Thanks to parts shortages, BMW is removing touchscreen functionality from some models that are in production right now and that have iDrive 7. Those models are the 3 Series, 4 Series (Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe), Z4, X5, X6, and X7. This makes sense, given that they all appear to use the same iDrive display assembly. The other models either use a different display for iDrive 7 (2 Series Coupe and Gran Coupe, X3, X4, 5 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series) or are on iDrive 6 (X1, X2) or iDrive 8 (i4, iX).

Unfortunately, my 2022 X5 xDrive45e (which went into production last week) is one of them. I called the dealership, and they informed me that my car had the 6UY option on the build sheet (which is the Touchscreen Delete) and a $500 credit. In conjunction with this, the Backup Assistant was also removed from the Parking Assistance Package. That deletion is coded as ZUY.

If you were about to order or have ordered one of those models and this is a dealbreaker for you, you may want to wait a while. There's no telling if/when BMW will add touchscreen functionality back. Worst-case scenario, it'll be when the affected models switch over to iDrive 8--as seen in the iX and i4--which will either be when they are redesigned or LCI'ed.

And now, the official notice:

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Over the course of the last several months, we have managed to maintain the majority of our planned production in spite of limits to certain option content. As we move further into Q4, some of these limitations have increased in scope. In an effort to maintain production levels through the end of the year, we have decided to remove the touch functionality from the Central Information Display in several vehicles starting production this week.

Impacted models:

G20 3 Series

G22/G23 4 Series Coupe and Convertible

G26 4 Series Gran Coupe (excluding i4)

G29 Z4

G05/G06/G07 (all variants)

These vehicles will have the Option Code 6UY “Deletion of Touchscreen” on the Monroney and an option credit of $500 will be applied to all vehicles produced without touch functionality.

This adjustment impacts all planned production for vehicles listed above, and as a result, we are unable to prioritize variants or P1 customer sold orders. We understand this change will require dialogue with customers awaiting delivery and additional action at the Client Advisor level.

Dealers will also be required to have customers sign a form confirming acknowledgement of the change.

With the inclusion of Option Code 6UY:

Touch functionality will not be present in the aforementioned vehicles

Other functionalities of the infotainment system (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) remain unaffected and can be used via the iDrive Controller and/or voice control

Additionally, vehicles with Parking Assistant Package (5DN/ZPK) will lose Backup Assistant when coupled with 6UY

These vehicles will have Option Code ZUY included in the build and Monroney labels to indicate “Deletion of Backup Assistant”

Vehicles with Option Code 6UY are expected to begin shipping this week from Plant Spartanburg, with overseas production to follow next week. All vehicles produced with this option will require a software update prior to retail and customer delivery as they will be shipped and wholesaled with a Retail Stop Sale. The software update will be available as of November 11.

With the software update forthcoming, we felt it was best to deliver the vehicles as they are built to expedite the resolution process. We acknowledge this is a different approach and thank you for your flexibility, continued cooperation and commitment to BMW.

Thank you.

~Jon S.