BMW cancels touch screen features in some new cars due to chip shortage

According to CNET reports, the global chip shortage will soon cause some new BMW cars to lose touch screen features. According to a recent Bimmerfest forum post, in order to save chips and allow BMW to maintain the current production level, the following models will cancel the touch screen function when they are delivered to customers.

  • BMW 3 Series
  • BMW 4 Series (but not including i4 electric car)
  • BMW X5
  • BMW X6
  • BMW X7
  • BMW Z4

A BMW spokesperson said on Thursday: This measure is due to industry-wide supply chain issues affecting global auto manufacturing, resulting in restrictions on the availability of some functions or options. BMW did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

According to Bimmerfest reports, customers affected by this change will have option code 6UY on the windows of their vehicles, listed as “remove touch screen”. This will result in $500 in points on the suggested retail price of the car.

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Bimmerfest pointed out that in addition to the touch screen, everything else in the iDrive infotainment system will work as usual, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Customers will have to operate iDrive through voice commands or through the control knob on the center console.

In addition, Bimmerfest reported that vehicles equipped with the parking assistant package will lose BMW’s backup assistant function. This technology can memorize the last few hundred feet of the owner’s trip-for example when driving into a difficult driveway or garage-and automatically guide the car to help the owner back up, while the owner operates the accelerator and brakes.

It is unclear how long these BMW models have been affected by the chip shortage, and it is also unclear whether other cars will be included in the non-touchscreen list in the future.

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