[s58]

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News broke at CES 2023 that iDrive 8.5 will arrive in the MY 2024 5 series, and iDrive 9 with a new X1 "in two months."

Somewhat shocking to hear after iDrive 8 has been slowly trickling to the line up.

"Cars like the BMW 7 Series, 5 Series, and most other BMW models have Linux-based systems, while the new X1, X2, and future MINIs have Android-based systems. So the updated iDrive systems have to be slightly different to work with each system. However, both iDrive 8.5 and iDrive 9 will look identical and have the same user interface. The only differences between the two will be functionality, as iDrive 8.5 will lack some of the features that are available on iDrive 9. For instance, iDrive 9 will get an app store, while iDrive 8.5 won’t."
- https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/01/04/bmw-x1-idrive-9/

- https://carbuzz.com/news/the-next-bm...n-the-5-series

[Cabbage]

Very surprising but always good to see new technology, and what BMW views to be the optimal UI.

[paulo_f80m3]

IDrive 9? Already? This is getting out of hand.

[ThesaVeliona]

Am I the only one that thinks iDrive 7 looks beautiful for it’s age?

Just me?
Ok then.

[Kromans1]

Will these be OTA updates pushed to MY23 cars?

[BTC Maxi]

Originally Posted by paulo_f80m3

IDrive 9? Already? This is getting out of hand.

Shouldn’t idrive9 release in 4 years whenever the current gen 3 series ends production?

[ballagans]

Really interesting, guessing the next 2 series GC and 1 series across the pond are going to have iDrive 9 as well (Mini architecture).

[Connor22]

Try to have the latest BMW OS challenge *IMPOSSIBLE*

[playswcars]

Ay? We just got ID8 like a minute ago

[RCtennis3811]

Well, good to know that fellow i4, X1, X7, and 7 owners with iDrive 8 right now will be screwed over like me this quickly with newer iDrive versions than what’s in our less than 1 year old cars.

[Connor22]

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

Well, good to know that fellow i4, X1, X7, and 7 owners with iDrive 8 right now will be screwed over like me this quickly with newer iDrive versions than what’s in our less than 1 year old cars.

Lol me with my 2022 M240i which only had ID7 for one model year.

[LogicalApex]

lol BMW seriously?

So the 5-Series launching on a brand new platform will get iDrive 8.5, but the X1 will get iDrive 9? lol what a joke.

Then they show iDrive 8.5 is a dead end on arrival as they are ditching their own platform for Android Auto.

They really are struggling hard with the shift toward more technological features.

[Infamy]

I guess they know Idrive 8 is terrible.

[forumlurker]

The screens just get bigger and bigger

[Turkish Pickle]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

Will these be OTA updates pushed to MY23 cars?

I'm assuming not. It sounds like the iD8.5 is a maybe for the UKL cars, but 9 will be based on Android - if so, a fundamental change like that I don't think would be OTA.

I think it's interesting in general that they've went from a Linux-based system to an Android-based one between architectures, that's basically two full-fledged teams working on two separate but basically identical systems, seems kinda redundant. It might be a mid-step now and soon no more linux devs?

[ThesaVeliona]

Infamy ID7 looked a lot better imho.

[TheMaxXHD]

Android based makes it easier to develop on. From a programming pov, Linux is far more powerful, but much more difficult to develop on. It’s much more in house development, whereas Android gives them SDKs and various of other third party tools to work with.

It is likely a bet towards standardization and efficiency of developing. Also apps that work on android systems can easily work on BMWs with little to no effort. Time is money, and BMW is banking on Android doing the heavy lifting for development and features, not their own programmers anymore. Likely where all the car industry is going. Also it runs on slower, more efficient hardware better, ARM architecture vs x86.

Looks like idrive 9 is the death of the idrive controller. Can’t say that impresses me, even as I defend the touch screen climate menu of my car.

Idrive 8.5 is likely not that much different from idrive 8 SP21 from the ix, 7 series, and 2AT. Maybe a few more small features.

Don’t worry folks, idrive 7 and 8 aren’t obsolete yet. This is just really a matter of planning for the future, not the present.The biggest enticing changes will come long term 5+ years from now.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by TheMaxXHD

Android based makes it easier to develop on. From a programming pov, Linux is far more powerful, but much more difficult to develop on. It’s much more in house development, whereas Android gives them SDKs and various of other third party tools to work with.

It is likely a bet towards standardization and efficiency of developing. Also apps that work on android systems can easily work on BMWs with little to no effort. Time is money, and BMW is banking on Android doing the heavy lifting for development and features, not their own programmers anymore. Likely where all the car industry is going. Also it runs on slower, more efficient hardware better, ARM architecture vs x86.

Looks like idrive 9 is the death of the idrive controller. Can’t say that impresses me, even as I defend the touch screen climate menu of my car.

Idrive 8.5 is likely not that much different from idrive 8 SP21 from the ix, 7 series, and 2AT. Maybe a few more small features.

Don’t worry folks, idrive 7 and 8 aren’t obsolete yet. This is just really a matter of planning for the future, not the present.The biggest enticing changes will come long term 5+ years from now.

Actually Bmw said it's design/ergonomics... It's here to stay for certain models

.https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/04/20/b...icking-around/

[br438]

iDrive 7 = peak Bimfotainment.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by forumlurker

The screens just get bigger and bigger

Don’t forget the grills going from regular to supersize.

[azwillnj]

Well that explains why 7 is such a pile of junk and such a beta software experience. They pulled everyone off 7 to do 8 development when they decided to move to Android Automotive. So happy I leased this one so I can abandon it like BMW did. Very concerned they might drop the controller in all models like the X1, touch screens are too distracting, please leave the idrive controller.

[Game]

How's the X1 going to get iD9 in two months when it just released with iD8 a month ago?