[dbldare]

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"It's the little things..."

Hey all. As you all know, BMW prides itself on building the Ultimate Driving Machine, and that is focused on the driver, of course. I wanted to get an idea of what "little things" you love about driving your BMW - things that most other people wouldn't notice.

To get things started, here are a few things I love about driving my BMW:

1) I noticed that while the rear wiper is on, it's in delay mode. However, put your vehicle in reverse and it switches to wiping without delay (because you need it). After backing up, put it back in drive and the wiper goes back to delayed mode.

2) I have an X5m with the yellow and red line on the permitter of the tachometer. When I cold start it, the yellow line will drop all the way down to 5,000rpms. However, as the SAV warms up the yellow line slowly rises to 6,500rpms. This is actually reflected on my Heads-Up Display as well, but the red line drops down and slowly increases as the truck warms up.

3) I use the "Auto Hold" feature all the time. When I first saw it, I thought, "This isn't a manual, I don't need hill assist. Why on Earth would I ever use that?" Call me lazy, but I love it and use it all the time.

Pretty cool stuff. What are yours?

dbl

[xQx]

First, something I no longer have, and I loved, and I miss in my 1er. The way my X5 used to fold its mirrors in when I locked the car. I loved that.

A lot of the little things i love are things that I've had to code in, but the fact that I could code them in are thanks to BMW.

• Seatbelt chimes have been turned off, so I can throw a heavy bag on the passenger seat and drive away without being punished for it.
• My BMW has a digital speed readout that shows my ACTUAL SPEED. not some fictional number anywhere up to 10% higher than my real speed.
• Cruise control keeps my speed within about 1km/h of the set speed.
• The paddles on the steering wheel instantly shift my gears, without waiting two seconds or second-guessing my input.
• The passenger side rear mirror tilts down when I put the car in reverse.
• I can open the roof with a momentary push of the button in the cabin, or while I'm approaching the car with a triple-click of the keys
• The roof will operate while the car is travelling at slow speed (many have to be totally stationary)
• I can leave the headlights in 'auto' all the time, and they turn off when I lock the car.
• Traction control automatically sets to 'minimal intervention' mode when I start the car, and it actually cuts in when I want it to (not every time I press the go pedal)
• The exhaust burbles sound wonderful on a 's mode' downshift.
• It's small enough that it's not an absolute ordeal to wash it. (I can be done with a quick clean in about 15 minutes)
• It's massively overpowered. I never feel like a rabbit in headlights after pulling into traffic waiting for the engine to provide the acceleration my 'right foot through the floor' is requesting.
• I can tune the ECU and Auto Trans using an android mobile phone. The car has full functionality with an aftermarket tune... none of this 'forking out $4k for a Motec then living without half the dashboard functions" crap.

[dbldare]

xQx - I totally hear you with some of those things. I bought the Carly coding stuff and it's been a blast. I've coded some things on both my e70 X5's (2008 4.8i and 2012 M):

- Folding mirrors with key fob lock and unlock (set to hold for 1 second because sometimes I don't need them to fold).
- Fully open AND CLOSE windows and sunroof while holding either unlock (open), lock (close).
- Open AND CLOSE the rear hatch with key fob and dash button (this one is huge!)
- Digital speed on dash (in my 4.8i)
- Extended the "quick" blinkers to 5 blinks instead of 3 (not as much of a rush to get over).
- Double flash on the hazards. (This one is just 'different').
- Lessoned the amount of wipes the wipers do while cleaning the windshield. (Less streaking).
- Passenger seat chime disable (agreed about the bag in the front seat, the original owner gave me an end to a seatbelt that they used for this, too funny)

I'm sure there is more that I've coded in, but can't remember right now. Thanks for the input. Too cool.

dbl

[tracer bullet]

My 1-er love is basically summed up as I feel that they molded the car around me. The size and shape of the seat, location of the shifter, steering wheels, pedals, etc. I know much of this has been adjusted to my liking but afterwards it is perfect. Oh, and I can see out of it as well.

I compared a number of cars at the time - STI, Evo, Z, etc. and they were all good cars but with some compromises. It just happened that I drove them all first. I sat in the 1 and barely got it out of the parking lot at the dealer before I knew I had to have one, immediately knew I was done deciding what to get.

[Soterios]

The only thing I can really think of that my other cars don't have (for whatever reason) is that the heated seats go up to my lower back. It works so much faster and feels so much warmer when it's not just heating up my butt. Haha

[///M Power-Belgium]

The grill

[NickyC]

The whole damned car.

[kyrix1st]

8500rpm.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by NickyC

The whole damned car.

I’ll second that.

[rbhjr01462]

The heated steering wheel (especially when it is below 10deg F)

[wrickem]

I love my heated armrests so much, I'd marry them if I could!

[GTFM3]

Heated steering wheel...won't buy a car without it....ever. And I don't even live in cold climate any longer. Only time I wear gloves is returning to Chicago to visit family.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by wrickem

I love my heated armrests so much, I'd marry them if I could!

You should look for a wife

[Dogeeseegod]

-The 2 little orange lasers that illuminate the shift knob
-The very easy to shut off nannies
-Heated mirrors (Idaho is often chilly and this makes them useable 100% of the time)
-Incredible winter traction. I get up our driveway everyday without much fuss. My neighbor is always having to back down and put his truck in 4WD
-COUPE SEXY
-+1 on the driver position. It is perfect once you set it.

[Humdizzle]

I just love the dual personality of the M3. quiet cruiser one minute and loud manly car the next. There are almost no sacrifices with this thing.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

You should look for a wife

that's the reason I can't marry my heated armrests, I am already married and don't want to be a bigamist.

If I ever do get a divorce though, I am going to marry those things

[Mdlooker]

- The look of that Black Sapphire Metallic when I walk up to it; the look of those big ol HMMWV-looking excessively wide (325 and 285) 21" tires

- The comfort access of having the key fob in my pocket and the very instant of opening the door, it unlocks (oouuwee that's awesome)

- The secure sound of the door when I get in

- The whole light-up show once the vehicle is started and everything getting to operable status

- How all settings with the seats, mirrors, and steering wheel go to their pre-sets once the vehicle is turned on

- The feel of the heated steering wheel and heated seats in right about 60seconds of pushing the buttons

- How the back-up camera looks like a tv from the clarity and the guide lines and proximity colored-squares give a huge confidence boost of backing

- The exceptionally smooth acceleration and tight steering and smooth ride

-oh Oh that Xdrive (man-o-man) it drives, without pressing any buttons or anything, through the snow like it's a spring day. That, alone, will have a 1-up when thinking of what next to buy.

All of this just when first starting off the day.. very happy with BMWs!

[B58]

I have a 2003 Jetta TDi that gets about 40-45 mpg equipped with a 5 speed manual. It has 330,000 miles and it rattles and squeaks from every damn corner. When i sit in my 340i the car feels like i just drove it out the dealership show room so i can't complain i love this car and can't imagine how a F80 M3 would be like going from my bucket Jetta.

[shadowfax]

Can't lock the doors if I forgot the key fob inside the car.

Passenger side mirror auto tilts down in reverse so I can park really close to a curb (but not scrape the rims).

Manual tyranny doesn't seem to roll backwards when taking off after stopped on an incline.

[rlmesq]

I like the seat belt extender in my 440i that brings the seat belt into easier reach... just like the back seat in my friend's Bentley Bentayga! My wife and I sometimes feel foolish when we find ourselves waiting for the car to hand the seat belt to us when we're in her C300.

[angelr]

The directness and immediacy of all the controls, high rpm nature of the s54, fr layout and it's light weight...at least as compared to most modern cars.

[dbldare]

Amazing!

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!


I concur with you all on a ton of those things.

- Heated seats that heat all the way up your back
- Heated steering wheel
- Passenger mirror tilts down in reverse
- Someone mentioned the way the door sounds when it closes. I have the soft closing doors. If you haven't tried them, they are a must. Simply latch them and they close snug by themselves.
- Love the convince package so you don't have to use the key fob.


- One that I didn't mention, because it wasn't standard. I HIGHLY recommend buying the BMW projectors for under the doors. They add such a cool touch when you open the doors in the dark. They are crystal clear and look incredible. SUPER cheap and very easy to install as well. I bought 4 (one for each door), but have only installed them on the front doors. It's quite a difference between the rear and fronts when they are both open. Once the weather clears up a bit, I'll install the back two as well. They are really slick.



Thanks again everyone for jumping in......

dbl