2009 BMW M3: Storage Fail

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That's interesting. Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if your wallet technique would work in the new M3. It's not ideal though -- when you pull the brake, I assume your wallet's going to slide down unless you grab it first.

In the E46, I put my wallet in the rear cupholder and my phone in the front. But next time I need to put a drink in a cupholder, I might try that wallet trick.

-JS

The Germans want you to put your phone away to keep you from getting distracted. That said, the amount of storage options is absurdly pathetic.

Switching from a MS3, with cupholders and even a slot that perfectly held my glasses, to an E90 with its lack of options has been difficult.

Storage in the E90 sucks. I don't have iDrive, so that little cubby is where my phone lives. I saw a post somewhere that said they use the crack in the extended thigh support seat for storage. Personally, I use that for dust and crumb collection. :)

If you put your wallet between the ebrake handle and the console, it will most likely fall down between the console and the seat. I haven't tried that, but I certainly don't want to risk it.

I just set my phone in the second hump in front of the screen and my wallet in the ash tray on my e92 m3. Never been a problem for me. Different strokes I guess...

Can't hear your phone ring? that's ok as it is illegal to yap on the phone while driving in CA.

Besides, doesn't this car have bluetooth?

I throw my wallet and phone in the passenger seat.

I'm a lonely man :(

Simple solution is not to get the idrive since it only adds weight and cost. Enough of the nitpicking though. this is a high performance sedan and we are interested in how the testers think about the way it drives. none of the prior entries have given us a true feel for what the strengths and weaknesses of this car are and if the car is worth the hype and the cost. I for one want to know if I should trade in my 04 M3 conv for a new M3.

My wallet and phone stay in my pockets. When the phone rings, I don't need to hear it since the car has Bluetooth.

I wish the car had a sunglasses cubby. I have to squeeze mine into the door pocket - which although it's small it's nicely compartmentalized and tilts out in a beautifully damped motion for easier access (coupe and convertible only, sorry sedan/wagon owners).

@angioman1,

"I for one want to know if I should trade in my 04 M3 conv for a new M3."

I addressed that very question in an earlier post on both M3s:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/04/2002-bmw-m3-would-you-trade-it-in-for-the-new-m3.html

-JS

My wallet doesn't fall into the crack between the seat and the console, and it doesn't slide down when I pull the handbrake. I'd love to say its because of the fat wads of cash I carry, but alas, I only have a few bank cards and a bunch of pictures.

I guess I've led a sheltered life, because I've never before heard of a man removing his wallet from his pocket to drive. I don't suppose the M3 has a hook for hanging a purse strap?

bc1960,
agreed. I've never seen that either.

I don't like to sit on my wallet, so I carry it in my front pocket. Cell phone is hooked on my belt.

bc1690

These seats hug you pretty well, my wallet hurts my butt in short order.

Dash-mounted cupholders??

Those make about as much sense as the slide-out cupholders on my mom's 1992 Mercury Sable. Totally useless.

Sit in BMW's sport seats or the M seats and you'll take your wallet out. Lots of times I simply resort to the old military trick of putting the wallet inside my sock, but for the most part I take it out and put it between the handbrake and console.

Yes, BMW definitely needs some lessons in storage. I actually found the 135i to have better/more useful storage than an E92. Crazy.

your wallet is out of luck the day you buy a BMW M3

And that is why god invented cargo pants.

Why would you need to access your phone? Your BMW has BT if it has the premium pack and you can't text/read emails or use the phone at your ear legally. I wish the cops enforced the phone laws more actually (sorry but 90% of the time I see idiots holding up a phone near their head as if that's different from putting it to their ears).

As for the wallet - that goes front pocket anyway. Not sure why people put wallets in their backpocket...spend some time in 3rd world countries and you'll see the backpocket is a bad idea.

+1 on frontpocket. unfortunately that doesn't work out well with dress pants; looks really weird having a bulge up front. On my drives to work I haven't noticed sitting on my wallet being an issue, but I'm usually too annoyed with the rush hour traffic to notice lol.

When going for spirited drives with 4pt harnesses, its definitely not acceptable though.

I've put my phone in the cupholders as well, but it seems like anything you put in there can give you an annoying rattle noise. I plan on buying the euro center console, which could alleviate all those concerns.

I never have a drink in the car anyway unless I'm on a road trip.

Can someone explain the point of idrive if every new iteration of the system adds more buttons? The whole point was to reduce button clutter and streamline the interface and yet they keep adding buttons to simplify the system. Basically, they are going back to what they were trying to "solve" in the first place.

The previous version was a little too streamlined. It was kinda like the apple one-button mouse in that way. Yes it's simple and elegant, but clunky to use.

But add a few shortcut buttons for common operations that have different tactile feel, and the whole system actually works well. (as a UI designer, I expected adding a few buttons to be the next evolution). I don't think they'll need to add any more buttons. Looks like they've struck the right balance.

While the previous iDrive drew mostly complaints, the new version is very well received.

(not that your latest rant or this response is on topic to this blog post...)

The M3's storage may be below average in size and thoughtfulness, but why would one need a Nav? It just takes money from your wallet and beauty away from your dash. No Nav - no iDrive - no problem. Plus extra storage.
And as others noted - no need to hold your phone in a BT-equipped car (which the test model clearly is).

1487 - there is no point to iDrive. I have it. It's worthless. It's simple to use the old system but it offers no functionality worth using.

Sherief:

Rant? Not at all. It was a simple question. idrive was supposed to de-clutter the instrument panel and now they are repopulating the console with buttons to make it easier to use. If they keep adding shortcut buttons that bypass the controller the controller is pointless. Don't be so sensitive. BMW tried to reinvent the wheel and now they are going back to the way things were which acknowledges there was nothing wrong with having a simple button controlled interface for most in car functions.

No M3 here, unfortunately, but I do have an 08 328i. It has Bluetooth. I never touch the phone when in the car....it rings through the audio system. Try it.... you only have to set it up once, and you're set.

The wallet goes in the the armrest bin, or sometimes in the driver's door map pocket. I don't know why you'd need any quicker access to it than you'd have in one of those two locations.

I'm really not seeing the problem here....

Hey Josh,

Off topic, but why do you guys still have the '02 M3? Is it because your love for it has convinced Edmund's to hang on to it longer, or are you guys just having trouble selling it? Curiosity has got the best of me I guess.

drmillerM3, Edmunds bought the '02 M3 used last year. They usually keep 1 or 2 used cars in the LT fleet. It will reportedly be leaving soon as its year is almost up.

Bimmerjay,

Yeah I'm very familiar with their procedures. My question was more or less regarding the fact that they usually only keep it for 12 months and that they stated two months ago that it would be gone in a week or so... as soon as the '09 showed up.

So i guess back to that question.