mobile devices in your vehicle whenever you want. Sent from my iPad using Bimmerfest VIDEO: How Much Heavier is the new G82 BMW M4 Than the Old F82 BMW M4? Of course, cars rolling out of the production plants starting this month will have all these features included but BMW wanted all owners to get these benefits, with the magic of remote updates. These days a car’s infotainment is as important as how it drives. For the future, BMW is already dabbling with the idea of using your phone to augment and even replace the built-in iDrive system via the BMW … Just did it, shockingly it worked. iDrive 7 is the latest and greatest BMW software, and it comes standard in all new available 2020 models. The Series 7 software introduced in 2018 is now receiving its biggest remote upgrade. Conversely, voice commands aren’t so good at identifying what you want to do – with the car asking again and again for you to repeat your request. Annoyingly iDrive and Apple CarPlay aren't always congruous, switching between Bluetooth audio streaming and CarPlay music is difficult, so too is making calls with the native Communications tab when you're Apple CarPlay connected. The company announced new features today, all of them to be made available in cars with iDrive 7 (as long as the hardware allows it) though over the air update. Many new BMW touchscreens are complemented by digital instrument clusters which, while they’re primarily reserved for passive displays for things like speed, odometer and the tachometer, can be used as a quick-access screen for infotainment purposes. Controls Adjusting the volume Turn the volume button on … MORE Using Waze to avoid police is "just stupid". All BMW sold in 2020 are equipped with Idrive 7. Can the New Jeep Gran Cherokee Compete with the BMW X5? NBT iDrive Systems are configured with 6.5in, 8.8in and 10.25in displays, this means you cannot use display size as an indicator of having NBT iDrive. WhichCar is now home to Wheels, Motor, 4X4 Australia and Street Machine magazines. Android and Windows 7 users, not so much. It’s worth noting that while iDrive with OS 7 is now available on a number of new BMW models, it doesn’t reach every single car on the dealership floor. The iDrive 7 update rollout is starting today in BMW’s German home market, with a wider rollout expected in Europe, China, the US, and Canada over the coming weeks. Home » News » BMW: Host of new features coming to iDrive 7, free via OTA updates. Second the update bringing Android Auto started already in several countries and for sure beginning with high level models like 8 and 5 series. Is the BMW E92 M3 a good long-term investment? The BMW Operating System 7.0, more commonly known as BMW iDrive 7.0, is the 7th generation – and the newest version yet – of BMW’s in-car communication and entertainment system. Technically, this system is called "BMW Live Professional", however for simplicity's sake we'll refer to it simply as iDrive. From BMW they have no idea when this will come via remote software upgrade to the 1st series. 7 definitely has more sub menu's than 6 (although both still have more than … Connected Charging will also be available along with the BMW Digital Key (including Apple support), Android Auto and an improved version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Smartphone mirroring can be used interchangeably with the native infotainment system but not simultaneously, as with other cars. This is the “CCC” version of iDrive. The latter will get a couple of new functionalities as well as a better user experience. In any case, gesture control isn’t always available – the 3 Series we used to test iDrive 7 didn’t have it. Gesture control is better at understanding your intentions, but even still it takes time for the car to understand what you’re after and by that point you’ve already embarrassed yourself to your passengers and other motorists with your limbs flailing about. 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