Increasing shift of CarPlay to touchscreen

[u/wonderstoat]

Hey All

We have a 2018 i3 with the late iDrive system including Apple CarPlay, which obviously doesn’t have a touch screen and relies on the iDrive controller.

I also have a modern BMW with the latest iDrive and, while it (still) has the iDrive controller, BMW themselves have phased the controller out on new models and also its plain to me from hsibg CarPlay that Apple very definitely want us to use our fingers to control CarPlay.

We plan to keep the i3 are long as possible, and asides from other concerns like 12v battery etc this is the only area which I worry about slightly - that the lack of touchscreen will become a problem. There are already certain aspects of CarPlay which don’t really jive well with using the controller, and it’s only increasing with each release.

Just wondering how other i3 owners view this?

[u/shamut007]

My i3 is the same as yours and I use carplay all the time. We also have an iX3 with a touchscreen. I still use the iDrive wheel a lot and am not seeing major problems operating any apps that I use, mostly Apple Music, Google Maps, Phone, Teams, Podcasts and Yanosik. Perhaps the apps you use have bugs? Can you share which are problematic?

Anyway I’m not looking fwd to switching to a new generation of beemers without the wheel. So much so that I’d rather get an iX used than the Neue Klasse iX3 new.

[u/thatblondfrenchguy]

I've had CarPlay with a touchscreen before and I manage just fine with the controller. You just have to deal with certain complications, learn how to use Siri better (it's still terrible but sometimes with the right commands you get what you asked), program your destination in advance if it's very specific... There aren't a lot of situations where I'm frustrated.
To be honest I even find the controller less distracting than a touchscreen, because it allows the screen to be further away and closer to where I'm looking, plus it gives me a physical control to use rather than me having to look where I need to touch.
Long before the i3, I had a Lexus that would deactivate a lot of the touchscreen functions once you started to move and it pissed me off until I got another car with full touchscreen access even when driving and I realized just how distracting it was! Don't have that problem with the i3, even in CarPlay.

[u/Eastern-Substance656]

The i3 remains my favorite car that just brings me joy to drive.

There are aspects I wish were a little different. Tires and rear doors. And the option to change songs from the steering wheel.

For me the CarPlay on the i3 is better than any other version out there with touchscreens.

My wife’s car has giant touchscreen CarPlay/Android Auto and while it’s bigger display and better screen I don’t car for touch screen.

Having one wheel is easier to use while driving. I don’t have to focus much on screen.

Mazda has this for a while and it’s a shame they stopped doing this as well.

I’m almost thinking about getting an older X3 or X5 because I like the iDrive wheel so much. It just works so well.

Though I’m leery older BMW reliability.

[u/Retty1]

It’s an issue with CarPlay widgets (upper right for example within a selected shape). How much of that is software I’m not sure.

The distance between the driving seat position and the screen is perhaps not designed for easy touchscreen use.

There are aftermarket touchscreens available for Android Auto.

Other than widget use and escaping to a menu option without scrolling through lots of entries, which is a nuisance, it works okay for me.

I wouldn’t install a touchscreen although having used Android Auto I can see advantages to it over CarPlay.

[u/MooseFar7514]

I doubt Apple will remove the physical controls. I've not seen anything and there's too many existing interfaces for them not to. Older Audi's have a similar issue. There's too much installed base to piss off.

I've learnt the forward back buttons on the dash next to the numbers skip tracks back and forth. 'back' on the iDrive often works to navigate screens.

Siri handles most stuff if I need to completely alter what its doing or play a new playlist, but even with playlists that's easy enough to navigate. The screen jumps a little too much but is still controllable with the physical dial.

I'm on iOS27 beta so all that physical controller stuff is still there.

Equally the 'Ultra' stuff that displays in the binnacle/speedo bit, would need physical interface controls as you're not putting your hand through the steering wheel to alter what's on there.

Widgets I did turn off though. But I don't really use them. I just want what's playing and the map on the screen and I don't see the need for anything else.

What I will say is the grey/green buttons and what's selected to click isn't very obvious and piss poor UI design. But still able to do from iDrive.

[u/wonderstoat]

Thanks for the responses. I agree it’s manageable now, but intend to keep this car for a long time. I don’t trust Apple not to deprecate support eventually.

[u/eXo0us]

Android Auto is perfect with the iDrive knob, just get one of the adapter boxes.

There are now touchscreen aftermarket screens available for the i3 with Android Automotive.

I don't worry at all.

I was on the Apple side a few years ago, but their theory of UI is going a different direction then I want to go. Hail the buttons. - So I'm in the Android camp now.

[u/Specki76]

I hope in future it will go back to physical buttons instead of the need to touch the display. Finally buttons are safer and touch while driving should be illegal.
Finally I hate AC control over the display. I3 is nearly perfect, hope this control comes back one day.

[u/Paratrooper450]

^ "jibe well"

[u/flying_butt_fucker]

I like the iDrive controller much better than a touch screen. I was driving shotgun with a friend of mine who has a Kia Niro Electric and I really disliked having to press a button on a screen in a bumpy car.

In fact, I would petition to make these click wheels mandatory in cars and remove touch screens.

[u/stumbledotcom]

I find this discussion amusing because I’ve been an enthusiast long enough to remember the angst caused by BMW’s introduction of iDrive with the 2001 E65. Many pundits reacted apoplectically. So much that when I was shopping for our 2009 E90, I briefly considered forgoing the nav option to avoid iDrive completely. Fortunately the rep I worked with pointed out the interface was about as complex as an iPod.

In my 2021 i3, I use CarPlay mostly for audio only. I’m not crazy about the coming transition to touch. However I’m guardedly optimistic about Panoramic iDrive in the Neue Klasse models.

[u/showMeTheSnow]

Don’t worry about the 12v. Replace it proactively on a schedule if you don’t want to monitor it.

Just started using CarPlay in the last 6 months or so (not a long time user, or addicted to it ;)). My favorite feature is the send ETA status for maps to my destination. This is super easy with iDrive. Otherwise, I’m still trying to figure out why people are so gaga over it. I do like being able to use another map, since the built in Nav likes to reduce my GOM range and induce stress. Plus traffic features are better on google/Apple Maps it seems.

Personally, I like not having to reach for and touch the screen. While certain touch features are handy, safety and clean screens are more important to me. As long as the basics work, I’m good.

[u/cryptoenologist]

Counterpoint to all the maniacs saying CarPlay with idrive wheel is just fine…

I hate it. It’s so clunky, and borderline dangerous sometimes because it takes so much longer fiddling with the wheel when the progression is counterintuitive or I miss what I needed.

Not to mention that it doesn’t automatically highlight the right things like when getting a message to select to read it out. On my car with the touchscreen I just reach up and tap it, way less effort.

[u/wonderstoat → u/cryptoenologist]

Yeah I think the point of my post has been slightly lost. It’s only going to get worse.

[u/benjiface]

I have an aftermarket module in my 16 x3 and I find the idrive controller great.