This time on Road and Race we look at the easy way to code your BMW to access all the
hidden features, how to hack your standard exhaust to make it sound epic and amongst
other things, how to cheaply improve the look of your BMW
In the last episode I discussed the good and bad things about my M3 after about a month
of ownership.
Having now had the car for about 3 months here are all the things I’ve done to it
to make it my own.
Here I’m using a E92 M3 but these mods should work with most BMWs.
So let’s start with no.1,
How to access hidden features
Although BMW let you alter a lot of settings I found there were things I wanted to change
on the car but couldn’t.
I didn’t like the way the car beeped when you locked it, it annoyed me when I was warned
me far too early that I was low on fuel and I wanted the digital speedo to tell me the
actual speed I was going not the “adjusted” version you get.
But the biggest frustration for me was that you had to remember to manually fold the side
mirrors before you got out of the car.
So obviously I’d forget, get out of the car, remember and then have to go back….!!!!!
So what’s the easy solution to this?
Well all these settings are changeable via a simple phone app called Carly for BMW.
You need to buy this app and their special OBD adaptor although they do make a free Lite
version and support some third party adaptors.
Anyway, you simply plug in the adaptor, start the car, load the app and select your car
model.
Once in there’s an incredible array of settings you can now change.
Their website lists them all and I’ll put a link ni the Description box.
So first up I change the setting to turn on the menu in the idrive that allows you to
change the alarm beep when locking.
Bit round about that one isn’t it but now you can see a new setting in the iDrive.
Next up I change the fuel warning alert from 31 miles to 12 miles and set the speedo is
show the “true” speed.
Here you can also turn on the digital speedo if you don’t already have it.
But best of all I can now turn on “Comfort Folding for sideview mirrors” so now they
fold automatically when I lock the car.
Lovely.
The Carly app can also be used for fault diagnosis and check engine codes.
On to no.2
New front grille
Whilst I think the M3 is a stunning looking BMW there was one element that I thought could
be improved; I never really liked the chrome grill.
I’d seen the dual slat gloss black grill on the current F generation of M3’s and
wanted it.
Unfortunately it’s a different sized grill than my earlier E generation car.
But fear not, after a bit of hunting around I found a seller on ebay making a F style
grill for my car!
And for only £40.
Bargain.
I’m always a little dubious about ebay purchases as I worried it wouldn’t fit properly but
to my surprise it was a perfect match.
Here’s a comparison with one of the new grills installed.
And it is finished with both.
Installation was really easy.
I just had to remove these 4 screws to get access and the grill is only held on with
these clips.
Took about 20 minutes.
Number 3 Better sounding exhaust
Whilst many 3rd party exhaust systems exist for a BMW you’d be looking at at least £1000
for a full system and then the cost to have it fitted.
One alternative is to hack your existing exhaust.
Here’s a diagram of the standard M3 exhaust.
For about £100 you can have the two perforated sections shown here in yellow replaced with
a solid piece of stainless steel.
This is more commonly known as the “two pipe” mod.
Unfortunately this was done to my car by the previous owner so I don’t have any video
of what it sounded like from the factory but here’s what it sounds like now.
If you like you can make the exhaust even louder by also replacing the green sections
too but I’ve been told this can make the exhaust drone which would be annoying on motorway
journeys.
No.4 Clutch stop.
For £20 you can buy this little device that fits behind your clutch and reduces it’s
travel.
You first need to remove this plastic cap and then it slots straight in.
Some claim it can make shifting quicker which is good for the track or drag racing but I
got it to be more comfortable when driving.
As I now have to push the pedal less far I can move my seat further back which I prefer.
No 5 Leaf grilles
Where do leaves and rain water go when they land on the front of a BMW?
Down this hole that’s where.
Over time it can get blocked.
Here you can see mine was already filling up with junk.
If you want to avoid having to use my patented “screwdriver technique” you can buy leaf
grilles from any BMW spare department for about a tenner.
Then all you have to do is periodically lift them out to empty them.
They came as standard on my plain old E90 320D but not on my M3.
Strange eh?
No 6 Phone integration
If you have an older BMW like mine which doesn’t Apple Car Play or even support Bluetooth audio
you can retrofit a cheap cable based solution.
Here’s mine.
It’s a £12 iphone Composite AV Cable from amazon which supports the older ipods and
iphone.
I’ve attached the official Apple lightning adaptor for my iphone 6S and a phone to mini
jack adaptor.
. At the other end is a USB to 12V adaptor from Aukey.
This is the more powerful type that delivers 2.4 amps rather than 1 amp so be able to will
charge the phone whilst being used.
Also from Aukey is their magnetic air vent mounting kit.
You stick the flat piece of metal to your phone and then insert the plug into an air
vent.
The phone just sticks right on.
I’ve tucked the rest of the cabling under this plastic trim, tied up the slack in the
arm rest and plugged the 12v and mini jack in.
I’ve then programmed button 8 to be the Line in input for the stereo.
No 7 Custom steering wheel button settings
This button on the steering wheel can be set to one of a number of functions.
I like to use it to turn the iDrive screen off.
You don’t really need it on most of the time and turning it off will save a little
bit of power and save the screen.
But mainly I turn it off when driving at night as I find it distracting.
No 8 The boot
Removing this panel from the boot reveals BMWs puncture repair kit.
If you remove it you’ll find a new size space to work with.
Personally I found their tyre compressor cheaply made and hard to use so I’ve replaced it
with my trusty one from Ring.
Also had room for tyre glue from Holts and a few essentials such as a tyre pressure checker,
tyre thread depth gauge and a laser thermometer.
So that its fro me.
If you’ve got any cheap and easy mods you’ve done let me know in the comments.
Next time on Road and Race
Since I like to track my cars the second thing I like to do once I get a new one is to inspect
then upgrade the brakes.
So join me next time when I attempt to fit racing spec brake pads and fit new brake hoses
and to rusted and seized brake lines.
Spoiler alert, it didn’t go as easy as planned….
If you've enjoyed the video then please consider subscribing and clicking the Like button as
it really helps me be able to make more shows.
Click the video in the top right of your screen to watch the next episode in this series or
the one in the bottom right to watch from the start of this series.
And as always thanks for watching.