What is something you learned about your car after you owned it?

[goblin]

On my 2016 BMW 535d, there is a little analog "wheel" between the center air vents that you have to "roll" forward or reverse if you want full heat or full AC, independent of the temp you have the heat/ac set to. Took me a week of being cold the first winter I had it to finally figure it out. Durrrr

Lucky you, on the E60/61 it's the same thing but the extra setting is hidden in a menu. Which is pulled by pressing the button inside the rotary temp knob, but then the extra hot/cold setting can only be changed from the idrive knob on the console.

I also have a menu for the areas to be heated on my heated seats, which is stuck in the middle no matter what I do.

 

[MCompact]

On my 2016 BMW 535d, there is a little analog "wheel" between the center air vents that you have to "roll" forward or reverse if you want full heat or full AC, independent of the temp you have the heat/ac set to. Took me a week of being cold the first winter I had it to finally figure it out. Durrrr

BMW's had that feature for decades. To get higher scores from JD Power and others many features unique to BMW have been eliminated.

 

[goblin]

To get higher scores from JD Power and others many features unique to BMW game been eliminated.

Like what ?

 

[dbias]

I found this winter the my new GTI has a setting to automatically turn on the heated seats and steering wheel if temps are below 54 F. For months I had been mashing buttons each time to engage these functions. After having a heated steering wheel I would hesitate to buy another car without it. Also the cooling seats are quite nice too. It’s a strange feeling having cool air blowing at your butt crack lol

 

[bighead2586]

My manual transmssion 2014 Accord has a hill hold feature. I'm not sure if I like it or not.

 

[BHopkins]

Okay, the first one is a little embarrassing, as I suspect most everyone here knows this, but it took me a year or two to learn it on my wife's '13 Outback, that if you want to open an auto window only part way, that you press the window button only to the first stop, and pressing it all the way is for the auto mode, where it will open all the way.

Somewhat related to that, it took me a while to figure out on the '07 SL550 that I used to drive, that the cruise control speed adjustment would go up or down in 3 mph increments if I pressed it all the way, and to adjust in 1 mph increments, press it only to the first stop.

Totally by accident, I discovered that my '14 E350 has a brake hold feature, activated by pressing the brake pedal a little past normal, while stopped.

I bought the '22 X5 for my wife about 6 weeks ago, but only last week did I figure out that the park brake sets automatically when the ignition is turned off.

 

[MCompact]

BMW's had that feature for decades. To get higher scores from JD Power and others many features unique to BMW have been eliminated.

The turn signal self centering and the wand mounted cruise control are two.

 

[BornSlippy]

Ain't got no gas in it.

 

[goblin]

Both are not features, but an aberration (blinkers) and a solution looking for a problem in my book. It took me getting into one to realize why bimmer drivers don't use the blinker not out of sheer nastiness, but from desperation

So those two are no more, in newer BMWs ? Mine is not in voting age yet but would be allowed to get a learner permit in most states.

 

[shortyb]

Took a few hundred miles to figure out my Passat did not like the timing chains or tensioner it came with. Also, very much ahead of it's time for a 2010, were the ventilated front seats. Roll the windows down and the wind blows right through them. Refreshing.

 

[Leo99]

I just learned that if you push the ignition button on the camry while doing 75 mph that nothing happens.

 

[goblin]

I just learned that if you push the ignition button on the camry while doing 75 mph that nothing happens.

Don't try to learn what happens if you keep it pressed for a longer time (basically the same amount of time as it will take for your engine to start when you keep the start button pressed without pressing the brake - usually around ten full seconds or so.

 

[MCompact]

Both are not features, but an aberration (blinkers) and a solution looking for a problem in my book. It took me getting into one to realize why bimmer drivers don't use the blinker not out of sheer nastiness, but from desperation

So those two are no more, in newer BMWs ? Mine is not in voting age yet but would be allowed to get a learner permit in most states.

I could take or leave the turn signal design. However, I liked the cruise control design- going back to my E28 535is. It’s academic at this point; the new BMWs are awkwardly styled and the digital IP and touchscreen are anything but driver focused. It all caused me to flip a BMW for something other than another BMW for the first time since 1983 (twelve in all).

 

[John105]

I could take or leave the turn signal design. However, I liked the cruise control design- going back to my E28 535is. It’s academic at this point; the new BMWs are awkwardly styled and the digital IP and touchscreen are anything but driver focused. It all caused me to flip a BMW for something other than another BMW for the first time since 1983 (twelve in all).

I definitely am pro turn signal and cruise on my 2007. I will admit having no detent could be confusing for the windshield wiper speed. But sometimes, designs are timeless, these are an example. Having to do it like all of the rest of the cars is no different than when other cos go mainstream and lose their heritage. I saw a BMW yesterday where the grilles lit up, as if they're just throwing darts and seeing where they land. What's next, BMWs that aren't near 50/50 weight distribution? lol

Another design flaw that mainstream accepts--LED headlamps that blind oncoming traffic. NO, moving them lower didn't help (look at newer GM products). But the "key" imho? HID xenon could have it so oncoming traffic isn't blinded, and they could have single bulbs on each side. Human beings are analog. Moving turn signals as low to the ground on the bumper, doesn't translate into humans seeing them, even if they meet DOT. Having 4+ headlamps/bulbs because they're needed with LED, is poor all around imho. Not just for aesthetics, but being a good neighbor in traffic.

 

[John105]

Things I didn't know about my '07 335i until I drove to work the following Monday: Cornering lamps, true dual exhaust, and 1WD. Oh yeah admittedly I didn't know I had an external oil cooler.

 

[CheezWhiz]

I'm embarrassed to admit.. but it was several years after I started driving that I realized cars had an arrow by the fuel level to show which side the gas cap is on.

wait what????!!!

i started driving in 1991. first i have heard of this!!!!!

 

[Ranger83]

///Also, when the DTE reads empty, you literally have a gallon or less on this vehicle. All my other vehicles would have multiple gallons when the DTE reads 0 miles. //

Our 2008 Subaru Outback Reserve is 10 liters: 2.6 gallons.

- The heated side mirrors come on with the rear defroster switch, but the base-of-windshield heater does not come on with the front or rear defroster: there is a separate switch on the dash.

- Our 2006 Sprinter has an auxiliary diesel-fueled heater to warm up faster and keep the engine up to temp in cold weather. To turn it on, you hit the left side of a horizontal button right below the air conditioning switch. It sounds like a jet engine.

 

[_Will_]

The location of the passenger cup holder on my 02 Camaro, I never sit over there so never noticed it and assumed the passenger just held their beverage; until a girl from work pulled it out while we were coming back from lunch.

Also learned GM hasn't invested in baffles or at least some electronic damper for the fuel sending unit, the 69 Camaro I drove in high school would have the fuel gauge plummet if your tank was low and you slammed the brakes sending gas sloshing up front. The first time it happened I thought I'd gotten a puncture in the tank. Fast forward and I'm driving my new 02 Camaro in Tallahassee and have to slam on the brakes, fuel does the same thing and sets off the bright red "check gauges" light that had me temporarily concerned till I realized the source. 33 years and GM hadn't changed much.

 

[goblin]

...the base-of-windshield heater does not come on with the front or rear defroster: there is a separate switch on the dash...

This is the case for most cars that have the feature, as it's coupled to the AC.
It's not a defroster, it's a defogger, as it's there to take fog off the inside of the windshield. This can be used in cold as well as in hot weather.

It won't help at all if your windshield is frozen on the outside (unlike the rear windshield defroster which actually has heated elements and can do defogging and defrosting). Unless you have a heated front windshield (with heating elements sunk in the glass and thinner than what you see on the rear) - its defrosting will rely on the hot air blown on the windshield.

 

[ATex7239]

I learned I don’t like all the alarms and sensors Toyota has on everything. The vehicle complains at you about everything. Even before you do anything wrong. It’s just like my ex wife. Didn’t like her either.