BMW Presents the New BMW iDrive 8.5 & 9. Launching With July 2023 Production

[BMWGirlFL]

BMW Presents the New BMW iDrive

+++ Customizable home screen for optimized ease of use
+++ Quick function selection thanks to flat menu structure
+++ BMW iDrive has been setting the standard for intuitive human-car interfaces for over 20 years now +++

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 8, 2023…Today, BMW presents the next stage of development of BMW iDrive. A new home screen with clearly arranged functions offers greater ease of use on the BMW Curved Display. The system’s QuickSelect concept brings an improved menu structure that takes its design inspiration from consumer electronic devices. The new BMW iDrive plays a critical role in delivering a focused, assured driving experience by showing the right information in the right place. The new BMW iDrive system will be gradually introduced in current models over the course of 2023.

“Today, BMW iDrive is more than just a control and operating system – it’s a digital world of experience allowing human and car to interact with one another and exchange information,” remarks Stephan Durach, Senior Vice President BMW Group Connected Company Development. “As we said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2023, we are continuously enhancing the associated user experience based on the latest available technology.” This translates into a broader offering of digital content for information and entertainment, shorter function update cycles, better information on charging points for electric vehicles and improved access to a host of specific online services.

With its new graphic interface and optimized menu structure, BMW iDrive will focus squarely on interaction via the touchscreen and natural language. The BMW Curved Display will continue to serve as the point of interaction for the multi-sensory BMW iDrive experience.

New home screen shows functions on a single level and enables rapid access.

The new zero-layer principle means that all relevant functions and information are shown on a single level, making it possible to select a desired function without first having to enter a submenu. Instead, live widgets appear in a vertical arrangement on the driver’s side of the user interface. These icons can be selected with a swipe of a finger and may be configured individually. The QuickSelect functionality makes it possible to directly select entertainment programs, contact lists and vehicle settings, start interaction with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, or activate other menu options, all by touch. And once the relevant settings have been chosen, a quick tap on the home icon at the lower edge of the display is all it takes to return to the home screen.

BMW orientates itself on today’s operating habits and offers a user experience that fits the high standards of the brand.

The operating concept for the new BMW iDrive therefore aligns with user habits established with today’s consumer electronics devices. The new, flat menu structure makes activating functions and settings much faster and simpler. At the same time, the system goes a long way towards enriching the driving experience in a BMW. The digital content is – just like the hardware, in the form of the BMW Curved Display – designed to enhance the driver focus for which BMW is renowned. BMW iDrive provides the right information in the right place at the right time.

To ensure intuitive interaction while driving, the graphic interface and menu structure feature a layout developed by BMW Group Design that is both consistent and characteristic of the brand. As a result, customers can enjoy a signature BMW user experience at all times.

BMW Operating System 8.5 and BMW Operating System 9 lay the foundations.

The new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect is a further development of the BMW Operating System 8 fitted in current BMW models with BMW Curved Display, and is based on the latest-generation infotainment head units, which is also responsible for graphic processing.

The new BMW Operating System 8.5 will be introduced gradually in the following models beginning with July 2023 production:

BMW 7 Series
BMW iX
BMW i4
BMW X5
BMW X6
BMW X7
BMW XM

It will continue to be based on Linux and will be combined with the largest version of the BMW Curved Display.

The new BMW Operating System 9, based on Android Open Source Project software, will appear in the compact class first in the new BMW X1, beginning with November 2023 production.

The transition from push, turn and press to swipe, tap and natural language.

When the BMW iDrive system was first launched in 2001 with the new BMW 7 Series, its main purpose was to use one display and one interactive element for as many functions as possible in order to cut down on the number of buttons, controls and displays. The BMW iDrive Controller therefore became the universal control device as we knew it from a computer mouse. Scrolling and clicking on a desktop became turning, pushing and pressing in a car – intuitively and with minimal distraction from the road ahead.

After about 20 years, the digital user experience is dominated by touchpads, touch-sensitive smartphone displays and voice assistants. Swiping, tapping and speaking are the most common methods of interaction. The BMW Curved Display’s touchscreen functionality and dialogue using natural language represent the contemporary form of interaction between human and vehicle.

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...-idrive-system

[TheMaxXHD]

While not commenting directly on the new OS’s, I just want to point out how categorically stupid this is from a software management pov and a consumer pov.

For perspective, starting July 2023 according to the document, you will be able to buy current model year, NEW off the production line cars, within BMW’s lineup that includes, idrive 7, idrive 8, or idrive 8.5. If they don’t add any more cars to 8.5 before November 2023, you will be able to buy brand new off the production line cars with any 1 of 4 idrive systems with the inclusion of idrive 9.

This is can only mean 1 thing, you can still buy vehicles brand new that likely won’t be supported long term or even short term software wise. Anyone who just bought an idrive 8 vehicle (assuming OTA/retrofit upgrades are not possible to 8.5), also just got their OTA update support likely decreased dramatically. Not to mention idrive 7 is STILL out there BRAND NEW with the G30 and G01 and will be for likely atleast another year. What a mess.

Edit: Seems like OTA upgrades will be available for most idrive 8 vehicles. However, leaves some ambiguity for G20/G80…

[Bimmerfun82]

See even they knew 8 was subpar

[Flamingi]

Originally Posted by TheMaxXHD

While not commenting directly on the new OS’s, I just want to point out how categorically stupid this is from a software management pov and a consumer pov.

For perspective, starting July 2023 according to the document, you will be able to buy current model year, NEW off the production line cars, within BMW’s lineup that includes, idrive 7, idrive 8, or idrive 8.5. If they don’t add any more cars to 8.5 before November 2023, you will be able to buy brand new off the production line cars with any 1 of 4 idrive systems with the inclusion of idrive 9.

This is can only mean 1 thing, you can still buy vehicles brand new that likely won’t be supported long term or even short term software wise. Anyone who just bought an idrive 8 vehicle (assuming OTA/retrofit upgrades are not possible to 8.5), also just got their OTA update support likely decreased dramatically. Not to mention idrive 7 is STILL out there BRAND NEW with the G30 and G01 and will be for likely atleast another year. What a mess.

8 series was just facelifted a couple months back and also still has ID7, in the worst case it will be sold for 2+ more years (or maybe they will do an infotainment only update like on the G42?). X2 has ID6 (maybe even ID5 on the smaller nav?) and can be ordered new, but it will be replaced shortly.

[Mr. Ocean]

Hopefully they will recode the heat and ventilation seating!

[ASAP]

note to self - delay m3 order further lol

[boogysbmw]

Just got a new 2023 iX and X1. Seems both may get stuck on iDrive 8. This feels like a slap to the face but whatever. Early adopter BS. I don’t personally hate iDrive 8. I barely ever use the screen once I have it set up.

Here is to hoping at least both my cars will get 8.5 😂

[TheMaxXHD]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

See even they knew 8 was subpar

Actually based on the photo we have, it may be quite the opposite. It looks like they are doubling down on touch and hinting strongly at removal of the controller all together with OS9 at the very least. Also is android, which is a double edged sword imo. The screenshot of having widgets as the primary mode of navigation to side with the map always being displayed may make for a worse experience tbh. The home menu button is now at the bottom middle as opposed to upper left. Atleast the menu navigation with the bar to the side was largely kept in tact between idrive 7 and idrive 8, appears like they are getting rid of that starting with 8.5.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Flamingi

8 series was just facelifted a couple months back and also still has ID7, in the worst case it will be sold for 2+ more years (or maybe they will do an infotainment only update like on the G42?). X2 has ID6 (maybe even ID5 on the smaller nav?) and can be ordered new, but it will be replaced shortly.

Moving from iDrive 7 to iDrive8+ requires a dash redesign to accomodate the curved display. For the 8 series the time to do this would have been for MY2023 LCI, but BMW showed their lackluster commitment to the 8 series with very little changing for the LCI. Given the 8 series pretty much goes away after MY2025 (except possibly the GC) it's unlikely BMW will bring an iDrive upgrade to this model.

[RCtennis3811]

Well, I feel good knowing I’m in the same boat as current, new 7-Series owners who are also getting the shaft with iDrive 8.5’s rollout. 👋

Meanwhile, I’m still here painfully hoping this might become a reality for us iDrive 8 users…

https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/10/11/b...al-games-2023/

[jdub486]

When does LCI x5 production start? Is it going to have 2 months with ID8 and then switch to ID8.5? That would suck.

[xlover]

I dont really see much different in the UX for 8.5 (admittedly only 1 screen shot here and the other screen shot from CES) other than further touch optimization.

It seems like 8.5 is mostly bringing a few nit features to the UI to align with some ideas BMW liked for the touch only idrive 9

What I am seeing, menu that sits on left hand side of ID8 now has quick access from lower bar, these icons will now survive dives into the apps where in the current format users has to return home to access them.... is that it?

i dunno i think this 8/8.5 thing is overblown to some extent till we get more actual feature detail. my guess is the back end features that run the various modules will essentially be updated equally except in cases where hardware is different, for example highway assistant capable vs older traffic jam assistant only

[dasistato]

Should I regret gettin id7?

Hoping they continue to push updates until warranty expires at least..

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

See even they knew 8 was subpar

How did you come to that conclusion?

iDrive 5/6 - 2015 or 2016 (iDrive 5 was short lived IIRC)

iDrive 7 - 2018

iDrive 8 - 2021

iDrive 8.5/9 - 2023

There’s no drastic timeline change on moving from 8 to 8.5/9. And if if there were, 8.5/9 at least from a UX perspective is building on 8, it’s the OS and the back-end that’s changing, so not sure how you can say it was subpar when they’re just pivoting strategies like ever other OEM.

[LogicalApex]

The 5-Series new platform isn’t mentioned here.

Surely, BMW isn’t going to put iDrive 7 on the 5-Series G60 that should be starting production in July 2023.

[Raikkonen]

So for someone like myself, who is about to order a new X7, which apparently will not include these updates, what are the real-world advantages to this software upgrade?

I currently have 7 (which I love) and have no experience with 8, hence my question.

I lease, so I'm not too concerned with long-term support, however I will delay my order by a few months if this "upgrade" is transformative, as opposed to evolutionary...

Is it just the simplification of the interface (home screen) so you don't have to navigate as many sub-menus while driving???

[TheMaxXHD]

Originally Posted by xlover

I dont really see much different in the UX for 8.5 (admittedly only 1 screen shot here and the other screen shot from CES) other than further touch optimization.

It seems like 8.5 is mostly bringing a few nit features to the UI to align with some ideas BMW liked for the touch only idrive 9

What I am seeing, menu that sits on left hand side of ID8 now has quick access from lower bar, these icons will now survive dives into the apps where in the current format users has to return home to access them.... is that it?

i dunno i think this 8/8.5 thing is overblown to some extent till we get more actual feature detail. my guess is the back end features that run the various modules will essentially be updated equally except in cases where hardware is different, for example highway assistant capable vs older traffic jam assistant only

The issue isn’t necessarily feature improvements, it really is software update improvements. BMW touts software upgrades as a major idrive feature (and has since idrive 7), but yet fails in many cases to significantly introduce significant improvements via OTA. Leaving that to only new entire releases of idrive. It is often bug fixes and only minor feature enhancements only. iDrive 8 SP21 versions have been an exception, but I wonder for how long, given 8.5 is now just around the corner.

There is no reason they can’t offer good improvements via OTA, they just don’t have the development bandwidth to do so, in part because they are stretched too thin already. Hence their move to android with os9, taking development significantly out of their hands.

[wavyyyy]

Any chance ID8’s will be able to be software updated to ID8.5? They already have the curved display.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

How did you come to that conclusion?

iDrive 5/6 - 2015 or 2016 (iDrive 5 was short lived IIRC)

iDrive 7 - 2018

iDrive 8 - 2021

iDrive 8.5/9 - 2023

There’s no drastic timeline change on moving from 8 to 8.5/9. And if if there were, 8.5/9 at least from a UX perspective is building on 8, it’s the OS and the back-end that’s changing, so not sure how you can say it was subpar when they’re just pivoting strategies like ever other OEM.

Personal experience
Your timing is off. 2023 is iD8.

[Mako]

This is the shitty part about car buying today. Infotainment tech is making cars feel dated that shouldn’t be and will really hurt values down the road. Electric cars will be even worse as you are just buying a piece of tech like a phone. Imagine trying to sell a 5-6 year old electric car that only has 75% charge when solid state batteries arrive.

[thebigcheese]

Will the new M3CS be 8 or 8.5?

[forcefed]

Originally Posted by TheMaxXHD

you will be able to buy brand new off the production line cars with any 1 of 4 idrive systems with the inclusion of idrive 9.

If you include the Supra that makes it 5, it uses iDrive 6 🤯