First time I've heard it explained, thanks. That said I would still recommend BMW reconsider the design for future models, there has to be a better solution than having to play a guessing game with your turn signals every time you want to override or cancel.

 

Going 100% digital has benefits. It costs less to manufacture. It lasts longer. It is easier to repair when it does break. Whether it is actually cheaper to repair is another story.

To add the mechanism to force the turn stalk back to center from a detent would add cost to manufacturing. It would make the system less reliable. It would cost more to repair.

Quick walk through.

1) You press the turn signal through the detent to activate it.
2) It sends a pulse to the computer which tells the computer to turn on the signal.
3) The computer activates the signal and monitors the steering wheel sensor for position.
4) Once the steering wheel has been turned the preset amount of degrees, the computer turns off the signal.

Now, to add something that will allow the stalk to return to center.

You go through the above 4 steps. Now the computer has to tell something to release the stalk. A motorized detent release, as an example. Adding this whole new step adds more complexity to the entire process and will hurt the log term reliability of the system as well. It even adds more weight to the car.

Virtually every momentary switch in our cars does nothing more than send a signal to the computer.

 

You got it right, Skuzzy it is digital because it is cheaper. Pop the dash off just about any car now and every switch has a wire going to it.

No more cables going to the heat/defrost box like around 20 years ago.

 

Actually, it's not the volume button I find problematic (actually, I also like the position by the gearshift), it's the similarity with the channel changing button on the radio that confuses me.

Right button? Yes.

That's about it. Just takes a second to think.

On the MFSW - I have one. But I find myself using it far less than I expected. Probably, this is due to much of my driving being over curvy mountain roads and the dials are not often just sitting there at 9 O'Clock.

Turn signals? Lights? Other ***** and dials? Love 'em.

Thanks for the tip about the mute - didn't know that.

Happy motoring