Is HUD really an asset or mostly gimmicky?

7175 Views 135 Replies 73 Participants Last post by SteveinArizona, 29 d ago

Ralph III

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Hello All,
I have a few questions in regards to HUD, as we are looking to purchase a newer 5 series. So I am considering whether it is an option worthy of consideration such as heated seats, which is a must for my wife and daughters.

1. Is HUD really any use with a daily driver because this is what the BMW will be used for? I can see where HUD could be useful with navigation while traveling but we reserve our Escalade for trips. So do you find HUD necessary or unnecessary with your daily driver?

2. Do you consider HUD more of a nuisance? My daughter and I found it kinda neat in the vehicles we test drove but my wife found it distracting.

3. Are the BMW HUD units highly reliable or do they suffer from issues on occasion? I just read quite a number of people complaining about having issues with their HUD units. So is it just something else that's prone to fail and will need servicing/replacement at some point?

Thanks,
Ralph

101 - 120 of 136 Posts

markl53

· #101 · 2 mo ago

LogicalApex said:
Since HUD is optional and so are the “better seats”. Why didn’t you skip the HUD and opt for the seats instead?

+1. However, to be fair, HUD is now part of Premium Pkg, at least starting in 2022. No longer a stand-alone option, so it may be included for someone who wants Premium w/o HUD. I have Executive Pkg in my '22 540i. Also, multi-contour now requires both Nappa and ZLS, costing $3500 on a 540i. Unfortunately, that may price some people out of multi-contour, or people may not want Nappa, etc., My '18 had MC seats with Dakota.

RJLII

· #102 · 2 mo ago

LogicalApex said:
Since HUD is optional and so are the “better seats”. Why didn’t you skip the HUD and opt for the seats instead?

I didn't get a chance to order it. I had to (gasp!) buy from existing inventory

LogicalApex

· #103 · 2 mo ago

RJLII said:
I didn't get a chance to order it. I had to (gasp!) buy from existing inventory

Then why take the stance you took? I get it. You don’t like the option. But it sounded like you are angry that others can, and do, like the option. By stating that the option should be axed and “better” seats put in its place.

I like both so I ordered both and am happy BMW allows it. My only gripe is HUD should be standard at the price point since it can be toggled off in settings…

Felt like a better contribution would have been that you don’t like HUD with maybe a reason and let it end there.

isildain

· #104 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

When I bought my second BMW, the HUD was offered, but the dealer talked me out of it. I got it on my third car, and was kicking myself for not having it sooner. Now, I have a hard time living without it. The HUD is now second nature, and if I rent a car without it, I really miss it. My polarized sunglasses don't play well with it, and I wish they would design the projector 90 degrees to accommodate them. I'm used to tilting my head slightly when I need to really look at it.

I've had windshields replaced on two different cars. Safelite replaced them both (my dealership said they would out-source to them anyway). In both cases, my insurance easily agreed that the windshields had to be OEM because of the HUD. On the first car, the repair was done perfectly with no problem. He even transferred our state inspection sticker to the new windshield. On the second car, they replaced it with the wrong windshield and nothing worked: my HUD was blurry, the headlights no longer came on automatically, the windshield wipers didn't work. Safelite's excuse was that there are three different windshields that can be used on my car, and they ordered the wrong one. My personal belief was that they ordered the cheapest windshield in the hopes I wouldn't complain and they could pocket a little extra money.

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scsfll

· #105 · 2 mo ago

cabletek83 said:
You are spot on regarding your comments. I own a 2018 530i a love it 100% Thx

HUD, I’m my opinion is a complete waste of & and impedes on my vision by taking up valuable windshield space for vision….. at night. I live in Florida and wear polarized sunglasses. You cannot see the HUD if you wanted to. How often are you looking at this “ important “ data” ?
I drive several very fast cars I I have it limited to as little as I can which is mph.
Another issue which is just an fyi is the cost to replace an HUD windshield v non is more than double. Tell me about insurance and I will ask you about premium.
the net net for me is it doesn’t work and any serious driver does not want anything in their path of vision. This includes hanging things from rear view mirrors.

scsfll

· #106 · 2 mo ago

Goblinski said:
Two things I'd leave to dedicated shops vs the dealer - wheel alignment and glass. Safelite are plenty good, in my experience. They know what they are doing, and have all the needed equipment. I don't think a BMW (or any other brand) dealer is better at replacing a windshield than Safelite or any decent body shop is. Many dealers actually outsorce this.

The problem is not Safelite, but the windshield that the insurance company makes them work with.
Insurers will always proceed with and push for 3rd party glass (which could be good or not so good), and will only go to name brand (BMW original in this case) if you agree to pay extra, OR if the 3rd party does not cary that specific model windshield.

The good part is that most exotic windshields will not be carried by the 3rd party and the insurer will be forced to go for original. And if it's at least half-good - they'll treat it as their own 3rd party. This happened to me with my econosuv - turned out that my windshield was exotic enough. They covered it in full.

Initially, when they thought that they had a 3rd party for my car, they were quoting me $250 (or was it $300) extra if I wanted to go with an original from the dealer (which is still less than the actual difference in price I think, looked like a flat fee).

The glass is manufactured from the same factory with the same specs as BMW without the stamp. BMW will allow a non stamped windshield on a lease return. I did it with an M5

E60Tango

· #107 · 2 mo ago

HUD is generally very nice IMO. Speed only is useful enough, some other info is also beneficial. Navigation next turn info is useful too, but full navigation (map and such) or a lot more info gets too cluttered.

LogicalApex

· #108 · 2 mo ago

scsfll said:
HUD, I’m my opinion is a complete waste of & and impedes on my vision by taking up valuable windshield space for vision….. at night. I live in Florida and wear polarized sunglasses. You cannot see the HUD if you wanted to. How often are you looking at this “ important “ data” ?
I drive several very fast cars I I have it limited to as little as I can which is mph.
Another issue which is just an fyi is the cost to replace an HUD windshield v non is more than double. Tell me about insurance and I will ask you about premium.
the net net for me is it doesn’t work and any serious driver does not want anything in their path of vision. This includes hanging things from rear view mirrors.

Thankfully in PA, and NY where I now live, comprehensive claims like windshield repairs and etc can’t be used to push your premiums up.

SteveinArizona

· #109 · 2 mo ago

scsfll said:
HUD, I’m my opinion is a complete waste of & and impedes on my vision by taking up valuable windshield space for vision….. at night. I live in Florida and wear polarized sunglasses. You cannot see the HUD if you wanted to. How often are you looking at this “ important “ data” ?
I drive several very fast cars I I have it limited to as little as I can which is mph.
Another issue which is just an fyi is the cost to replace an HUD windshield v non is more than double. Tell me about insurance and I will ask you about premium.
the net net for me is it doesn’t work and any serious driver does not want anything in their path of vision. This includes hanging things from rear view mirrors.

So pilots are not serious? If you don't want/like a HUD, don't get it. But your tirade about it makes no sense.

And...by the way...don't wear your polarized sunglasses at night.

Reactions: XChallengeRdr, ezaircon4jc and LogicalApex

BobinIl

· #110 · 2 mo ago

SteveinArizona said:
So pilots are not serious? If you don't want/like a HUD, don't get it. But your tirade about it makes no sense.

And...by the way...don't wear your polarized sunglasses at night.
[/QUOTE
Yup...

ezaircon4jc

· #111 · 2 mo ago

Stenzo said:
.... However, I do wish I could update my Nav with newer maps. Last update was 2012. No, I don't want a new Nav system...

Contact shawnsheridan on the F10post forum. He has the link to the updated maps.

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dengpeng

· #112 · 2 mo ago

Not gimmicky, you use it and you like it.

RJLII

· #113 · 2 mo ago

LogicalApex said:
Then why take the stance you took? I get it. You don’t like the option. But it sounded like you are angry that others can, and do, like the option. By stating that the option should be axed and “better” seats put in its place.

I like both so I ordered both and am happy BMW allows it. My only gripe is HUD should be standard at the price point since it can be toggled off in settings…

Felt like a better contribution would have been that you don’t like HUD with maybe a reason and let it end there.

I took the stance because that’s my stance. I was under the impression it was a standard feature. I feel it’s a gimmick. As someone who has actually designed displays, gauge packages, and the like; a HUD is important when you absolutely cannot take your eyes off the road. The reality is that unless you are racing or a pilot in a dogfight, you can. MPH and RPM are not metrics that need to be constantly monitored. A periodic glance is fine. A well designed display can communicate status at a glance.

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ctcarbonari

· #114 · 2 mo ago

RJLII said:
a HUD is important when you absolutely cannot take your eyes off the road. The reality is that unless you are racing or a pilot in a dogfight, you can. MPH and RPM are not metrics that need to be constantly monitored.

I've found myself in numerous situations, upon observing law enforcement, where I've been grateful for the ability to instantly monitor MPH on my HUD.

I'd never consider myself as racing but I'm sure others could effectively propose that observation.

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XChallengeRdr

· #115 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Being an old guy who spend way more time on Beemers than in Bimmers I can say a couple of things with some certainty.

At best, I’m in the middle of the pack in terms of riding/driving talent. Any passive help that I can get is appreciated, like HUD that brings that data closer to my field of view.

Half the folks out there are bad drivers. Okay more than half. So,

You can’t quit paying attention to the road and traffic. You just can’t. Random events will trump driving skill and technology at some point.

MPH doesn’t have to be monitored… if you have cruise control. I’m on the coastal plains and sleeping your way to 100 mph in a BMW on the interstate while you weave through traffic is really, really easy.

RPM is not a shown on my HUD.

My dash has some economy display that lights up brighter than the all the gauges on an otherwise very busy dash. I’m not sure that’s a well designed display.

I could go on.

m

markl53

· #116 · 2 mo ago

XChallengeRdr said:
RPM is not a shown on my HUD.

My '22 540i is my first HUD-equipped BMW. In Sport mode, a linear-line type tach is shown. It's not as good as a marked dial (it has no markings, just breaks in the line as increments), and a red-highlighted last section on the right end. You have a G30? What year? Maybe it is there an you didn't see it in Sport mode?

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XChallengeRdr

· #117 · 2 mo ago

markl53 said:
My '22 540i is my first HUD-equipped BMW. In Sport mode, a linear-line type tach is shown. It's not as good as a marked dial (it has no markings, just breaks in the line as increments), and a red-highlighted last section on the right end. You have a G30? What year? Maybe it is there an you didn't see it in Sport mode?

Thanks I'll check it out. I spend 80% of my time in the interstate and that's all in comfort mode.

speedyman

· #118 · 1 mo ago

HUD is a feature sme guys really use and enjoy. I have never been a fan but that's just me.

quackbury

· #119 · 1 mo ago

scsfll said:
HUD, I’m my opinion is a complete waste of & and impedes on my vision by taking up valuable windshield space for vision….. at night. I live in Florida and wear polarized sunglasses. You cannot see the HUD if you wanted to. How often are you looking at this “ important “ data” ?

It is always there for me when I want it, and very, very easy to toggle off when I don't.

scsfll said:
I drive several very fast cars I I have it limited to as little as I can which is mph.

Well look at that! You're the only guy here who "drives several very fast cars". You want a cookie, Mr. Exceptional?

scsfll said:
Another issue which is just an fyi is the cost to replace an HUD windshield v non is more than double. Tell me about insurance and I will ask you about premium.
the net net for me is it doesn’t work and any serious driver does not want anything in their path of vision.

Aha, you worry about insurance premiums! That's what makes you different from the rest of us who (wait for it) drive several very fast cars.

I have one of my selectable buttons set to turn HUD off. When I am driving in fog, pouring rain or swirling snow, I find that helpful. I have a second button set to turn the entire iDrive screen off when the fog, rain or snow gets bad enough I don't want that extra light in my field of vision. Incredibly simple solutions for the pretend issue of too much distraction on the windshield. But if paying insurance premiums is an outsized factor in your selection of cars and options, I can't help you there.

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markl53

· #120 · 1 mo ago

quackbury said:
It is always there for me when I want it, and very, very easy to toggle off when I don't.

Well look at that! You're the only guy here who "drives several very fast cars". You want a cookie, Mr. Exceptional?

Aha, you worry about insurance premiums! That's what makes you different from the rest of us who (wait for it) drive several very fast cars.

I have one of my selectable buttons set to turn HUD off. When I am driving in fog, pouring rain or swirling snow, I find that helpful. I have a second button set to turn the entire iDrive screen off when the fog, rain or snow gets bad enough I don't want that extra light in my field of vision. Incredibly simple solutions for the pretend issue of too much distraction on the windshield. But if paying insurance premiums is an outsized factor in your selection of cars and options, I can't help you there.

But, but, but... I thought those buttons were to store radio stations!

101 - 120 of 136 Posts