[Ashwin34]

Hi all,

I noticed that for Manual M3s with full merino leather, they don’t have the leather knee pad stitching on the side of the console, whereas the Competition’s with full merino do. The manuals with full merino seem to have the hard plastic that’s on the extended leather options.

I know it’s a very minor thing, but if I’m ordering full merino for my manual m3 this is a nice detail I’d like to have. Is this how it usually is for the manual vs comp Full merino option?

My apologies for the low quality pictures.

[BryanCO]

My understanding is that what you have posted is correct - padded for the Comp as those that buy an automatic are soft.

[Ashwin34]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

My understanding is that what you have posted is correct - padded for the Comp as those that buy an automatic are soft.

Ahahahah. I find it strange though because the manual M4 with full merino seems to have the knee pad leather padding/stitching on the BMW configurator.

[rak299]

Looking at the "build your own" dialog, the interior view shows a non-padded side for both. Could it be different by model year? (Certainly, the B.Y.O. thing could be wrong

[chris3g]

The manual center console is a slightly different shape and for all MY 21-23 BMW did not produce a padded version for the manuals, so you got hard plastic regardless of which leather option you chose. However this has always been properly reflected in the configurator, so it’s possible (although seems unlikely tbh) that they have started producing a padded manual kneepad for MY24. The online parts catalog isn’t showing 24 yet, but there has to be someone here with a full leather manual 24 that can confirm.

[wtwo3]

Have a '23 base with full merino and can confirm no knee pads.

[nunzo]

The whole center console is different - the manual cars use the parts from the euro spec 318/320.

Knee pads are only available in plastic, the cup holder door is a different shape, the shifter trim area is matte not gloss and the idrive controller is in a different spot.

M performance knee pads and matte carbon parts won’t fit either.