The iDrive infuriation factor goes off the dial
By Joshua Dowling
The Sydney Morning Herald
Friday November 21 2003
The complex computer system controlling basic functions in BMW's $200,000 flagship limousine was roundly criticised when it was released two years ago. The latest incarnation of the technology -- in the otherwise enviable 5 Series -- is no better, says Joshua Dowling.
As radio's agony aunt of science, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is the voice of reason. But behind the wheel of the latest BMW, trying to change radio stations, he is the voice of frustration.
"It's diabolical," he says after 10 minutes trying in vain to set a radio frequency using the BMW's complex and controversial iDrive system -- a device intended to make life easier by controlling basic functions such as the radio and air-conditioning through one dial in the centre console.
"Counter-intuitive would be the kindest thing you could say about it, but," he repeats, "diabolical is the most accurate."
After the iDrive system was universally criticised in BMW's flagship two years ago (it prompted such headlines as "I drive, no, you drive while I figure out the controls"), the German maker made assurances that it would be greatly improved in future models.
After a week in the latest model, the $105,000 5 Series mid-size sedan, we beg to differ.
To
Drive's reckoning, it still has the same flaws, but fewer options. Instead of getting lost in eight zones in the 7 Series, you can get lost in four zones in the 5 Series.
The last time
Drive sampled iDrive we took the car to 30 people aged from 16 to 60 to see if they could master it. Only two had the patience; each took more than 5 minutes to simply turn on the radio and find a station. BMW spends up to two hours tutoring customers about iDrive before the car leaves the showroom.
Drive's view was -- and still is -- why? BMW added seven unnecessary steps to something which could be done with the press of one button in a $14,990 Hyundai.
So, when the new 5 Series arrived in
Drive's garage, we went straight to Dr Karl (pictured below), the most vocal of our respondents in the 7 Series test, the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney and commentator on scientific matters on the ABC's 702 AM and Triple J FM.
After his second attempt at mastering BMW's iDrive system, he is still scathing.
"The system seems to have been designed by people who had an agenda that had nothing to do with driving and who seem to have never tuned a radio in their lives," he said. "They've come up with a weird computer geek idea of how you should do it.
"This has been done by possibly the same sort of people who, when designing computers, made sure we had to go to a button marked 'start' before you could shut it down.
"It's totally irrational and you'll stumble across the menus only by accident and you'll only do that when you get frustrated enough to start banging the iDrive knob in all different directions. And then, when you've accidentally stumbled across the menu that you want, you have to try to remember how the heck you got there.
"I can see people ringing up the BMW dealer asking how they can change the radio station. In a car like this, that is ridiculous when you really think about it."
He disagreed with BMW's contention that the new 5 Series iDrive is simpler: "I don't think I'd call it simpler. In fact, it's not any better at all. This goes back to the complexity of the very first computers. I reckon they could still have iDrive if only BMW had someone with a background in ergonomics and made it easier."
Dr Karl, also the face of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority's anti-fatigue campaign, was concerned the iDrive could distract drivers and questioned its potential impact on road safety.
"Obviously, you should set the radio when you're stopped but the reality is people are going to try to do this while driving," he said.
"I don't think it's a good idea to have things in cars that are going to tempt drivers into taking their eyes off the road.
"The radio plays a large part in driving and therefore I believe it deserves its own controls. It's part of your travelling companion. It's not quite as important as the gearbox and steering wheel but it's up there.
"BMW has basically tried to make life easier but in effect made it much more difficult."
Would iDrive put him off buying a car with such a system?
"It wouldn't prevent me because I would just persevere ... and work out a few quick fixes, having a vast feeling of inadequacy and knowing that there are a whole lot of functions that I couldn't do.
"I'd probably be in love with the engineering integrity of the car, but I'm sure there would be people who are not as masochistic as myself who'd just say 'bugger it, I'm not going to touch it, it's too hard'."
Although you may just be one day! When the sort of people who can afford to and do own these cars have difficult remembering a sequence for using an EFTPOS machine, I don't hold much hope in them remembering a menu even 4 options deep each with multiple branches.
Glad it's not all bad!
