Steering wheel buttons

[dwagner00]

Really BMW? You couldn't figure out anything more useful to put on the steering wheel than "Recirculated-Air Mode"? Because I frequently need to do that _right_now_ without taking my hands from the wheel.

I'd love to be able to program that to something else.

[SCBMW02]

Ha Ha, I agree that is kind of pointless. Wish the heated steering wheel button was there like on the X5 instead of hidden on the column.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by SCBMW02

Ha Ha, I agree that is kind of pointless. Wish the heated steering wheel button was there like on the X5 instead of hidden on the column.

Or a button for toggling between different suspension modes. Better yet, let the driver program whatever function he wants behind it.

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by dwagner00

Really BMW? You couldn't figure out anything more useful to put on the steering wheel than "Recirculated-Air Mode"? Because I frequently need to do that _right_now_ without taking my hands from the wheel.

I'd love to be able to program that to something else.

i miss the programmable buttons like in my E90

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

i miss the programmable buttons like in my E90

At least you have the programmable buttons near the CD tray.

[dwagner00]

Originally Posted by juhap

Or a button for toggling between different suspension modes. Better yet, let the driver program whatever function he wants behind it.

That's what I was thinking, toggle DSC would be really useful on the steering wheel.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by dwagner00

That's what I was thinking, toggle DSC would be really useful on the steering wheel.

Oops, sorry missed the last sentence in your post. I only use recirculated air mode when driving behind oil burners

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by juhap

Oops, sorry missed the last sentence in your post. I only use recirculated air mode when driving behind oil burners

and past pig farms, feedlots, hatcheries, more oil burning super macho trucks (in their minds anyway) and when it gets really hot.


It's also very effective when the top is down

Agree, the DSC switch would be better off on the wheel and the recirc button should be , hmmm, how about on the dash near all the CC controls , but wait . It's already got one there. I think an engineer was cutting and pasting in the design shop and clicked once too many times. Dolts !!

[cdeslandes]

What's missing on the steering wheel is an "extra boost" button.

[mcbeee]

Hmmm, like an "M" button to switch the ECU to a different subroutine (like my remap). That would be fun ...

[BlueZ4AZ]

I need a button on the steering wheel that lowers and raises the optional Marquee that pops up between the rollover bars that reads, "Stop tailgating me you idiot"

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by BlueZ4AZ

I need a button on the steering wheel that lowers and raises the optional Marquee that pops up between the rollover bars that reads, "Stop tailgating me you idiot"

I've always wanted a marquee with perhaps 1/2 dozen preprogrammed sentences I could select with a simple switch.

Something like:
"Stop tailgating"
"Hang up and drive"
"Left lane is 4 passing only"
"Learn to drive"

etc...

Perhaps I should design and market the product.

[mcbeee]

Great idea, some choice ones plus "Voice Recognition" software for those special comments that can't be printed.

[BlueZ4AZ]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

I've always wanted a marquee with perhaps 1/2 dozen preprogrammed sentences I could select with a simple switch.

Something like:
"Stop tailgating"
"Hang up and drive"
"Left lane is 4 passing only"
"Learn to drive"

etc...

Perhaps I should design and market the product.

I'd like a piece of that action

[s2000jan]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

What's missing on the steering wheel is an "extra boost" button.

Buy an 35iS

[Roadstergal]

Originally Posted by s2000jan

Buy an 35iS

When they redesign that rear bumper.

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by s2000jan

Buy an 35iS

When they offer it with a manual tranny.

Until then, I'll just get the Dinan Stage I code once the car reaches 5,000 miles or so.

[dwagner00]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

When they offer it with a manual tranny.

I was a bit concerned about the DCT to be honest, but after driving it, I love it. The shifts really are silky smooth, I really doubt anyone can shift smoother/faster with the "manual".

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

When they offer it with a manual tranny.

Until then, I'll just get the Dinan Stage I code once the car reaches 5,000 miles or so.

Be careful with the Stage I, I don't think you get the updates to match the BMW rev updates as you do with the Stage II. (in the fine print)

I love my stage II, with a DCT...awesome.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by dwagner00

I was a bit concerned about the DCT to be honest, but after driving it, I love it. The shifts really are silky smooth, I really doubt anyone can shift smoother/faster with the "manual".

I don't think anyone driving a manual claims otherwise; there are other reasons for choosing to drive one. There's an interesting column in the June issue of Top Gear by Paul Horrell. He used to love DCTs, but has now changed his mine. It would be interesting to know if the issues he describes also apply to the DCT in E89.

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by juhap

I don't think anyone driving a manual claims otherwise; there are other reasons for choosing to drive one. There's an interesting column in the June issue of Top Gear by Paul Horrell. He used to love DCTs, but has now changed his mine. It would be interesting to know if the issues he describes also apply to the DCT in E89.

There's something about the feel of the manual transmission combined with the open feeling of the roadster and the sound of the exhaust.

(That and I personally hate the DCT shift buttons, it's a deal killer for me. Give me paddles any day, left for downshift, right for up.)

Anyway, the DCT does has its place in a no-compromise fast car like the 135i or the M3. The roadster is about fun over performance, and I don't care for a computer to shift for me, even if it's faster. Sometimes, less is more.

[mcbeee]

I believe my opinion is correct but yours is correct as well, or they wouldn't be our opinions would they.

I find the DCT more fun to drive with paddles (and sometimes I use the shift lever ) than most of my other cars including my M3. One question, what shift buttons are you talking about? I have shift paddles in mine . If you mean the buttons that the paddles operate I'm confused because I'm pretty sure all paddle systems use buttons for electric control including F1 cars. I admit I wasn't too keen on the change from left-down right -up (and tried to destroy an M6 while testing it ) but I really like them now.

The other part of the equation is that I've been driving for 40 years now and sometimes I like to just sit back and press on the "go" pedal or the "stop" pedal when I drive. I had a Landcruiser with 3 gear levers for 14 years, and a multitude of other 4x4 trucks so not shifting all the time is a nice change.