[crossmen00]

Why there is no backseat center armrest in M3?
I remember there is one in low spec 3 series, M4, and 2 series, but why not M3?
This is not a deal breaker for me but I just wonder how much money can BMW save form not installing the armrest and why M3 doesn't deserve to get one?

[Sunnystone]

Originally Posted by crossmen00

Why there is no backseat center armrest in M3?
I remember there is one in low spec 3 series, M4, and 2 series, but why not M3?
This is not a deal breaker for me but I just wonder how much money can BMW save form not installing the armrest and why M3 doesn't deserve to get one?

Ive been thinking this samething.

The whole mid-section folds down instead while technically an armrest just seems so odd and ill considered. Well, a bit naff really.

[AndroidRobot]

The M3 is meant to be driven, BMW knows rear seat passengers aren't what the car is for so they likely removed it for a similar reason

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

The M3 is meant to be driven, BMW knows rear seat passengers aren't what the car is for so they likely removed it for a similar reason

That's charitable of you. But I guarantee you the real reason is cost savings.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

That's charitable of you. But I guarantee you the real reason is cost savings.

Could also be attempting to eliminate another potential source of squeaks? Given the chassis and suspension stiffness and all that.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

That's charitable of you. But I guarantee you the real reason is cost savings.

Most likely but we will never know

[crossmen00]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

The M3 is meant to be driven, BMW knows rear seat passengers aren't what the car is for so they likely removed it for a similar reason

Agree, but M4 has one!

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by crossmen00

Agree, but M4 has one!

BMW does German things

[kjx]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

BMW does German things

The M4 is only meant to seat two at the rear since it only has 2 seat belts back there. Not having a center armrest looks especially dumb in that scenario.

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by crossmen00

Agree, but M4 has one!

what? you have an M4 with a rear center armrest?

[iviegatron]

The answer is obvious...weight saving. Besides, you can buy something like this for your passengers...

[crossmen00]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

what? you have an M4 with a rear center armrest?

G83 M4 has it! Also the new 2 series!

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by crossmen00

G83 M4 has it! Also the new 2 series!

Armrest is nice, but a seat in the middle is better. Grass is always greener, or in this case, the G8x is always better.

[crossmen00]

Originally Posted by iviegatron

The answer is obvious...weight saving. Besides, you can buy something like this for your passengers...

I assume 0.1% weight is saved. That is a lot!

[_E90S65_]

They'll take away the sedan's rear center armrest, but provide an electronic trunk closer.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

The M3 is meant to be driven, BMW knows rear seat passengers aren't what the car is for so they likely removed it for a similar reason

Originally Posted by NightWriter

That's charitable of you. But I guarantee you the real reason is cost savings.

I've notice this trend with all new BMWs since 2008, that this trunk pass through/ rear armrest is only eliminated in US-spec vehicles, even the top-tier versions that cross 100k.

If I had to make an educated guess, the US being a litigious country that it is, this option is omitted to reduce the chance of an infant or small child from crawling into the trunk, from the rear pass-through.

There is no specific oversight on this but just BMW erring on the side of safety.

Every US-spec vehicle made since September 1, 2001, even a 2 million dollar Bugatti, are required to have some sort of internal trunk release latch. The most common type is a T-shaped glow-in-the-dark emergency release. This requirement is only mandated in the US and not the ROW. So, regulators here are serious about this potential hazard.

BTW, our neighbors in Canada gets the rear armrest/ pass-through, so this leads to believe my assumption is accurate and it's not a cost-saving or performance measure.

Another fun fact is that US-spec vehicles are the only BMWs that doesn't have a "deadlock" (S8TGA Thiefproofing device), where when the vehicle is completely powered off and locked, the interior unlock button does not function, trapping any occupants inside but reducing possible vehicle theft. Once again, this is not exactly a requirement in the US but BMW just saving themselves from a potential lawsuit.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25595520

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Poochie

I've notice this trend with all new BMWs since 2008, that this trunk pass through/ rear armrest is only eliminated in US-spec vehicles, even the top-tier versions that cross 100k.

If I had to make an educated guess, the US being a litigious country that it is, this option is omitted to reduce the chance of an infant or small child from crawling into the trunk, from the rear pass-through.

There is no specific oversight on this but just BMW erring on the side of safety.

Every US-spec vehicle made since September 1, 2001, even a 2 million dollar Bugatti, are required to have some sort of internal trunk release latch. The most common type is a T-shaped glow-in-the-dark emergency release. This requirement is only mandated in the US and not the ROW. So, regulators here are serious about this potential hazard.

BTW, our neighbors in Canada gets the rear armrest/ pass-through, so this leads to believe my assumption is accurate and it's not a cost-saving or performance measure.

Another fun fact is that US-spec vehicles are the only BMWs that doesn't have a "deadlock" (S8TGA Thiefproofing device), where when the vehicle is completely powered off and locked, the interior unlock button does not function, trapping any occupants inside but reducing possible vehicle theft. Once again, this is not exactly a requirement in the US but BMW just saving themselves from a potential lawsuit.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25595520

My G01 X3 M40i and G05 X5 50i both had rear seat arm rests. MSRP ranged from $69,320-$99,255 for those two SUV's so maybe it's only on their cars?

Side note: yes I remember the sticker price of all the cars I've purchased

Personally I don't care if it had a rear armrest or not, no one ever sits back there. I have my wife or someone else up front, no kids. The rear seats on the G8X aren't even heated so it's not like rear passengers are the focus here.

I get that BMW has it in other markets, they also offer Tartufo for the bucket seats in other places. Would I like to have options not available in the US, of course. I don't think it's a huge deal though

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

My G01 X3 M40i and G05 X5 50i both had rear seat arm rests. MSRP ranged from $69,320-$99,255 for those two SUV's so maybe it's only on their cars?

Yes, I had many BMW SUV loaner cars which also had a rear armrest, so this omission only applies to their sedans and coupes.

Which makes total sense since you really can't get trapped in the hatch of an SUV, like you can in an actual trunk, being that the luggage compartment is accessible from the main cabin, over the rear seats.

My friend's 335i convertible has a rear armrest also but since the seat doesn't actually fold down, the trunk is not accessible from behind the armrest.

So, it seems that they actually put some thought into which models this option might become a potential liability and nixed it accordingly.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Yes, I had many BMW SUV loaner cars which also had a rear armrest, so this omission only applies to their sedans and coupes.

Which makes total sense since you really can't get trapped in the hatch of an SUV, like you can in an actual trunk, being that the luggage compartment is accessible from the main cabin, over the rear seats.

My friend's 335i convertible has a rear armrest also but since the seat doesn't actually fold down, the trunk is not accessible from behind the armrest.

So, it seems that they actually put some thought into which models this option might become a potential liability and nixed it accordingly.

I'm sure there's a valid reason beyond cost savings and you may be correct there. If we want to pick apart things there are many other issues we can find which are in a way worse or more annoying at least. For the money should it have a rear armrest, of course, did it stop me from buying the car, not at all

[moproblems]

M4 does not have an "armrest" it has a ski passthrough with carpet on it. Barely an armrest.

[jmg]

My F80 M3 CS doesn't have center arm rests in the rear, or the front for that matter, either. For the CS iit was a way to market the track oriented nature of the car. Basically so they could charge more for less lol.

edit: come to think of it, I don't remember iif my F80 M3 had rear arm rests. Maybe Poochie is right.

[crossmen00]

Originally Posted by moproblems

M4 does not have an "armrest" it has a ski passthrough with carpet on it. Barely an armrest.

Correct me if I am wrong, this looks like an armrest in G83 M4!