Has anyone ordered car without iDrive? Any regrets?

[Goat Rodeo]

Originally Posted by zmastaz

an M3 without I-Drive for a daily driver looks very cheap and 325ish.

Here's my 325-edition 2013:



At least this time I got the non-Civic ZCP.

[bimdo]

i looked specifically for a car without idrive,wanted the simplicity of not having it, and probably in the back of my mind had years of reviews criticizing older idrives.i mostly drive on familiar roads,so don't need nav.

the only regret is not being able to access the stiffer sport servotronic steering with it,although my mechanic tells me that pressing the power button also does that.there was a long inconclusive thread on that a while back.this is what a bmw press release said about it-

"Servotronic power assistance controlling steering forces as a function of road speed. There is also a choice of two different control maps activated through normal and sport modes with a console-mounted button."

[Goat Rodeo]

Originally Posted by robbiedawg

the only regret is not being able to access the stiffer sport servotronic steering with it,although my mechanic tells me that pressing the power button also does that.

You're not missing anything. All it does is make the steering heavier (no increase in feel) when you don't need or want heavy steering, which is around town and in parking lots. Effort is nearly the same at speed. Net affect is the car feels heavier and slower to turn-in with the mode engaged, especially with the ZCP package, so one my true regret of not having iDrive is that I cannot use MDM + Power without the heavy steering mode.

I think BMW added the heavier steering mode to appease critics who disliked the lighter steering on the E46 M3. The E46 steering was dialed in to allow a day of lapping a road course without excessive fatigue, but hard parkers complained their cars were too easy to park.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Goat Rodeo

You're not missing anything. All it does is make the steering heavier (no increase in feel) when you don't need or want heavy steering, which is around town and in parking lots. Effort is nearly the same at speed. Net affect is the car feels heavier and slower to turn-in with the mode engaged, especially with the ZCP package, so one my true regret of not having iDrive is that I cannot use MDM + Power without the heavy steering mode.

I think BMW added the heavier steering mode to appease critics who disliked the lighter steering on the E46 M3. The E46 steering was dialed in to allow a day of lapping a road course without excessive fatigue, but hard parkers complained their cars were too easy to park.

I don't think the net effect is at all the same at speed. Toggling back and forth between the modes while driving rather aggressively on back country roads reveals a very obvious difference to me. I suspect it would be even more substantial on the track, but I don't mess with settings when I'm out there. I agree that it can make the car feel heavier (and two friends who've driven my car made that exact comment compared to their BRZ and 997.2 C2S) -- but I've found that it can help you be more smooth and precise because the extra weight forces you to be more deliberate on your inputs, which is precisely why I use it on track. And actually, when those same two friends drove my car a second time spending more time in it, both of them ended up preferring Sport steering even though Normal was much closer to the feel of their own cars, which I felt was appropriate for the BRZ but too light for the Porsche.

[Goat Rodeo]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Sport steering even though Normal was much closer to the feel of their own cars, which I felt was appropriate for the BRZ but too light for the Porsche.

I always found it interesting that a lot of enthusiasts go on about how great Porsche steering is but then complain that steering in modern BMWs is too light. First time I drove a Porsche (after years in BMWs) I was shocked by how light the steering was.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Goat Rodeo

I always found it interesting that a lot of enthusiasts go on about how great Porsche steering is but then complain that steering in modern BMWs is too light. First time I drove a Porsche (after years in BMWs) I was shocked by how light the steering was.

That was my reaction when I first drove a Porsche as well. My best guess is that the praise involves the steering's accuracy, maybe ratio, and feedback from the road, not its weight.

[m3peat]

Don't have it and specifically didn't want it. Got one with just about everything, including premium sound, w/o having to get the Pkg w/ Nav/Idrive.
I use my phone for directions if needed. Plus, it's a cleaner looking dash w/o it in my opinion.

No regrets.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by m3peat

Don't have it and specifically didn't want it. Got one with just about everything, including premium sound, w/o having to get the Pkg w/ Nav/Idrive.
I use my phone for directions if needed. Plus, it's a cleaner looking dash w/o it in my opinion.

No regrets.

Hate to break it to you, but at least in the US, you can't get Enhanced Premium Sound without the Premium Package (on 2012 and 2013s) or at least iDrive (on earlier model years where it was available standalone) -- take a look at the online configurator. So either there's a second hump in your dash you haven't noticed yet, or you don't have Premium Sound.

Or maybe you don't have an M3 and the base 3 Series can be ordered with Premium Sound even if you don't have nav?

[InterJon]

I've owned three e92 M3s. Two with iDrive, the last stripped, except ZCP. Draw what conclusion you wish.

[m3peat]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Hate to break it to you, but at least in the US, you can't get Enhanced Premium Sound without the Premium Package (on 2012 and 2013s) or at least iDrive (on earlier model years where it was available standalone) -- take a look at the online configurator. So either there's a second hump in your dash you haven't noticed yet, or you don't have Premium Sound.

Or maybe you don't have an M3 and the base 3 Series can be ordered with Premium Sound even if you don't have nav?

I know that is the case but my car was an ED car that was rejected b/c the buyer ordered the Premium pkg (along w/ Premium Sound) and had almost everything in the pkg except Nav/Idrive. Because of the incorrect build, I saved a ton ($10k+ off US sticker) w/o having to go to germany for a 'new' untitled car that had 1,550 miles on it. It's 2012 btw.

Prior to the dealer calling me on this exact car, I was not happy about not being able to get the premium sound w/o the Premium pkg.

[quiksi]

ordered my car without iDrive and love it... however if I was ordering a f3x/f8x where the screen's built into the dash no matter what, I'd probably end up paying for the nav

[exmowner]

I decided to opt out of the Idrive option. Having had it in my 08 e90 m3 I decided to go simple with my e92. I'm happy with the decision.

[dgibbphoto]

I like the simplicity of not having it. The dash looks uncluttered.

[fs34]

Why wait 6 months to bump a 10yo thread?

[Three Pedal Steve]

Old thread but still a viable topic.
When I ordered my manual M3 back in 2013, I specifically ordered without I-drive, DCT, and other options. I wanted a simple stripper with the idea of keeping it forever.

[Reddevils7]

this alone would be enough of a reason for me to get idrive