Examining the BMW iDrive Interface

By Jeremy Laukkonen, About.com Guide

Most of the controls in the iDrive system are designed to take advantage of the control knob, which makes it easier to navigate them without looking away from the road. To facilitate that, the communication, GPS navigation, entertainment and climate control systems are each mapped to a cardinal direction. Some models don't include a navigation option, in which case the onboard computer monitor replaces the navigation system on the dial. When text input is required, such as searching for a POI in the navigation system, the alphabet is displayed in a ring formation. That allows letters to be selected by rotating and clicking the knob.

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• BMW's iDrive Vehicle Control System
• iDrive System Information
• iDrive Control Knob
• BMW Rotary Controls
• iDrive Navigation Screen
• iDrive POI Search
• iDrive Traffic Warnings
• iDrive Vehicle Information

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