KKSPEED

I dont' understand the vicious attacks on Chris Bangle.

He designs one controversial rear-end and gets slammed as Chris Bungle!

I am always impressed when BMW redesigns one of their cars.
After viewing the newer model, the older one is instantly obsolete.

p.s. BMW designs better engines than Mercedes-Benz

S55inPA

hey everyone,

the new and old 7 series were already obsolete when the S class was redesigned back in 1998. as for the new 7.......i would suggest a visit to your local EYE DOCTOR!!!

KKSPEED

I-Drive is too complicated. I was shocked when BMW put that system in the new 7 series. That's more of a Lexus gimmick!

p.s. Mercedes-Benz cannot touch BMW in Formula 1! It is a well know fact in F1 that BMW is making more horsepower!

S55inPA

hey kkspeed,

keep in mind that the budget for F1 racing most likely comes from the sales of BMW automobiles. with that disaster on the new 7 ......they just might be making less horsepower this year!
i'm not a betting man but iwould be willing to bet that the rear end of the 7 series is redesigned withing 18 months.

KKSPEED

Hey S55inPA,

Would you take a serious look / test drive of the 745I if BMW redesigned the rear end and put the I-Drive in the circular filing cabinet (Trash Can)?

Be Honest!!

marauder

Has anyone here actually used iDrive for more than a few minutes? My impression is that 90% of the time, you don't use it. You can control the car in every way that you would normally control a car through buttons and controls without having to go through iDrive: a CD player, radio preset controls, a cell phone, windows, locks, dual-zone climate control, seat adjustments, etc. No driving functions are in the iDrive: transmission, signals, wipers, etc. are all controlled through traditional controls. The only thing that I can think of where the iDrive would be necessary is the navigation system.

I think most people are scared of having to learn a new interface, which is understandable. I also think that with some practice, owners learn to use their iDrive much better. It's like a new remote control -- it's different and you have to learn which button is where, but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Lots of functions built into iDrive aren't really functions and are rarely used, like changing the language or diagnosing the vehicle. Maybe it's ahead of its time. There are lots of people who get frustrated with technology and there are still people who can't figure out how to use email, so maybe the public isn't ready for such a car. I think the iDrive concept, combined with the haptic input and voice recognition, it's promising for cars to come.

Unfortunately, I've only had about 15 minutes of time with the iDrive. Are there any owners here that might provide some perspective on their experiences and their learning curve?

That being said, I think BMW needs to work very closely with iDrive developer Immersion to solve the bugs that are in the system. I've been hearing of all kinds of little bugs. Not surprising for a first year German car, but it certainly looks bad when trying out a new approach to vehicle design.

Fast Eddy

I don't mind the iDrive but they could have deleted 600 functions out of over 700 and it would be 600 times better, I could put up with the bushy eyebrows that front turn signals on that thing are but I firmly believe that the fugly rear end on new 7 is a reson to go to war even without prior congressional aproval.

DeeGuy

I drive stand for Idiot drive, the front looks like buick rendevouz, the back, yeah like camry. No offense, but it looks muscular though

Tezta

Im not a BMW fan so honeslty i couldn care a less how the 7 looks like. But the new lease deal from BMW does look pretty damn tempting. $799 36months, a lot better than the 2002 S-classes with rebate.