A local dealer here in Finland told me that the new IDrive will be available starting from April 2009 production. I hope that is true.

Our local dealer told me the same (but with a maybe)... new i-Drive starting March in the X6. Can anyone else confirm this statement? Who else asked a dealer or official?

Yes, both X5 & X6 getting revised iDrive in the Spring ...

Do you have any confirmation? It sounds that you are very sure about spring !? ;-)

FYI; Scott works for BMW AG. That's why he is sure.

On 12/31/08 I placed an order for an '09 4.8i. I have been waiting for the new 'M' or whatever they are going to call the 4.4TT (as well as waiting for the new CIC/iDrive). Prior to my order I had asked about the arrival of the new/updated X5 and was told that it 'wouldn't arrive until later in the year'.

I was doing some more digging today, ran across this post and re-connected with my local dealer. Here's a paste when I pushed for what 'later in the year' actually meant regarding the 4.4TT:

I just spoke with the rep from BMW and he said it may be released earlier

But, they are not definite yet......

....BMW is not ready to make an official statement yet.

Could they be announcing at one of these?

• http://www.naias.com/the-2009-show/overview.aspx Aka Detroit Auto Show (Public Show - January 17-25, 2009)
• http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/about/index.asp (Public Show - February 13-22)

Don't know if any of this 'speculation' is related to the X6, but if they release an upgraded E70, they may also update the '6' :dunno:

FWIW, I just cancelled my order - I'm waiting to see what Feb 13th brings :) Worst case is I re-order the '09 4.8i and drive a rental for a few weeks :D

Daddy likes ----> http://www.autofans.us/images/BMW/Tw...W%20X5%201.jpg

OK! ;-)

2nd gen I-Drive in X6 is also heavily discussed in Germany. A lot of people say that their dealers told them "not before October 2009" others say "March 2009". I hope for BMW that "March 2009" will match....

I hope that's true, I heard otherwise, but.....I know you've been right many times

There is no official info about new iDrive from BMW Germany (News in 2009) within the press release from yesterday.

Is it possible that BMW still presents an "OLD idrive" X5 and X6 on the NAIAS? All series are fixed with the new system - not X5 and X6. Spring and summer sales would crash for those models.