Where my Mdrive button?

[MB Hawaii]

I have a 2010 M3 and can't seem to find the "M" button. Instead I have a audio select button. I thought the "M" button was standard. Am I missing something?

[saeedg48]

hahah yah man no nov no m button

[FVM3]

do u mean the power button?

[M3_FTW]

Originally Posted by MB Hawaii

I have a 2010 M3 and can't seem to find the "M" button. Instead I have a audio select button. I thought the "M" button was standard. Am I missing something?

As far as I am aware the "M" button only comes with a certain package. Here in South Africa it's called M dynamic and includes EDC/NAV/Idrive

[curveball99]

My 2011 doesn't have an 'M' button either. I thought I recall that I had to order an option/package that would have included the 'M' button, but I can't find this information on the BMW USA website now.
I had planned several after-market mods, so I didn't order any performance options. When I want extra power, I turn my DSC off, then ratchet up the little button on the center console to S6. I don't have EDC either.....installed a TC Kline suspension instead. The only buttons I have are "Power" & "DSC"

[PhillyNate]

M drive/dynamic mode or whatever the hell it's called became standard equipment in the States for the 2011 Model year. So that may be why the 2010 owner doesn't have one but it's completely inexplicable why the 2011 owner doesn't have one.
Guys please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Echo M3]

Originally Posted by MB Hawaii

I have a 2010 M3 and can't seem to find the "M" button. Instead I have a audio select button. I thought the "M" button was standard. Am I missing something?

Not really. The "M" button just allows you to call up your performance settings with the press of a button. You can always do it the old-fashioned way - turn DSC off and press the power button. However, since it's a '10, it means you don't have MDM or EDC if you don't have the technology package.

I've found that EDC is only useful when you need to traverse a bumpy road, whereas MDM is a nice traction setting when you want to drive in a spirited manner with less of a risk of ending up in the guard rail.

But after two years of ownership, I've come to the conclusion that all of these are really technology gimmicks - the fun of this car comes from how it feels on the road, not from your M drive settings or the 'power' button.

[jphughan]

The M button came with the Technology Package on 2008-2011 (pre .5 refresh) M3s. As of 2011.5 (production starting 9/10) the button became standard. The Technology Package was also dropped and the Competition and Convenience Packages arrived in its place.

By not having the M button, you also lose the Sport setting for Servotronic steering as well as MDM, both of which also because standard as of 2011.5 and both of which I've found to be absolutely essential for spirited driving -- Sport Servotronic restores that heavy steering feel that I want when driving hard (I prefer the standard steering for cruising around town but it's just not nearly as fun as Sport for carving up roads), and MDM lets you have some fun while not letting you get into real trouble. Not having the M button also of course means you can't program two different personalities that can be called up at the push of one button rather than messing with the other settings individually.

[E90Fleet]

I thought no USA spec E92 LCI M3 had the button, no matter the options ( from 03/2010 production)

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

I thought no USA spec E92 LCI M3 had the button, no matter the options

Nope

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Nope

Strange
Parts system confirms my thoughts, only showing the Audio button one for the USA E92 LCI M3, but showing the M button one available on the Pre-LCI model

E90 LCI USA model M3 on the other hand shows the M button

[MB Hawaii]

Originally Posted by pman10

Not really. The "M" button just allows you to call up your performance settings with the press of a button. You can always do it the old-fashioned way - turn DSC off and press the power button. However, since it's a '10, it means you don't have MDM or EDC if you don't have the technology package.

I've found that EDC is only useful when you need to traverse a bumpy road, whereas MDM is a nice traction setting when you want to drive in a spirited manner with less of a risk of ending up in the guard rail.

But after two years of ownership, I've come to the conclusion that all of these are really technology gimmicks - the fun of this car comes from how it feels on the road, not from your M drive settings or the 'power' button.

I do have EDC and dual clutch. Does that mean I have the technology package?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by MB Hawaii

I do have EDC and dual clutch. Does that mean I have the technology package?

DCT wasn't involved with the Technology Package; you could get either one separately. EDC was included with the Technology Package but was also available to be ordered separately (now it's in the Comp Package but still available for separate order) so having EDC doesn't mean you have the Tech Package. However, if you don't have an M button you definitely DON'T have the Tech Package. If you DO have an M button you either have the Tech Package (since that was the only way to get it when that package existed) or you have a car produced 9/2010 or later, when it became standard.

The Tech Package included EDC, Nav, Comfort Access, and M Drive (most easily identified by the M button). The problem is that all of the other 3 things could be ordered standalone -- still can except for CA, which is now exclusively available with the Convenience Package, but CA will once again also be available as a standalone option for 2012. There's already a sticky about MY2012 changes in this forum so I won't bother with the rest of the details.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Strange
Parts system confirms my thoughts, only showing the Audio button one for the USA E92 LCI M3, but showing the M button one available on the Pre-LCI model

E90 LCI USA model M3 on the other hand shows the M button

Trust me, if you look at the vast majority of pre-LCI M3s, you'll find M buttons everywhere because the Tech Package was so heavily ordered, pretty much except for people who didn't want iDrive (usually because they didn't like the way it made the dash look and/or didn't think it was worth it). Take a look at M3 pics on any US used car listing website and see for yourself. After LCI it was BRIEFLY still optional but when September 2010 production started it became standard. Personally I think it should've been standard from the beginning. If an M button exists, it should exist on every example of an M car.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by pman10

Not really. The "M" button just allows you to call up your performance settings with the press of a button. You can always do it the old-fashioned way - turn DSC off and press the power button. However, since it's a '10, it means you don't have MDM or EDC if you don't have the technology package.

I've found that EDC is only useful when you need to traverse a bumpy road, whereas MDM is a nice traction setting when you want to drive in a spirited manner with less of a risk of ending up in the guard rail.

But after two years of ownership, I've come to the conclusion that all of these are really technology gimmicks - the fun of this car comes from how it feels on the road, not from your M drive settings or the 'power' button.

The M button also implies the presence of the Sport setting for Servotronic, which I consider to be a must-have for spirited driving after having compared it to the Normal setting. And yes as you said you also get MDM. The M button may only actually be used to toggle settings, but having it means you also have other features that aren't available without it even if you're willing to toggle all the settings individually.

[MB Hawaii]

Originally Posted by jphughan

DCT wasn't involved with Technology Package; you could get either one separately. EDC was included with the Technology Package but was also available to be ordered separately (now it's in the Comp Package but still available for separate order) so having EDC doesn't mean you have the Tech Package. However, if you don't have an M button you definitely DON'T have the Tech Package. If you DO have an M button you either have the Tech Package (since that was the only way to get it when that package existed) or you have a car produced 9/2010 or later, when it became standard.

The Tech Package included EDC, Nav, Comfort Access, and M Drive (most easily identified by the M button). The problem is that all of the other 3 things could be ordered standalone -- still can except for CA, which is now exclusively available with the Convenience Package, but CA will once again also be available as a standalone option for 2012. There's already a sticky about MY2012 changes in this forum so I won't bother with the rest of the details.

Thanks for the clarification, guess I'll just have to manually set my settings.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by 4G63

are you sure you have an m3?

j/k

yeah, sounds like you picked up either:
a E93, a E90, a non-zcp e.g. M3 Civic, or have a moonroof. Check under your hood, make sure there's a M3 stamp on the lower left corner. i'm thinking you have a fake M3, probably made in Thailand.


















































j/k

[mdosu]

so without the M-button/Nav, you can't activate MDM? I thought there was a way to still activate it? I could have swore, at least with the 2008 models, you can get the M button with MDM and Servotronic without buying the nav?

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by MB Hawaii

Thanks for the clarification, guess I'll just have to manually set my settings.

After having read millions of posts on whether or not the Tech Package is worth it (I don't want iDrive on my future M), every single detail jphughan said is spot on.

Just one personal difference. I drove an M3 at a BMW driving school and purposely tried with and without sport servotronic steering and MDM. I don't feel I'm losing anything without the MDrive, for my wants/needs. I'm planning to keep the last naturally aspirated M3 for as long as it'll last, don't want the iDrive now and don't want the tech to look like a Commodore 64 when it's outdated.

But you'll find that 99% of the posters here (on this forum) have the Tech Pkg or Nav (post 2011.50), and most of them feel like it's a "must have".

Since you already have the M3 and don't have a choice anymore, maybe ask yourself this: Would BMW build an M3 missing an essential component to the M3? The Tech Package may very well be a very useful option, but your car is still an M3.

[curveball99]

Yep. My 2011 was built in July/August of 2010. Did not order any tech packages, so no iDrive, EDC, NAV, M-button or MDM. I frequently drive aggressively with DSC off and - so far - not a scratch on this baby.

BTW, I just reflashed my ECU with the latest Powerchip tune (full Akra exhaust) and there was a noticeable improvement in power output and throttle response.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by mdosu

so without the M-button/Nav, you can't activate MDM? I thought there was a way to still activate it? I could have swore, at least with the 2008 models, you can get the M button with MDM and Servotronic without buying the nav?

Nope. The only time MDM and Sport Servotronic can be enabled (somewhat annoyingly) is when M Mode is enabled, which are only possible if you have M Drive, which until 2011.5 was only available as part of the Tech Pkg.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by mdosu

yeah, sounds like you picked up either:
a E93, a E90, a non-zcp e.g. M3 Civic, or have a moonroof. Check under your hood, make sure there's a M3 stamp on the lower left corner. i'm thinking you have a fake M3, probably made in Thailand.

lol -- seriously though, since when has lack of ZCP made the M3 a Civic? The consensus seems to be that it offers no real benefit (doesn't add power, doesn't remove weight, barely tweaks suspension, DSC, and EDC, and the other available 19" rims are forged rather than cast like the ZCP 19s). It's certainly nowhere near as significant as the E46 ZCP. I suspect that only pro racing drivers would ever notice the difference -- same goes for the moonroof. I got mine because CF didn't look good with LMB, the car is quieter on the road, and I like to be able to open my roof.

Still a funny post though.