No iDrive for the MINI and there was much rejoicing
Mr. Paukert, our compatriot at Winding Road, was able to abduct a few BMW execs in Paris and beat them with stale baguettes until they finally put to rest rumors of an iDrive-like interface finding its way into the new MINI.
Since a touch screen setup was nixed due to design and placement issues, the joystick you see south of the shifter is there to control all facets of the new MINI's sat-nav. Furthermore, the crumb-encrusted execs made it clear that no aspect of iDrive's architecture will find its way into the iconic hatch, citing MINI owner's affection towards a (somewhat) simple, uncluttered motoring experience.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 1:17PM (9/30/2006)
I'm sorry, but how is a joystiq controlled navagation system with built in phone, nav and radio functions not "iDrive-like"? Am I missing something here?
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DJ 2:37PM (9/30/2006)
Great news! Now, can they go back and continue beating those MINI exec's until they tell us if the Clubman will offer the uprated engine?
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That One Person 4:03PM (9/30/2006)
I agree with #1.
Maybe its not the same version they put into the Bimmers. But if its anything like it, people are not going to check that option box. iDrive is a disaster. And its even worse when you try to change something while you drive. I hope companies stick with old fashion radio knobs and all that crap forever. If I want to change a radio station or go to the next song on a CD, I dont want to have to perform brain surgery to do it...
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pedro 5:16PM (9/30/2006)
iDrive controls most aspects of the car's operation, from Navigation to Air conditioning to the radio.
The Mini's joystick is *only* going to handle navigation. ALL of the rest of the controls are manual. Hence, its not iDrive.
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iDriveHater 5:43PM (9/30/2006)
iDrive has got to be a contender for the worst user interface in cars. The natural user interface for this kind of thing is a touch screen.
iDrive is so bad, in fact, that I consider it a "poison pill" that's preventing me from replacing my 2000 328i with a 335i: I'd love to buy the 335i, but I WON'T buy a car without nav, and I WON'T buy a car WITH iDrive.
I'm in a bit of a pickle: my 328i is up for replacement in the next year or two, and I'd love to get another BMW, but I won't compromise on iDrive. Unfortunately, the other contenders (Audi A4, Lexus IS350 (shudder)) have V6 engines, not inline-6's like the BMW... :(
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Adrian 5:53PM (9/30/2006)
I don't know about you some of you people but I actualy own a BMW 530d and I'll admit that there was a small acommodation time required for getting used to the iDrive, but since then i haven't had any issues with it. I can even use it without looking at it while driving. It's not as bad as people say. And as far as this sistem Mini's getting being just like iDrive "only because" it has sat-nav and phones and stuff like that integrated, that's bullshit. Mercedes' Command sistem and Audi's MMI all have the same functions just other times of interfaces, and i don't hear people complaining about them. Thing is people don't hate what iDrive does just the way it does it, or they would have complained just as much about the other car manufactorers. That's my opinion anyway.
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fuscob 6:12PM (9/30/2006)
#4 - not just the navigation. The screen pictured says "Communication" and "Entertainment," just like iDrive. The interface shown clearly draws design elements from iDrive, as well.
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Zo 9:27PM (9/30/2006)
#5 There has been a recent update to the iDrive software and you should look at the changes of the menus on the 335i. They are much more intuitive to use.
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offroadwarrior03 2:28PM (10/01/2006)
my dad has a 745 with idrive and the first time i drove it the system seemed absolutely retarded, since then i have driven it many times and have learned the software fairly well. even not driving the car on a regular basis when i go back to it i can do all of the things without taking my eyes off the road.
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G. Snyder 4:12PM (10/01/2006)
you all are raging sissys...you complain about iDrive because it is fashionable.
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