'M Button' on 2008 M3?

[Blue Liquid]

Hello all. There is clearly an 'M Button' on the steering wheel of the 2011 M3, which inputs predefined settings for suspension, throttle response, etc. However, is there an equivalent on the 2008? Is that what the 'star' button is?

[Locksmythe]

M button was optional in earlier model years

[Blue Liquid]

Ah, so without the M button, you had to do everything from within iDrive? And do you know when the M Button became standard?

[Locksmythe]

hmm, i-drive was also optional, and those two may have come together. I don't recall.

There are those who like a car without all the electronic nannies and gadgets in the way.

[jms_w]

I thought it was true for all years that M button came with i-Drive. Anyhow, I have it on mine and I have i-Drive.

[Blue Liquid]

Ah, thank you guys, and JMS_W, good shot there. Also, what does the 'star' button do below the M Button?

[jms_w]

Originally Posted by Blue Liquid

Ah, thank you guys, and JMS_W, good shot there. Also, what does the 'star' button do below the M Button?

I think that button changed icons in either '09 or '10 but it should do the same thing. It's a shortcut button like the 6 buttons below the CD slot. I have it set to my phone list.

[Blue Liquid]

So if I understand correctly, the car will have an 'M Button' if you have the Technology Package (ZTP) which by default includes iDrive and nav. Is this correct?

[Blotman]

Originally Posted by Blue Liquid

So if I understand correctly, the car will have an 'M Button' if you have the Technology Package (ZTP) which by default includes iDrive and nav. Is this correct?

Sounds about right to me.

[M5280RCR]

Originally Posted by Blue Liquid

Ah, thank you guys, and JMS_W, good shot there. Also, what does the 'star' button do below the M Button?

I have on 08, with both the M button and the star button (also the tech package). The star button on mine can be set (via i-drive and the screen) to do any of a variety of functions, such as "turn off screen", "rotate through audio sources", etc. I am sure there is more detail in your manual.

[Skippy989]

I have a 2008 M3 with an M button. IIRC, M drive was an option with this model year and the car only had an M button if it was M drive equipped.

The star button is a shortcut button which can be mapped to a number of functions. I have mine set to turn the iDrive display off.

Most of the functions that M Drive provides can also be set as defaults. For example, when I fire up my M3 the suspension is set for the middle setting and the throttle response set to sport. When I hit the M Drive button I get the added effect of the sport EDC setting.

BTW, does anyone else find it annoying that when M drive is engaged we get that really bright orange light in the dash? Makes me feel like I am doing something wrong

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Blue Liquid

So if I understand correctly, the car will have an 'M Button' if you have the Technology Package (ZTP) which by default includes iDrive and nav. Is this correct?

For pre 2011.5 (that's when MDrive became standard - for 2011.5) cars in the US, yes, that is true.

Also be aware that a small number of pre-2011.5 cars were ordered without ZTP but with IDrive. So, just because a car has IDrive, don't assume it has MDrive (M Button).

In addition, remember that cars without MDrive lack MDM DSC mode, Sport Servotronic steering mode, and Sport+ Power mode. The reason for these omissions is that without MDrive, there is no available interface to access these modes at all. In other words, you can't set them in key settings or by a button on the console or by any other method. They simply do not exist.

[flagger]

Originally Posted by M5280RCR

I have on 08, with both the M button and the star button (also the tech package). The star button on mine can be set (via i-drive and the screen) to do any of a variety of functions, such as "turn off screen", "rotate through audio sources", etc. I am sure there is more detail in your manual.

STAR button is programable through the I-Drive. I use mine to bring up my phone list through Bluetooth.