[TheBingoBalls]

Dates apply to Canada, all other regions expected to follow the same changes.

Starting with 03/23 production, the i4 (all variants) lose the traditional gear selector for the new toggle switch gear selector.

I know this has been a talking point here on the forums so if you are one of those who dislike the new toggle switch, if you can find an i4 with the old selector, now is your chance before BMW revises it.

[RedKloud]

I am ok with the toggle selector, don't really like the plasticky blue look of the current shifter.

[mtech8]

I prefer the new shifter. Just missed the cut off. Car is in transit. Maybe can swap with someone (if it's possible and an easy thing to do).

[heatmizr]

I need to lay hands on the new shifter to know for sure, but I suspect I will prefer my old style shitter, er, shifter knob. Better for bumping it between modes while on the fly.

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by mtech8

I prefer the new shifter. Just missed the cut off. Car is in transit. Maybe can swap with someone (if it's possible and an easy thing to do).

Retrofit is moderately difficult, you have to remove the trim around the shifter "area" which is not for anyone. As always, I'm sure it's possible if you prefer this. My only problem with the new shifter is where do you rest your hand? Mercedes had a nice solution to this, with BMW I feel like my hand would just be dangling.

[Space Cadet]

There’s always the spare side of the steering wheel……..

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

There’s always the spare side of the steering wheel……..

Not my thing. I use that side when I'm driving more spiritedly, when I'm not, I like to rest my hand on the armrest and my arm needs to go somewhere too. That's why it's there.

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

Retrofit is moderately difficult, you have to remove the trim around the shifter "area" which is not for anyone. As always, I'm sure it's possible if you prefer this. My only problem with the new shifter is where do you rest your hand? Mercedes had a nice solution to this, with BMW I feel like my hand would just be dangling.

Wonder if it (retrofit) is something that can be done through the dealership. I really hate for them to come back and deny me of warranty due to something not working in the car and blaming it on the retrofit done on my own.

I just like the unobstructed space/access to the cup holder and also when leaning over to grab something in the passenger foot area (and not having the shifter in the way/jabbing into my stomach).

As far as my hands so, I really don't hold onto the shifter that often and can really rest it anywhere.

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by mtech8

Wonder if it (retrofit) is something that can be done through the dealership. I really hate for them to come back and deny me of warranty due to something not working in the car and blaming it on the retrofit done on my own.

It probably depends on the dealership if they would do it or not. They’ll charge a pretty penny for the work regardless.

As far was warranty goes, they’ll have to prove a retrofit you made with an OEM part caused an issue before denying you a warranty claim. I don’t think that would be easy for them to do. If you use a 3rd party non OEM retrofit and it blows a control module unit sure, but not with an OEM part.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

It probably depends on the dealership if they would do it or not. They’ll charge a pretty penny for the work regardless.

As far was warranty goes, they’ll have to prove a retrofit you made with an OEM part caused an issue before denying you a warranty claim. I don’t think that would be easy for them to do. If you use a 3rd party non OEM retrofit and it blows a control module unit sure, but not with an OEM part.

Here in the US "they" must prove anything you did caused the failure.

The Magnusson-Moss Waaranty Act.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by mtech8

Wonder if it (retrofit) is something that can be done through the dealership. I really hate for them to come back and deny me of warranty due to something not working in the car and blaming it on the retrofit done on my own.

I just like the unobstructed space/access to the cup holder and also when leaning over to grab something in the passenger foot area (and not having the shifter in the way/jabbing into my stomach).

As far as my hands so, I really don't hold onto the shifter that often and can really rest it anywhere.

I doubt your dealer will install a part (regardless if it’s OEM) that is not shown as a valid part for your vehicle. If they do install it, they will likely make you remove all liability from them for any issues that could arise from the part being installed. Warranty might be affected as well. This is something you’d likely have to do yourself or have an independent shop do, if it’s possible without further modification or compatibility issues to your vehicle.

[Space Cadet]

My experience with BMW matches that. If the change isn’t offered as an ‘official’ retrofit for that car then they simply will not install it due to liability concerns at Dealership & Country level. In the UK at least there is no liability waiver so no way of doing it.

It was causing issues over recent years where owners wanted MSport trims (as an example) on a car not fitted at the factory. Requests to supply and fit were refused point blank. The result was a spate of thefts from cars equipped with the necessary parts.

I had the entire bumper on our the E46 stolen to fulfil someone’s need. The Police said they’d seen a lot of exactly the same thing across several parts of the UK, and it was all down to BMW’s refusal to supply parts.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

My experience with BMW matches that. If the change isn’t offered as an ‘official’ retrofit for that car then they simply will not install it due to liability concerns at Dealership & Country level. In the UK at least there is no liability waiver so no way if doing it.

It was causing issues over recent years where owners wanted MSport trims as an example on a car not fitted at the factory. Requests to supply and fit were refused point blank. The result was a spate of thefts from cars equipped with the necessary parts.

I had the entire bumper on our the E46 stolen to fulfil someone’s need. The Police said they’d seen a lot of exactly the same thing across several parts of the UK, and it was all down to BMW’s refusal to supply parts.

This.

Unless a vehicle in that MY has the option, I dealer isn’t going to install it especially when the part is electrical. They might do it if you waive all warranty related obligations, but I haven’t seen that happen - it’s just a flat out no because it’s not worth the headache for a dealer to deal with any issues that may arise from it.

[deutsch100]

The BMW Group will try to blame a lot of nonsense on the buyer.

My RR Phantom had an issue with the auto rotating and closing "iDrive" screen. RR/BMW had the nerve to tell me that they found a yellow microfiber cloth in my driver door compartment, and the electricity caused by a microfiber cloth could be causing the issue with my center screen. WTF?

The cloth was for my sunglasses.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

The BMW Group will try to blame a lot of nonsense on the buyer.

My RR Phantom had an issue with the auto rotating and closing "iDrive" screen. RR/BMW had the nerve to tell me that they found a yellow microfiber cloth in my driver door compartment, and the electricity caused by a microfiber cloth could be causing the issue with my center screen. WTF?

The cloth was for my sunglasses.

You lost me at "My RR Phantom"😂🤣😂🤣

Yeah they will try to blame everything on the buyer. I have seen some dealers try to blame the silliest things on the buyers.

Fortunately my dealer never tried that on my cars.

[tico27]

Hi, my car was built in week 8 and is in the current status of 190. Will this have the new shifter or the current one. Thanks

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by tico27

Hi, my car was built in week 8 and is in the current status of 190. Will this have the new shifter or the current one. Thanks

Will not.
The new shifter goes in sometime in March.

[tico27]

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

Will not.
The new shifter goes in sometime in March.

Thanks for confirming.

[RedKloud]

New US configurator with toggle shifter now online:
https://www.bmwusa.com/build-your-ow...zskpjyr/design

Although, still says MY 2023 and not 2024.

[guy_incognito1420]

I like the newer style shifters since the traditional…joystick doesn’t really have a place in EVs or even modern transmissions.

It takes up needless space but that said, it’s not a deal breaker to me to have one.

The iX has the newer style shifter and I had originally ordered that before I cancelled it due to delays regarding an airbag recall stop sale and got the i4 I lucked out and managed to find. It just made more sense to use.

[sfi4]

Wouldn't be too bothered by this — nice to have unfettered access to console storage given it's where the phone lives.

Trigger warning for folks who don't believe in it, but this layout still fails to resolve some fundamental UX problems with one-pedal driving (B mode), primarily that it still requires an extra movement to engage and there's no equivalent in Reverse. This mode should just be an independent on/off setting (either in software or with a physical button) that applies to all drive modes until/unless it's disabled. If they're trying to "fix" the shifter, this seems like a bigger problem to solve than toggle vs. stick.

[Grachus]

Originally Posted by sfi4

Wouldn't be too bothered by this — nice to have unfettered access to console storage given it's where the phone lives.

Agree with this. Would be easier to get to drinks and phone with the shifter out of the way--wish that had been an option when I ordered mine!

Will be interested to see if anyone is able to retrofit the new style onto model that came with the shifter knob.