In this articleThe iDrive controller has been part of BMW’s identity for more than two decades. It started out as a controversial idea, but over time it became commonplace for millions of drivers. The rotary knob lets you navigate menus and adjust settings without taking your eyes off the road. It was simple, mechanical and efficient – something you could operate by feel alone.
Now this era is coming to an end.
The first look at BMW’s controller-free future
BMW has been preparing us for this moment for years. First, the X1 and iX1 lost their controllers, followed by the X2, the iX2 and the new 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe. But the new BMW iX3 is the real game changer – the first major model fully committed to a controller-free future. The iDrive controller is gone. In its place is iDrive X, the next generation of BMW’s infotainment system. It’s faster, cleaner and smarter than before. More importantly, it is designed for voice and touch.
Behind the scenes, BMW has integrated several large language model systems (LLM) from various vendors. The result is a voice assistant that is far more powerful than previous versions – it responds faster, understands context better, and is able to interpret natural language rather than memorized commands. You can now ask the system to perform multi-step tasks, access menus, or adjust features without having to scroll or tap through submenus.
The real reasons why the iDrive Controller is no longer available
By now you’ve probably heard that BMW has officially said goodbye to the iDrive controller. The decision was confirmed to BMWBLOG earlier this year during our exclusive look at the new iDrive X interface and the iX3 in July. When asked whether BMW had ever considered keeping the rotary controller, the display expert from Panoramic Vision didn’t hesitate: “The haptic controls on the steering wheel completely replace the iDrive controller.”
At first this seemed like an oversimplification. The controller has been a central part of the BMW interior since its debut in the 7 Series E65 in 2001. But as the presentation continued, it became clear that the company had carefully thought through the change.
According to BMW, there are markets where the controller was rarely used – and even in regions where owners did use it, it was typically only when parked. “We wanted something that they could use while driving,” explains the expert, “and in this case, attaching it to the steering wheel is ideal.”
This reasoning is consistent with what we heard again from BMW’s CES team earlier this year: most owners simply don’t rely on the controller anymore. Internal data shows that usage has declined sharply in recent model generations.
Get to know the panoramic display
There are also design and software reasons. The iX3 and other New Class vehicles introduce a new panoramic display that combines driver and infotainment functions. Controlling this from a single knob would require cursor navigation, jumping from the main screen to the windshield display and adding steps rather than removing them. The steering wheel’s haptic buttons now allow direct input to the panoramic display, while the 17.9-inch main touchscreen and improved voice controls do the rest.
“For an iDrive controller, everything had to be in one list,” our BMW guide explained during that July session. “Now we are much more flexible.” This flexibility is the key to iDrive
More than just a cost decision
It’s tempting to assume that BMW just dropped the controller for cost reasons. Removing hardware certainly saves money. But BMW insists that’s not the motivation. The company’s studies suggest that owners increasingly prefer the touchscreen and voice assistant. Many of BMW’s newer apps and third-party integrations aren’t optimized for rotary input anyway. With iDrive
Even HVAC and climate settings are now easier to manage than in iDrive 8.5 or 9. BMW says drivers prefer changing temperature and airflow via the screen or voice. Gesture control is also being phased out due to low acceptance and the speed and accuracy of the new voice assistant.
Ergonomics also played a role. The main screen is now closer to the driver and easily accessible from the steering wheel. During our initial demo sessions, the controls felt neither literal nor ergonomic. But we will test it more closely over longer periods of time.
Living with iDrive X
I’ve spent time with iDrive It responds faster, understands natural language and executes more complex commands. Tasks like adjusting the temperature, changing the ambient lighting, or opening deeper menus are now almost instantaneous.
However, there is an adjustment period. The first few times I drove cars without controllers – like the X1 and X2 – I instinctively reached for them out of habit. But after a few days, I found that I was able to cope more quickly with just voice and touch.
There are a few things I’d still rather have physical controls for, like the direction of the vents, although BMW offers three automatic airflow presets. And while the interface encourages menu exploration, this is best done while stationary. The good news is that voice commands can now reveal deeper settings that previously required digging through submenus.
Is there a bigger picture?
Love it or loathe it, the future of car interiors revolves around screens. BMW’s direction reflects how consumers interact with technology today – intuitive, conversational and AI-powered. Removing the iDrive controller isn’t about removing a deprecated feature; It could be about paving the way for the next era of in-car computing. Will this be the right approach? Only time will tell, especially as some automakers reconsider the buttonless world of their cars.
Am I missing the iDrive controller? In a way, yes. BMW had finally perfected it before it was phased out. But after spending some time with iDrive X, I can understand why it had to go. The new user interface is faster, clearer and more flexible – and ready for the future.
We will all adapt at our own pace. Some will miss the tactile feedback, others will prefer the seamless integration of touch and voice. However, there is no denying that this change opens a new chapter for BMW.
