new idrive upgrade for 08 m3 owners

[islandguy19]

does anyone know if there will be an upgrade option for all of us 08 m3 owners? I understand there is a new higher-resolution screen and a new idrive controller so the likeliness of an upgrade is slim to none. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything. I'm sure all of you have been curious...

[endofanera7]

I spoke to my salesman at the dealership today regarding the upgrade. He said he hasnt heard anything from BMW. But he will let me know if there are upgrades available for 08 models.

[islandguy19]

good to know. I know many if not all of us would like that upgrade.

[ACZakka325i]

Doubt its gonna happen.

[BMWMB]

Me too. I think we have the final version...

[islandguy19]

i just found another thread asking the same question. it's under the audio and electronics thread. search for idrive upgrade.

[nullspace]

Originally Posted by islandguy19

does anyone know if there will be an upgrade option for all of us 08 m3 owners? I understand there is a new higher-resolution screen and a new idrive controller so the likeliness of an upgrade is slim to none. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything. I'm sure all of you have been curious...

It's never going to happen; nearly every component in the system is different. It has a different screen, different controller knob, hard drive instead of DVD (which requires a completely different I/O system for the CPU module), etc. BMW has no incentive to offer an upgrade for such a complicated system. They make a lot more money if you buy a new car.

[Deda]

Originally Posted by nullspace

It's never going to happen; nearly every component in the system is different. It has a different screen, different controller knob, hard drive instead of DVD (which requires a completely different I/O system for the CPU module), etc. BMW has no incentive to offer an upgrade for such a complicated system. They make a lot more money if you buy a new car.

i agree!

[Technic]

I don't think that an OEM-sponsored 1:1 iDrive hardware upgrade will happen, but a considerable firmware upgrade with better graphics and features could happen to the existing 1-button, DVD-based iDrive.

That happened with the E46 OEM Nav GUI/graphics after a couple of years of the the 1st Gen iDrive showing up in the 7 Series...

A complete replacement of the iDrive components, regardless if they are in fact 100% plug-in into existing connectors and mounting brackets (except the requirement of a new shifter trim for the new controller) will require a new software update to interface with the rest of the car systems, especially the Bluetooth and the Assist.

All that alone could cost at least $5000 at current part prices without installation or programming... that's extra downpayment on top of the trade in for a new M3 with the new iDrive.

[Zirenz2006]

I got to play with the new iDrive at my local dealer on Friday. It is quite nice!

[mofomat]

A "?" at the end of the subject heading would have been useful for this thread.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

Doubt its gonna happen.

It will happen, from the looks of things - it will be relatively simple.

[islandguy19]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

It will happen, from the looks of things - it will be relatively simple.

I hope you're right. Plenty of us 08 m3 owners would like the new iDrive update even though the first idrive isn't all that bad.

[ihyln]

While the current iDrive doesn't knock my socks off, I don't think I'd pay out of pocket just to upgrade. It's sufficient, unfortunately.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by islandguy19

I hope you're right. Plenty of us 08 m3 owners would like the new iDrive update even though the first idrive isn't all that bad.

Gen1 iDrive (CCC) is alright, the 09 version appears promising.

[apw2607]

Just looking at the new CIC, its got many new sockets on the back of it. Existing sockets seem to be used for different things as well. The interface to the MID (display) is completely different as well. The HD radio is now part of the CIC. Oh the list goes on and on ....

Although I would like to share you optimism Tom, I'm not seeing a upgrade path.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by apw2607

Just looking at the new CIC, its got many new sockets on the back of it. Existing sockets seem to be used for different things as well. The interface to the MID (display) is completely different as well. The HD radio is now part of the CIC. Oh the list goes on and on ....

Although I would like to share you optimism Tom, I'm not seeing a upgrade path.

Me neither... just the inclusion of the HD Radio into the CIC could mean a change of the Vehicle Order, a big no-no in the USA.

[TLud]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Could you explain a little more? 1) What is CIC vs. CCC. 2) What if the car doesn't have HD Radio in the first place?

(1) CIC is the BMW acronym for the new iDrive system (Car Infortainment Computer). CCC is the acronym for the previous generation system (Car Communication Computer).

(2) The inclusion of the HD Radio in the CIC would at a minimum likely change some of the wiring and connections.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Could you explain a little more? 1) What is CIC vs. CCC. 2) What if the car doesn't have HD Radio in the first place?

1) The simple version:
CIC = HDD-based car computer/Nav system
CCC= DVD-based car computer/Nav system

2) With the introduction of these MOST network-equipped BMW's, every option is listed in what is called a Vehicle Order (VO) file. Options like the iDrive, the Premium Audio, the HD Radio, the iPod/USB, the Assist, etc. are shown in the list of equipment when the car is scanned at the dealership. Some of the options are allowed to be added to this VO after the factory build, like the OEM retrofits of the Assist, the iPod/USB adapter (new retrofit), the Sirius, the CD Changer; some are simply not allowed until the VO is changed to include/exclude the options selected.

If you see the thread about the iDrive retrofit in the E90Post forum you will notice that there was a change in this VO "business" at the dealer level some time last year: for the dealer to really control what you can add or remove from the car the current BMW VOs are now "married" to their respective VIN numbers by software. So if your car doesn't have a particular option from factory it will be virtually impossible to add that option because the VO cannot be changed. So unless there is a OEM retrofit for that particular option, you cannot add or remove any feature from your car if it is not listed in the VO.

For example, I have tried in a couple of dealers to change my VO's Premium Audio option to plain HiFi, so I can switch the digital ouputs of the CCC to analog and then add aftermarket equipment easily. This is not only possible, it is commonly done in Europe using a system called Autologic, that can break the VO lock and make possible changes in equipment. This also could be done in the USA, but it seems that BMWNA simply will not allow dealers to perform changes to the VO now for perhaps liability and warranty issues; there is still some ways to ask BMW for a particular change of VO and to issue a new VO for a particular VIN, but it seems that at least the two dealers that I talked to don't know/don't want to know how to do it.

That's the reason I doubt that a full OEM iDrive CCC-to-CIC retrofit will be available. You can connect all the CCC components and still you will need to change the VO and the car firmware for at least the HD Radio, just because the current car firmware expects HD Radio to be a separate option and not a subfeature of the iDrive. And because the CIC is working more closely with the Assist (MyInfo) than what the CCC does now there should be another software update on top of any VO change.

[BPMSport]

I HIGHLY doubt that there will be an upgrade available for this.

Changing the Vehicle Order is not a big deal at all. I had to do it to put the E46 M3 cluster in my 330. However, the iDrive swap with all of its components, although possible, is very unlikely.

[MTROIS]

Originally Posted by islandguy19

good to know. I know many if not all of us would like that upgrade.

I am actually not one of the guys who is really interested in the upgrade, for a few reasons including:
1) the way it is, the system is sufficient for my needs;
2) I do not want anybody to touch my car and screw it up;
3) and, most important, from a design point of view, I much prefer the pure style of the 08 controller with the knob & menu button rather than the new multiple button one.

My message to all: enjoy the road ahead of you and spend less time watching the DVD/Nav screen... otherwise it feels like that a PS3 with Gran Turismo would have been sufficient for you!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

I HIGHLY doubt that there will be an upgrade available for this.

Changing the Vehicle Order is not a big deal at all. I had to do it to put the E46 M3 cluster in my 330. However, the iDrive swap with all of its components, although possible, is very unlikely.

Possibly not a BMW-specific upgrade, we have not found any white papers to prove this yet. However, there are a number of accessories and vehicle-related modules that are not changing which CIC needs to play nice with. However, we have close ties with BMW and programming abilities in house to make it happen.

Needless to say, we've taken a great interest in this project and will be performing this on our own M3 to verify - progress will be covered in our journal thread when we reach this point.

As Mike said, vehicle order can be changed - it just needs to be rewritten with coding afterwards.