In fact, the Germans have already started doing it. But after 24 years with a physical button for the so-called iDrive system, it finally seems to be over for BMW.
There are many indications that BMW is removing the physical button for the iDrive system, which the brand's cars have briefly featured since 2001.
The button, which in various forms has been a fixture of BMW's interiors for 24 years, is being replaced by a new system focusing on touchscreen, voice control and a head-up display. The latter will take up the entire space. Read more about it here .
The change will come into effect at the end of 2025 and will include all new models, including the electric cars in the Neue Klasse series.
The new iDrive system projects information onto the windshield in a wide format that stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar. BMW calls it a "panoramic view." An advanced head-up display with 3D technology is available as an option, showing navigation arrows above the panoramic view.
Physical buttons on the steering wheel for functions such as turn signals and windshield wipers will still be present. However, the central iDrive button on the center console will disappear.
BMW justifies the decision by saying that fewer drivers use the button and that it is not compatible with modern apps.
– More and more third-party apps are coming, and these are definitely not optimized for a control button, says Joern Freyer, head of user experience development at BMW, to Auto Express .
Freyer explains that the touchscreen and voice control provide a more intuitive and flexible user experience that is better suited to modern needs.
BMW's decision to remove the iDrive button marks a shift in the automaker's design philosophy. Where the button was previously central to operating the infotainment system, BMW is now focusing on a more digital and integrated approach.
The new system allows for a more streamlined user interface and more personalized customization of the car's functions.
Whether users will welcome the change remains to be seen. Many BMW enthusiasts have appreciated the precision and ease of use of the iDrive button.
