Teach me something I didn't know about the Z4!

[tranquility]

This thread is meant to bring up useful things that many ppl haven't noticed because they just skimmed the manual and/or perhaps it wasn't mentioned in the manual but you found out a better way to do things. Some may be obvious, but, who knows, nobody knows everything and might have missed some. Feel free to add more!

Here are mine so far:
1. when you buckle your belt, there is a plastic slide-able bar on the strap: slide it all the way to the buckle, so that when you unbuckle, it keeps the buckle in place in the right position for the next time you buckle

2. (I'm not certain about this one; more a ques) for AMA and FMA channels, supposedly the 6 strongest signal channels are automatically recorded? however, I found that you can use these spaces to store your own channels

3. (I skimmed the manual so I missed this one initially) the gas cap can be put on the green circle hole when filling gas (doh!) instead of letting it hang

4. whenever you adjust the seats, make sure they don't rub up/squeeze against the back wall (that can't be good)

5. if you don't want to use an aftermkt storage compartment, I found wrapping grocery bags around those 2 rubber straps in the trunk usually secures the bags quite well (on another topic, that back shelf behind the seats is virtually useless save for newspapers, handbags, etc lol)

6. when just chilling in the car w/ engine off and listening to the radio, it is good to switch the lights from 'automatic' to 'off' to conserve the battery

[Z4-2023 Mike]

Good idea for a thread:

1. I have the iPhone cradle and was frustrated when it didn't seem to work. Turns out all I had to do was cycle power on the iPhone by holding the power button and the home button simultaneously for a few seconds, until a red slider appears. Slide it to shut down the iPhone. then wait for it to stop. Then power it back up with the power button on top. Music happens! This also gets in this mode occasionally, so remember to do this occasionally. Don't know who to blame, Apple or BMW, but A comes alphabetically before B, so...

2. Now that you can have music coming from your iPhone, how do you fast forward or rewind? Ahhh...of course, you would use the radio buttons for advancing the channel under the FM buttons. This can also fix a stuck playback sometimes when a phone call stops music, but does not resume when the call is done...but sometimes just hitting the dial controller starts it back up also.

Hope to hear more from others...

Cheers

[siscobmw]

if you want to put ipod interface (on professional radio or better equipped cars )you can get it from bmw dealer and make a DIY job as this no longer needs coding by bmw.
the wire to plug your ipod can be put in the glove box or under central armrest, as this is long enough.

[s2000jan]

Originally Posted by tranquility

This thread is meant to bring up useful things that many ppl haven't noticed because they just skimmed the manual and/or perhaps it wasn't mentioned in the manual but you found out a better way to do things. Some may be obvious, but, who knows, nobody knows everything and might have missed some. Feel free to add more!

Here are mine so far:
1. when you buckle your belt, there is a plastic slide-able bar on the strap: slide it all the way to the buckle, so that when you unbuckle, it keeps the buckle in place in the right position for the next time you buckle

Now that's a good one ! Didn't know this ! Thanks !

[teagueAMX]

USB extension, short, for the glove box, rather then wrestle with a USB stick (aka, thumbdrive, flashdrive, etc.) in a tight place.

You can get them for $3 to $15 online anywhere from a couple of inches to a few feet long.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CFAQ8gIwBA#

.

[Memphis1]

.94 cents. Can't beat that!!

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[fisherman]

Great idea for a post- I'm still learning....

My car came with the pass through option ( for ski's etc ), but it also looks like they included the normal storage compartment with shelves. There was a shrink wrapped package in the trunk that appears to be the parts needed to convert the pass through option to the storage box option.
Anyone else have this and made the conversion ? Not sure how difficult it would be to take the pass through frame out and put the storage box option in ? Since I don't ski, I'd probably get more use out of the small storage box with shelves. Looks like it would be OK for CD storage.

I'll add one feature you may not have used yet...You can set up a speed control so that you get a " gong " when you hit a preselected speed. Where I am, the main road is patrolled constantly by the local cops, so the gong has saved me from getting a ticket so far. It only sounds when you go past the limit- it doesn't stay on, so it is a quick reminder.

[BlueZ4AZ]

For those that have it:

It will get fine scratches in it. It can be waxed and polished just like the exterior paint. It will require periodic waxing and polishing.

[davidmbell]

Not read my manual to be honest so this may not come as much of a surprise but if you gently touch the presets on the stereo (sat nav version) it shows what is stored on those presets without you having to choose that preset to find out. Clever stuff!

David

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by fisherman

Great idea for a post- I'm still learning....

My car came with the pass through option ( for ski's etc ), but it also looks like they included the normal storage compartment with shelves. There was a shrink wrapped package in the trunk that appears to be the parts needed to convert the pass through option to the storage box option.
Anyone else have this and made the conversion ? Not sure how difficult it would be to take the pass through frame out and put the storage box option in ? Since I don't ski, I'd probably get more use out of the small storage box with shelves. Looks like it would be OK for CD storage.

I'll add one feature you may not have used yet...You can set up a speed control so that you get a " gong " when you hit a preselected speed. Where I am, the main road is patrolled constantly by the local cops, so the gong has saved me from getting a ticket so far. It only sounds when you go past the limit- it doesn't stay on, so it is a quick reminder.

I believe the pass thru is an add on so the storage box would be standard. I don't ski either but it works great for rifles or narrow sets of golf clubs.

Now about this gong....how do we do this , I can't remember seeing it in my manual.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by tranquility

2. (I'm not certain about this one; more a ques) for AMA and FMA channels, supposedly the 6 strongest signal channels are automatically recorded? however, I found that you can use these spaces to store your own channels

Can anyone clarify this?

Originally Posted by mcbeee

Now about this gong....how do we do this , I can't remember seeing it in my manual.

I'm curious also.

[marcw]

I made the conversion from ski bag (comes with Cold Weather Package) to storage bin last Sunday in about 2 minutes. I'm going on a week long road trip in the Z next week and the storage bin comes in handy to hold sunglasses and stuff. You don't actually have to deal with the ski-bag itself. The entire assembly comes out. It's held in place by two clips at the top of the assembly in the trunk. Just push those up and the whole thing comes out. Very easy indeed.

Originally Posted by fisherman

My car came with the pass through option ( for ski's etc ), but it also looks like they included the normal storage compartment with shelves. There was a shrink wrapped package in the trunk that appears to be the parts needed to convert the pass through option to the storage box option.
Anyone else have this and made the conversion ? Not sure how difficult it would be to take the pass through frame out and put the storage box option in ? Since I don't ski, I'd probably get more use out of the small storage box with shelves. Looks like it would be OK for CD storage

[marcw]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

I don't ski either but it works great for rifles...

[teezee]

Originally Posted by tranquility

I'm curious also.

Page 74 in your manual

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by teezee

Page 74 in your manual

I had that in my Audi A6 but don't have Sat Nav in my E89, must be an iDrive function. I found it fun occasionally but rarely used it after the novelty wore off.

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by marcw

Member of the NRA ..and a Life member of Greenpeace.

You figure it out..



Definition of a "Texas Yuppie":

..................................Has a gunrack in his BMW.................

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

I had that in my Audi A6 but don't have Sat Nav in my E89, must be an iDrive function. I found it fun occasionally but rarely used it after the novelty wore off.

I find it useful here in Connecticut, where statutory reckless driving starts at 85 mph (137 kph.)

At 85 you feel stationary in that car, yet you could get arrested. Hence the usefulness of the warning!

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

Member of the NRA ..and a Life member of Greenpeace.
You figure it out..

I'm still trying to figure out where you strap the moose onto the car...

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by teezee

Page 74 in your manual

Originally Posted by mcbeee

I had that in my Audi A6 but don't have Sat Nav in my E89, must be an iDrive function. I found it fun occasionally but rarely used it after the novelty wore off.

So I guess I don't have this ftn since I don't have nav/idrive?

Originally Posted by mcbeee

Member of the NRA ..and a Life member of Greenpeace.

You figure it out..



Definition of a "Texas Yuppie":

..................................Has a gunrack in his BMW.................

...and you live in Canada? Weird.

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

I find it useful here in Connecticut, where statutory reckless driving starts at 85 mph (137 kph.)

At 85 you feel stationary in that car, yet you could get arrested. Hence the usefulness of the warning!

It wouldn't work around here...the avg speed on hiway 2 North is 135kmh !!


It would be useful though because what you say is true, 85 in a z4 feels like 30 in a regular car.

Tranquility: whats weird about having guns in Canada....rural canada is heavily armed but you have to get out of TO to see it

Hey Doc, don't make jokes about Mooses...Years back I saw a guy tie one over a Honda Civic, it was dragging a bit on both sides and the tires were damn near flat but it went down the road...Deadman's Pass, 1979 Absolutely True story.
I was driving an FJ45 Landcruiser Pickup and the Honda was next to our camp....strange people, I think they were from the East...

[mcbeee]

Hey Dr Stig, normal people don't tie dead critters across vehicles, that's just in the movies ( they don't cool properly )......but I could throw some partridges in the boot of the Zed. That's the only thing I hunt, tasty birds....

My target rifles fit in the trunk and go through the pass through perfectly, they don't even bother my elbow on the console.

[Wraith.]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

Hey Dr Stig, normal people don't tie dead critters across vehicles, that's just in the movies ( they don't cool properly )

You obviously haven't driven through rural Wisconsin or North Dakota at 4am. Then again we would probably need to define "normal"...