Learnt two new things about my 35i today

[Kiwi_Mike]

I found the user manual online and was browsing through it at work (during my lunch break obviously). And I learnt two new things:

1) there is a USB port hidden in the glovebox. I can use it to load music onto the hard drive and…

2) I have launch control

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[mcbutler]

You can also download an app with the manual
BMW Drivers guide.

[Marcoose]

IRT the USB port, there’s a video on that certain video website with instructions on how to check and update your maps. Brilliant stuff.

IRT launch control, folk that know far more than I do said to never use it.

Beautiful pic!

[Beeacon]

IRT launch control, folk that know far more than I do said to never use it.

I've never used the launch control on the car, and have never felt the need to be honest. Just pressing the go pedal and getting catapulted into the distance is good enough for me. My car seems to be near the limit of friction anyway with 380hp and 255 rear tyres when bone dry, and I can't see launch control improving it much to be honest. Might be a different story with fatter tyres/better tarmac.

[buzyg]

Nice cloud inversion. AKA fog.

[Kiwi_Mike]

I've never used the launch control on the car, and have never felt the need to be honest. Just pressing the go pedal and getting catapulted into the distance is good enough for me. My car seems to be near the limit of friction anyway with 380hp and 255 rear tyres when bone dry, and I can't see launch control improving it much to be honest. Might be a different story with fatter tyres/better tarmac.

OK so I won’t use the launch control then. Maybe just once.

380hp suggests you have had a remap? I know nothing of such things but would love more power so need to learn. Is it an expensive exercise? Is there a way to know if previous owner(s) have already done a remap?

[Smartbear]

I've never used the launch control on the car, and have never felt the need to be honest. Just pressing the go pedal and getting catapulted into the distance is good enough for me. My car seems to be near the limit of friction anyway with 380hp and 255 rear tyres when bone dry, and I can't see launch control improving it much to be honest. Might be a different story with fatter tyres/better tarmac.

OK so I won’t use the launch control then. Maybe just once.

380hp suggests you have had a remap? I know nothing of such things but would love more power so need to learn. Is it an expensive exercise? Is there a way to know if previous owner(s) have already done a remap?

You could get it tested on a rolling road, the difference should be obvious over standard.
Rob

[Pondrew]

OK so I won’t use the launch control then. Maybe just once.

Everybody does it once. Then you worry about how expensive it could be if you did it again. Launch control is a gimmick reserved only for hire cars and lease cars

[Kiwi_Mike]

lease cars

Just found out my X5 which is under warranty also has it so I’ll start there

[Beeacon]

OK so I won’t use the launch control then. Maybe just once.

380hp suggests you have had a remap? I know nothing of such things but would love more power so need to learn. Is it an expensive exercise? Is there a way to know if previous owner(s) have already done a remap?

Can't hurt much doing it just once! I might give it a go at some point...

My car was remapped by the previous owner (forum purchased car) and has had the map for ~4 years now without any 'out of the ordinary' failures (my water pump failed, but this was on schedule for the number of miles and not linked to the tune). It is a relatively cheap modification with an MHD tune using an app and can be done at home by yourself. There are even people that can come to you and tune it, or even take it to a proper rolling road and have a custom map put on. It would be worth scouring the forum for N54 tuning if you feel the car is lacking a bit of power. ~360-400hp is achievable without any mods, and ~420-450hp is achievable with a new intercooler and downpipes. The engine is capable of much more than that, but requires a lot more modifications. A forum search will net you a lot more info

Regarding checking previous owner's remap, a rolling road will be pretty much the only way unless they have an old JB4 module under the bonnet (unlikely) or if a receipt for it is in the old documentation.

[Kiwi_Mike]

That's good info, thanks.

Sounds like a bit of research is required but if I can get it up to ~360 with no mods I'd be pretty happy.