Chief BMW designer slams Newsweek journalist
BMW losing patience on 7-series criticism
Patience is starting to wear thin at BMW headquarters regarding criticism of the new 7-series...
Check out what Chris Bangle says to a Newsweek journalist in a recent article:
“I don’t mean to be arrogant about it, but what does a journalist know?” BMW chief designer Chris Bangle said to me.
Bangle was referring to the writers negative attitude toward iDrive.
Here are some highlights from the article:
Click here to read the entire article
THE 7’S STEREO IS PART OF the high-tech iDrive system, an onboard computer displayed in the dash and operated by a fist-size mouse in the center armrest. But as much as I torqued and clicked that mouse, I just couldn’t dial in my favorite alternative-rock station. Deflated, I finally pulled over, hauled out the owner’s manual and spent 10 minutes decoding iDrive. If this is the future of driving, somebody direct me to the nearest exit.
Why am I dishing dirt on this dreamboat? Because with the new 7, BMW is letting technology run roughshod.
Rather than simplifying, BMW has complicated its Ultimate Driving Machine.
Perhaps the hardest part about driving the new BMW, besides affording it, is simply getting it started.
Word is that BMW is retooling iDrive so that version 2.0 coming in the next 5-series in 2005 will be much more user-friendly.
yes he is arrogant. he could have said that he is the lead designer and not the lead programmer- after all thats who programmed the layers of menus of the idrive system. if the criticism was that the trunk looks strange, then maybe Bangle should get upset. I know as fact that tension is mounting between Bangle and his underling designers and the people on the Board of Management........
as to his actual comment- well, if journalists knew nothing then how does Bangle explain newspapers, magazines, television news shows?
you know theres a problem when he has to go looking for scapegoats: its all the journalists fault......
__________________
All the best,
Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
Last edited by MEnthusiast; 22nd November 2002 at 13:48.
You know, when I think about it, some states are trying to outlaw using a cell phone while driving. I think those same states should outlaw iDrive, since it is far more complex and a much greater distraction to use while driving than any phone. Maybe someone should clue that moron Bangle in to this.
Just wait until the PI Laywers latch on to this one after a few accidents!! BMW will be paying through the nose for the lost lives and property when this nonsensical piece of gadgetry gets out in mass. Now just to let you know, I am a techno buff, with a 3 PC lan at home, 25+ years of selling hi-technology with a 4+ year stint at Cisco etc, etc! This garbage just doesent belong in the cockpit in the form that it currently exists to distract and frustrate drivers at high speeds!
You boot up the 7 by inserting a matchbox-size plastic fob into the dash, stomping the brake, punching a launch button and pulling a gear stalk on the steering column forward and down. Got all that?
I do agree to a certain degree that iDrive is a bit complicated for the average Joe at the beginning, but it's not a rocket science to learn it.
But the above quote from that article is a big exaggeration. You need almost the same steps to start a car with an automatic transmission.
*You boot up the 7 by inserting a matchbox-size plastic fob into the dash
You insert the key
*stomping the brake
you do the same to unlock the gear on AT.
*punching a launch button
turn the key
*pulling a gear stalk on the steering column forward and down
put the gear in D
So, where is the difference apart from the fact that the gear stalk on the E65 sits on the steering column, on other cars it's on the middle-tunnel.
Last edited by Deckard; 23rd November 2002 at 16:59.
Bangle gets mad at Newsweek article
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