List Something You Discovered About Your Car AFTER You Bought It...

My rear screen is double glazed

Originally Posted by Bigchagg

My rear screen is double glazed

Are they all double glazed?

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I recently learned that manual trans 6 series have the "Hill Descent Control" (HDC), that prevents the vehicle from rolling back into another car on a steep hill until the clutch is popped. Subaru has been doing this for years, but it's nice to see it on these cars.

The real purpose of HDC ( adapted to BMW's from Range Rover , when they were owned by BMW ) is to provide a controlled descent of an snow, ice, mud covered road.
When activated you take your feet off the gas and brake, and the car determines the safe speed considering the steepness and surface conditions. The vehicle controls the throttle and brake, you just steer. It's a little freaky 1st time you use it!
Btw- you can press the gas to speed up, but braking deactivates it....... At least on my RR

Originally Posted by ish

The real purpose of HDC ( adapted to BMW's from Range Rover , when they were owned by BMW ) is to provide a controlled descent of an snow, ice, mud covered road.
When activated you take your feet off the gas and brake, and the car determines the safe speed considering the steepness and surface conditions. The vehicle controls the throttle and brake, you just steer. It's a little freaky 1st time you use it!
Btw- you can press the gas to speed up, but braking deactivates it....... At least on my RR

What you are describing is HDC found in SUVs not in BMW sedans/coups. SehrSchnell was actually describing "Starting Assistant" which holds the brakes for 2 seconds when you are stopped on an uphill grade. Useful when leaving steep parking garage ramps and there is another car right behind you.

When I leave the trunk lid open (to ventilate the battery while charging it from the terminals in the engine bay), I don't have to disconnect the trunk light, because after some minutes it turns itself off!

I have learned women love a man who drives a BMW......I mean they really LOVE a man who drives a 6 series BMW.....The term "Chick Magnet"....should be changed to "Panty Dropper".

So my 6 is manual, and I was on an incline at a stop sign. My previous cars, when I'd hit the clutch the car would roll back on inclines.....however the 6 has a feature where it won't roll back right away but will after 5 seconds. Definitely a great feature and was impressed!

If you pull the high beam switch after the car is off the headlights will stay on for a while. Length of time can be changed via programing.

Originally Posted by roseng

If you pull the high beam switch after the car is off the headlights will stay on for a while. Length of time can be changed via programing.

This function is called Homelights or Pathway lighting. You can also code the car to allow you enable this feature via the remote bootlid release button on your key fob. Like this on my car:

I found out yesterday that the little plug that goes into the flashlight socket in the glovebox and creates an extra 12 volt input... continues to operate when the car is turned off, unlike the one in the ashtray that turns off with the ignition.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E64-650...ries/ES194567/

Originally Posted by Mulchman

I found out yesterday that the little plug that goes into the flashlight socket in the glovebox and creates an extra 12 volt input... continues to operate when the car is turned off, unlike the one in the ashtray that turn off with the ignition.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E64-650...ries/ES194567/

Nice find!

Originally Posted by dboy11

This is funny

My 6er had the cup holder missing when I got it, thought that's not a big deal, I'll just get one from the dealer. Now I have to tell everyone that I do live in Canada and not the US, here in the North, this cup holder sells for, now here it comes! $812. This is insane, so I called another dealer $745. I called my cousin in Germany to find out what they are selling for over there; €510. I got one on Ebay for $60 plus shipping charges from the US, it is a used cup holder but looks like new. If you have a cup holder, make sure you don't loose it, proportionally it is probably the most expensive part on your car.

Make sure you check the compartment in the rear of the console. The cupholder is stored there. I thought mine was missing also but accidentally found it.

Originally Posted by daytona745

Make sure you check the compartment in the rear of the console. The cupholder is stored there. I thought mine was missing also but accidentally found it.

+1 I found mine because of this thread.

The James Bond style pop down SOS button.

Now, trouble, is not a problem.

Is there a way to turn back bumper lights on? Do they come on with the fog lights or under hard breaking? Do they come on at all?
Ps: I'm talking ability the lights by the reverse lights..

Originally Posted by petros2r

Is there a way to turn back bumper lights on? Do they come on with the fog lights or under hard breaking? Do they come on at all?
Ps: I'm talking ability the lights by the reverse lights..

The red part is just a reflector.

Originally Posted by Db750

The red part is just a reflector.

Actualy I think they are rear fogs. But you have to program them to work. They are not required in the US and some states have laws about having one or two and where they are located. So BMW just disables them for the US market. There was a thread about this a few months ago.

Originally Posted by Mulchman

Actualy I think they are rear fogs. But you have to program them to work. They are not required in the US and some states have laws about having one or two and where they are located. So BMW just disables them for the US market. There was a thread about this a few months ago.

Yep, they are both lighting up on my car as rear fogs, UK/IRE specification car. On US spec cars the light units have the same part number as Euro spec ones so it should be possible to code it to work.:

US Spec:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E6..._light_bumper/

Euro Spec:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E6..._light_bumper/

Originally Posted by rebel.ranter

Yep, they are both lighting up on my car as rear fogs, UK/IRE specification car. On US spec cars the light units have the same part number as Euro spec ones so it should be possible to code it to work.:

Can't be coded but you can get a euro spec light switch. I'll be installing mine later this week and I'll post the results.

FYI, These may not conform to US Specs.

Originally Posted by Mulchman

Actualy I think they are rear fogs. But you have to program them to work. They are not required in the US and some states have laws about having one or two and where they are located. So BMW just disables them for the US market. There was a thread about this a few months ago.

Interesting, I had no idea.

Originally Posted by roseng

Can't be coded but you can get a euro spec light switch. I'll be installing mine later this week and I'll post the results.

FYI, These may not conform to US Specs.

Looking forward to seeing this.

Originally Posted by Db750

Interesting, I had no idea.



Looking forward to seeing this.

FYI, this will complete a series of mods and upgrades and I am planing on posting them all in one new thread, so look for that one not as a reply here.

I have learned "If you paint it, they will come"... out of all the custom cars I have ever owned, past and present... this car gets the most attention. From pictures at gas stations to the random cars pulling up next
to me on the highway with thumbs up I get a lot of attention. There has also been a situation where a lady tracked me down and googled me and my company because she saw my car and personalized plate on the highway and decided to 'tweet' about it...smh! On another note, I feel stupid for just finding this out but I did not know my key stored my settings in the car... I grabbed my spare key for the 6 because I hadn't used it since I bought the car last summer, I wanted to make sure the batt was charged and just warmed the car up. All my setting...mirror, seat, air all changed once I cranked the car up but I didn't think much of it. Since that key is on the same chain as my benz I turned the car off and got in the benz since I was going to wash it, 30 mins later I turn the BMW on with main Key and notice my settings returned to original!!! Wow now if I was generous enough to share with my boo she could have her own key and settings lol.