It is the software that determines much of the user experience, including menu layout and feature set through different BMW iDrive apps. Scattered around the driver's cabin can also be found supplementary pieces of equipment, including buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel, a microphone for voice control and, in vehicles with the latest BMW iDrive versions, cameras supporting gesture control.Īll this hardware is used to run BMW's dedicated iDrive software, which, like the operating systems we're familiar with from our phones and computers, has seen a number of different versions through the years. On the hardware side, the two most obvious components are the iDrive display (VividScreen), mounted on the dashboard, and the rotary BMW iDrive controller used to move around the on-screen menus.

The system is a combination of hardware and software. This content includes vehicle settings and journey data, as well as more typical infotainment features, such as navigation, music and communication. IDrive is BMW's native infotainment system, through which drivers can access a range of content on the dashboard screen.

Find out more about what it is, how to keep it up updated, and the useful hidden features you might have missed: We take a look at a few of the questions a lot of people have about iDrive, whether they're having BMW iDrive problems, or they're considering buying a new BMW, to help you understand exactly what iDrive has to offer.

This means you have a single, cohesive way to access all your car's features and settings, but can make it difficult to keep track of everything your vehicle is capable of, particularly without a BMW iDrive manual. and put them all in one place, right in the middle of the dashboard. The concept is simple: take as many secondary vehicle controls as possible - music, navigation, climate control etc. The platform also underpins the infotainment system found in Rolls-Royce vehicles and, under the brand name 'Connected', can be found in current-generation MINIs. Since its debut in the BMW E65 7 Series in 2001, iDrive has spread to all modern BMW models.

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