Secret features in cars

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Sanjøy
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Secret features in cars

Post by Sanjøy » Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:40 am

Was flicking through some old pics to find something and saw and old one of our 3 series wagon. I noted I had the rear boot window open. The frame was so dusty I am sure the previous owner had never used it and probably never knew you were able to open it.

Was wondering what other hiding in plain sight features were out there.

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a4drk
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by a4drk » Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:06 am

Sanjøy wrote:Was flicking through some old pics to find something and saw and old one of our 3 series wagon. I noted I had the rear boot window open. The frame was so dusty I am sure the previous owner had never used it and probably never knew you were able to open it.

Was wondering what other hiding in plain sight features were out there.

Image
A handle on the inside of every single tailgate & bootlid for closing it !
My pet hate is seeing the finger marks on the outside of the dirty car.



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Sanjøy
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by Sanjøy » Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:36 am

a4drk wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:06 am
Sanjøy wrote:Was flicking through some old pics to find something and saw and old one of our 3 series wagon. I noted I had the rear boot window open. The frame was so dusty I am sure the previous owner had never used it and probably never knew you were able to open it.

Was wondering what other hiding in plain sight features were out there.

Image
A handle on the inside of every single tailgate & bootlid for closing it !
My pet hate is seeing the finger marks on the outside of the dirty car.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have BMW done away with the hidden torch in the glovebox? Dont recall one in the 140.
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by woody » Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:44 am

Sanjøy wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:36 am
a4drk wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:06 am
Sanjøy wrote:Was flicking through some old pics to find something and saw and old one of our 3 series wagon. I noted I had the rear boot window open. The frame was so dusty I am sure the previous owner had never used it and probably never knew you were able to open it.

Was wondering what other hiding in plain sight features were out there.

Image
A handle on the inside of every single tailgate & bootlid for closing it !
My pet hate is seeing the finger marks on the outside of the dirty car.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have BMW done away with the hidden torch in the glovebox? Dont recall one in the 140.

There wasn't one in my 330d.

As for hidden features in plain sight; the marketing blurb would have you believe there's an aerodynamic reason for the spoiler fitted to the sport 160. It's actually a very useful aide to pushing them.

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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by Sanjøy » Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:08 pm

woody wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:44 am
Sanjøy wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:36 am
a4drk wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:06 am


A handle on the inside of every single tailgate & bootlid for closing it !
My pet hate is seeing the finger marks on the outside of the dirty car.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have BMW done away with the hidden torch in the glovebox? Dont recall one in the 140.

There wasn't one in my 330d.

As for hidden features in plain sight; the marketing blurb would have you believe there's an aerodynamic reason for the spoiler fitted to the sport 160. It's actually a very useful aide to pushing them.
Bit like Mikes Cup's spoiler for beer.
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by Andy G » Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:06 pm

Sanjøy wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:08 pm
Bit like Mikes Cup's spoiler for beer.

He didnt like that ! Although the Gt3 proved to have a more balanced rear wing for beverage balancing :cheers
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by campbell » Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:16 pm

All BMWs have an indicator stalk hiding in plain sight. Never used.

Skoda Superb has umbrella stashed in drivers door.

Octavia has ice scraper stored inside fuel flap.

Elise S3 has headlamps but beam kept totally hidden from driver.
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by douglasgdmw » Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:14 am

Suspect the majority know this but the petrol/diesel pump handle on the pump sign on the dashboard indicates which side the filler is on.

Handy for when we eventually get back into that rental car from the airport.

Does that stop that last minute panic when I got to the petrol station and have to choose the left/right of the pump.



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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by Sanjøy » Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:43 am

I’m guessing it’s not a secret feature but if a Mercs wipers are on but the rear one isn’t it give a quick courtesy rear wipe when you slot reverse.
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by DJ » Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:40 pm

I owned a Ford Kuga at one point. It also had the split rear hatch like the BMW pic. Think I might have used it once - even I forgot about while I owned the car - I could never really find a use for it as dog, shopping or anything else I wanted to put in there generally needed the full boot opened.

However, I read on-line that whilst only the top of the range models came with 'accent footwell lighting', the wiring was installed in all cars and you just had to add the bulbs in yourself. Right enough, after looking all wiring and connectors were there so stuck in a couple of LEDs to get my 'upgrade'.
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by Stevoraith » Sat Jan 23, 2021 3:01 pm

Sanjøy wrote:
Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:43 am
I’m guessing it’s not a secret feature but if a Mercs wipers are on but the rear one isn’t it give a quick courtesy rear wipe when you slot reverse.
Even Skodas do that Sanj :wink:
DJ wrote:
Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:40 pm
I owned a Ford Kuga at one point. It also had the split rear hatch like the BMW pic. Think I might have used it once - even I forgot about while I owned the car - I could never really find a use for it as dog, shopping or anything else I wanted to put in there generally needed the full boot opened.
I find it really handy as I have an up and over garage door which means I can't open a normal hatch boot in the garage as there isn't enough height before it hits the garage door.
The glass on its own doesn't go as high so I can open it with the car in the garage :thumbsup
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by woody » Sat Jan 23, 2021 4:57 pm

campbell wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:16 pm
All BMWs have an indicator stalk hiding in plain sight. Never used.

Skoda Superb has umbrella stashed in drivers door.

Octavia has ice scraper stored inside fuel flap.

Elise S3 has headlamps but beam kept totally hidden from driver.

And Skodas have a heated rear screen to keep your hands warm pushing them.

Since we're doing the old ones 😉

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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by rossybee » Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:02 pm

Skoda yeti has a rechargeable torch in the boot, umbrella under the passenger seat, and hi-viz vest under the drivers seat
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by campbell » Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:04 pm

Sanjøy wrote:I’m guessing it’s not a secret feature but if a Mercs wipers are on but the rear one isn’t it give a quick courtesy rear wipe when you slot reverse.
Skoda does that too. Awesome.

Prob same circuit & prog from Bosch in both Image
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mik
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Re: Secret features in cars

Post by mik » Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:52 pm

The petrol cap holder on the inside of the fuel flap on the Evora.

(Not my image - arrow is in a silly place)

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