[pg80]

Does anybody have experience with both? I have an M240. Hitting the docs today and I was under the impression that cars built after July 2023 were able to get 8.5 but now I’m being told that it’s not possible and I’m trying to decide if I don’t want to accept the car or not because I don’t really want to get stuck with iDrive eight but I’m looking for insight from anyone who has used iDrive eight or both if it’s that big of a deal or not, I have no experience with it past the videos I have seen on the Internet

[BG42]

Send it back

[pg80]

Originally Posted by BG42

Send it back

Is it that bad ?

[KevinC]

You could stress over this forever. IDrive 9 is right around the corner with all-new Android Auto OS, new hardware, and SMALLER center screen. Are you going to return the 8.5 car when that comes out??

[pg80]

Originally Posted by KevinC

You could stress over this forever. IDrive 9 is right around the corner with all-new Android Auto OS, new hardware, and SMALLER center screen. Are you going to return the 8.5 car when that comes out??

There’s so much conflicting information on the Internet, especially this forum about this topic Idrive 8.5 just looks more finished than Idrive 8 to me and from what I was told that car will never be able to run anything but Idrive 8 I just have no experience with either of them really I was just curious if it was as bad as everybody was making it sound I currently have Idrive 7 I think I’ll let the car hit the dealership and see if it will allow them to update it. If not, I’ll have to make up my mind.

[BG42]

What was/is so bad about it let's start there.

[KJ10]

You'll be chasing infotainment updates forever. I have Idrive 8 and it works just fine for me.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by KJ10

You'll be chasing infotainment updates forever. I have Idrive 8 and it works just fine for me.

Okay was just curious so many people were complaining about it just wanted someone’s opinion with users experience

[WA]

Originally Posted by pg80

Does anybody have experience with both? I have an M240. Hitting the docs today and I was under the impression that cars built after July 2023 were able to get 8.5 but now I’m being told that it’s not possible and I’m trying to decide if I don’t want to accept the car or not because I don’t really want to get stuck with iDrive eight but I’m looking for insight from anyone who has used iDrive eight or both if it’s that big of a deal or not, I have no experience with it past the videos I have seen on the Internet

There was this blog article from last August that might be a reason for ongoing misinformation ...
https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/08/09/2...et-idrive-8-5/

... which says According to a BMW dealer, the BMW iDrive 8.5 will be available for the 2024 Model Year 2 Series as an update.

Most dealers in my experience are not a great source of product information, as their focus is on selling cars, making money. The product (and accurate information about it) is a bit secondary. And in this case, what the dealer apparently told him turned out to be false.

Not great "journalism" (he describes himself as a journalist, and founder of the site) that he didn't get better, more official confirmation, and that the article is still as is, uncorrected.

I have a 2024 with iDrive8, and from what I've seen 8.5 is a minor improvement to the UI, but not drastic. The changes might be all UI, meaning cosmetic, not actual new/different functions we would be "missing out" on with iDrive8.

So while I was also disappointed that mine didn't have 8.5 for those minor improvements, I didn't see it as a reason to forgo delivery.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by WA

There was this blog article from last August that might be a reason for ongoing misinformation ...
https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/08/09/2...et-idrive-8-5/

... which says According to a BMW dealer, the BMW iDrive 8.5 will be available for the 2024 Model Year 2 Series as an update.

Most dealers in my experience are not a great source of product information, as their focus is on selling cars, making money. The product (and accurate information about it) is a bit secondary. And in this case, what the dealer apparently told him turned out to be false.

Not great "journalism" (he describes himself as a journalist, and founder of the site) that he didn't get better, more official confirmation, and that the article is still as is, uncorrected.

I have a 2024 with iDrive8, and from what I've seen 8.5 is a minor improvement to the UI, but not drastic. The changes might be all UI, meaning cosmetic, not actual new/different functions we would be "missing out" on with iDrive8.

So while I was also disappointed that mine didn't have 8.5 for those minor improvements, I didn't see it as a reason to forgo delivery.

Unfortunately, for me I think 8.5 just looks nicer visually it looks more finished at this point. I think I’m still going to accept delivery the interface isn’t the reason ordered the car in the first place. I’m just disappointed about it. I also read that at some point BMW was going to update the M40i cars to the M version of iDrive but now I’m questioning that as well i’m not sure if anyone else has heard anything about that because that’s what I am really after but I’m wondering since it doesn’t run 8.5 if it will happen at all for the cars locked at 8

[BG42]

You have to take youtube reviews with a grain of salt, they all want to be famous and had the car for 4 hours if they were lucky.

[Gravityct]

The way I look at the 2024 with id8 is that all the little quirks have been sorted out, as its likely the final iteration, and even if it's able to be upgraded to 8.5 you'd be gambling with "new" software. Enjoy the car for what it is and in a few years you'll have all the more justification to trade in for the new hotness.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by BG42

You have to take youtube reviews with a grain of salt, they all want to be famous and had the car for 4 hours if they were lucky.

It was that BMW blog article which should definitely be taken down at this point and many other forum posts on here people going back-and-forth. I just didn’t know what was true I’m still gonna ask the dealership to look at the car when it comes in and see if it is possible, but it doesn’t look like it is.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by Gravityct

The way I look at the 2024 with id8 is that all the little quirks have been sorted out, as its likely the final iteration, and even if it's able to be upgraded to 8.5 you'd be gambling with "new" software. Enjoy the car for what it is and in a few years you'll have all the more justification to trade in for the new hotness.

I’m gonna lease it for three years and then possibly buy it at the end was my plan small two-door coops are not long for this world. It seems especially gas ones.

[dy444]

Each to their own but I'm not sure this is worth getting too worked up about. I've been living with iDrive 8 for nearly 8 months now and overall I'd say it is pretty good. Yes I have some gripes with it and there are things I'd change if I was in charge, but I don't drive around thinking this car is lacking because of it. Quite the reverse. The last software update even fixed one of my gripes which I don't recall ever having happened before. I have no idea if 8.5 or 9 will better, sometimes BMW's idea of an improvement isn't my idea of one. I didn't know 9 had a smaller screen, that seems a retrograde step on the face of it.

These cars are excellent imo, and almost all of the reasons I think that are related to things that are independent of the iDrive version.

[Invisiblename]

Having come from BMWs with iDrive 6 & 7, I find I much prefer 8

[Prince Thundernight]

Originally Posted by pg80

Does anybody have experience with both? I have an M240. Hitting the docs today and I was under the impression that cars built after July 2023 were able to get 8.5 but now I’m being told that it’s not possible and I’m trying to decide if I don’t want to accept the car or not because I don’t really want to get stuck with iDrive eight but I’m looking for insight from anyone who has used iDrive eight or both if it’s that big of a deal or not, I have no experience with it past the videos I have seen on the Internet

You planning on using with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?
If so, then it doesn't really matter if it's 8 or 8.5, as the phone interface will overlay it. Sure, the climate menu is more fiddly in 8, but that's it.
Day-to-day, I'm only looking at the CarPlay interface.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by PRINCE THUNDERNIGHT

You planning on using with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?
If so, then it doesn't really matter if it's 8 or 8.5, as the phone interface will overlay it. Sure, the climate menu is more fiddly in 8, but that's it.
Day-to-day, I'm only looking at the CarPlay interface.

I use Idrive I actually prefer it at least I do with Idrive 7

[pg80]

Originally Posted by dy444

Each to their own but I'm not sure this is worth getting too worked up about. I've been living with iDrive 8 for nearly 8 months now and overall I'd say it is pretty good. Yes I have some gripes with it and there are things I'd change if I was in charge, but I don't drive around thinking this car is lacking because of it. Quite the reverse. The last software update even fixed one of my gripes which I don't recall ever having happened before. I have no idea if 8.5 or 9 will better, sometimes BMW's idea of an improvement isn't my idea of one. I didn't know 9 had a smaller screen, that seems a retrograde step on the face of it.

These cars are excellent imo, and almost all of the reasons I think that are related to things that are independent of the iDrive version.

My understanding of the smaller screen it’s x1 and x2 that have smaller screens but I’m fine now it was just a shock to find out it won’t havw 8.5 when I thought for months it would I’ll post it up when I take delivery it’s in Baltimore currently

[BG42]

The rubber horn cover is probably going to really bind you up.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by BG42

The rubber horn cover is probably going to really bind you up.

I know about it I think it’s kinda sad that the price of theses cars keeps going up and they keep cost cutting stuff the 2 series especially

[TJZ67201]

Originally Posted by BG42

The rubber horn cover is probably going to really bind you up.

So many ppl are downplaying it but I think it looks so ridiculously cheap 🤮 I would definitely “upgrade” to a stitched leather if I got stuck with that BS