[ANovak]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

Cons:

• That new font...where'd they get THAT from? Wal-Mart?
• That font! Where'd they get that from? Target?

Both the old and the new font look like Arial to me. It is a very common font in computers.

[KevinC]

I thank the automotive gods on a daily basis that I don't have to deal with this woebegone device. I'm continually amused at how BMW "improves" iDrive by removing functions, (or alternatively) returning them to their original, dash-operated conventional controls.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by KevinC

I thank the automotive gods on a daily basis that I don't have to deal with this woebegone device.

dude, what on earth is woebegone?

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by txusa03

dude, what on earth is woebegone?

It's that ugly, malignant bulge in the middle of the dash of some unfortunate BMW owners.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

LOL.... sounding more & more like Microsoft service packs
- sometimes they screw up more than they fix

They sure do. After I wrote this post, I discovered that the voice commands "current position" and "assistance window current position" have been removed in this release.

If BMW really wanted to be the place of "ideas" they ought to get some from customers. What would it have taken for them to invite 10 or 15 of us to preview this release? They'd have discovered one thing software companies know well: you remove functionality at the severe risk of pissing off your best customers.

[glamprecht]

This is a parallell universe. One for software developers and one for the rest of us.

This is how the software guys work:
----------------------------------
repeat
{
if( it_works ) change(it);
if( a_problem ) leave(it);
for(n=free_memory;n>0;n++) slow_down_machine();
}until( customer pissed off)

This is how the rest work
------------------------
* please fix the problems and leave the rest as is.
* please test the equipment before you release
* write better software, not more

.....and as an old friend would say: Better is the enemy of Good enough.

[klaxian]

What is the latest software version? How can I make sure I have it? Is there any place to see it in the iDrive interface? I just took delivery of my 335i coupe last week, but I heard there may be a software update for 335s recently.

Lastly, have any of these updates changed the performance (for better or worse) of your cars? or do they just improve the iDrive UI? Thanks!

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Not sure how you can list these as cons. You make it seem as if the features disappeared or something. Early E90s simply don´t have these features.

What do you mean by "early"?
Our pre-Sept build iDrive 330i definitely has user programmable DRL. [Edited by author to point out that this is an absolutely incorrect statement -- pre-Sep 2005 owner cannot enable/disable DRL from iDrive]Are we gonna lose that if we do the Emissions recall?

Also, I fail to see ANY difference in the fonts (at least from the pictures posted here). Are they really that noticable up close?

Mike

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Kimo

What do you mean by "early"?
Our pre-Sept build iDrive 330i definitely has user programmable DRL. Are we gonna lose that if we do the Emissions recall?


Mike

Pre September 2005 is usually reffered to "early cars".

You wont loose anything you already have

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by Kimo

What do you mean by "early"?
Our pre-Sept build iDrive 330i definitely has user programmable DRL. Are we gonna lose that if we do the Emissions recall?

Also, I fail to see ANY difference in the fonts (at least from the pictures posted here). Are they really that noticable up close?

Mike

Mine doesn't, and the dealer insists it cannot. My 330i with iDrive was built in June of 2005.

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Pre September 2005 is usually reffered to "early cars".

You wont loose anything you already have

Thanks Fleet, but this is inconsistent with what others seem to be reporting in this thread, i.e. that they HAD it and lost it.

We have it, and don't WANT to lose it.

[ntpcrew13]

Originally Posted by Kimo

What do you mean by "early"?
Our pre-Sept build iDrive 330i definitely has user programmable DRL. Are we gonna lose that if we do the Emissions recall?

Also, I fail to see ANY difference in the fonts (at least from the pictures posted here). Are they really that noticable up close?

Mike

I am unsure when my car's build date was, but I did get my car May of 2005. Please let us know what build date your car is or when you got your car. I do not have the capability to program DRL. I specifically asked/told my SA not to program the DRL feature, but this last visit they were on. I asked him to turn this feature off, but he insisted that once it is programmed it cannot be reversed. I am set up for an appointment at another dealership to turn this feature off. I hope they can turn it off.

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by ntpcrew13

I am unsure when my car's build date was, but I did get my car May of 2005. Please let us know what build date your car is or when you got your car. I do not have the capability to program DRL. I specifically asked/told my SA not to program the DRL feature, but this last visit they were on. I asked him to turn this feature off, but he insisted that once it is programmed it cannot be reversed. I am set up for an appointment at another dealership to turn this feature off. I hope they can turn it off.

July 2005 production
August 2005 delivery

Our car has idrive with the DRL programming capability. It has never been updated.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by canucklion

you folks sure are picky the new font looks fine to me!

that's waht i said earlier...

[BK]

Originally Posted by Kimo

Also, I fail to see ANY difference in the fonts (at least from the pictures posted here). Are they really that noticable up close?

Easiest to see the minor difference in the fonts in the animated GIF at the top of this page. The new font is very slightly skinnier. Almost like the old font is the "bold" version of the new.

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by BK

Easiest to see the minor difference in the fonts in the animated GIF at the top of this page. The new font is very slightly skinnier. Almost like the old font is the "bold" version of the new.

Gotcha. Thanks.
I'm sure she can live with that.
At least it ain't Old English or wingdings!!

[TommyBahama]

what is DRL?

[aapriadi]

DRL - daytime running lights
am i right guys?

[TommyBahama]

Originally Posted by aapriadi

DRL - daytime running lights
am i right guys?

ahh ok great thanks!

my dad always tells me to put on my fog lights since i dont have DRLs. my 330i was one of the first off the boat.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by TommyBahama

what is DRL?

Daylight Running Lights. Sub-headlights that are on whenever the engine is running.

[cabrioitalia]

Could someone post a picture of the right side of the iDrive screen with vehicle position showed?
I'd like to know if, using the new font, navigation system shows more letters than before about streets, towns etc...
Thanks.

[glamprecht]

Not that I could notice. I also have a problem with the font density, but they cant do too much about it, because it is a low resolution screen and smaller or thinner fonts would be too difficult to read anyway or may require too much concentration while driving.