[Benmac]

Hi all,

I join you from the F30 side of things. I currently have an F31 340i.

I'm toying with changing it for G21 M340i. Not in any desperate rush but have started looking around and am being a touch fussy at this stage over spec. I have found one I like that has most of my spec requirements and more but the one thing it doesn't have is a heated wheel.

I've got to love having a heated wheel on the F31 and my 911 so it's one of the non-negotiables in terms of my desired spec.

So, is it feasible to do a retrofit? I assume that they don't all have the element in the wheels just without a switch so it would need a new wheel and then some coding.

Quick google suggests it is doable but I can't see how much of a faff it is or if anyone handily UK based (I'm midlands) has experience of doing it.

[lnlyssg]

There's a thread at https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1945197 that has plenty of info. Looks like the coding part could be done with Bimmercode or Protoool but does run the risk of getting reset if you have a software update so would need a "proper" code with ESYS/ISTA/BimmerUtiity to make it permanent.

[Benmac]

Ta, I'll have a look. It's annoying as the particular car has a great spec otherwise. There's another one that's a possible that does have the heated wheel but doesn't have a couple of the "nice but non essential" bits and is a chunk more money as it's an LCI car.

[Herr Gross Byte]

The LCI is worth more because it does away with those useless physical buttons and gear knob.

(touch paper lit, I shall now retire to a safe distance and watch the resulting explosion).

[alFR]

Brave man!

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

The LCI is worth more because it does away with those useless physical buttons and gear knob.

(touch paper lit, I shall now retire to a safe distance and watch the resulting explosion).

You need to on here mate!

[Benmac]

LoL, well I think perfect for me would be one of the pre LCI cars (for the buttons!) but post late 2020 when they added the mild hybrid bits and a couple of other minor changes. Not totally averse to an LCI (do prefer the headlights) but obviously they're a bit more dough if only due to age.

Turns out this one just missed that so that plus the faff required with the wheel (which would likely do odd things with warranty too) ruled it out.

I'm also only just starting out looking and in no rush so am being very picky. Trying to get dealers to understand certain requirements are essentials though is the devil's own job as usual.

[bmnut]

Just my opinion and very much a case of each to his own but having owned two F32s with ID6 (and my wife’s currently running a F22 with ID6) and then two G32s with ID7 I find the 1 to 8 ‘hot keys’ indispensable together with the temperature controls being buttons as well.
No doubt if I had an LCI model with i-plank, sorry ID8! Then I would eventually get used to it but I’m in my mid sixties so trust me it would take a while!

[paulockenden]

I could be worse - the latest iteration of the Tesla model 3 doesn’t even have indicator stalks - you have to use steering wheel buttons instead. Utterly utterly bonkers - what’s the betting the next version moves them to the touch screen.

[AlfaM]

The LCI was already out when I ordered mine, and would have preferred the cockpit style of the Pre-LCI at the time, but after using it for a few weeks I wouldn’t go back. In lieu of the missing buttons, I just use the voice control for most things “BMW set temperature to 20C” and it’s does it in seconds, and you don’t have to wait for it acknowledge you’ve said “BMW” (or whatever you chose as the command word) before giving it instruction.

[AlfaM]

…although on IDrive 8.5 and 9 they changed the graphics to mimic the old style buttons, so they’ve obviously had plenty of feedback!