Blanked button on M6 centre console

[E65Ross]

This has always irritated me, does anyone know what it would be for?

Find it kinda cheap that on one of there top models you get blanking plates.

Cheers

[Schermerhorn]

Camera?

[Sep]

It would be the button for the 'Surround View' camera system.

Sep

[E65Ross]

Sep said:

It would be the button for the 'Surround View' camera system.

Sep

Ah right. This car has reverse camera but not surround view.

Many thanks!

[W8PMC]

Sep said:

It would be the button for the 'Surround View' camera system.

Sep

Yep, it's Surround View. Same button layout in the M5.

[S800VXR]

It's actually the button you press for the front wing cameras so you can see what's coming on a blind junction. With SV the parking button you have toggles between rear camera only or surround view. Hopefully that makes sense...? That's how mine works anyhow.

[S800VXR]

BTW, swap that cheap silver gear lever cover for a CF one, looks far better!

[Schermerhorn]

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

[Zod]

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

It is metal, not plastic. I never liked the E46 M3 SMG lever - always thought it looked tacky.

[Schermerhorn]

Zod said:

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

It is metal, not plastic. I never liked the E46 M3 SMG lever - always thought it looked tacky.

Are you sure? I am pretty sure the E60 M5 had a plastic one and it was the same part carried over...?

[E65Ross]

Schermerhorn said:

Zod said:

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

It is metal, not plastic. I never liked the E46 M3 SMG lever - always thought it looked tacky.

Are you sure? I am pretty sure the E60 M5 had a plastic one and it was the same part carried over...?

I'm not entirely sure, but I'd rather have a better gearbox and a not quite so nice feeling lever than the other way around, if I were given the choice. The DCT in the M6 is amazing compared to the old SMG

[Wills2]

E65Ross said:

I'm not entirely sure, but I'd rather have a better gearbox and a not quite so nice feeling lever than the other way around, if I were given the choice. The DCT in the M6 is amazing compared to the old SMG

It's smoother that's for sure and better in auto mode, but still has ghosts in the machine, I wouldn't describe it as amazing, PDK in sport + mode is very impressive but the DCT lacks that strategy.

[Zod]

Schermerhorn said:

Zod said:

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

It is metal, not plastic. I never liked the E46 M3 SMG lever - always thought it looked tacky.

Are you sure? I am pretty sure the E60 M5 had a plastic one and it was the same part carried over...?

My test was bare fingers on it on a winter morning - it felt like a thin piece of aluminium.

[Schermerhorn]

Zod said:

Schermerhorn said:

Zod said:

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

It is metal, not plastic. I never liked the E46 M3 SMG lever - always thought it looked tacky.

Are you sure? I am pretty sure the E60 M5 had a plastic one and it was the same part carried over...?

My test was bare fingers on it on a winter morning - it felt like a thin piece of aluminium.

Hmm interesting. The one in my E63 M6 was definately plastic.

Good to see they have stepped it up in terms of materials used.

[Zod]

Schermerhorn said:

Hmm interesting. The one in my E63 M6 was definately plastic.

Good to see they have stepped it up in terms of materials used.

My M5 was a 2006 one, so an early model.


Now you've got me wondering about the one in the X5. Difficult to tell in this weather.

[Captainawesome]

Schermerhorn said:

Its such a shame that the M cars from the E60 M5 to the new cars of 2015 have that plasticky gear lever while the E46 M3 SMG cars had that lovely metal one.

E46 M3 SMG was horrible cheap plastic, as were the shift paddles and SMG surround. I was stunned when I swapped them for the Stormworks parts which are very good quality and heavier. Made a world of difference to how shifting felt.

I was surprised BMW would fit such horrible cheap parts to an M car.