[farns2345]

Bmw better step up their gauge game. The virtual cockpit in audi and the mercs digital gauges are far better than what's currently in the 5 series and this preview of what's probably coming in the new z roadster and the 8 series isn't any better imo. It still looks far behind and just not as visually appealing as what's in the audi and the merc.

[paul223]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Since when does a tachometer measure upward going counterclockwise?

Instant Fail.

Aston Martin style

[rolltidef32]

Cluster is a step in the right direction, but sort of late to the game.

Both Benz and Audi figured out the digital cluster a few years ago and the moving of nav to the center gauges.

With the HUD and iPad type screen from the last gen, BMW seemed to take the lead, however, they sort of shit the bed since 2011 and have been slow to get this off the ground.

Better late than never, but the company needs to refocus to actually "lead" in automotive development rather than wait for a trend to follow.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by paul223

Aston Martin style

On a car that has absolutely zero to do with an Aston.

As previously stated: Still a fail.

[doogee]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

On a car that has absolutely zero to do with an Aston.

As previously stated: Still a fail.

It would look ridiculously bad if the RPM started from the top.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by doogee

It would look ridiculously bad if the RPM started from the top.

True. At least there's that ...

Better alternative: a flat bar along the top of the nacelle, a la many race cars, Honda S2000, McLaren 720S (closed mode), etc. "Sport" gauges aren't about looking pretty or symmetric; they're about conveying info as quickly and unobtrustively as possible.

As for the rest of this design: Just horrible. Too much color, too much stylization, too much fading of edges that hurts contrast and, thus, creates poor readability. Mercedes and VW AG (VW, Audi, Porsche) are doing this far, far better.

[La24fan]

Can you upgrade it from the BMW 6.0 display? Or even from a 2018 540xi system lol.

[SpenceRx]

I still think the Porsche solution with a single RPM analogue gauge is ideal.

Neat tech though.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by SpenceRx

I still think the Porsche solution with a single RPM analogue gauge is ideal.

Neat tech though.

Precisely. It'll be cool to see if the new Panamera dash comes to the next-gen 911 relatively untouched. Spy shots suggest that it will.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by sr5959

I love well done all digital displays but these look awful to me. Why the weird shape for speed/tach displays? Also all the info is very badly organized within the display.

Agreed - the overall display looks good I think, but when you're trying to find specific information within, it's not that easy....

[wdeerfield]

ok. who's going to be first to figure out how to winamp skin this thing so we can do whatever we want to it.

[mrmoua2u]

BMW is way far behind when it comes to gauge displays. Get with it, its already 2018.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

ok. who's going to be first to figure out how to winamp skin this thing so we can do whatever we want to it.

Yep, and because of that the display becomes a cheap commodity feature rather than something that's unique to the brand.

[MacklinUSOB]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Forgot about that; haven't sat in an Aston for a very long time.

It's counter-intuitive (pun partially intended) unless you're used to it, I suppose -- as jarring as digital numeric speedos were 20 years ago. In my mind, it's ergonomically dubious on a car with some of the most iconic gauges of the last two generations.

Still a fail. But thanks for the Aston context. Crazy Brits ... ;-/

Won't say I'm a huge fan of them, either. We'll have to see how it stacks up, but while I was in Germany I had an Audi TT with the digital cluster and I really enjoyed it, that has a clockwise tach, though

A BMW calling card has always been their amber lit guage clusters, most particularly, the vaccuum operate fuel consumption needle below the tach. I don't want know how much time I have spent looking at that needle bounce around between my old e36, e38, and now my F30.

[M3 Adjuster]

it would be nice for BMW to perhaps use this fantastic digital display to bring back a REAL temperature gauge and a REAL oil pressure measurement ?

[LeMans E90]

"Change is bad" is all I'm reading.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

it would be nice for BMW to perhaps use this fantastic digital display to bring back a REAL temperature gauge and a REAL oil pressure measurement ?

Yep, because the typical BMW customer is missing a oil pressure gauge 🙄

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by LeMans E90

"Change is bad" is all I'm reading.

No it's not. The digital gauges in the 2 Series/M2 are cool ... as is the aforementioned Porsche application:





Everything but the tach itself is digital. It's simple, readable, configurable, and ergonomically sound. The only things I feel are missing from it are larger bar graphs of major measurements and ditching the goofy fake reflection in the lower part of each dial.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Figurka

Yep, because the typical BMW customer is missing a oil pressure gauge ��

Somewhat agreed regarding oil pressure -- but not coolant or oil temperature. For a 'Sport' cluster, these things should be, IMHO, mandatory -- even if it's a 'padded' reading.

At least make it configurable like Porsche and Audi do, so the customer has the choice to display it or not. As it is now, keeping track of stuff like that means shelling out several hundred for an aftermarket OBD-II solution, which no customer of a sport-oriented car should have be forced to do to monitor the car.

EDIT: Actually, I'll expand that statement: No customer of a vehicle that could be operated under heavy load should have be forced to buy an aftermarket gauge solution. The reason I expanded the statement: Pickup trucks. Most full-size trucks have a full complement of gauges because it's a reasonable assumption that the truck will be used for more than light duty: hauling, towing, and the like. Isn't is also a reasonable assumption that a sport-oriented car like, say, an M2 would also be used for more than light duty (i.e., track, backroads driving, etc.)?

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Somewhat agreed regarding oil pressure -- but not coolant or oil temperature. For a 'Sport' cluster, these things should be, IMHO, mandatory -- even if it's a 'padded' reading.

At least make it configurable like Porsche and Audi do, so the customer has the choice to display it or not. As it is now, keeping track of stuff like that means shelling out several hundred for an aftermarket OBD-II solution, which no customer of a sport-oriented car should have be forced to do to monitor the car.

On a race or super car okay. A M3/M4 is a sport sedan/coupe not a super car. If something is wrong with your car you get a message on the dash. Most M car owner aren't hunting for seconds on the track.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Figurka

On a race or super car okay. A M3/M4 is a sport sedan/coupe not a super car. If something is wrong with your car you get a message on the dash. Most M car owner aren't hunting for seconds on the track.

I don't want a message on my dash when I'm in Turns 18-20 of my favorite road course on a track day. I want a gauge so I know when trouble is coming -- not when it's already happened.

Similarly, I don't want a message on my dash to tell me that my engine is overheating because the cooling fan just failed on my 2 Series. I want a gauge to be able to monitor when a problem might be coming -- not when it's already here.

And finally, no dash message is going to tell me that my car actually runs cooler in sportier driving modes -- a handy fact to know if, like me, you drive in temperatures well over 100 degrees.

Shall I go on?

Sorry. We'll agree to disagree here.

[LOW4LYF]

Idk, may you track more than I do. But never had any issues with low oil pressure on a track.