iDrive Software Confusion

[c2wak]

hi there, new to here and my M3 so please bare with me!.
My F80 M3 was registered in September 2016, however i got it ex demo a couple of months ago. MY brother got a new one this year pre-registered by dealer and has a completely different nicer iDrive look to it. I think his shows version MB-005 and mine shows MB-001.050.002. Surely A few months different shouldnt have that much of a different software version?!. Do the versions go sequentially? which would mean im missing like 3 updates?! Would this be something i need to take it into the dealer for? I tried the update website but told me im up to date!!.
Thanks
ChrisW

[antych]

There's a completely new version of iDrive that was released at some point. You won't get an updated, because it's not just a new software version. It's not backwards compatible.

[c2wak]

I took it into BMW Dealer today and they told me by scanning my key fob that it needs a few software updates. A friend there is also going to get them to upgrade the iDrive to the correct version as it is behind aparently? I will report back Monday after its been in.

[MFNATIK]

Don't expect it to look like the newer iDrive 5 or 6. Sounds like you have iDrive 4

[c2wak]

Yeah your right it must be idrive 4 cause although the increment of the version to the right of the dot its not changed the look and feel. Looks like am stuck with the horrid version!. My brothers 5 is so much nicer and his car is only like 6 months newer if that.

[MFNATIK]

All is not lost. You can most likely upgrade by swapping out the headunit and screen to the newer version. I did this for my E60 M5 to go from iDrive 2 to 3. Huge upgrade as it literally went from low resolution to HD. iDrive 4 to 5 is more like going from 1080P to 4K so it's not that dramatic. However, the voice functionality is like going from flip phone to Siri or OK Google.

[M Pulse]

F8x model years '15 & '16 came with iDrive 4, '17 came with iDrive 5 and '18 will come with iDrive 6.

iDrive 4 to 5 is not a simple upgrade as stated earlier as it involves hardware upgrade.

However if you have a '17 with iDrive 5 you can easily switch to iDrive 6 by coding your car (no hardware upgrades required).

[Saucy]

Just for clarification... if you have a 16 M4 with iDrive 4, you can update to 5.0 but if you have a 15 you have to change the head unit?

[Sleeper]

Originally Posted by Saucy

Just for clarification... if you have a 16 M4 with iDrive 4, you can update to 5.0 but if you have a 15 you have to change the head unit?

No. If you have 5.0, going to 6 is easy. Going from 4 to 5 requires hardware changes.