...And 10 *More* Things I did not know about my M3...

[Rich_Jenkins]

...and here are 10 more things I wasn't aware of before I bought the car.

Ten years of bimmers, I'm on my sixth roundel-equipped car, but first M-vehicle. I'm sure you guys know this, but despite all the research I did, I still didn't know all this stuff:

11 The hood on an M3 is very light. I was checking the PS reservoir and water during the weekly wash, and didn't allow the hood to shut firmly. Got on I-75 N here in Atlanta and the hood was vibrating because it was not secure. Yikes! Latch the hood securely.

12 The front end scrapes. Well, yeah, but I've had to change my commute due to a sharp bend/dip on a local road. Ouch!

13 The under glove box outlet is not connected, at least on my 09. My '11 E90 has a functional glove box outlet, but peering under the dash, I can see the plastic core molded as part of the fitment, but no wires or feed to this area. I guess it was part of the transition process in '10? It's very useful on my '11, I plug the phone in there on long trips. Be nice to get that working at some point.

14 The parked car ventilation feature. That looks useful, I wasn't aware it could do that. Lesson:

15 No spare/M mobility kit. Ok, well, obviously, but it's a little startling to realize that that little compressor and can of sealant is about all that stands between the side of the road and you moving forward. I'll have to try the compressor some time to make sure it works.

16 The redline function of temp. This is very neat, allows the redline to rise as the oil temperature goes up.

17 Car has an oil temperature gauge. Yess!! Just like the old days.

18 Car is noisy, noisier than my ZHP M54 with 100K miles/worn VANOS. This bothered me a little at first, but I just enjoy it now. Besides, if I rev it more, I can't hear the valve train lol.

19 There are no fog lights, either front or rear. Guess this is a weight saving measure? I have always found it odd Bimmers do not have rear fog lights, but got used to it. The fronts are somewhat useful on my E90, but I don't miss them a whole lot, I guess.

20 The visibility in the coupe is excellent. I mean, really excellent. I was a little surprised how easy it is to see out of, compared to the sedan (been driving sedans for years.) Even as low as the car is compared to the typical Trucks and SUVs I end up parking/driving near, it still is easy to see out of.

[SchnellM3]

#19 we do have rear fog lights, check the DIY section for the mod.....

[audioMeth]

Originally Posted by SchnellM3

#19 we do have rear fog lights, check the DIY section for the mod.....

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531296

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by nuespeedgti

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531296

That's awesome, thanks.

[I M STIG]

Originally Posted by Llando88

13 The under glove box outlet is not connected, at least on my 09. My '11 E90 has a functional glove box outlet, but peering under the dash, I can see the plastic core molded as part of the fitment, but no wires or feed to this area. I guess it was part of the transition process in '10? It's very useful on my '11, I plug the phone in there on long trips. Be nice to get that working at some point.

This works in my car, and I have an '09...

[tico1028]

Originally Posted by Llando88

20 The visibility in the coupe is excellent. I mean, really excellent. I was a little surprised how easy it is to see out of, compared to the sedan (been driving sedans for years.) Even as low as the car is compared to the typical Trucks and SUVs I end up parking/driving near, it still is easy to see out of.

So true. I was impressed with visibility when I first got my E92 as well.

[THE TECH]

No cig lighter under my glove box, only the hole for it.

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by I M STIG

This works in my car, and I have an '09...

Does not work on mine (2012). But it was one device I tried, and it might be that the length of the lighter-cylinder on the radar detector is too short...seems to just catch the corner of the under-glove-box edge. I don't have anything else that uses a cigarette lighter plug, but you might want to try something with a longer cylinder and see if that makes a difference.


.

[youngnastyman]

# 21 - makes my peepee hard at WOT

[SGMe90]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

# 21 - makes my peepee hard at WOT

+1

[yoelev]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

# 21 - makes my peepee hard at WOT

gross.. its much more romantic than that

[Mmmdreamer]

Yellow/Red gauge on Tac which changes as car warms up is pretty cool.

[BeamingE39]

I would've thought for sure the e90 would have much better visibility, another reason to get e92!

[///Machine]

#22 you can send sat nav destinations to your car from your PC via Google/BMW Connected Drive (not M3 specific, but still, pretty cool...)

[I M STIG]

Originally Posted by VMcV3y

Does not work on mine (2012). But it was one device I tried, and it might be that the length of the lighter-cylinder on the radar detector is too short...seems to just catch the corner of the under-glove-box edge. I don't have anything else that uses a cigarette lighter plug, but you might want to try something with a longer cylinder and see if that makes a difference.


.

Woops... I'm thinking of the the USB port IN the glovebox. I use it to plug my iPhone in to whenever it's low on battery. I thought that's what he was talking about at first.

Edit: I just checked my car... Where is this mysterious extra unit? I couldn't fit it in or under my glovebox.

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by I M STIG

Edit: I just checked my car... Where is this mysterious extra unit? I couldn't fit it in or under my glovebox.

On my 11 E90, it's just left/inboard of the glove box, tucked underneath. Very easy to miss.

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by NJA///M3

#22 you can send sat nav destinations to your car from your PC via Google/BMW Connected Drive (not M3 specific, but still, pretty cool...)

Not only that, you can also custom map your preferred route and send it to your vehicle. Great for driving holidays where the route is just as important as the destination.

[electronspeeder]

#23 - If you have DCT, it can automatically kick down to the lowest possible gear if you hold the downshift paddle and press the gas pedal all the way down past the detent. Great for skipping gears to downshift for passing on the freeway.

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by electronspeeder

#23 - If you have DCT, it can automatically kick down to the lowest possible gear if you hold the downshift paddle and press the gas pedal all the way down past the detent. Great for skipping gears to downshift for passing on the freeway.

Actually the correct sequence is to be in sequential mode, depress kick-down and then pull the downshift pedal.

[RoyBratten]

I would've thought for sure the e90 would have much better visibility

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by Llando88

...and here are 10 more things I wasn't aware of before I bought the car.

Ten years of bimmers, I'm on my sixth roundel-equipped car, but first M-vehicle. I'm sure you guys know this, but despite all the research I did, I still didn't know all this stuff:

11 The hood on an M3 is very light. I was checking the PS reservoir and water during the weekly wash, and didn't allow the hood to shut firmly. Got on I-75 N here in Atlanta and the hood was vibrating because it was not secure. Yikes! Latch the hood securely.

12 The front end scrapes. Well, yeah, but I've had to change my commute due to a sharp bend/dip on a local road. Ouch!

13 The under glove box outlet is not connected, at least on my 09. My '11 E90 has a functional glove box outlet, but peering under the dash, I can see the plastic core molded as part of the fitment, but no wires or feed to this area. I guess it was part of the transition process in '10? It's very useful on my '11, I plug the phone in there on long trips. Be nice to get that working at some point.

14 The parked car ventilation feature. That looks useful, I wasn't aware it could do that. Lesson:

15 No spare/M mobility kit. Ok, well, obviously, but it's a little startling to realize that that little compressor and can of sealant is about all that stands between the side of the road and you moving forward. I'll have to try the compressor some time to make sure it works.

16 The redline function of temp. This is very neat, allows the redline to rise as the oil temperature goes up.

17 Car has an oil temperature gauge. Yess!! Just like the old days.

18 Car is noisy, noisier than my ZHP M54 with 100K miles/worn VANOS. This bothered me a little at first, but I just enjoy it now. Besides, if I rev it more, I can't hear the valve train lol.

19 There are no fog lights, either front or rear. Guess this is a weight saving measure? I have always found it odd Bimmers do not have rear fog lights, but got used to it. The fronts are somewhat useful on my E90, but I don't miss them a whole lot, I guess.

20 The visibility in the coupe is excellent. I mean, really excellent. I was a little surprised how easy it is to see out of, compared to the sedan (been driving sedans for years.) Even as low as the car is compared to the typical Trucks and SUVs I end up parking/driving near, it still is easy to see out of.

19 - the reason no front "fog" lights because the area where they are found on series production cars must be open for ducting on the driver side for intake of air. Our cars eat an ungodly amount of air at higher rpms.

The lack of fog lights on the front is very funtional, and is this way for all current ///M models.

Cheers,
e46e92

[Oaktree]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

Actually the correct sequence is to be in sequential mode, depress kick-down and then pull the downshift pedal.

Thank you!