[rhouck]

Originally Posted by py0413

How much did that all cost you?

Originally Posted by shendrick

Very impressive - unless you're talking some kind of outrageous price tag.

The retrofit costs less than $1000 for everything -- that's buying the parts new and the necessary coding (but including swap labor, though that would not be much). And that estimate is on the high side (possibly by as much as a couple hundred bucks even...). Regardless, very worth it.

Originally Posted by jphughan

Nice! Does the Servotronic option actually make the steering heavier or no?

It's all software, no difference in rack (i.e., yes, it works).

Originally Posted by mdosu

if it's all software related to activate MDM and Servo, then shame on you BMW for making us pay for this upgrade, when all cars should have all this as a standard feature.

It is not 100% software in that you can't JUST code for it... but the necessary hardware costs the same with and without M-drive. There is no reason BMW needed to make a non-M-drive version; it is absolute bullshit and was an asshole move.

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Yep. And I'll add that the simplified system that allowed BMW to make MDrive standard without also making iDrive standard was not developed until the GTS came about, which did not ship until mid-2010. That's sort of the history behind why we had to wait for standard MDrive, although I agree with mdosu that they really should have had it from the beginning. It isn't rocket science after all, just hold the M Button to program your current Power, EDC, Drivelogic, and shift-light settings to it.

I think you are being too kind That really just reeks of laziness on BMW's part; if nothing else, they could have had an M button with just default settings (e.g., M-drive, power sport, and servo sport) and people could take it or leave it on whether to use it. That would have cost them nothing and at least allowed people an option.

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Oh wow - you sir are one pioneering SOB. Finally, proof-positive that it can be done. Too cool! BTW, you are now the only guy in the US (in all of North America?), with iDrive, MDrive, but no EDC.

Now - as Julie said - the next hurdle (for the community, not for you ) is retrofitting the non-iDrive-dependent MDrive functionality found in many non-iDrive-equipped M3s (including all the ones sold in the US) from MY2011.5 onward. I suspect there are a lot more of us out there with no iDrive and no MDrive than there are with iDrive but no MDrive. The big question remains, were there hardware changes made to support this feature or not? Unlike in your situation, we have to rely on holding down the M Button to program and it is not clear whether our current steering wheel button can support that (though it seems such a minor detail on the surface). Even if we could not get the programming, though, I would be happy with all of my settings hardcoded (which would also inlude the two additional DCT settings that you do not have). Presumably the hardcoded settings could be determined and set as part of the coding (it was claimed this is possible with the M3 GTS).

There is hardware. The secret (which was uncovered by Andy (BMWM.D.) after he scoured the factory diagrams to determine what was different between M-drive and non-M-drive cars) is simply the steering unit switch column. There are four varieties:
1. M-drive and Rain sensor
2. M-drive, no rain sensor
3. No M-drive, rain sensor
4. No M-drive, rain sensor

This is the part that is asinine as there is no reason to have more than TWO varieties (since I assume the rain sensor does require additional hardware). The pricing is identical across all four. You can see these here: http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E9...eering_column/

So my car shipped with 61 31 9 123 049 -- no M-drive but with rain sensor. I swapped in 61 31 9 123 060 (M-drive with rain sensor), did the necessary coding (well Benvo did!), and voila!

I can't see why it wouldn't work on a non-iDrive BMW, with the caveat that you may likely need to pick hard-coded settings (that is, until someone donates an M3 GTS or a 2011.5+ model for Mike to play with). That is something that will need to work out with Mike, however, as the non-iDrive does make it more of a pain to double-check whether things are working, etc.

So tell us, how does it feel to have this functionality now that you have been so accustomed to driving an M3 without it for all these years? Do you now immediately hit the M Button when you get in the car (which I assume you have left set to MDM, Sport, Sport as show in the pic)? Do you find Servotronic Sport much more suited to the car? What about Sport+ "Power" have you tried it?

It feels like the car I always wanted it to be. I actually had pretty bad buyer's remorse for awhile solely due to this issue (I was not aware that iDrive with no M-drive was even an option... uneducated buyer ). The servotronic steering is kind of overrated. I went to the track yesterday and while it feels heavier, it mainly just made my wrists tired faster But I can see how it probably smooths out steering inputs so I will leave it.

I haven't even tried Sport+ as everyone seems to say it is too sensitive. Plus I am so used to regular Sport, that I don't really want to relearn throttle control (I leave it on Sport all the time as even going back and forth between Normal is annoying). It does seem like it would be easier to rev-match... but not sure if that is worth it being touchier. I'll have to experiment with it.

The MDM though is really the bread and butter and worth it alone. I got used to driving with DSC off on the track, but there are certain SoCal tracks that are not particularly safe IMO and having that extra insurance is nice. And on the street, DSC on is fine a lot of the time (i.e., sitting in rush hour traffic on the way to work), but there are times where you want to get on it a little bit and the complete power cut off DSC ruins the car (and I don't turn DSC off on the street).

And what about the button on the wheel? Have you considered or investigated getting one that says "M"? And were you able to choose which or the two "wildcard" buttons was to be transformed into the M Button?

The top button automatically becomes the M button and only the bottom one is a wildcard. I could get one that says M, but that really is the only difference... the label I need to replace my trim anyway at some point due to a cosmetic blemish, and if I do then I will look into it then. Otherwise I'll have M-drive sleeper mode