BMW iDrive 8.5 - Easy Tutorial 2024 

I like the homescreen of iDrive 8 more. It makes no sense to show the map there all the time, when you daily drive the same route.

Here's an idea for the BMW UI designers: Why don't you remove all those pesky light switches in your house and replace them with an app? That way all you need to do to turn on the light in the bathroom in the morning is start the app, "Light", "Ground Floor", "Bathroom", "On". Sure, it will take 50 times longer and require 50 times more attention, but who cares, it's touch. And that's what we all want, isn't it?

Looking forward to seeing the idrive 9 demo 😊

8.5 in development even with 8.0 having loads of bugs

Bring back buttons. No one wants buttonless cars. The technology is great but I miss the buttons on my car and it seems like everyone who has the new bmw’s say the same

I think this is actually going backwards. Believe it or not, many don’t like having a map in their face all the time and prefer LESS information, not more.

Totally agree, map view should be front and center and additional information at request. So good so far. Looking forward seeing more and more Android apps with the new system and the integration of the Aptoide Automotive store!

looks smart and good question about the upgrade for current cars. 😁

IMHO it looks v busy having maps as Home Screen rather than the tiles. I trust on right hand drive cars the quick access tiles will be on the opposite side or else they are quite far away from the driver. Also when will we get the ability to use our huge IX screens for Netflix etc when parked up.

I hope like hell they did t take away the widget layout!!! I like that fact that I could see multiple widgets at the same time

iDrive 5-7 were solid incremental updates. It was simple and logical. Now we have this software/hardware mess every year and ui complexity. Not even mentionning the "lite" versions and differences between classes. This will be my last BMW.

My 6GT has the 8 programmable hot keys which is super convenient to access at a touch of a button….

I got this in my i4 since its a very recent July build but I would have liked to option to switch between this 'home screen' and the legacy one with the tile structure. Sometimes when I like a map this is fine but there are moments where I would like more info on the main panel and with this new structure its only displaying one widget on the left side at the time. You can NOT customize this layout, so you cant have different split screen options like iDrive of old where you would have a smaller map and par example two rows of widgets / tiles. It's this screen, or no homescreen at all. Which I think kinda sucks. Probably will get used to this but I don't understand why BMW just doesn't give to option to pick what we like or offer more extensive customization. This is also true for the gauge display - customization here is simply subpar compared to Mercedes MBUX or Audi digital dash (no option for even a single form of analog dials par example, which would have been nice). Hope some people will eventually crack this system so we can start seeing some user build themes which offer more functionality and better graphics.

The current iX1's being delivered still have iDrive 8.0. Do you know from which month onwards will the new builds of iX1's will have the new headunit for iDrive 8.5 or 9.0?

would love to see them demo using some of these stuff while driving, my guess is it’s suddenly not so easy

The climate controls are so much better! Thank you BMW!!

This is a nice system as long as you don't use your car for driving.

Will iD8.5 be able to be retrofit on 2024 M3's?

Also we lose the larger access “buttons” down the side and instead they move to tiny ones along the bottom. Not so easy to press when driving

If I already have iDrive 8, am I able to update my car to Idrive 8.5 via remote update? Or is it only on specific models that are coming out that are new?

So much better than before, very impressive! When will we see the I drive 9 demo?

It looks great, but I'd rather have the AC control in a split screen option on the right half of that huge screen and I don't need to see the map all the time. I'd rather like to finally see more individualization options for the left screen like a manually zoomable map showing upcoming speed limits like in the "sygic" app as well and the option to get different designs for the dials - I hate those bulky, L-shaped ones as they don't give me any useful info and block display space that could be used for a bigger map or any other useful info.

Will the new X1 U11 models already on the road with OS 8 get an update to OS 8.5 ?

I see QQ music, how did you get it?

Great video thank you..would love to know if and when the 3 or 4 series will get the new head unit. I believe the 7 series I drive 8 can be updated as it has different hardware in it compared to the 3 series. Hence why the 7 series will play video and the 3 series won't. Again thank you.

BMW needs to hire someone (me?) to fix the icon situation. looks like a 2011 android phone

Any news if old idrive 8 models will get updated to 8.5? all info seems to be conflicting, especially the 3 series lci models?

Yes it was always the 7 series that got the idrivw and a point five, idrive 6.5 no idrive 7.5 but idrive 8.5

I think quik select is realy bad. What an idee to scoll up and down to select the prefered function. Any dropdown meneu is better. How long taket place to select a function, while driving and not looking on the street?

It’s so confusing. There’s really no reason they couldn’t update 8.0 cars to get some of these updates. It’s not like more processing power is needed to keep the heated seats function as a permanent spot next to the temperature controls on the bottom. I had a call with a BMW engineer on it as we talked through the system and that was my biggest complaint/suggestion (that and the heated steering wheel not activating with the automatic seat heating). They reached out to me after I bought a new 2 series I guess because I was one of the first to have iDrive 8 in that model.

Soooo he’s the one to be mad at…. Their cars aren’t seamless and are very difficult to have a continuous phone connection

I am well diversed in Idrive 7 and Idrive 8 and use both daily. I think this new home screen on this 8.5 is a poor use of space. I like the tiles much better. Unfortunately the map in bmw OS (at least here in So Cal) can not be used without first checking Google maps and cross referencing. So to make it the main focus is meh.

Will it increase the seat heating temperature? I am comparing it to the ID7. The seats were hot and stayed hot. On my G07 lci they are non existent. Please fix this!!!!!!! Tech says they are within spec but showed with a laser temp tool they only heated up to 103° on the back and 92° on the seat bottom. If my body is 98.6° I can’t feel 92° That’s a cool seat. 😂. And I realize my skins surface isn’t 98.6° but I just want a heated seat!!!!!!!!! Other than that, I love the ID8!

I said go away or become focused on. Fynite 10-4?

wondering about the 2024 LCI X5M which does have idrive 8, will upgrade to 8.5 be possible?

Is there any information that BMW will upgrade cars with iDrive 8.0 to 8.5?

How does the iDrive controller works with the iDrive 8.5?

what year and model will be upgraded to 8.5?

why the 3 with id 8 can't update to the id 8.5？

Do iDrive 8 cars gets updated to 8.5 or would you need to buy a new vehicle with 8.5?

Will this version be available to update over the air on the G20 LCI?

I hope the 3 series for next year gets 8.5. I was going to get a 2023 m340 but guess I’ll wait for the 2024

Much better than iDrive 8. Hopefully the i4 will get this upgrade.

Graphics of the climate menu on iDrive 8.5 look like an intern’s first attempt at an interface proposal. Why not display an illustration of the dash of the actual car, showing details like the wood/metal/carbon trim, etc. Just like how the menu shows the exterior of the car you’re in with the corresponding color.

Why map is lagging?

Why force the map display? I don't care for the map, I will remove the iD8 map widget first thing when my car is delivered in a few months. Even if 90% of global customers use the map, why force the rest 10% as well? In my country any built-in car navigation is useless.

Give us back the knobs and buttons in cars :) CAN'T put everything on screen, I know it's jus to save money, but customer experience is terrible with everyday functions on screen!!!!!

Is this update or upgrade for every new bmw?

I just bought 2024 X5 50e with parking assistance, but since I have Android, not IPhone , I can't use all those features. When BMW is going to implement Android for that?

The most important function: to turn off the screen, should fbe front and center. Still miss that.

he mentioned a few times about feedback - who is giving the feed back? i would rather have the basic platform of idrive 7 vs this new display and small tiles

So it's like Windows 8.1, it's not entirely new, just a update to existing one.

The climate menu was truly awful on iDrive 8 so it's good that they fixed it. But if you needed customers feedback to actually realize how crappy the UI was before you have absolutely zero business working in interface design. There is no way some high paid employee made the circle layout and then an entire team of UI experts approved it without ever realizing that it's absolutely terrible. Also while the system may be much faster BMW still hasn't figured out how to smoothen out the software. It's still so laggy and non fluid at times. How hard can it be?

What with iX allready on the road ?

Idrive 8 and higher has been a completely disaster. Removing physical HVAC controls and physical favorite buttons. No excuse! I’m avoiding any model year with this system

That’s not very intuitive. The best iDrive version was the NBT Evo and iDrive 7.0. So easy to use

Beyond the climate menu improvements which would never have being a issue to begin with if they hadn’t taken away the physical climate buttons I don’t see this as any improvement. What’s more frustrating is the lack of communication directly from BMW on this subject. Cryptic, ambiguous and poorly written press releases that show a single snapshot of the new look. Who knows what and if cars get updated. It might depend on the week the car gets built, that you are lucky to get the new head unit hardware. Contrast this with say Tesla that generally ensure all their cars get updated. What a shambles.

I actually like how iDrive 8 works when you hit the Climate Control button, at least in X1 2023. What I found rather ugly is a lack of steering wheel heat automation. It would be so nice to measure temperature and heat the wheel automatically. Does anyone know if BMW has any program to provide feedback?

Seriously? They just moved a couple of things around and call it “a brand new operating system”. A marginal improvement, overall a huge disappointment.

BMW - I don't get why we keep changing these versions. Why not mimic Windows and IOS where all units get upgraded and commit to a 5 year refresh cycle for all equipment. Heck - you could even charge me for an upgrade after that point. Last selling point BMW - make a hot-swap computer in the glovebox so that when the OS when I buy the car becomes obsolete, you can sell me a $1,500 upgraded computer module with another 5 years of upgrades.

They havent gotten rid of idrive 7 2023 cars are still being made with it. Already 8.5. If cars in 2023 is being made with idrive 7 then support for that operating system should remain for a couple of years. Unless it defeats the purpose to sell those cars with idrive7.

Would be good to see a comparison clip between this interface and Porsche’s new interface. I love bmw but it seems like in the name of innovation and creativity they are just ruining the brand I am a bmw owner but watching these cars and clips prevents me from upgrading my car cause it doesn’t seem like a proper bmw anymore.

BMW need this on i4, Need this to Add DOG MODE, Someone let BMW KNOW PLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOTAL FAIL. The 8 shortcuts are gone. Climate control buttons are gone. Heated seats and ventilated seats are now have to be turned on / off in software. Even the HEATED STEERING WHEEL BUTTON is gone! No one can dispute that having to navigate a software menu to do simple tasks is safer than a switch you can locate and turn on, without looking, by memory. The fact the common sense has been lost around this is totally mind boggling. Kool Aid drinkers will say use voice commands. But the voice commands are slow and half baked, at best. You can easily press a button and have your attention back on the road before the voice command system is even ready to take your command. Won't buy another BMW until BMW undoes iDrive 8 buttonless stupidity.

Lieber Stephan Durach. Sehr verwirrend und wenig präzise finde ich dieses Video, ich würde mir wünschen, dass Sie das In Ruhe und in Deutsch nochmal für uns Käufer des neuen 5er wiederholen. Über 8.5 ist nichts Gutes im Netz. Mit freundlichem Gruß.

I am sorry but this still looks SO clunky. The engineers have intelligent "reasons" in their minds that makes sense (only to them) as to where they put things where they are on these MANY menues, but for us users, most of this is FUGLY and cluttered and just outright non-intuitive. Someone should just hire a retired Apple exec to redesign this whole mess. Till the, I will be loading Carplay every. single, time.

At least we have a face to the vomit they put on the screen

Oh and do BMW give you a cloth to wipe away all the greasy finger prints of the screen????

Looks like trash

The new idrive system absolutely sucks!!!! If I wanted an two iPad’s glued to the dash I’d have bought a Tesla. Haptic controls are dangerous. Nothing else can be said.