BMW 3-Series 5 tips (and quirks)

Today on automotive rants, let’s check out the BMW 3-series with a run through of some hidden quirks and features of BMW’s bestselling sports sedan. It ranges from daily usability tips, shortcuts on how to operate this rather digital car, especially the automatic functions. I had provided a brief summary of 5 tips I shortlisted in this article below as well as a video. Check out these BMW 3-Series 5 tips in a short video below.

Quirky engine compartment space

First off is a quirky space void in the engine compartment space. It can be found in this case on the right hand side of the engine compartment on the right hand drive model. Access is hidden under a service plastic lid which you can undo with a twist lock. I can guess this is probably where the hybrid circuitry would sit in the 330e.

Also, this spot is adjacent to where the side charging port of the plug in hybrid version of the 3-series is located. Notably, on the other end is where the car’s fluid reservoir is located. Is it also accessible via a similar plastic shroud cover.

Automatic Boot trunk control tips

Furthermore, another tip is that regarding the automatic boot. If you have your car specified with the automatic tailgate which comes with the BMW comfort package. This is great for convenience especially when opening the boot hands-free. Additionally, there are many ways to open and close your automatic trunk on the 3-series.

The most immediate choice would be of course to simply open the trunk using the trunk release handle button at the rear outside the car, where the boot lid will just do its own thing and open. Interestingly, the trunk release is an electronic button and not a mechanical release. Hence, you can press it mid-way when opening to stop it at any height.

Also, pressing the exterior handle button or the boot interior close button again overwrites the opening and closes the boot. Furthermore, this both open (and even closing) can be done while inside the car from Driver’s seat, in addition, to using the car’s keyfob remote boot button. Here, pressing once invokes to boot open/close. Pressing another time stops and holds the boot in the current location. And pressing-hold the boot button again closes it remotely. How cool is that.

Keyfob and accessibility tricks

Moreover, you can control some additional window functions form the car’s keyfob on top of simply locking/unlocking the doors. When the car is locked, holding the lock button winds up all windows and closes the sunroof if they are open. The opposite is true too, say if you wish to ventilate the car on a hot day by winding down all windows.

Lastly, the final tips involve getting to your iDrive menus quicker via re-programmable iDrive shortcuts. Do check out the video above for more in-depth run-through and hand-ons the features mentioned. All in all, hope you enjoy the 5 tips I have for now of the BMW 3-Series. Cheers.