[bonwit904]

So i just picked up an e93 M3 My 2011, and also have a 2009 335xi - obviously both have the 2.0 iDrive system. However the 2011 I just got has some new features on the iDrive - specifically in satellite radio I noticed - and some really nice ones at that also!

New Features

1. A "Tertiary" menu between the 'satellite radio' station list and the 'radio input' list where you can access these new features such as traffic station quick jump, favorites (different than presets), etc...
2. "TimeShift??" - essentially lets you pause (buffer) sat radio for up to one hour so you can stop, pause, rewind for the lesser of up to 60 minutes prior or however long satellite radio has been tuned in at any point in time. It does all this with organizing everything in the 60min memory by song as well so you can scroll through songs, programs that you have been tuned into within the last hour. This is a great feature if heard a song and want to hear it again, have to take a phone call, etc...Note this feature is under the aforementioned new tertiary menu.

Note that the above features are not present on my 2009 - which was updated to the latest software in March 2010 (ISTA/P 2.37??). Do you think this is available as an upgrade yet for us? will it ever be? Anyone in the know please share!!

I am certain it will never be available for pre-LCI idrive's as they dont have the hard drive where the buffering takes place for the features above, not to mention the new user interface, etc...

[m_thompson]

What revision of software is installed on the M3?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

So i just picked up an e93 M3 My 2011, and also have a 2009 335xi - obviously both have the 2.0 iDrive system. However the 2011 I just got has some new features on the iDrive - specifically in satellite radio I noticed - and some really nice ones at that also!

New Features

1. A "Tertiary" menu between the 'satellite radio' station list and the 'radio input' list where you can access these new features such as traffic station quick jump, favorites (different than presets), etc...
2. "TimeShift??" - essentially lets you pause (buffer) sat radio for up to one hour so you can stop, pause, rewind for the lesser of up to 60 minutes prior or however long satellite radio has been tuned in at any point in time. It does all this with organizing everything in the 60min memory by song as well so you can scroll through songs, programs that you have been tuned into within the last hour. This is a great feature if heard a song and want to hear it again, have to take a phone call, etc...Note this feature is under the aforementioned new tertiary menu.

Note that the above features are not present on my 2009 - which was updated to the latest software in March 2010 (ISTA/P 2.37??). Do you think this is available as an upgrade yet for us? will it ever be? Anyone in the know please share!!

I am certain it will never be available for pre-LCI idrive's as they dont have the hard drive where the buffering takes place for the features above, not to mention the new user interface, etc...

Those features are part of the software and hardware changes for MY2010 iDrive... the Sirius tuner is built into the iDrive.

I don't think that we will see those features in the 2009 iDrive regardless of software updates.

[bonwit904]

Originally Posted by Technic

Those features are part of the software and hardware changes for MY2010 iDrive... the Sirius tuner is built into the iDrive.

I don't think that we will see those features in the 2009 iDrive regardless of software updates.

I know they did have some hardware changes for MY 2010 - specifically the sat radio module was included in all cars within the core iDrive internals, and not as a plug in accessory.

However I dont see how that makes a difference to the features mentioned above - specifically the instant replay type feature. The buffering is occurring through a partition on the hard drive where it caches up to 1 hr of time. Whether or not the system is pulling the raw data from the an internal sat radio module or a plugged in sat radio module (all pre MY2010 cars) should not make a difference - as this functionality is occuring at a "processor" level not at an input level.

I think this may be one of those features they are not going to add because they want to draw a line in the sand somewhere - so as not to deter current MY2009 owners from purchasing a new vehicle. While this one feature may not make the difference for someone (and if it does, get a life) a combination of all the new features in aggregate that they wont fit to MY 2009 cars may...

With that said, hopefully someone has some more info on this from BMW NA

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Technic

Those features are part of the software and hardware changes for MY2010 iDrive... the Sirius tuner is built into the iDrive.

I don't think that we will see those features in the 2009 iDrive regardless of software updates.

Totally agree.

This is just the reality of going with a OEM vehicle integrated infotainment system. Upgrades will pass you by in time.

Anyway, kudos for BMW for continuing efforts to improve the system.

(and kudos to you again Technic, for always being so damn on top of every little development in the Idrive world - you are a fantastic resource).

[Technic]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

I know they did have some hardware changes for MY 2010 - specifically the sat radio module was included in all cars within the core iDrive internals, and not as a plug in accessory.

However I dont see how that makes a difference to the features mentioned above - specifically the instant replay type feature. The buffering is occurring through a partition on the hard drive where it caches up to 1 hr of time. Whether or not the system is pulling the raw data from the an internal sat radio module or a plugged in sat radio module (all pre MY2010 cars) should not make a difference - as this functionality is occuring at a "processor" level not at an input level.

I think this may be one of those features they are not going to add because they want to draw a line in the sand somewhere - so as not to deter current MY2009 owners from purchasing a new vehicle. While this one feature may not make the difference for someone (and if it does, get a life) a combination of all the new features in aggregate that they wont fit to MY 2009 cars may...

With that said, hopefully someone has some more info on this from BMW NA

That's what I said behind what I wrote.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Totally agree.

This is just the reality of going with a OEM vehicle integrated infotainment system. Upgrades will pass you by in time.

Anyway, kudos for BMW for continuing efforts to improve the system.

(and kudos to you again Technic, for always being so damn on top of every little development in the Idrive world - you are a fantastic resource).

Hey, I have learned a lot of your posts as well...

[stdr]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

So i just picked up an e93 M3 My 2011, and also have a 2009 335xi - obviously both have the 2.0 iDrive system. However the 2011 I just got has some new features on the iDrive - specifically in satellite radio I noticed - and some really nice ones at that also!

New Features

1. A "Tertiary" menu between the 'satellite radio' station list and the 'radio input' list where you can access these new features such as traffic station quick jump, favorites (different than presets), etc...
2. "TimeShift??" - essentially lets you pause (buffer) sat radio for up to one hour so you can stop, pause, rewind for the lesser of up to 60 minutes prior or however long satellite radio has been tuned in at any point in time. It does all this with organizing everything in the 60min memory by song as well so you can scroll through songs, programs that you have been tuned into within the last hour. This is a great feature if heard a song and want to hear it again, have to take a phone call, etc...Note this feature is under the aforementioned new tertiary menu.

Note that the above features are not present on my 2009 - which was updated to the latest software in March 2010 (ISTA/P 2.37??). Do you think this is available as an upgrade yet for us? will it ever be? Anyone in the know please share!!

I am certain it will never be available for pre-LCI idrive's as they dont have the hard drive where the buffering takes place for the features above, not to mention the new user interface, etc...

Do you see any changes in the voice commands ? The nuance voice recognition was supposed to be released in the 2010 models but did not make it.

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by Technic

Those features are part of the software and hardware changes for MY2010 iDrive... the Sirius tuner is built into the iDrive.

I don't think that we will see those features in the 2009 iDrive regardless of software updates.

Hi Technic,... does this mean that those of us yet to purchase the new iDrive for the next-gen retrofit would be better waitnig for a MY2010 unit?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by dar2008

Hi Technic,... does this mean that those of us yet to purchase the new iDrive for the next-gen retrofit would be better waitnig for a MY2010 unit?

Yes, I would say so...

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by stdr

Do you see any changes in the voice commands ? The nuance voice recognition was supposed to be released in the 2010 models but did not make it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuance_Communications

The Nuance tech is in MY 2011. I have a 2011 E92 335i and it is there. With iDrive you can now press voice control and say "new destination"... then just say the address all in one sentence like "one four eight six main street stockton california" (fake example) and the system will think several seconds and pop up your address for confirmation.

It works surprisingly well even with complex sounding names. I recently went to this address "151 Charlotte Street Canandaigua New York" and it picked it up first time. You have to say "one five one" and not "one fifty one" for example. Each digit must be spoken.

Name recognition for phone voice dialing is also much much better.

This same tech is in a new iPhone app called Siri that Apple just bought. It too works quite well.

[Imperator]

Originally Posted by Technic

Those features are part of the software and hardware changes for MY2010 iDrive... the Sirius tuner is built into the iDrive.

I don't think that we will see those features in the 2009 iDrive regardless of software updates.

What are the chances BMW will retro these features to 2010 with a software update?

Does the iPod cover art enhancement also apply to US-model cars or is that a Europe-only feature?

[deathwish]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

....
2. "TimeShift??" - essentially lets you pause (buffer) sat radio for up to one hour so you can stop, pause, rewind for the lesser of up to 60 minutes prior or however long satellite radio has been tuned in at any point in time. ....

I love this feature as well & get alot of use out of it. Now I suppose downloading the song to the HD would be too much to ask for but saving the song/artist name the way Shazam does on my cell would be a welcome additional feature.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Imperator

What are the chances BMW will retro these features to 2010 with a software update?

IMO, no chances as updating cars software has been a pain at dealers so far, even for warranty repairs. I don't think that BMW would like to brick a lot of modules just to add a couple of iDrive features.

In addition, all these features were added after updating the hardware as well so that could make it more difficult -and costly for BMW- to just offer a software uptade for older models.

Does the iPod cover art enhancement also apply to US-model cars or is that a Europe-only feature?

That's supposed to come early next year to the USA in a more extensive way (full iPod mode) than even just the Cover Art feature that it is currently offered in Europe right now, but it involves a change of hardware as well (the 6FL module will be new).

[DieselPower]

I had this idea a long time ago

[M3chris]

My 2011 M3 conv. is here... I should be able to pick it up in a few days... I hope it comes with the new i-drive/voice command. I used to use the nav voice command often on my 2007 335i conv. It was kind of slow so I gave it up. With full address dictation, it might be worth utilizing it again.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by M3chris

My 2011 M3 conv. is here... I should be able to pick it up in a few days... I hope it comes with the new i-drive/voice command. I used to use the nav voice command often on my 2007 335i conv. It was kind of slow so I gave it up. With full address dictation, it might be worth utilizing it again.

My 2011 335i coupe has this and it works great. Just say the address all in one sentence and it works. One tip though... for the numbers you have to say each digit, as in "one four five" main street... and not "one forty-five" main street.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

My 2011 335i coupe has this and it works great. Just say the address all in one sentence and it works. One tip though... for the numbers you have to say each digit, as in "one four five" main street... and not "one forty-five" main street.

The all in one address was added for the 2010 model year. Notice the following was dated 6/8/09 and was to be installed on vehicles produced from September 09 and later.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/v...echnology-for/

[Technic]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

The all in one address was added for the 2010 model year. Notice the following was dated 6/8/09 and was to be installed on vehicles produced from September 09 and later.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/v...echnology-for/

Nuance never happened in MY2010 in the 3-Series, it was finally implemented in MY2011.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

The all in one address was added for the 2010 model year. Notice the following was dated 6/8/09 and was to be installed on vehicles produced from September 09 and later.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/v...echnology-for/

I am familiar with that article, but as Technic mentioned, it never happened until 2011 MY.

Technic, do you know the exact changes to iDrive from MY2009-MY2010 and MY2010-MY2011?

[swifty]

does any1 know how how to activate the traffic info for a 2011 335i... I don't see that triangle icon on the left... is it available in Canada?

another question and this is gonna sound dumb but when you go to play music off your ipod and lets say you go by genre, then tracks...I can only pick one track at a time...what I mean by this is is I can't use the arrows on the steering wheel to go up or down to different tracks because when I press it, it only replays the same song.