BMW "Hidden" Features

Originally Posted by SD 335is

I have a 2000 Honda S2000 and it doesn't do this, neither did my '96 Integra SSR, or my '88 & '84 Honda Preludes. My wife's previous car, a 1999 Toyota Solara didn't do this either. Like I said, I've never had a car that did this.

My 97 Accord (college car) didnt do this. How do I know? I had to have my car jumped a handfull of times due to the trunk sensor not realizing the trunk was closed and the light staying on.

Originally Posted by david in german

Most of you know now how to put your windows down with just the key fob but if you forget to put the windows up, just remove the key from the fob and stick the key in the door if you hold it to the lock position it will raise the windows and close the sun roof.
My German spec 118i will raise and lower the windows with the fob.

US spec cars do not have the feature of raising the windows with the fob, although it can be done with coding.

Originally Posted by cjhoward

Even better than that, you know the area on the handle where you can touch to lock the doors? Touch and hold and the windows will go up.

To be more specific, this is with the Comfort Access option.

Originally Posted by cjhoward

Even better than that, you know the area on the handle where you can touch to lock the doors? Touch and hold and the windows will go up.

Only if you have comfort access.

Originally Posted by icuc

• Disable iDrive [Accept] Warnings
• Fuel Tank Warning at 1/8 tank rather than 1/4 tank
• Increase Brightness for Angle eyes
• Remove Seat Belt Chime for Driver and Passenger

I would like to be able to do these! Particularly the iDrive [Accept] Warnings!

Originally Posted by bigJoeSea

I would like to be able to do these! Particularly the iDrive [Accept] Warnings!

This is easily done with coding. I just had our car coded, here's what we had done:

• Disable iDrive disclaimer
• Digital speed in dash display (actual GPS speed, not indicated speedometer speed)
• Close windows and sunroof with fob. This feature is already available with Comfort Access, but only by pressing and holding the ridges on the door handle when locking the car. Coding enables this with the fob.
• Fold mirror. This works in conjunction with the above ability to close the windows and sunroof with CA or with the fob. With CA, when locking the car by pressing and momentarily holding the ridges, the mirrors will immediately fold in. When unlocking the car with CA, the mirrors will fold out when the doors are unlocked. However, if the mirrors are folded in manually, such as before pulling into your garage, they will stay folded until folded out manually (or the car exceeds ~25 MPH).
• Disable windows safety feature (allows windows to continue to go up or down when the door is opened)
• Wiper blades will automatically park when engine is turned off

The features available for coding vary with the year and model. Google "BMW coding" and you will find a wealth of information.

A fellow BMW CCA member who is a college student did it for $50. I could have done this myself but I don't have a computer that runs WinXP. This was well worth the time I would have spent on it and I helped contribute to his college fund!

Originally Posted by SD 335is

US spec cars do not have the feature of raising the windows with the fob, although it can be done with coding.



To be more specific, this is with the Comfort Access option.

My 328XI SW has US spec and I can raise and lower all the windows and the sun roof also with the fob.

Are there any bimmerfest members in NYC that know how to do the coding? I would love to code a few features in a few cars.

Originally Posted by vercetti0

Are there any bimmerfest members in NYC that know how to do the coding? I would love to code a few features in a few cars.

This probably isn't the best forum to ask this question as there's been very little interest in this here. There are plenty of other non-Bimmerfest forums where you can ask that question and get replies. Like I said, Google "BMW coding" and you will find everything you need.

Originally Posted by SD 335is

This probably isn't the best forum to ask this question as there's been very little interest in this here. There are plenty of other non-Bimmefest forums where you can ask that question and get replies. Like I said, Google "BMW coding" and you will find everything you need.

Thank you I actually submitted a thread on http://www.bmwcoding.com/

Originally Posted by andrew b

I discovered the other day while detailing that the radio will also shut itself off after a while if you leave it on (like when you leave it on after shutting the engine off but don't remove the key).

It seems to happen about the same time that the car electronics go to "sleep", which would make sense.

It is annoying. When my hands are dirty and I am doing something around garage, the stereo shuts down. I have to restart it again. BS feature. Wish it wasn't there.

Originally Posted by 55

It is annoying. When my hands are dirty and I am doing something around garage, the stereo shuts down. I have to restart it again. BS feature. Wish it wasn't there.

This is not a BS feature. It is there to protect the battery. Buy a stereo and put it in your garage

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Almost five months in and I didn't even realize my fob has a hidden key. I just found it. Rather oily. I had wondered why there were key holes on the doors for a car that never saw a real key.

I've only had my car for a month, but your post inspired me to find the key I didn't know I had.

I know all these shutdown features are to protect the battery but is there a way to code back horn functionality if the car is not running?

I've been in situations where I park, turn off my car, but need the horn because someone is backing into me without looking.

Originally Posted by mossman35

This is not a BS feature. It is there to protect the battery. Buy a stereo and put it in your garage

Originally Posted by mossman35

This is not a BS feature. It is there to protect the battery. Buy a stereo and put it in your garage

The key is in the slot and windows are down. Why stereo needs to shut down. Buy a stereo for garage? Could you say something more stupid in reply?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by 55

The key is in the slot and windows are down. Why stereo needs to shut down. Buy a stereo for garage? Could you say something more stupid in reply?

I have what is popularly called a boombox in my garage. I put it there years ago specifically to listen to while I'm working on my car. It was a lot cheaper than a new battery. Is that stupid?

Originally Posted by SD 335is

I have what is popularly called a boombox in my garage. I put it there years ago specifically to listen to while I'm working on my car. It was a lot cheaper than a new battery. Is that stupid?

Some people believe their dishwasher should do their laundry as well.

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Some people believe their dishwasher should do their laundry as well.

I've been wondering why my clothes look so bad lately...

Tom

My father learned from his father and I from mine... a great pleasure in life is to be working on the car while listening to a ball game on the radio. I prefer AM stations for this as well.

Of course... I'm an old fart.

What happened to the "less is more" fad?

Originally Posted by 55

The key is in the slot and windows are down. Why stereo needs to shut down. Buy a stereo for garage? Could you say something more stupid in reply?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

You didn't use any emotion smiles in your post so it seems if you are just rude in your post but it could be that way because you are posting from a phone..
BMW has a radio/power on timer to keep people like you that like to listen to their radios for extended periods of time and eventually killing your battery and then needing to have the new battery recoded taking time away from you as well as money from your pocket and bad mouthing the brand.

Originally Posted by 55

The key is in the slot and windows are down. Why stereo needs to shut down. Buy a stereo for garage? Could you say something more stupid in reply?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

The key in the slot and the windows down aren't going to keep your battery from draining completely....

Why is having a stereo in the garage stupid? I have one in there as well, so I can also listen when washing the car (when the top and windows are up). Or when doing non-car related things.

Originally Posted by ProfessorCook

My father learned from his father and I from mine... a great pleasure in life is to be working on the car while listening to a ball game on the radio. I prefer AM stations for this as well.

Of course... I'm an old fart.

+1
I'll count myself as one of the "old farts." I won't speak for anyone else...such as New Hampshire residents.

Nothing like listening to a Red Sox game on a crystal radio while cleaning the wheels (reception is poor in LA). Darn Celtics!

Here is one, and please indicate if you were not familiar with this feature. The sport package, in AT flavors, has the steering wheel with the paddle shifters. While in regular D mode you can tap the paddle shifter to downshift quickly. I do this driving at low speeds or starting from a stop while on an incline when you need an instantaneous power burst. The AT will shift for you once the rpm's climb into the 3K and presto you are back in normal D automatically.

I had been under the pretense that you must throw the shifter over in order to gain manual shifting capabilites. And, then to throw the shifter back in order to gain D mode again.

I use this move all the time when I need a power burst, but want to continue driving in comfortable D mode again without having to switch driving modes.

Originally Posted by david in german

You didn't use any emotion smiles in your post so it seems if you are just rude in your post but it could be that way because you are posting from a phone..
BMW has a radio/power on timer to keep people like you that like to listen to their radios for extended periods of time and eventually killing your battery and then needing to have the new battery recoded taking time away from you as well as money from your pocket and bad mouthing the brand.

Yes, it was posted from the phone and I was rude. It is not stupid have a stereo in garage, but it is stupid to recommend to another person to buy it without understanding of battery capacity and stereo current consumption. I remember good old ignition locks with position where I could listen my stereo as much as I wanted. If you drain your battery with radio in a couple of hours, your battery was overdue for replacment.
It is big brother stuff and too many people accept it these days and trying to patronize others into doing so.
I apologise for hurting feelings of people who has stereo in garage. Nothing wrong with this, but I am not planning to buy one and my battery will be ok.
P.S. And if you noticed I am bad mouthing them anyway for this feature. Poor BMW can't win.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by jertronic

Here is one, and please indicate if you were not familiar with this feature. The sport package, in AT flavors, has the steering wheel with the paddle shifters. While in regular D mode you can tap the paddle shifter to downshift quickly. I do this driving at low speeds or starting from a stop while on an incline when you need an instantaneous power burst. The AT will shift for you once the rpm's climb into the 3K and presto you are back in normal D automatically.

I had been under the pretense that you must throw the shifter over in order to gain manual shifting capabilites. And, then to throw the shifter back in order to gain D mode again.

I use this move all the time when I need a power burst, but want to continue driving in comfortable D mode again without having to switch driving modes.

i was not familiar with this will try next time woot