Will the MY2018 M3 get the iDrive TouchScreen?

[Takumi587]

Anyone think the MY2018 M3 will get the touchscreen just like the 3er and the 2er/M2 LCI?

Just saw the price sheet and updates thread. 2018 M3 will have touchscreen.

[Super Spartan]

No.

[ssuene93]

No, it will not.

[Hedoniste]

Mmhh...?

[stooker]

Subscribing for answer. I'd rather not have it because I can't stand the fingerprint smudge marks.

[tastes jigga]

2018 M4 driver here... mine does not. The screen is too far away to comfortably use touch capabilities! The iD6 with tiles is a very nice upgrade regardless.

[Seniorleb]

No and not worth it

[mkoesel]

I suspect that the M3, M4 and 4 Series will all get the touch screen starting July 2017 just as the 3 Series will (at the start of its and the M3's MY2018).

Speculative on my part, but it makes sense.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I suspect that the M3, M4 and 4 Series will all get the touch screen starting July 2017 just as the 3 Series will (at the start of its and the M3's MY2018).

The cabin logistics wont work.
You have to really stretch to reach the screen in F8x chassis today (to clean it).

This may change with G20 (MY'19/CY'18) dash layout, but then again, all G20 interior spy shots show the Nav screen roughly in the same spot as that in F8x cars.
I would bet on gesture control (from 7-series) availability before touch.

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Speculative on my part, but it makes sense.

In the current crop of automotive Nav screens, touch is considered a low-cost option (other than by GM).
Most Japanese/European cars include touch screens for free in cheaper trims, reserving larger/high-res Nav screens with knob control for premium packages.

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[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by afadeev

The cabin logistics wont work.
You have to really stretch to reach the screen in F8x chassis today (to clean it).

I probably should have been more clear: The MY2018 3 Series is reported to be getting the touch screen already. My comment was to suggest that the the 4 Series, M3, and M4 will follow suit.

This press release seems to announce - admittedly, with some ambiguity (like only BMW seems to do, time and time again) - that the 3 Series will be among the models getting the touch screen in July:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...17?language=en

While this post more concretely confirms that, at the very least, the new special edition 3 Series models coming in July will have the touchscreen:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1383413

I think its a foregone conclusion that the touch screen will not be limited to those special models come July 2017 (which is the start of MY2018 in the US) - its just that those are the only ones announced so far.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by stooker

Subscribing for answer. I'd rather not have it because I can't stand the fingerprint smudge marks.

Just because it may have touchscreen capability doesn't mean you have to use it as a touchscreen. You can still use the other input capabilities and never touch the screen if you don't want to.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by bbarile

2018 M4 driver here... mine does not. The screen is too far away to comfortably use touch capabilities! The iD6 with tiles is a very nice upgrade regardless.

Maybe while driving, which you shouldn't be doing anyway, but while stopped it may be a faster way to interface.

[stooker]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Just because it may have touchscreen capability doesn't mean you have to use it as a touchscreen. You can still use the other input capabilities and never touch the screen if you don't want to.

As long as that's the case, that's fine with me. I'm not familiar with the BMW system, but having seen some non-BMWs where there is no option it's something that would drive me up the wall!

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by afadeev

The cabin logistics wont work.
You have to really stretch to reach the screen in F8x chassis today (to clean it).

This is far too subjective to make such a broad statement. It depends on how tall you are, the length of your torso, and your arm length. Some may find it too far to reach, and others won't. If your seat and steering wheel are properly positioned, sitting back in the seat, right leg slightly bent when the brake is fully engaged, and arms slightly bent at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions on the steering wheel, all you would have to do is reach forward to be able to touch the screen with your right hand, since it's only about a 12-18" to the right.

I'm 5' 9" and can easily reach the screen and could use it as a touchscreen. Not while driving, but you shouldn't be doing this while driving anyway. If I'm stopped and maybe looking for a place to eat, or a retail store, or whatever, this would be an easy interface. For someone on the shorter side this may be more difficult.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by stooker

As long as that's the case, that's fine with me. I'm not familiar with the BMW system, but having seen some non-BMWs where there is no option it's something that would drive me up the wall!

As far as I know, there are no plans to eliminate the iDrive controller in the near future, and that has been the primary input system for several years now. BMW keeps making the iDrive input controller better with each iteration. It currently has touch capability which allows you to input characters by tracing them on the top of the controller. Some models even have gesture control which allows you to do things like turn the volume up or down by gesturing, that way you don't have to touch anything!

[Wah]

My mazda cx5 has a touchscreen and a controller very similar to BMWs. I use the controller 95% of the time. The real benefit of the touchscreen is when entering addresses in the NAV.... typing letters on the screen is so much more efficient that spinning the wheel to hit letters. Other than that... the controller is more comfortable to use. If you are constantly entering addresses in the navigation, then the touchscreen would be something worth getting. I don't... so doesn't really matter to me.

[backagain]

Originally Posted by Wah

My mazda cx5 has a touchscreen and a controller very similar to BMWs. I use the controller 95% of the time. The real benefit of the touchscreen is when entering addresses in the NAV.... typing letters on the screen is so much more efficient that spinning the wheel to hit letters. Other than that... the controller is more comfortable to use. If you are constantly entering addresses in the navigation, then the touchscreen would be something worth getting. I don't... so doesn't really matter to me.

You know you can write letters on the iDrive controller surface area instead of dialing to select the letters, right?

[Wah]

Originally Posted by backagain

You know you can write letters on the iDrive controller surface area instead of dialing to select the letters, right?

So I've heard you can... I just don't use nav that much. Still, typing on a touchscreen seems more intuitive and quicker to me.

[Sassicaia]

last thing I would want is fingers toughing my screen. Honestly sometimes when it comes to tech just because it can be done doesnt mean it should be done.

I saw a TV advertised yesterday that could be complete controlled with voice commands because I want to hear people around me talking to the TV.

[JibSTir13]

Writing letters on the iDrive controller is great. So much quicker than spinning the knob from letter to letter.

Having said that, voice control for nav is still quickest and easiest. But once in a while, the computer becomes confused and sends me to a different state.

[ssuene93]

I have been using spinning the knob to input the letter from letter and found it is by far quicker and easier for me. I test-drove the G30 last weekend and played around the new system using touch screen. No doubt the touch screen is much easier when selecting options, but I still prefer spinning the knob like I have been doing it for past 10 years from E60 to F80.

[MFNATIK]

You guys who have or will get the newer iDrive 5 or 6 should just use the voice control. It's way eaiser than touching anything and is about as accurate as Ok Google.