ENARANG

Haha all you So called Mercedes-Benz Enthusiasts. Well I have something to say Mercedes will launch some communication system in its 2005 S-class. Guess what it won't be just like iDrive but its gonna be pretty similar. So which way is Mercedes design heading? I can't answer that but Chris Bangle is sure going in the positive direction. If you can't use the iDrive in the 7-series honestly you have to be ridiculously stupid. So stupid that I feel stupid for writing it. I have an 8 year old cousin and he can use the iDrive fine. That tells me something about Mercedes-Benz owners who are afraid to use new technology!

1SICKLEX

Only idiots can understand the idiot who made i-drive and it's idiotic programing..

DUH, the I in i-drive, stands for idiot. And this is another useless thread you started.

WhiteTrash

I agree. 100%. And I, unlike many, speak from EXPERIENCE of living with the damn thing.

I owned a 7 series for over a year, and I-Drive was the most ridiculous thing I have ever experienced. EVER.

Why do you have to toggle through endless menus just to change the radio station?

It's not that I don't understand I-Drive, I just don't understand why it was so POORLY designed and inefficient.

Not to mention, when you are in the middle of getting to the menu that you want, and you happen to take your eyes off the screen for a moment, it re-sets and takes you all the way to the beginning and you have to start over.

Car & Driver's review of the 7-series in the December issue said it best:

In fact, the 745i has buttons and rockers scattered about the dash that let you adjust HVAC and do very basic radio/CD changes without using iDrive. But they're so haphazard in their logic that they only add to the annoyance.

BMW's pickle is made worse by the fact that it's all by itself at the irritating extreme. The Jaguar and the Lexus are very friendly; they have touch screens, surely the easiest input method, and they provide full HVAC and entertainment control without the screen. In fact, you needn't agree with their lawyers if you don't use the navigation.

MB AMG

Well said guys. One bad post and no one will like you for all you newbies out there.

ajayz

Touch screen is the way to go. So easy and you can have almost an infinite amount of buttons if you really need to.

CL55NYC

The iDrive has been a complete disaster for BMW - so much so that in its next version, it is tweaked DOWN from what it is now.

While you may think its idiots that dont know how to use it, never before in BMW history has a single option been the cause of devoted BMW owners opted to return the car and get something else - something other than a BMW.

Feel free to contact BMW North America to confirm.

rgbyhkr

This is old news. Auto Spies had this story with additional details on the design months ago.

MAE Crown Jewel

if they make it, then it will be superior to all other sysstems especially the idiot- drive...

and what does the idrive have to do with bangle he is a designer and he is npt going the right way OK

CarlssonCRS

well if the idrive is so fabulous then why the hell is the 7series selling like a piece of sh*t?

gup998

Is this the name of the technology coming in the Benz where there is a computer or something that talks to the driver?
(e.g. if the driver was to fall a bit sleepy or something...the computer will start to ask questions and get the driver into a conversation.)

nyca

and no SBC, they will not have SBC on the new S class as reported by Automobile magazine. Too costly and complicated, I guess they are learning from their experiences on the W211 E.

GDawgC220

I think MB may be starting to focus towards more quality build instead of pushing the lastest technology (they mentioned to slow down new electronic systems in future models coming)...so in the long run, could be a good thing, IMO.

-G-

BoBcanada

Caliz_Finest

If that pic of the interior is the real deal then Im dissapointed in Mercedes, its a ripoff of the 7 series.... its pathetic

infonaut

They not only said idrive coming but front and rear seat controllers

Next S-class interior

Dema

7 series has very good interior, so I'm glad to see it in Mercedes as well.

Crankin

That picture is bogus. It's an old BMW7 spy photo from years ago.
Someone on another MB forum said they saw the same pic a few years back.

IluvS500

Crankin do you really think so, your not lying, oh god tell me your serious, cuz that will be the best thing in the world if so. I am desperate.

vraa

Hey ENARANG, can you post pictures of your 7-Series with the same angle shot? I was wondering if it was the 7-Series like Crankin said or not

GDawgC220

From all the sites that have written reviews on the '05 S class, those are the interior pics, except finished, which looks much better.

But you know what? If MB is going i-drive style, hopefully they have learned the quirks from BMW and Audi so that they will get it right.

BTW, there is a small tranny control stalk on the steering wheel column...

-G-