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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum why did they move the volume to the right of the steering wheel?
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      04-12-2013, 01:41 PM   #1
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why did they move the volume to the right of the steering wheel?

very annoying, should be on the left!!!
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      04-12-2013, 01:55 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JKresh View Post
very annoying, should be on the left!!!
Couldn't agree more, especially with a manual transmission.
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      04-12-2013, 02:06 PM   #3
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They probably did so to put the cruise control on the steering wheel instead of the stalk on the left of the steering wheel. There were many times on my E60 that I would try to activate the cruise and hit the turn signal and vice versa. They probably responded to complaints and changed things, for example, the bad steering feel on the F10.
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      04-12-2013, 02:40 PM   #4
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Because most people are right handed and use the volume control more than the cruise control.
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      04-12-2013, 02:55 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The X Men View Post
Because most people are right handed and use the volume control more than the cruise control.
If that were the case, they wouldn't have had it there for the last decade or so. Particularly since, even with an automatic transmission, drivers are using their right hand to engage I-drive and other controls. The left hand is almost always free.
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      04-12-2013, 03:34 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boulder Bill
Quote:
Originally Posted by The X Men View Post
Because most people are right handed and use the volume control more than the cruise control.
If that were the case, they wouldn't have had it there for the last decade or so. Particularly since, even with an automatic transmission, drivers are using their right hand to engage I-drive and other controls. The left hand is almost always free.

Actually, the e39 had the volume on the left. The irony is that the volume on the steering is a few inches on the right from the volume control knob anyway.

I liked the volume on the left.

I agree that it was moved due to ACC and to be consistent with BMWs philosophy of driver controls on the left and entertainment on the right.
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      04-12-2013, 05:26 PM   #7
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Because it is better

I have both: one on the left on my X5 and one on the right on my F10 and I wasn't used to using either one of them - both new and first BMWs to me. The 550 arrangement is more intuitive and I like the cruise control buttons so much better than the stalk on the X5.
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      04-12-2013, 05:48 PM   #8
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I switch between my 2002 330 and 2013 535 and it gets me all the time. It just makes way more sense for it to be on the left.

Oh, and I also sometimes put it into sport + instead of rolling down the drivers side window too now.
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      04-12-2013, 06:51 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boulder Bill View Post
If that were the case, they wouldn't have had it there for the last decade or so. Particularly since, even with an automatic transmission, drivers are using their right hand to engage I-drive and other controls. The left hand is almost always free.
I guess it took BMW a decade to realized their mistake. You said it yourself " with an automatic transmission, drivers are using their right hand to engage I-drive and other controls" and the last time I check, its called a volume control
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      04-12-2013, 09:06 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWrules7 View Post
The irony is that the volume on the steering is a few inches on the right from the volume control knob anyway.
This is ABSOLUTELY on point; the volume buttons should be on the left of the steering wheel!

There should ALSO be an easy way to toggle between seeking AM/FM radio stations and selecting from AM/FM radio presets on the wheel!
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      04-12-2013, 10:15 PM   #11
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i drive with my left hand and my right on the shifter, it was so nice just to tap the volume with my left hand now its closer for me to just use the volume on the console.
so basically ill never use any of the buttons on the steering wheel...

its heaven on my wifes tiguan where everything is on the left !!!

cruise control i dont think ive ever used that feature in ten years lol
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      04-12-2013, 10:17 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boulder Bill View Post
If that were the case, they wouldn't have had it there for the last decade or so. Particularly since, even with an automatic transmission, drivers are using their right hand to engage I-drive and other controls. The left hand is almost always free.
EGGS ACTLY!!

my right hand is always on the shifter or idrive, the left hand on the wheel!
very bad move on bmws part
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      04-12-2013, 10:37 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JKresh View Post
i drive with my left hand and my right on the shifter, it was so nice just to tap the volume with my left hand now its closer for me to just use the volume on the console.
so basically ill never use any of the buttons on the steering wheel...

its heaven on my wifes tiguan where everything is on the left !!!

cruise control i dont think ive ever used that feature in ten years lol
Bingo. If I want to use my right hand for adjustment, I'll use the primary volume control. The whole purpose, at least previously, was an alternative way to control a commonly used feature. Oh well, there are greater hassles in life.

Wonder what you are doing with your left hand X-man?
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      04-12-2013, 11:39 PM   #14
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ANOTHER ERROR is the placement of the open/close vent wheels; especially for the outer vents! On the E60 the wheels were on the inner side of the outer vents, allowing the driver to reach the wheel for the vent in front of the passenger seat, but on the F10 the wheels are on the outer side of the outer vents, making it difficult for the driver to reach same. Same can also be said for the center vents, where the E60 wheels were in between both center vents, allowing the passenger to reach same easily, whereas on the F10 they’re on the outside of the center vents, making it more difficult for the passenger to reach same. One step forward, two steps backward?

They also screwed up the shift-gate area on the F10, as it swoops away from and blocks off the driver, whereas the E60 was more driver oriented in that same bends towards the driver...
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Last edited by dbs600; 04-13-2013 at 12:34 AM..
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      04-13-2013, 12:12 AM   #15
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very good points thanks for the pictures!
I knew something was off there too... damn
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      04-13-2013, 12:41 AM   #16
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Otherwise, not sure how it'd look / be implemented, but BMW should've taken notes from Audi and located the dash-based radio volume knob somewhere near the shift-gate (iDrive control knob), so your hand doesn't have to leave the shit-gate area as much.
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      04-13-2013, 01:00 AM   #17
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I never drive with my right hand unless im in london! do you hear me BMW?
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      04-13-2013, 01:17 AM   #18
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I like them on the right.
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      04-13-2013, 09:21 AM   #19
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They even got it right on the first steering wheel they added buttons to, the 1995 E38 7 Series; radio volume to the left, crusie control to the right...

This was also one of the first times they moved the window buttons to the driver's door and offered a built-in factory navigation system.
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Last edited by dbs600; 04-13-2013 at 09:26 AM..
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      04-13-2013, 01:17 PM   #20
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Obviously BMW always consults us Brits before they do anything like this.

On the right is just dandy for us. What with steering wheel being on the right hand side 'n all.

Jus' sayin'
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      04-13-2013, 02:36 PM   #21
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^^ what he said.
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      04-13-2013, 02:38 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boulder Bill View Post
Wonder what you are doing with your left hand X-man?
Well, I don't have it on a shaft, I mean shifter, like you do
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