I just bought a '05 525i (alpine white with beige leather, premium and cold weather packages). I've figured everything out so far with the car (bluetooth and all other idrive settings) but there's one thing I can't figure out.

Inside the armrest once I lift up the small black compartment inside, on the front side of the armrest in the compartment there's a tiny black door (about the size of a dime) that slides up and down. I thought maybe this was some type of aux imput so I grabbed a pair of headphones and that doesn't seem to be it.

Any ideas?? Sorry for the juvenile question, it's just that I'm about 50 miles from the closest BMW dealer and this is really puzzling me.

thanks.

~Cris

 

It is an A/C vent you can control to cool/heat the storage box.

 

Helps keep the beer cold

 

Ok, another quick question....

How does it work? I'm assuming it's somewhere in the idrive and I probably need to read the manual. I guess I haven't mastered the idrive system yet

I'm not disputing what you're saying, but what's the point of this compartment then? What can you really fit in there? I'm not realistically gonna keep a cup of coffee in there, or an open can of beer...I mean soda, right? It seems like a feature that sounds good when the dealer is trying to sell you on teh features of the car, but is it practcal? Doesn't sounds like it.

Does anyone actually use this compartment for that reason?

 

It works automatically with the climate control system. There is no other adjustment other than the opening and closing of the air vent.

I agree that it's not too practical but since so many other cars offer it, and since it's fairly simple to add due to the vent already running down the console to the rear, etc. I'm betting that they threw it in there so that they can say it's there...

 

It is to keep your snacks/makeup/lip balm, etc from melting or freezing...

 

On my E90, there is a cupholder in the center console, and it has an A/C vent switch.

Perfect size for a can of Red Bull, and keeps it chilled for a while.

 

Don't forget cell phones. Batteries don't like extreme temps either. It's even more logical if you have the phone cradle.

 

RTFM

It'll heat once the outside temperature gets too low, and you use your A/C to heat the cabin.

 

I'll be dammed.....I did not know that.