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      01-18-2016, 12:53 AM   #1
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Ceramic iDrive Controller Retrofit?

Does anyone know if it's possible to retrofit part number 65829350725?

I really prefer the blacked-out look, plus, it probably feels a bit more premium.

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      01-18-2016, 02:22 AM   #2
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It's the "M Performance iDrive Controller"

...since it's gloss black. amirite?
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      01-18-2016, 05:25 AM   #3
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Save for the finish, it looks identical. That said, I would imagine that one could easily be swapped out for another. However, I wouldn't hold my breath in regards to a "more premium feel" ...whatever that means.
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      01-18-2016, 07:38 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisdave View Post
Does anyone know if it's possible to retrofit part number 65829350725?

I really prefer the blacked-out look, plus, it probably feels a bit more premium.

In my F30, I swapped this ceramic Idrive controller. Recently, I found out I have to find the ceramic Idrive controller model and code accordingly. Without coding it works perfectly. One point to note is that the ring led on the stock version won't be on the ceramic one so kind of regret to loose that.
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      01-18-2016, 10:21 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubber_ducky View Post
Save for the finish, it looks identical. That said, I would imagine that one could easily be swapped out for another. However, I wouldn't hold my breath in regards to a "more premium feel" ...whatever that means.
I drink out of a plastic mug. It feels okay.
I drink out of a ceramic mug. It feels better.

I fiddle with a plastic and aluminum(-look plastic?) thing. It feels meh.
I fiddle with a ceramic thing. It feels premium.

There are four tactile items in the car I'm constantly interacting with--the steering wheel, pedals, 6MT knob, and iDrive controller. They're my priorities wrt interior mods, probably in that very order.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSportTune2 View Post
In my F30, I swapped this ceramic Idrive controller. Recently, I found out I have to find the ceramic Idrive controller model and code accordingly. Without coding it works perfectly. One point to note is that the ring led on the stock version won't be on the ceramic one so kind of regret to loose that.
I don't understand--you say both "I have to find the ceramic [iDrive] controller model and code accordingly" and "Without coding it works perfectly"... which seems contradictory. Can you please explain?
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      01-18-2016, 10:27 AM   #6
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MSportTune's first language isn't English looking at his location...Singapore.

I think he's saying he saw one and "had to have it", and presumed it needed coding. He was happy when he discovered it was plug and play, but the ceramic model doesn't have the orange ring light around the wheel.
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      01-18-2016, 10:29 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sos View Post
MSportTune's first language isn't English looking at his location...Singapore.

I think he's saying he saw one and "had to have it", and presumed it needed coding. He was happy when he discovered it was plug and play, but the ceramic model doesn't have the orange ring light around the wheel.
Thanks--I'm hopeful that's what he means too.
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      01-18-2016, 03:37 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisdave View Post
I drink out of a plastic mug. It feels okay.
I drink out of a ceramic mug. It feels better.

I fiddle with a plastic and aluminum(-look plastic?) thing. It feels meh.
I fiddle with a ceramic thing. It feels premium.

There are four tactile items in the car I'm constantly interacting with--the steering wheel, pedals, 6MT knob, and iDrive controller. They're my priorities wrt interior mods, probably in that very order.



I don't understand--you say both "I have to find the ceramic [iDrive] controller model and code accordingly" and "Without coding it works perfectly"... which seems contradictory. Can you please explain?
I understand what you mean by premium feel in terms of mugs, but what I meant is that given they appear mechanical identical (from the outside I know), I wouldn't expect anything to feel different in terms of anything outside of how the finishes feel to the touch (matte vs. gloss). If it is just the finish, it's kind of subjective as to which finish feels more premium wouldn't you say?

Anyway, I was barely aware that these ceramic knobs existed, so for all I know they could be entirely different on the inside.

Edit: I do believe that the OE knob on F8x cars is real aluminum (vs. aluma-look plastic)
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      01-18-2016, 04:00 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubber_ducky View Post
I understand what you mean by premium feel in terms of mugs, but what I meant is that given they appear mechanical identical (from the outside I know), I wouldn't expect anything to feel different in terms of anything outside of how the finishes feel to the touch (matte vs. gloss). If it is just the finish, it's kind of subjective as to which finish feels more premium wouldn't you say?

Anyway, I was barely aware that these ceramic knobs existed, so for all I know they could be entirely different on the inside.
Even if the internal assemblies and mechanisms are identical, I'd imagine there's enough of a mass delta between the ceramic and the plastic that both the tactile and (barely noticeable) aural feedback would be noticably different.

With regard to which finish is more premium with plastic vs ceramic, sure, I wouldn't argue that there's absolutely no subjectivity involved, but I wouldn't go as far as saying it's only individually subjective. (Happy to wax on about semantics to an esoteric degree, not to be pedantic, but because it's fun.) People "pay a premium" for an objectively more costly thing--because there's an agreement around its value being greater. This is why Merino costs more than Nappa costs more than Dakota costs more than SensaTec. There's a collective subjectivity that turns into an objective premium, an increased price.

The ceramic controls are more costly; they demand a premium, because there's an agreement that they are more premium. Can an individual disagree with those who agree? Sure, and he can save himself some coin in the process. But I'd imagine he'd find himself flying in the face of popular opinion... and that's fun in its own right.

Last edited by packetpilot; 01-18-2016 at 04:00 PM.. Reason: spelling error
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      01-18-2016, 05:33 PM   #10
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I don't understand--you say both "I have to find the ceramic [iDrive] controller model and code accordingly" and "Without coding it works perfectly"... which seems contradictory. Can you please explain?[/QUOTE]

Ok let me try to explain again.

1. I swapped the controller myself and have been using it for several months and it is working perfectly.
2. Recently when my buddy was showing me coding etc, he checked and found out I have a CON error code and we attributed that to the ceramic IDrive controller which is a different model than my stock one.
3. I have not managed to check this out yet to confirm it is indeed the culprit. Just wanted to highlight this and maybe it came out confusing.
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      01-18-2016, 05:38 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sos View Post
MSportTune's first language isn't English looking at his location...Singapore.

I think he's saying he saw one and "had to have it", and presumed it needed coding. He was happy when he discovered it was plug and play, but the ceramic model doesn't have the orange ring light around the wheel.
Thanks for clarifying but you crack me up on my location and first language comment. I will remember not to post anything too late at night while half asleep.
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      01-18-2016, 06:23 PM   #12
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The ceramic controls are more costly; they demand a premium, because there's an agreement that they are more premium. Can an individual disagree with those who agree? Sure, and he can save himself some coin in the process. But I'd imagine he'd find himself flying in the face of popular opinion... and that's fun in its own right.[/QUOTE]

That's my understanding too that the ceramic finish (not just the controller) is sold by BMW as a premium upgrade. Even in eBay, it is more expensive vs the standard touch controller. However, it is a matter of individual preference IMHO and not all would understand why we do this.
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      01-18-2016, 06:45 PM   #13
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MSportTune2 Since you've had both in your car, can you speak to (a) the difference in the way they feel without any movement, e.g. with regard to ambient temperature retention and the finish of the control surfaces; and (b) the difference, if any, in the way the two provide tactile/aural feedback when in motion? The visual improvement alone is worth some price point to me, but your input here will probably determine how far above that point I'm happy to go.

Also, can you confirm that 65829350725 is definitely the part number you ordered? There are a few versions of this apparently... this number seems to be the newest.

Thanks!

Last edited by packetpilot; 01-18-2016 at 06:47 PM.. Reason: spelling error
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      01-18-2016, 07:12 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisdave View Post
MSportTune2 Since you've had both in your car, can you speak to (a) the difference in the way they feel without any movement, e.g. with regard to ambient temperature retention and the finish of the control surfaces; and (b) the difference, if any, in the way the two provide tactile/aural feedback when in motion? The visual improvement alone is worth some price point to me, but your input here will probably determine how far above that point I'm happy to go.

Also, can you confirm that 65829350725 is definitely the part number you ordered? There are a few versions of this apparently... this number seems to be the newest.

Thanks!
Took me a while to dig out my old controller from the storeroom and take another look and feel the movement.

To answer your queries,...
This is how the ceramic one looks catching the light versus the "dull" looking plastic top on the standard.
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Last edited by MSportTune2; 01-18-2016 at 07:35 PM..
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      01-18-2016, 07:13 PM   #15
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Hope this answers "a"
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      01-18-2016, 07:15 PM   #16
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As for "b", it feels the same to me.

Yes, that is the ceramic controller part number I have on mine.

Last edited by MSportTune2; 01-18-2016 at 07:42 PM..
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      01-18-2016, 07:16 PM   #17
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You loose this ring light which I did not know when I bought the ceramic version. Pardon the crappy picture.
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      01-20-2016, 06:45 PM   #18
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I have both (m4 and x5)... me like ceramic better. In fact i like ceramic everything in the X5.
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      01-20-2016, 11:49 PM   #19
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Quote:
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I have both (m4 and x5)... me like ceramic better. In fact i like ceramic everything in the X5.
The ride on those tires must be almost as bad as run-flats.
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      01-21-2016, 10:32 AM   #20
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I saw this on an X5 M at a dealership and the dial had all these fingerprints on it. Also, since the bezel is also NOT led-lit it was a turn off for me. Def looks nice during the day, sans fingerprints.
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      02-12-2018, 08:26 AM   #21
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wow.. you guys sound very poetic discussing this controller lol.. i've gotta hang out on the f80 forums more often haha
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      02-12-2018, 11:32 AM   #22
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does it add weight?
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