How to identify a LCI E92 M3
Discussion
Appreciate this'll seem like an obvious question, but how do you identify an LCI M3?
My understanding is that it was introduced for MY 2010, late 2009 onwards on a 59 plate?
I use the different idrive 'wheel' with the menu/back/option/tel/nav etc buttons around it to identify one, as oppose to the pre LCI larger 'wheel' without the buttons around it.
However I have heard of some updating the pre LCI models with the different lights and I think I recall some even mentioning the idrive. I also use the position of the heated switches to identify a post LCI too, from the bottom bank of buttons below the CD slot to the lower row between the two top buttons (MAX & ALL) above the CD slot.
However I've seen what appears to be a post LCI with the newer idrive and the heated seat button on the bottom bank of buttons below the CD slot, was there some kind of cross over model etc?
And what were the light changes, for my eyes they appear to be the same on the rears?!
Cheers for any pointers
My understanding is that it was introduced for MY 2010, late 2009 onwards on a 59 plate?
I use the different idrive 'wheel' with the menu/back/option/tel/nav etc buttons around it to identify one, as oppose to the pre LCI larger 'wheel' without the buttons around it.
However I have heard of some updating the pre LCI models with the different lights and I think I recall some even mentioning the idrive. I also use the position of the heated switches to identify a post LCI too, from the bottom bank of buttons below the CD slot to the lower row between the two top buttons (MAX & ALL) above the CD slot.
However I've seen what appears to be a post LCI with the newer idrive and the heated seat button on the bottom bank of buttons below the CD slot, was there some kind of cross over model etc?
And what were the light changes, for my eyes they appear to be the same on the rears?!
Cheers for any pointers
The iDrive system is a good way to tell, newer system is far superior. The controller with the buttons is, as you say, the newest cic system. This also has only one 1 disc drive slot.
The LCI tail lights are also different. On the pre LCI the bottom of the cluster has a white band, on the LCI the unit is wholly red and uses LEDs instead of bulbs.
Think the front lights actually remained the same.
The LCI tail lights are also different. On the pre LCI the bottom of the cluster has a white band, on the LCI the unit is wholly red and uses LEDs instead of bulbs.
Think the front lights actually remained the same.
The lci cars will have the newer rear lights (led bulbs and no clear indicators) and that's the easiest way to distinguish. There are other small changes as you mentioned.
The cic idrive was introduced in later build 2008 pre lci cars, but only the lci cars have cic with the optional combox installed , i.e music album art, BMW apps etc.
All of the lci changes can be retrofitted so be aware of that also.
The cic idrive was introduced in later build 2008 pre lci cars, but only the lci cars have cic with the optional combox installed , i.e music album art, BMW apps etc.
All of the lci changes can be retrofitted so be aware of that also.
acme said:
Many thanks for that, do you think it possible that there was a cross over and or someone has amended it, only this one doesn't appear to have a second CD slot yet the seat heating is on the lower bank of switches, where the stop start off button more usually is?
Odd!
Heated seats retrofitted maybe? Odd!
daz05 said:
The lci cars will have the newer rear lights (led bulbs and no clear indicators) and that's the easiest way to distinguish. There are other small changes as you mentioned.
The cic idrive was introduced in later build 2008 pre lci cars, but only the lci cars have cic with the optional combox installed , i.e music album art, BMW apps etc.
All of the lci changes can be retrofitted so be aware of that also.
Thanks for the reply.The cic idrive was introduced in later build 2008 pre lci cars, but only the lci cars have cic with the optional combox installed , i.e music album art, BMW apps etc.
All of the lci changes can be retrofitted so be aware of that also.
I thought the later idrive was introduced at the same time as the LCI model, but if it was introduced before on pre LCI's it would explain this one, & why the seat heating buttons are on the lower bank, there isn't a button to turn off the stop/start and why it has rear lights with lower white indicators!
Thanks for clearing that up.
Slippydiff said:
As I understand it there was a gap of nearly 12 months between the upgraded iDrive and the LCi introduction ?
It's an interesting one, something I've not come across before in the time I've been looking. I always dismiss one with the old style controller, seems I need to be more careful! Glad I noticed the anomolies or it could've been a long drive!acme said:
It's an interesting one, something I've not come across before in the time I've been looking. I always dismiss one with the old style controller, seems I need to be more careful! Glad I noticed the anomolies or it could've been a long drive!
In my experience any drive seems a long drive with the older iDrive system ..... 
Slippydiff said:
In my experience any drive seems a long drive with the older iDrive system .....
Very good! It was just the look I preferred frankly, plus usability of the buttons round it, I didn't realise as per above what else it actually have you.Edited by acme on Monday 13th March 13:58
iDrive 2 (small controller, multi button) was introduced from around September 2008 build, but there were plenty of iDrive 1 cars around, unregistered, for months after this (big economic crash time, remember).
Official LCI build was from around March 2010, I think, but the move of the seat heating buttons (and also the change of trim around the engine stop/start button) might have happened a little earlier.
If there is no auto stop/start controller, I don't think it can be "an LCI" car.
And note that plenty of people retro-fitted the LED rear lights, as this is a fairly simple freshen-up mod, with the full iDrive 2 retro-fit being rather more involved.
Official LCI build was from around March 2010, I think, but the move of the seat heating buttons (and also the change of trim around the engine stop/start button) might have happened a little earlier.
If there is no auto stop/start controller, I don't think it can be "an LCI" car.
And note that plenty of people retro-fitted the LED rear lights, as this is a fairly simple freshen-up mod, with the full iDrive 2 retro-fit being rather more involved.
Smuler said:
Car has production date of 29-9-2008 , the month the LCI (according to M registry) debuted for the E90 M3 (coupe , E92 March 2010) and also, according to wikipedia, the month CIC idrive debuted.
both, however, can be retrofitted so I don't know for sure
Interesting info, thanks!both, however, can be retrofitted so I don't know for sure
skahigh said:
Smuler said:
Car has production date of 29-9-2008 , the month the LCI (according to M registry) debuted for the E90 M3 (coupe , E92 March 2010) and also, according to wikipedia, the month CIC idrive debuted.
both, however, can be retrofitted so I don't know for sure
Interesting info, thanks!both, however, can be retrofitted so I don't know for sure
Had a really weird MOT where it lost 24k miles and then gained 27k miles a day or so later!!
https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/FreeCheck?regno=yh58vz...
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