[Isolde]

Has anyone figured out a way to relocate the ugly wart on the dash aka the display, to a lower location by the ashtray area? Cannot fathom why they signed off on this poor design? At least with Audi this retracts when you don't want it.

[Haslamhazza]

Buy an Audi

[Isolde]

Is this supposed to be amusing?

[hshot_rooke]

Almost all car manufacturers have bought into the ugly stick on dash tablet look, not just BMW.

Of the new Audi's, I'm assuming all models 2018 and going forward will look like the 2018 A4/S4/A5/S5 like below. It's NOT retractable. I think only 2016 A3/S3 and 2016 A7/S7 have the retractable.

[rouxeny]

Have to agree, always thought this looked terrible. Like no effort put into design of it.

[McGary911]

It really does break the lines of the dash, so a retraction option would be nice (if it didn't take a crap 14 minutes out of warranty).
The placement DOES make sense as it's in the line of sight of where you should be looking when you're driving. It helps keep your eyes a lot closer to the road than if it was console mounted.

[Aronis]

It is a requirement! The rear backup camera display has to be active in some short time period required by the Queen of All Nannies, the US government. So the higher end cars will have FAST retracting and appearing screens and the rest will have fixed screens. I suspect there is a location requirement also.

But by far the worst, which looks like an after thought, is the BM model (CLA45 and it's siblings). Those look like an IPAD held on with hot glue.

Oh well.

Mike

[m34m]

Originally Posted by hshot_rooke

Almost all car manufacturers have bought into the ugly stick on dash tablet look, not just BMW.

Of the new Audi's, I'm assuming all models 2018 and going forward will look something like below. It's NOT retractable. I think only 2016 A3/S3 and 2016 A7/S7 have the retractable.

Looks are subjective. I think modern interiors are beautiful. They've never been higher quality or more ergonomic than they are today. During what era of the automobile do you think interiors were of higher quality or more aesthetically pleasing? I can't think of one. Let's file this under "amateur hour gripes".

[823BMW]

Originally Posted by Aronis

It is a requirement! The rear backup camera display has to be active in some short time period required by the Queen of All Nannies, the US government. So the higher end cars will have FAST retracting and appearing screens and the rest will have fixed screens. I suspect there is a location requirement also.

But by far the worst, which looks like an after thought, is the BM model (CLA45 and it's siblings). Those look like an IPAD held on with hot glue.

Oh well.

Mike

The NHTSA deadline for manufacturers to install backup cameras in all US vehicles is May 2018. That is one reason it is still an option on BMWs.

[hshot_rooke]

Originally Posted by rouxeny

Have to agree, always thought this looked terrible. Like no effort put into design of it.

Yeah, looks terrible, terrible...how the majority of car manufacturers decided to follow this is weird...

[hshot_rooke]

Originally Posted by m34m

Looks are subjective. I think modern interiors are beautiful. They've never been higher quality or more ergonomic than they are today. During what era of the automobile do you think interiors were of higher quality or more aesthetically pleasing? I can't think of one. Let's file this under "amateur hour gripes".

I agree with you, interiors of cars have never looked better. My comments are directed at the stick on tablet.

For example, MB has the nicest finishes and most aesthetically appealing interiors, EXCEPT the glued on TABLET. That in my opinion is UGLY. Everything else inside the MB, I agree is beautiful.

[MerlinPurple]

Well at least it looks somewhat integrated instead of being stuck on with superglue (cough mercedes cough)



Edit:

Originally Posted by hshot_rooke

For example, MB has the nicest finishes and most aesthetically appealing interiors, EXCEPT the glued on TABLET. That in my opinion is UGLY. Everything else inside the MB, I agree is beautiful.

You beat me to it

[seanhaus]

I'm fairly certain a ton of design time and consideration goes into the placement of these screens.

If I were to guess, it might have something to do with scan-ability and general eye movement. When the screen is on the 'horizon' of the dash, you effectively are able to see the surrounding windshield. Whereas when the screens are lower, your eye drops down and focuses on the screen and the surrounding interior elements.

While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, if it prevents a single accident, I would consider it a successful design.

[Tralfaz]

Before I had the car I was worried that display up there all the time would be annoying, but it really has not been. I've grown to appreciate having it in a convenient location. It would be nice if it retracted but I get why that's not possible. I don't know that I would want it to be located in a lower location since I'm not sure I would want to move the vents or the radio from where they are.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by hshot_rooke

I agree with you, interiors of cars have never looked better. My comments are directed at the stick on tablet.

For example, MB has the nicest finishes and most aesthetically appealing interiors, EXCEPT the glued on TABLET. That in my opinion is UGLY. Everything else inside the MB, I agree is beautiful.

I think the screens look great. The last thing I'd want is that embedded into the dash taking up real estate. To me the current designs are great. People used to whine about the E92 double hump too. What vehicle has the screen integrated into the dash that you can point to that you think is superior?

[Isolde]

Alfa Romeo Giulia for one. Porsche for two.

[Isolde]

Originally Posted by m34m

Looks are subjective. I think modern interiors are beautiful. They've never been higher quality or more ergonomic than they are today. During what era of the automobile do you think interiors were of higher quality or more aesthetically pleasing? I can't think of one. Let's file this under "amateur hour gripes".

You're the amateur in this discussion. You've missed the point entirely. Not criticizing the interior as a whole. Just the afterthought look to the display.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by Isolde

You're the amateur in this discussion. You've missed the point entirely. Not criticizing the interior as a whole. Just the afterthought look to the display.

Yeah you're right German engineers are idiots. They make key design decisions as afterthoughts.

[slashrawr]

Originally Posted by Isolde

You're the amateur in this discussion. You've missed the point entirely. Not criticizing the interior as a whole. Just the afterthought look to the display.

Unfortunately mate, you can't criticize the M2 around here or you just get called an idiot and told to go buy another car. Personally I agree with you, I think the Guilia's implementation is on point. Having said that I think the M2s is better than say the A45's which looks more like it's just tacked on.

[Haslamhazza]

If all cars had headup displays that could show all information there would be no need for the screens. I can see the screens being like the Audi TT and head up display and no stuck on screen. In the end it's all about not looking down and taking your eyes off the road. Isolde, yes I was

[Isolde]

Originally Posted by m34m

Yeah you're right German engineers are idiots. They make key design decisions as afterthoughts.

You're right! They are all brilliant. Let's see how much is Volkswagen paying at the moment for their brilliance??

Hahahaha well bottom line is it looks like nobody has relocated their display which is what I was interested in.....

[zenmaster]

A lot of the BMW displays have a non-integrated look to them these days.
They stuck an iPad mini on that new Audi dash apparently.