Jipped on 2011?

[EVO350]

Hey guys...I just picked up my new 2011 M3 yesterday. The dealership I was working with acquired the car via dealer trade, so the first time I saw the car in person was when I went to pick it up. Well amid the excitement of picking up the car, I managed to overlook the actual build date of the vehicle. So, shortly after getting home I noticed that the "M button" was absent from the steering wheel, as well as my seats being electric instead of manual. Low and behold, I checked the build date and found that it was built 7/10. I had assumed (incorrectly) that the car would at least be a 2011.5 and would therefore have the M button standard. Although I love the car, I can't help but feel a little bit sour about this as I've heard the M button is intrical to the cars performance and almost a must-have feature.

I apologize for the rant, I was just hoping you guys could talk me down from the ledge a bit. I fully understand that this was my fault in the end, so I'm not trying to place blame.

[M3maniac20]

Is it too late to maybe take it back to the dealer and see if you can swap it out?

[luis_m3]

You're not missing much bro... if it makes you feel any better. Some "true enthusiasts" in here don't even use the M button and prefer non- electrical seats in order to save some weight...
Try to work something out with the dealer, even though I'm sure you will lose some cash...

[Pillzilla]

There is no must have feature on this car other than the V8. All options are just personal preference. My car doesn't have the M button and I don't feel I'm missing anything. Just go for a drive

[rye m3]

M button is with the competition package. You seriously bought a 2011 and you didn't know it was an early production car? Did you get the car below invoice? If not, you were ripped off. Why didn't you just order a car and wait 6 weeks? It isn't your fault that they tried to give you an "old stock" 2011. Was the car a stripper? Very odd that it was an M3 sitting at a dealer for so long unless the options and/or color were undesirable. Seriously, unless you got that car really cheap, I'd be telling them to shove it.

[luis_m3]

I thought the M button was part of the tech package... I dont think it has anything to do with ZCP.

Originally Posted by rye m3

M button is with the competition package. You seriously bought a 2011 and you didn't know it was an early production car? Did you get the car below invoice? If not, you were ripped off. Why didn't you just order a car and wait 6 weeks? It isn't your fault that they tried to give you an "old stock" 2011. Was the car a stripper? Very odd that it was an M3 sitting at a dealer for so long unless the options and/or color were undesirable. Seriously, unless you got that car really cheap, I'd be telling them to shove it.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by rye m3

M button is with the competition package. You seriously bought a 2011 and you didn't know it was an early production car? Did you get the car below invoice? If not, you were ripped off. Why didn't you just order a car and wait 6 weeks? It isn't your fault that they tried to give you an "old stock" 2011. Was the car a stripper? Very odd that it was an M3 sitting at a dealer for so long unless the options and/or color were undesirable. Seriously, unless you got that car really cheap, I'd be telling them to shove it.

Just not.

For MY2011 (03/10 to 08/10) the M Drive (button) was only available with the Technology Package.

For MY2011.5-on (09/10-on) the M Drive (button) is standard equipment.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by EVO350

Hey guys...I just picked up my new 2011 M3 yesterday. The dealership I was working with acquired the car via dealer trade, so the first time I saw the car in person was when I went to pick it up. Well amid the excitement of picking up the car, I managed to overlook the actual build date of the vehicle. So, shortly after getting home I noticed that the "M button" was absent from the steering wheel, as well as my seats being electric instead of manual. Low and behold, I checked the build date and found that it was built 7/10. I had assumed (incorrectly) that the car would at least be a 2011.5 and would therefore have the M button standard. Although I love the car, I can't help but feel a little bit sour about this as I've heard the M button is intrical to the cars performance and almost a must-have feature.

I apologize for the rant, I was just hoping you guys could talk me down from the ledge a bit. I fully understand that this was my fault in the end, so I'm not trying to place blame.

Too much excitement is a bitch...

[EVO350]

Originally Posted by luis_m3

I thought the M button was part of the tech package... I dont think it has anything to do with ZCP.

I did get the car for well below invoice. The car did have about 100 miles on it or so which should have raised a red flag I guess. From what I've read from researching the forums, I'm either: a) missing out on a whole different driving experience or b) not missing anything at all, from not having the m-button...

[BMWsully]

I can understand complaining or being worried about the lack of some features, but not the M button. It is nice to have, but largely superfluous. You aren't missing anything at all honestly.

[J08M3]

totally unnecessary button. don't worry

[Technic]

Originally Posted by EVO350

I did get the car for well below invoice. The car did have about 100 miles on it or so which should have raised a red flag I guess. From what I've read from researching the forums, I'm either: a) missing out on a whole different driving experience or b) not missing anything at all, from not having the m-button...

Just enjoy the car... it is great just the way it is.

[KIS]

In case you don't realize it, the M button is a short cut to get to your preferred settings for: ride, throttle modulation, and shift points on your DC-T. All of these can be set manually. Unless, you're frequently changing your settings on the fly it makes little difference. If what you meant to say is that you have the manual seats, it makes little difference once you adjusted the seat to your preference.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by KIS

In case you don't realize it, the M button is a short cut to get to your preferred settings for: ride, throttle modulation, and shift points on your DC-T. All of these can be set manually. Unless, you're frequently changing your settings on the fly it makes little difference.

That's more or less true, but it misses the broader picture. The OP has read through all the threads and learned that the lack of an M Button means the car has no MDrive. And no MDrive means he does not have MDM DSC mode, Sport steering, and Sport+ throttle. This is causing him some anxiety. After 2011.5, all M3s came equipped with MDrive.

If what you meant to say is that you have the manual seats, it makes little difference once you adjusted the seat to your preference.

No, he meant to say is that he has power seats. Manual seats were not available until 2011.5, when they not only became available, they became standard equipment. Power seats then became an option that came only with the premium package (ZP2). So, even though the OP has car without the premium package, he did get the power seats. I think his point in bringing this up is that this was yet another indicator that he has a pre-2011.5. He probably doesn't care too much about getting the power seats since they offer more functionality than the manual ones (but more complexity too, yes). In fact, the OP may take comfort knowing that he also got the auto-tilting passenger side-view mirror - a feature that requires the power seats and thus is no-longer standard equipment on M3s.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

EVO350

As others stated you won't miss very much. I also only have very few options, I don't really miss that "M" button very much, I do have the "Power" button.

In the end you will enjoy driving the car as it is so do enjoy it.

[BMWsully]

Are you 6mt or DCT? If you are 6mt, then the importance of the m button is even further diminished.

[Mjolnir]

What is this "jipped" thing you speak of? Sounds more like you were "gypped."

[Titanium Silver]

Isn't the M Button to simply control the Servotronic, EDC, and Throttle (Power) settings? I have the M button on my 2008, and this seems to be the primary function of the button. You can still manually adjust EDC and Power next to the shifter (6MT). I have to go through the M Drive settings to adjust the Servotronic.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

I can understand complaining or being worried about the lack of some features, but not the M button. It is nice to have, but largely superfluous. You aren't missing anything at all honestly.

Agreed! I haven't used mine once....


....and I don't think that I ever used it on my older '05 ZCP either.

P.S. I think his car may have just been test driven a number of times. I'll easily put 15 miles on a car when I test drive it.

[rye m3]

Originally Posted by Technic

Just not.

For MY2011 (03/10 to 08/10) the M Drive (button) was only available with the Technology Package.

For MY2011.5-on (09/10-on) the M Drive (button) is standard equipment.

Duly noted on the correction, my presumptive bad.
M button has limited value.
So, you got the car below invoice. Is the car used or new? Were you buying a car that was "punched", i.e. the warranty already started? Then, there would be no point in comparing it to a new car invoice. Easy to tell the box new or used is checked on you PO.

[rye m3]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Agreed! I haven't used mine once....


....and I don't think that I ever used it on my older '05 ZCP either.

Don't know what you're missing. Cruise the highway in normal, no power, hit the M button for the offramps with EDC on sport, steering on sport and M dynamic on. VERY convenient and it would be a real pain to adjust 3 or 4 different settings prior to every on and off ramp.

[rdollie]

I have to agree with this reply. I use the M button several times per outing (even if it's just a few miles to the store and back.)

Originally Posted by rye m3

Don't know what you're missing. Cruise the highway in normal, no power, hit the M button for the offramps with EDC on sport, steering on sport and M dynamic on. VERY convenient and it would be a real pain to adjust 3 or 4 different settings prior to every on and off ramp.