[timc3]

My 2021 BMW has iDrive and physical buttons and dials. It’s a fantastic system.

A lot of iDrive systems can be replaced, though I do worry where the cheap ebay components come from.

Later iDrive was so much better than earlier, probably the best system I have used in a car, but now they have gone with huge touch screens. yes it looks impressive and no I don't want it.

[piperswe]

iDrive 7 (what you probably have in your 2021, and what I've had in 2022 and 2020 BMWs) is peak iDrive to me. The important stuff (climate control, volume, radio on/off) still has physical non-capacitive buttons, while the radio is entirely controllable with the touchscreen OR iDrive Controller (the puck in the center console). I barely have to take my eyes off the road to do anything, even in the iDrive system, since I have muscle memory for the iDrive Controller motions.

And now they're rolling out iDrive 8 vehicles that move climate control to the touchscreen and don't even have the puck (looking at you, X1) and I can't imagine buying one of those cars. I'm happy with my 2020.