7-Series and beyond

[kharras]

I downloaded the MOV files of the new 7-series' exterior and interior from bmw.com/bmwe/index.htm and I have to say that I really love the interior. I tried out the iDrive system at the Detroit Auto Show. It's great. I don't like the exterior much, though. I think that on the whole it is nice but it is missing trim on the sides (and it's too flat) and more pronounced creases that would give the car a personality and some muscle.

I saw the new 5-series in a British magazine. The rear and the sides look the same, but the front looks like a Ford Contour. What gives? It looks like the 5 is loosing it's BMW look.

By the way, with the iDrive system, will it be possible to run manual transmission with a stick shift and clutch? I haven't heard anything about it, but I don't think it's possible.

Also, I've seen some pictures of the next 6-series. Some pictures show a vehicle close to the Z9 in styling. Others show a different car, but beautiful. None look like the 5 that I saw in the British Magazine. Has anyone heard what the price is going to be?

Thanks

[bmwworld]

No prices have been announced for the 7 Series yet. The only announced prices (except for the Mini) are in the UK where 3 Series prices will rise 1.5% over 2001 model prices.

[gang$tarr]

what does the idrive system do?

[bmwworld]

Using a trackball and a monitor, it's an easy way to navigate and select from about 700 functions. It's like BMW has re-invented for the automobile Microsoft's Start button for Windows computers.

For more details, click here: http://www.bmwworld.com/models/e65b.htm

[Porsche]

It's like a video Game with really, really good graphics.

[kharras]

That's right, it's like a knob/mouse that you use to control over 700 functions with. You move the knob in any of the 8 directions possible to get into a specific function (back is entertainment, for example). You then turn the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise to get to a function (radio, cd, etc.) then click down on the knob to get into that function. You continue like that until you get to the function that you want. Once you've done it a couple of times you can do it without looking at the screen. It becomes intuitive. If you go to bmwworld.com or bmw.com and checkout the new 7 series info you'll see what iDrive is all about.

[bmwworld]

That's a great description of how it works!

If you've been to an auto show where the Z9 was shown, BMW had an iDrive simulator where you could play with it. It's so easy!

[PookJP]

I'm ulta-excited for the iDrive system, but I do have to wonder about the 700+ functions hype. How are they classifying a "function?" I would personally classify the word "function" as being a broad cateogry of action. For instance: volume control on the radio, temperature of the air conditioning, GPS navigation, and so on. I just listed 3 different functions; are there really 697 other ones, or is BMW being a little loose with their definition?

I suspect that by saying 700 different functions, more of what they mean is: Turn radio volume up, turn radio volume down, turn air temperature up, turn air temperature down, switch one CD forward, switch 2 CD forward, switch one CD backward, switch 2 CDs backward, and so on...

Heck, I'd like to be wrong about this (even though I can't fathom 700 totally separate functions), but I doubt I am.

This is in no way meant to take away from the revolutionary system, I'm just questioning the hype.

-Pook

[kharras]

I think that you are right. I think that they are classifying anything and everything as a function. I think that maybe they are being too loose with the term function. However, I think that they want to make sure that people understand that this iDrive system runs almost everything in the car without the use of a conventional dashboard.