[dbs600]

Originally Posted by arnsbrae

Obviously BMW always consults us Brits before they do anything like this.

Well then, your fellow countrymen forgot to request that the volume knob on the center dash be on the driver’s side (right side) of the car and not in front of the passenger seat!

[c-hri-s]

That is true actually, especially annoying as I had a 'mute' button on the steering wheel of my E92 ... and to mute the sound in my F10 I need to reach half way across the car.

[JKresh]

how do we all get through life!!!

[bubbahead]

I had it the other side on my e92. BMW changed it for a reason. We'll all survive over this!

[The X Men]

If you guys have a problem adjusting to BMW moving the volume control, then I hate to see how you guys handle the bigger problems in life

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by The X Men

If you guys have a problem adjusting to BMW moving the volume control, then I hate to see how you guys handle the bigger problems in life

It's not that there's a problem adjusting to what they've done, it's that it's not as ergonomic as what they had previously; wondering why...

[JKresh]

it makes no sense to move it when the actual knob is closer thats why !!!!!!!!

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by JKresh

it makes no sense to move it when the actual knob is closer thats why !!!!!!!!

Not if you have both hands on the steering wheel like you are suppose to.

[arnsbrae]

Originally Posted by dbs600

Well then, your fellow countrymen forgot to request that the volume knob on the center dash be on the driver’s side (right side) of the car and not in front of the passenger seat!

Ah, but we told them to put a volume control right there on the steering wheel - on the best side if the steering wheel too!

To be serious for a moment, the vast majority of these cars are sold as LHD so they ought to keep that uppermost in their mind when they plan their ergonomics...

[JKresh]

Originally Posted by The X Men

Not if you have both hands on the steering wheel like you are suppose to.

you're going to use volume more then cruise control, volume should be on the left like it was and like it is on most cars with steering wheel controls.

the i drive being shifted towards the passenger is awkward as well

[martin mustang]

Originally Posted by dbs600

Well then, your fellow countrymen forgot to request that the volume knob on the center dash be on the driver’s side (right side) of the car and not in front of the passenger seat!

But on our side I find fast forward/backward button perfectly positioned on the right hand side of the centre console, very handy knowing that BMW again screwed up by removing this option from the steering wheel like it use to in the E60, shame we also lost the button you can program what you like on the E60 steering wheel, I use to have it setup to close the vents in case some TDi engine in front blowing fumes at take offs, now I have to find it on the centre console, by the time I engage the dam thing it's too late.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by JKresh

you're going to use volume more then cruise control, volume should be on the left like it was and like it is on most cars with steering wheel controls.

the i drive being shifted towards the passenger is awkward as well

Exactly, since most people use volume control more then cruise control and most people are right handed, the volume control should be on the right side.
The F10's German counterparts, A6 and E350, all have volume control on the right side.
The I drive is also in the perfect spot, if it was on the driver side, it would be too close.

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by martin mustang

I find fast forward/backward button perfectly positioned on the right hand side of the centre console, very handy knowing that BMW again screwed up by removing this option from the steering wheel like it use to in the E60

Seriously; why remove it from the steering wheel!? Doesn't make any sense...

[JKresh]

Originally Posted by The X Men

Exactly, since most people use volume control more then cruise control and most people are right handed, the volume control should be on the right side.
The F10's German counterparts, A6 and E350, all have volume control on the right side.
The I drive is also in the perfect spot, if it was on the driver side, it would be too close.

right handed people drive with their left hand and right hand on the stick

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by JKresh

right handed people drive with their left hand and right hand on the stick

Whether or not right or left handed, I'd venture to say that the vast majority of drivers driving left hand drive cars use their left hand to hold the steering wheel and the vast majority of drivers driving right hand drive cars use their right hand to hold the steering wheel. Still doesn't change the fact that the volume controls on left hand drive cars should be on the left side of the steering wheel and that same on right hand drive cars should be on the right side of the steering wheel.

[BMWrules7]

[QUOTE=dbs600]

Originally Posted by martin mustang

I find fast forward/backward button perfectly positioned on the right hand side of the centre console, very handy knowing that BMW again screwed up by removing this option from the steering wheel like it use to in the E60

This reminds me of a project I worked on for a large laser printer manufacturer.

They created a memory stick that would log every key press users would make on their printer configuration settings.

Then after about 6 months it was my job to break up the data and perform statistical calculations. In turn, Marketing would use my data to determine which functions people use in the field.

As it turned out, there was a plus and a minus button used to scroll through menus. The ratio of the number of times the plus button was used versus the minus button was like 1000 to 1.

So, the marketing folks responded by eliminating the minus button altogether. Hey, at 1000 to 1, it seemed like no one would even miss it.

Then a whole new generation of printers was released without a minus button. If the user scrolled through the menus and missed the item, they could no longer scroll back one. They would have to hit the plus button a number if times again.

Well, it was almost immediate the huge mistake this was. Users screamed there was no minus button even though they only used it rarely.

It turns out many people hit the plus button an extra time when scrolling through options and then count on that minus button to get then back. This was a lessened learned on the part if the manufacturer.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by JKresh

right handed people drive with their left hand and right hand on the stick

You do realize that the vast majority of BMW sold in the US is automatic.

[dbs600]

Would be funny if BMW execs had a similar dialog to this thread when making the change, but whether or not I believe they reached the proper result, I hope they discussed same and didn't make this change on a whim. The only thing I can think of is that the current setup benefits the Right Hand Drive market in that it compensates for how far away the volume knob on the dash was / is from the driver, whereas same readily accessible on Left Hand Drive models, albeit on the dash.

[The X Men]

Its not about the distance between the two volume control, its about keep both hands on the steering wheel at high speed while adjusting the volume.

[Boulder Bill]

You really like to have the last word, don't you.

[JKresh]

who keeps both hands on the steering wheel in real world non track days driving?

[OzDriver]

Originally Posted by dbs600

Would be funny if BMW execs had a similar dialog to this thread when making the change, but whether or not I believe they reached the proper result, I hope they discussed same and didn't make this change on a whim. The only thing I can think of is that the current setup benefits the Right Hand Drive market in that it compensates for how far away the volume knob on the dash was / is from the driver, whereas same readily accessible on Left Hand Drive models, albeit on the dash.

I don't know about you, but my wife likes to change the volume from the passenger seat - so the control on the dash is in a good place (I think there would be a complaint if she had to lean over to adjust the volume ). The driver's control on the steering wheel doesn't bother me which side it's on, however, maybe they could have made it a no cost option for people who order a Manual. I can't believe that it would be all that hard to reverse the steering wheel controls.