Yeah. If BMW was smart, they would follow Ford's lead with their hybrid. Ford has an LCD instrument cluster and you can choose three levels of information you wish to see. That seems the best solution:

Video: The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid’s instrument cluster

New High-Tech Ford Hybrid Instrument Cluster 'Rewards' You for Efficient Driving : TreeHugger

BMW could easily add one more selection to the idrive. This selection would turn the idrive screen into a secondary instrument cluster and could show graphic pseudo-gauges of engine coolant temperature, instantaneous MPG, and/or other informational items that some enthusiasts want to see. Someone earlier mentioned airplane instrumentation. This is a similar approach to the airplane instrumentation which draws pseudo-gauges and allows the pilot to bring them to the screen, and which also automatically displays the appropriate gauge when an abnormal operating condition is detected. It wouldn't require any hard point or physical dash changes, since it would be a software implementation using data the engine computer already has available. They could even make it an extra cost option and make some money on it!