Infotainment is the digital connectivity and information package integrated into most new cars. BMW has often been ahead of the technological curve and that includes its infotainment system, which has moved the game on significantly several times. You’ll find one of its iDrive systems built into every car it sells in the UK.
There’s a comprehensive package of standard features including satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and in some cases Android Auto, Bluetooth, remote updates and a whole host of other tricks that we’ll cover in due course.
The basic system used to be called BMW Connected, while the fancier version was BMW Connected+. Now there are three elements to the infotainment package: iDrive, BMW ConnectedDrive and Live Cockpit. We’ll explain what each element does in due course, as well.
Since 2016, every BMW car sold in the UK has had some sort of infotainment system fitted as standard. So you’ll find it in many used BMWs as well as the latest brand spanking new models.
What is BMW iDrive?
iDrive is often used as a catch-all name for BMW’s infotainment package, but that’s not quite accurate. The iDrive component itself includes a number of cool features including Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice control), BMW Digital Key which turns your phone into the car keys and BMW ConnectedDrive online services.
Some models such as the latest BMW 7 Series even have gesture controls for things like the stereo volume. And there’s BMW’s signature rotary controller than makes navigating around the infotainment system so brilliantly easy. Though that, sadly, is being phased out if favour of touchscreens.
In short, then, iDrive essentially refers to the elements of the infotainment package that allow the driver to interact with the car’s tech.
How does iDrive work in a BMW?
Exactly how iDrive works depends on which model of BMW you have. The latest BMW 3 Series, for instance, has a rather cool, curved touchscreen that houses the vast majority of the car’s features and functions.
In older models, the screen may or may not be touchscreen, and there’s a rotary dial on the centre console that you twist and push to navigate between features. There’s also a cluster of shortcut buttons around the dial for the features you’ll use most often.
Fancier versions of the system have an integrated 4G SIM card, which enables over-the-air software updates and live traffic information. Otherwise, any internet connection will come from your phone, if you’ve connected it to the car.
Besides traffic information, you can also stream audio from your phone through the stereo. In some models, you can send the address of a location from your calendar to the satnav. Be warned, though, that a connection between phone and car can chew through data and battery.
How do I set up my BMW iDrive?
You can just dive straight into the iDrive system and find the features you’re looking for, but it also allows you to set up individual profiles for the car’s most regular drivers. Then they can just get in, select their profile and it automatically loads their preferences.
That includes things like switching to their favourite radio station, calling up their journey history on the sat nav, even moving the driver’s seat and mirrors to their preferred position.
There can be quite a lot of menus to navigate through to set up profiles, but iDrive is one of the more user-friendly infotainment systems. If you’re struggling, BMW has videos that take you through each of the technologies and how to set things up to your liking.
Each driver should also download the MyBMW app which helps get the best out of the car and the infotainment.
Do all BMWs come with iDrive?
Yes, they do. All new BMWs come with some grade of infotainment system that includes sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and even Amazon Alexa. This has been the case for many years, so there are also loads of used BMWs with iDrive.
How do I know which BMW iDrive I have?
There have been many versions of iDrive since it was first launched in 2001. The latest version, called BMW Operating System 8 was launched 2022, and the next-gen OS 9 is due in 2024.
A step change came in 2018 when BMW launched Operating System 7, which features a much greater range of capabilities and a digital instrument cluster. We’ll go over what that capability is later.
There are surprisingly few clues as to what version of iDrive a particular BMW has in the car itself, unless you’re really au fait with the differences between them. Searching online turns up lists of which models have which version of iDrive, but we can’t guarantee their accuracy. Your best bet is to contact a BMW dealer who should be able to get the car’s specification from its registration number.
If you want to make sure you get the most capable versions of iDrive, you’re looking at a new car, or a used one sold since 2018. Some older cars with earlier Operating Systems can be upgraded with a Connected Booster, which adds extra features.
Also note that the MyBMW app isn’t compatible with some older phones.
What’s the importance of BMW Operating System 7?
BMW Operating System 7 was a big leap forward over previous versions of the iDrive system when it was launched in 2018. It features an element of artificial intelligence that allows it to predict the driver’s needs and habits.
It can, for instance, learn which route you take to work and divert you around any delays. It can learn that you always listen to the six o’clock news on Radio 4 and switch to it unprompted. It can even scrape the address for your next appointment from the calendar on your phone and call up the route on the sat nav.
In theory. The accuracy of the system’s predictions and even its ability to make them were somewhat spotty with early versions of OS 7. But those kinks have largely been ironed out in subsequent updates.
OS 7 also brought in a portable BMW ID. That allows you to store things like favourite radio stations, journey history, even your driving position on the MyBMW app. Then, if you got into a different BMW, it sees your ID and sets the car up as you like it. BMW hopes it will help enable car sharing between BMW owners.
How does BMW ConnectedDrive work?
BMW ConnectedDrive is the connectivity element of the iDrive system. It uses the car’s built-in 4G SIM card, or a data link from your phone.
It enables some pretty impressive tricks. For instance, the system can sync with Microsoft Exchange to interrogate your calendar for your next destination and automatically plot a route on the sat nav. It can also read out emails, you can accept or decline new meetings and you can even dictate messages.
BMW Maps monitors real-time traffic information to spot any hold ups and reroute you around them. It can even factor how long it takes to walk from your appointment back to the car into predicted journey times.
ConnectedDrive is also compatible with Apple Watch, Samsung wearables and Amazon Echo, so you don’t have to reach for phone to navigate from car to building.
How much does BMW ConnectedDrive cost?
BMW ConnectedDrive is free for three months on every new BMW sold in the UK. After that, you have to pay a subscription fee. Prices vary depending on what features you want to use. You can find out more information on the BMW UK Shop.
What’s BMW Live Cockpit Plus?
Live Cockpit is the name BMW gives to its digital instrument display, a TFT screen that sits ahead of the driver where traditionally analogue dials would usually be found. The basic version has two relatively small screens that show the usual speed, distance and fuel economy data, plus a selection of other information. You can also view information and access features from the iDrive system using buttons on the steering wheel.
Live Cockpit Plus and the current Live Cockpit Professional feature a bigger 12.3-inch screen. It can show a much wider of range of information and features including full-screen sat nav maps. You can also choose between several ‘themes’ for the graphics and select and organise the information you want to see. Some models combine the screen with a head-up display.
Looking for more jargon-busting motoring meanings? Head over to our Parkers Car Glossary page and take a look at our other definitions
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