[fusionnv]

Lets list all the cool features of the car but werid. Basically makes you think, damn these bmw engineers have a lot of time to think up of this crap for the car.

Mine I think is cool the automatic sound adjustment. Thru Idrive you can set the music to go up in volume as you go faster (to adjust for road noise). When you slow down, the volume will go back down.

[wannabe]

Originally Posted by fusionnv

Mine I think is cool the automatic sound adjustment. Thru Idrive you can set the music to go up in volume as you go faster (to adjust for road noise). When you slow down, the volume will go back down.

That's not anything new...and BMW engineers didn't come up with that or maybe they did, but it's not new. I drove an American-made minivan 6 years ago that had that feature...I forget the make or model...it was a rental.

Anyway, I think the hill-start assist on manual transmission cars is waaaay cool.

[silverado]

... and I drove a Porsche in 1985 that had that in its after market Blaupunkt stereo system

[matrix]

Designing a temperature-controlled beverage holder in the armrest is way too cool....Those Engineers really do have a lot of time on their hands.

[llaroo]

the temperature control is only from air passing by it to the rear vents, big deal, the Saab 9-3 does the same with its glove box as air passes by it to the passenger vent. A flap opens for air to pass through. Not the most technically challenging detail. They're no refrigerent so if the AC is off no cooling in the glovebox.

[fusionnv]

Originally Posted by llaroo

the temperature control is only from air passing by it to the rear vents, big deal, the Saab 9-3 does the same with its glove box as air passes by it to the passenger vent. A flap opens for air to pass through. Not the most technically challenging detail. They're no refrigerent so if the AC is off no cooling in the glovebox.

The point of this thread is not to say the feature is different from every other car or such, it is just cool and kinda werid that they did that. Basically features that aren't really advertise and when we find out, cool it does that.

Another one is: LED puddle lights at each of the door handles that shine down on the floor below.

[Armen52]

The light sensors can tell which direction the sun is pointing from and the car will tweak the climate control settings for those under the sun to compensate.

I think the build-up in brake pressure if you suddenly lift off the throttle is one of the most useful (safe!) features they've added to the car. That and the wet/drying brakes.

[Robin_NL]

The coolest feature is rwd

[Broken1]

I think the coolest (optional) feature is comfort access.. I'm gonna have so much fun showing everyone my car, with no key.

I'll make up a story about how I had to get a chip installed in my hand and then show them my scar... wooo it'll be fun hehe

[Athos]

Haven't tried it yet, but the hill start assist sounds pretty good to me.

[ogrady]

I have to agree that comfort access is one of the coolest features. Did you guys see that video made by a member here taht shows how when you touch the handle it automatically unlocks and then locks again when you touch a certain point? What a neat trick.

[AudiA4]

Cool AND useful? Hill Start Assist, no question.

Cool BUT useless? The secondary needle indicating the set cruise control speed.

[1stbimmer2]

I'm not sure if it is a feature but it seemed to work that way when I test drove the car last week. It looks like the signal automatically turns off ? Not just in turns, but also changing lanes as well. I make very slight movements to change lanes and it seemed like it turn off automatically after I changed lanes, or was it just my imagination. Can someone tell me I'm not crazy ?

[Broken1]

You are not mad, if you just touch the indicator stalk, it does the "flash" function where the indicator flashes 3 times. If you push it HARD then it stays on until you properly turn etc. ;P

[psyran]

Adaptive headlamps - Pretty cool the way they swivel when rounding turns. I also agree that the little lights shining down from the door handles are cool, but not sure of the usefulness of them.
psyran

[romeo26]

hmm...cup holders are the best compaired to my 1987 e30. oh yah the hill thing is a good thing but my car doesnt roll back on hills.
besides that i think it would be the puddle lights and the comfort access!!!

[E90Fleet]

The electric waterpump

[Ewrek]

Angel Eyes!!!

[CC 330i]

The driving dynamics, and the fact that you have 3 modes for DSC. Full on, Sport Mode, and FULLY OFF.

I like the "sport mode" that you get by pressing the DTC button one time quickly. It's funny how they mention this in the manual as being some kind of "winter driving" setting. Why can't they just say "Sportier mode". I guess it's a "need to know" thing. They don't want wannabe F1 drivers crashing their cars when they turn this off.

I will say the full on DSC is pretty invasive, but it works! And you can turn it off completely if you want. Too many (especially Japanese) cars won't let you turn stability control off completely.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by CC 330i

The driving dynamics, and the fact that you have 3 modes for DSC. Full on, Sport Mode, and FULLY OFF.

I like the "sport mode" that you get by pressing the DTC button one time quickly. It's funny how they mention this in the manual as being some kind of "winter driving" setting. Why can't they just say "Sportier mode". I guess it's a "need to know" thing. They don't want wannabe F1 drivers crashing their cars when they turn this off.

I will say the full on DSC is pretty invasive, but it works! And you can turn it off completely if you want. Too many (especially Japanese) cars won't let you turn stability control off completely.

Do you know what systems get turned off when you switch DSC off, but not completely off (i.e., in DTC mode)? Is it just you that call it "sport mode" or is this a more widely known convention?

[CC 330i]

I just call it Sport mode. BMW calls it DTC". I assume this means "Dynamic Traction Control. I read in Road and Track or Car and Driver that this is what they call "Sport" mode. (DTC). There is no mention of "sport mode" in the manual. The manual mentions DTC, but says it is used if your car gets stuck in the mud or something. (Allows more wheelspin...).

It is like DSC, only it is less invasive than the standard setting that is in effect when you start the car. (I assume that DSC means Dynamic Stability Control). I can tell you that if you try to let the tail slide out on a corner without pressing the DTC button, the DSC steps in early and clamps down on the brakes keeping you from sliding sideways. If you press DTC once, it allows a little more sliding, but still steps in and calms things down before you lose control. I did some really stupid things deep into a corner, (at the limit and lifted abruptly off the throttle) and it kept the car from totally sliding out. It just kept me tracking a nice line.

If you press and hold the DTC button for 3 seconds, it turns off the Traction/Stability control completely. I was able to hang the tail out completely with this setting. (you need to be careful doing this if you are not used to this setting, because you can get in a world of hurt. The DTS makes you feel like you are a god, and you are pulling off things that really should not be possible). I read in that magazine I mentioned that you would only really want to switch this off completely if you were on a dry racetrack. There is a "!" exclamation point on your dash indicating that DSC is switched off, and you CAN get into trouble.

I don't know specifically which systems get switched on/off with each setting but I know that it involves ABS at least. Probably cuts fuel too at some point. Sorry I don't know any more about the system, but I am sure we can dig up some more info when someone does a tech write up...

[romeo26]

what mag were you reading??