[Bur4k]

Hello all,

I'm very unhappy to read that idrive 8 not able to update to 8.5. I started to watch lots of videos to see the difference between both systems. If you used or still using the both of the systems could you please share your experience with us?

Are we missing anything other than Climate Control theme change?

Also, is the apple/android car play performance is same?

Thanks.

[mdr955]

IMO this is so blown out of proportion. I came from id7 and reading these pages you would think 8 is the worst thing ever. 8 is fine. The climate control is one button away and the auto works so well you really never need to touch it. I haven’t found it to be a big deal at all. Everyone needs to chill on this stuff.

[StephenWyker]

8.5 is def cleaner, slightly faster. Icons are all on the bottom vs left side. Home is a map vs icons. Def not life changing whatsoever.

[bayarea328xit]

The hardware in the HU-H5 unit is more capable - faster processor and more RAM:

iDrive 8.5 / 9 Head Unit Identification

Experience of a member with 8 vs 8.5

[Needsdecaf]

I read a lot of poo-pooing on iDrive 8 prior to getting my car. I watched a ton of videos on 8.5 and was jealous.

Now I've lived with my car for almost 2 months and gotten used to it. It's ok. Some things I don't like but I prefer it to the PCM 6 in my Cayenne. Few weeks ago I sat and played with 8.5 in a new X5 while waiting to pick up my car. Didn't get into it too much but.....it wasn't all that much better that I saw? Yes, it was snappier and nicer but....I didn't have as much FOMO any more.

Maybe if I played with a car for longer I would? But....I'm good.

[Mike02z]

Just like in the other thread where someone is pissed off that the LCI will have extra HP, you can spend your life chasing the latest and greatest but just when you think your happy another change is made the following year and your unhappy again.

[christianb5s4]

It's interesting when I look back at all the things I felt could be a concern just doing research on the forums before I actually got the car. My wife has iD7 and mine is iD8, and both of us really like 8 over 7. And I've played with 8.5 which has some positive updates but nothing that I consider game changing.

It ended up not being nearly the issue it was made out to be, at least in my opinion. And I like physical buttons too.

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Just like in the other thread where someone is pissed off that the LCI will have extra HP, you can spend your life chasing the latest and greatest but just when you think your happy another change is made the following year and your unhappy again.

Especially given how underrated the car is, BMW probably just lifted the power on paper to what the car has always made from day one.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by mdr955

IMO this is so blown out of proportion. I came from id7 and reading these pages you would think 8 is the worst thing ever. 8 is fine. The climate control is one button away and the auto works so well you really never need to touch it. I haven’t found it to be a big deal at all. Everyone needs to chill on this stuff.

Yeah ID8 is so good it lasted a whole 9 months before they radically changed it because of all the negative feedback.

[kgelfen360]

Originally Posted by mdr955

IMO this is so blown out of proportion. I came from id7 and reading these pages you would think 8 is the worst thing ever. 8 is fine. The climate control is one button away and the auto works so well you really never need to touch it. I haven’t found it to be a big deal at all. Everyone needs to chill on this stuff.

I currently have idrive 7 and and 8. I agree idrive 8 is totally fine.
My biggest complaint is that u can’t scroll into climate menu using ur idrive controller by the gear box. Why can’t u just click down and it takes u to climate. I don’t get it.
Idrive 8.5 seems to be a little better lay out not that much improvement. Incremental

[pizza240]

I have 8 and 8.5 in separate vehicles.

I am disappointed with 8 mostly due to speed. The added climate shortcuts are a nice feature in 8.5, especially when sometimes it takes extra time for the climate menu to load. Don't need to open full screen climate menu to change seat heating & cooling.

Would I rather have iD 8.5 or extra hp in the LCI?
Tough question but I'd probably pick iD8.5 so my M3 doesn't feel "slow" compared to the 8.5 in the X7.

Apple CarPlay seems to be the same.

[M3N00b]

MY X5 has ID 8.5 while the M3 has ID 8.

8.5 is a bit snappier but I personally prefer the look of ID 8. The climate controls are slightly more convenient but you're saving microseconds. Since I mostly live in Apple Carplay anytime I'm in either car I barely think about the difference.

[darknstormy]

Originally Posted by bayarea328xit

The hardware in the HU-H5 unit is more capable - faster processor and more RAM:

iDrive 8.5 / 9 Head Unit Identification

Experience of a member with 8 vs 8.5

Does anyone know what the implications are of the new head unit architecture?

The information on the HU-H5 head unit for 8.5 states:
"The HU-H5 is near identical to the HU-4 except for larger processing power and memory. In addition, the HU-H5 is the first head unit to move to the Secure Feature Activation Token architecture instead of FSC Enabling codes. With this new activation architecture, feature activation (including navigation) must be done automatically with ISTA or Over-the-air. No manual process exists."

Does this limit settings that can be coded using Bimmercode? Will BMW begin allowing more features to be turned on/off over the air, possibly for a fee?

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by darknstormy

Does anyone know what the implications are of the new head unit architecture?

The information on the HU-H5 head unit for 8.5 states:
"The HU-H5 is near identical to the HU-4 except for larger processing power and memory. In addition, the HU-H5 is the first head unit to move to the Secure Feature Activation Token architecture instead of FSC Enabling codes. With this new activation architecture, feature activation (including navigation) must be done automatically with ISTA or Over-the-air. No manual process exists."

Does this limit settings that can be coded using Bimmercode? Will BMW begin allowing more features to be turned on/off over the air, possibly for a fee?

The answer to "will BMW let us" is always no, just expect to have what you have and anything added is a pleasant surprise.

[yeetyeet]

Really, others have touched on it, but after having my car, there is nothing that can give me the “Oh no I am missing out” feeling. I mean geniunely, all is well. These changes outside of personal preference are not massive and no one is losing out on extrodinary changes.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Just like in the other thread where someone is pissed off that the LCI will have extra HP, you can spend your life chasing the latest and greatest but just when you think your happy another change is made the following year and your unhappy again.

This is true. However, there are always changes to be really disappointed you don't have. And some that would merely be nice but you should never think about again.

And then some that go backwards. Like in the '24 Cayenne, Porsche decided that for all colored full leather interiors, the back and sides of the seats would not be black. Along with the center console armrest, and the center of the back seat. It looks horrendous. Also, the center upper console controls by the sunroof would look out of place on a Volkswagen, they are so cheap.

So...not all change is good.

[Game]

For the M3/M4, visually there's not a huge difference between iD8 and 8.5....really just the HVAC system.

If we're talking non-M models, yes 8.5 to me is a huge upgrade.

[mikeyyy003]

I’m just curious if 8 can be upgraded to 8.5 over the air?

[SW19]

Originally Posted by Game

For the M3/M4, visually there's not a huge difference between iD8 and 8.5....really just the HVAC system.

If we're talking non-M models, yes 8.5 to me is a huge upgrade.

Are the heads up display graphics exactly the same with idrive 8 and 8.5 in the non M models

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by mikeyyy003

I’m just curious if 8 can be upgraded to 8.5 over the air?

No. Different hardware.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by kgelfen360

I currently have idrive 7 and and 8. I agree idrive 8 is totally fine.
My biggest complaint is that u can’t scroll into climate menu using ur idrive controller by the gear box. Why can’t u just click down and it takes u to climate. I don’t get it.
Idrive 8.5 seems to be a little better lay out not that much improvement. Incremental

You can create a shortcut to the climate menu and then you're able to use the controller to get to almost everything (except temp)

[Game]

Originally Posted by SW19

Are the heads up display graphics exactly the same with idrive 8 and 8.5 in the non M models

You know I actually didn't check but I'm going to assume they are.