CONFIRMED - No TFT Instrument Panel on MY 2013 7 Series LCI

The F01 7 Series Life Cycle Impluse (LCI) was just announced with much excitement. The big list of changes include -

• New front and rear bumpers
• New headlights
• New front seats
• More power for the V8
• N55 6 cylinder replaces N54 6 cylinder
• And much more

One feature that was shown in the press photos but will not be making it to the US for the start of the model year 2013 (MY) is the TFT instrument panel. BMW's TFT panel replaces the traditional needles and gauges with what is in effect an LCD panel. The gauges, needles and numbers are simply displayed on a screen, nothing is physically moving.



Despite information to the contrary my sources indicate that there was not enough time to get the TFT panel tested and integrated for US spec model year 2013 vehicle before production starts in July. I expect the TFT display will come state side for the 7 series in model year 2014. Will a lack of a TFT instrument panel keep you from buying a 7 Series LCI?

Geez, this is the most amazing feature of the new 7!

That is BS

I was planning to get a 2013 740LI via European Delivery. Now it looks like I'll have to reconsider that. Why are we being treated like 2nd class citizens? BMWUSA, do you hear that? This is your largest market! Come to your senses and make it happen!

Originally Posted by nonamerequired

I was planning to get a 2013 740LI via European Delivery. Now it looks like I'll have to reconsider that. Why are we being treated like 2nd class citizens? BMWUSA, do you hear that? This is your largest market! Come to your senses and make it happen!

Actually, it's not. Largest foreign market for BMW (and Audi) is China. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17677651

So china has just become their number one market. US still very important to sales.

However, you don't roll out a major upgrade and then not have it in all your markets.

Surely you don't expect that BMW, selling record high ~500.000 vehicles in three months, out of which only like 60.000 are sold in the US (and out of which the amount of 7 series is, well, miniscule - compared to the German and world market) - will postpone a whole roll out just because some US bureaucrats took their time and couldn't get the TFT screen approved for the release.

It's a large market, but not large enough to have the German market wait and/or adjust for it

I agree if it was a governmental thing rather than a supply chain issue

Originally Posted by rsingh111

However, you don't roll out a major upgrade and then not have it in all your markets.

So you say they should hold back until everyone is ready? I'm not sure that makes sense. In that case, we still wouldn't have GPS navigation, since it's not available for all markets. Every company has staggered roll outs - food, technology, auto etc. The reasons can be technical, regulatory, and market driven for example. How about the X1? Hold that back until all markets are ready for it?

Let me ask you this - how would it make better financial sense for BMW to hold the TFT panel back worldwide than stagger the release as they are doing now? Naturally, it's not ideal, but if a product is not yet ready, then that is a fact of life, and the choice is wait, or stagger.

If a supply chain issue then have it for all the markets.
Hard to advertise to the US how wonderful the TFT is and then not have it

Don't advertise it if you can't deliver. Not on such high end cars where buyers are extremely particular. Delay the rollout for the 2013 until it is ready to go in the US. It's. It like you can just do a software update.

Whatever the reason. They should not have marketed the screen or have some fine print saying not available in US

Originally Posted by rsingh111

They should not have marketed the screen or have some fine print saying not available in US

I don't think I have seen the TFT display as being marketed on any BMWNA release. The BMWNA releases just lists the ECO Pro mode, which is probably implemented with the existing bottom display.

I still don't see how your approach would make financial sense to BMW. How would they sell more cars by holding the update back worldwide? And if they could, why wouldn't BMW do that? Remember, there are folks coming off lease, and I'm pretty sure most would likely want a watered down 2013 than a 2012.

I said hold back in US only till ready

What supply chain??? They're manufactured in Germany.
I bet it's even more expensive for BMW to produce the US-non-TFT cars in the same production line/MY as all the rest TFT-cars.

Originally Posted by chrischeung

Remember, there are folks coming off lease, and I'm pretty sure most would likely want a watered down 2013 than a 2012.

How about another car other than a BMW. It has competition.

I'll wait and see, but don't doubt you. Will it affect my purchase, absolutely. Mercedes has some neat stuff on the S that I'll be looking at before deciding to wait or go another direction. No hurry either way...

The next gen S is coming out soon, don't rush yourself if your option is open.

Disappointing to say the least. Below is one example of how nice a TFT can be. Jaguar XJ has had a TFT since the new model but at last check it was not configurable so pretty pointless. It's also a good way to get killed if you try to fiddle with it while driving-I expect limited inputs are allowed whilst in motion.

Tim: Any updates on this? Anything official yet? How close is your source and how certain is he?

If it's not coming to the US, what's the deal with this car(?) [It's at the US debut for the LCI in California, has the full TFT instrument cluster, along with a US-spec trunk lid, no rear fog lamps (US-spec) and no rear iDrive controller (US-spec)]:

...and no US homologation. It's a show car.

Ticks me off that many manufacturers treat the US as an unwanted stepchild. VW and Ford are famous for keeping their best products in Europe. The lack of rear fog lights is typical as if to say that the US does not get fog. Truth be told, US drivers are so clueless they wouldn't use it anyway. My 92 Alfla 164 had rear fog lights on the US model. Name one item on a US model that is not available on the European model? The 85 mph speedometer of the late 70sto mid 80s is not a good example. Ford had a brilliant response to that on the Xr4ti. They put a 140 mph speedometer in and had the numbers read only to 85 with hash marks for the remainder of the numbers to 140.

I wouldn't assume it's the manufacturers - I mean why would they underfeature their products in one specific country ? I think it's the differences in homologation procedures.

Originally Posted by beamlord

...and no US homologation. It's a show car.

I would be shocked if they brought in and showed a car with something that was not approved. That would seem rather ridiculous to me but then again, one never knows.

I ordered a loaded 7 Individual yesterday with a July production date subject to the new TFT panel being included. The sales manager said he will get me the answer.

Originally Posted by LovinM6

I would be shocked if they brought in and showed a car with something that was not approved. That would seem rather ridiculous to me but then again, one never knows.

I ordered a loaded 7 Individual yesterday with a July production date subject to the new TFT panel being included. The sales manager said he will get me the answer.

Wonder how can you order a MY13 7er before it's being officially sold yet?

Originally Posted by beamlord

I wouldn't assume it's the manufacturers - I mean why would they underfeature their products in one specific country ? I think it's the differences in homologation procedures.

I have communicated with Honda and Vw on the simple issue of xenon headlights available in 1998 on MB. The reply from VW was because of "marketing objectives" xenons are not available. In other words, if you want xenons buy an Audi. Honda does the same vis a vis Acura. This explains why little 1.4liter boxes in Europe get xenons and not a 2012 $35k US passat. I saw a south African crv with xenons 7-8 years ago and today's us models still don't have them

Originally Posted by dbs600

Tim: Any updates on this? Anything official yet? How close is your source and how certain is he?

If it's not coming to the US, what's the deal with this car(?) [It's at the US debut for the LCI in California, has the full TFT instrument cluster, along with a US-spec trunk lid, no rear fog lamps (US-spec) and no rear iDrive controller (US-spec)]:

No updates, it is confirmed not coming to the US for MY 2013. I was at that event, it was the Gran Coupe (driving review) and F12 M6 Press Drive (M6 driving review) event and they showed us the 7 Series LCI as well. While we were all (journalists) looking the car over, it was specifically mentioned that the TFT display wasn't coming for MY 2013, which I then double checked with BMW in case I misheard them.