[Anterialis]

Hi!
I am looking for a thorough list of "hidden"/forgotten about/not-known-by-all features. Some of these features I have figured out by myself by chance, like where you in a BMW (at least F-models) when cruising in Manual mode can hold/long press the left gear paddle to quickly enter the optimal gear shift for maximal power (cruise in 8th gear and 100 kmh, long-pressing the left gear paddle will immediately shift to 3rd gear). Sort of like kick down, but without any changes to the power input since the gas pedal is stationary.

I am sure there are plenty more of these features not known to most people. Could you please point me to such a list, or give me some examples of more features like this?

A list of features, some (maybe all of them) might be known to most of you:

List

• Long-press left gear paddle shift (automatic transmission) - chooses optimal gear for max power
• Side mirror selection switch - turn right to make right outside mirror tilt down when in reverse
• If in Drive, and you have changed gears with the paddle sifter (to briefly enter manual mode), you can long-press the right paddle shifter to immediately enter Drive mode again, in stead of waiting several seconds for the transmission to go back in Drive by itself
• There seems to be some confusion about the kick down among some drivers. On automatic cars (most brands), if you step through the initial resistance on the gas pedal, you will enable "kick down". This makes the car down shift to the optimal gear (revs in the 4-5000 area) and gives you max power.
• On most newer BMWs, you can enable this "three blinks" signal thing, with just one tap on the signal leveler. If you want just one or two "blinks", I believe you can hold the signal leveler till the two blinks are executed, then release.
• If you want to start the engine on a hybrid BMW, you can either enter Neutral and press the gas pedal slightly (only F-gen? Doesn't work on G-generation. Thanks to user X5 45e), or - if you are driving in hybrid mode - you can just tap the gear leveler into "Manual/sport". I do this if I know I want to accelerate e.g. from an intersection.
• If you have the shifter over to the left in sport and turn off the engine or press park it will automatically reset itself upright.
• You can save your favourite iDrive shortcuts to the physical buttons 1-9 on the dash.
• If the electronic handbrake is pulled while driving the car will automatically come to a safe stop and put on the hazard warning lights.
• When in Drive/reverse, just open drivers door and release break pedal and the car will enter Park automatically.

(I know these are not hidden features, and they are probably explained well in the user manual. But who reads the manual.. . And sorry for the bad english..).

[lexieke]

If you long press the voice input button it will switch to the voice assistant of your phone instead of your car

[Anterialis]

Originally Posted by lexieke

If you long press the voice input button it will switch to the voice assistant of your phone instead of your car

Interesting. I have my Iphone always connected to the car via bluetooth, and the voice button on the steering wheel (normal/short press) always initiates Siri. I have not been able to initiate the BMW voice system when the phone is connected. what am I doing wrong?

What car/model do you have?

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by lexieke

If you long press the voice input button it will switch to the voice assistant of your phone instead of your car

A long press of the Mic button beeps and calls up Google with an Android phone, as in "Hey Google"....

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

Interesting. I have my Iphone always connected to the car via bluetooth, and the voice button on the steering wheel (normal/short press) always initiates Siri. I have not been able to initiate the BMW voice system when the phone is connected. what am I doing wrong?

What car/model do you have?

Siri "eyes free" has been available on BMW's since 2013 with some 2014 MY cars. Short press of the mic button gives you BMW's voice assistant. A long press of about 3 seconds gives you your phones assistant (Siri if you have an iPhone).

[Resjudicata]

Originally Posted by Pictor

Siri "eyes free" has been available on BMW's since 2013 with some 2014 MY cars. Short press of the mic button gives you BMW's voice assistant. A long press of about 3 seconds gives you your phones assistant (Siri if you have an iPhone).

what happens if you have an iPhone and Andriod connected same time, which one do you get?

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by Resjudicata

what happens if you have an iPhone and Andriod connected same time, which one do you get?

I haven’t tried since I don’t have an Android phone but I would guess it would be based on your device priority setting in iDrive.

[russelldav]

If you have the shifter over to the left in sport and turn off the engine or press park it will automatically reset itself upright.

You can save your favourite iDrive shortcuts to the physical buttons 1-9 on the dash.

If a passenger pulls the electronic handbrake the car will automatically come to a safe stop and put on the hazard warning lights.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by russelldav

If you have the shifter over to the left in sport and turn off the engine or press park it will automatically reset itself upright.

You can save your favourite iDrive shortcuts to the physical buttons 1-9 on the dash.

If a passenger pulls the electronic handbrake the car will automatically come to a safe stop and put on the hazard warning lights.

Well now how the hell.. what happens when the driver pulls it?

[thereef510]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Well now how the hell.. what happens when the driver pulls it?

because we're not really driving. the entire car basically is drive by wire so its not gonna go crazy if someone decides to do something dumb

[Anterialis]

Originally Posted by Pictor

Siri "eyes free" has been available on BMW's since 2013 with some 2014 MY cars. Short press of the mic button gives you BMW's voice assistant. A long press of about 3 seconds gives you your phones assistant (Siri if you have an iPhone).

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. I have a F30 330e from 2016. My iPhone is connected automatically through bluetooth when i enter and start up the car. If i short-press the voice button on the steering wheel, Siri is initiated through my iPhone. Same thing with long-pressing.

How do I initiate BMW's own voice feature? The only way I have been able to do this is if I disconnect my phone.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. I have a F30 330e from 2016. My iPhone is connected automatically through bluetooth when i enter and start up the car. If i short-press the voice button on the steering wheel, Siri is initiated through my iPhone. Same thing with long-pressing.

How do I initiate BMW's own voice feature? The only way I have been able to do this is if I disconnect my phone.

Make sure "hey BMW" is enabled, then just say "hey BMW". You'll get the car instead of Siri. The easiest way.

After it's enabled, you might want to change your car's name since every time somebody says BMW, it'll ask you what you want.

[russelldav]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Well now how the hell.. what happens when the driver pulls it?

Try it. Car takes over steering and brakes

[Marty in NY]

I believe you need to purchase the $1,700 'Driving Assistance Professional Package' in order to get 'Active Driving Assistant Pro' feature that has the 'Emergency Stop Assistant' that brings the vehicle to a stop in case of a health emergency when pulling on the eBrake.

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

Interesting. I have my Iphone always connected to the car via bluetooth, and the voice button on the steering wheel (normal/short press) always initiates Siri. I have not been able to initiate the BMW voice system when the phone is connected. what am I doing wrong?

What car/model do you have?

I think you are pushing to long. Just give a quick push on the steering wheel button will activate Bmw voice control. Or you can say hallo or hey Bmw (if activated)

[X5 45e]

If you open the door and you don't turn of the engine / put it in standby for 45e the ambient lightning in the door handle starts blinking red - white. I only saw it in the dark.

[X5 45e]

You can start a list of favorites in the navigation menu. When you start navigating to a destination you can press the idrive wheel and it will give you some possibilities. One is to save your current destination as favorite. A new menu item "favorites" will be added tot your navigation list

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

You can start a list of favorites in the navigation menu. When you start navigating to a destination you can press the idrive wheel and it will give you some possibilities. One is to save your current destination as favorite. A new menu item "favorites" will be added tot your navigation list

Automatic lane evacuation function. With the huge grill when you approach the car in front of you on the highway for 5 meters it will usually automatically go away.

[X5 45e]

Translated from Dutch:

Bmw drivers are proud. They already have been keeping 1.5 distance for years now.

Some humor in times of misery

[Anterialis]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

I think you are pushing to long. Just give a quick push on the steering wheel button will activate Bmw voice control. Or you can say hallo or hey Bmw (if activated)

I will give it a go!

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Make sure "hey BMW" is enabled, then just say "hey BMW". You'll get the car instead of Siri. The easiest way.

After it's enabled, you might want to change your car's name since every time somebody says BMW, it'll ask you what you want.

We found that you couldn't activate a different name unless you left "Hey BMW" activated, so even though you can change the name from "BMW," it still answers to that, and the new name. With exactly the same problem you mentioned.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

We found that you couldn't activate a different name unless you left "Hey BMW" activated, so even though you can change the name from "BMW," it still answers to that, and the new name. With exactly the same problem you mentioned.

Yep!