Took me a whole year to realise...

rogerxp

Member
Messages
162
...that there’s a plastic loop on the end of petrol cap to hook over the petrol flap when filling up! I’ve always hung it over the hook using the rubber strip - thought it was a bit short & awkward
 

Attachments

  • 41E37EDB-80E2-46AD-8C94-A0CC307D2C52.jpeg
    41E37EDB-80E2-46AD-8C94-A0CC307D2C52.jpeg
    104.8 KB · Views: 158
  • 275208F4-08E0-4D19-9E7E-921BBBF22F9B.jpeg
    275208F4-08E0-4D19-9E7E-921BBBF22F9B.jpeg
    110.4 KB · Views: 155

Doohickey

Velociraptor
Messages
2,496
I didn't realise that was there until I hired a Fiat 500 a couple of years ago and it has the same thing which the garage attendant used when filling up. TBH, half the time, I forget it's there anyway.
 

rogerxp

Member
Messages
162
I also found the buttons behind the steering wheel quite by accident about 6 months ago LOL

I wonder what other delights are out there waiting to be discovered ;)
 
Messages
6,001
The buttons behind the steering wheel are perplexing
I am not sure what they do
They seem to allow a change to navigation from any other screen. TBH I cannot be bothered
 

Arfa

Member
Messages
338
I remember Clarkson talking about these on Top Gear. Something along the lines that BMW spend millions on dashboard ergonomics and the placing of switches. At Maserati a man comes in on Tuesday and fits them where he feels like it!
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
In one excitable filling station visit I managed to snap the hook off - mind found it and glued it back on.

Whatever it's an improvement on opening 3200/4200 fuel filler caps with a credit card when the button in the glovebox (who decided to put it in there?) just makes a nice sound but does nothing.
 

montravia

Member
Messages
1,617
I remember Clarkson talking about these on Top Gear. Something along the lines that BMW spend millions on dashboard ergonomics and the placing of switches. At Maserati a man comes in on Tuesday and fits them where he feels like it!

/Rant on/
Clarkson must be misinformed. Either that or the BMW engineers have never sat in an aircraft cockpit which would show what ergonomics is about, especially an aerobatic. My own experience is that BMW controls are neither intuitive nor ergonomically positioned; too much time 'head in the cockpit'.

WHEREAS FIAT group stuff, things fall to hand and simply intuitive.

But there again I'm only an aged aerospace chap, pilot, and fall into the group that don't understand the appeal of German design.

I loath my BMW.

/Rant off/
 

tasnam

Member
Messages
196
Not many know about the follow me home lights feature.

Park on drive in the evening, key out pull forward on headlight stalk once and headlights stay on for 30s, two pulls for 60s and so on.
What the heck?
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Whatever it's an improvement on opening 3200/4200 fuel filler caps with a credit card when the button in the glovebox (who decided to put it in there?) just makes a nice sound but does nothing.

My GS has started doing this - it’s effing annoying!

Is there an easy fix?
 

rogerxp

Member
Messages
162
Funnily enough, related to filling up, I remember my first visit to the petrol station and not having a clue how to open the fuel filler flap!!! Sat there for about 10 minutes, pushing the flap in didn't make it pop out, gently forcing it (assuming it was sticky) didn't work, no button in the glovebox (like my old 4200), no buttons around the seat, no button in the boot, couldn't see anything on the dash at all, even resorted to downloading a manual on the forecourt as the manual was at home having left it there from getting home the previous day - obviously couldn't find the right manual online so was still a guessing game, I was on the cusp of embarrassingly having to call the dealer when I accidentally discover the row of buttons on the right of the dash largely hidden from view by the steering wheel and indicator stalk. Press the button and hey presto!!!
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,012
I didn't realise that was there until I hired a Fiat 500 a couple of years ago and it has the same thing which the garage attendant used when filling up. TBH, half the time, I forget it's there anyway.

There is?? I need to check ours. Having it slapping round the wheel arch whenever I fill up is just annoying.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,654
My GS has started doing this - it’s effing annoying!

Is there an easy fix?

There might be if you're lucky.
Its a fairly basic hook and latch arrangement assuming the electrics work, and it will help if you lubricate the hook with something slippery. A stiff silocone grease, or red rubber grease at a push..think I used a squiz of white litium grease...and it sorts it. There is an emergency pull cord inside the battery compartment too -
My 4200 first did this and within 5-6 miles, the alternator died a death. I always thought these two things were related but no. Just a sticky latch mech !
Hope it helps....