Hidden compartment?

ezaircon4jc · 03-18-2019, 12:36 PM

Granted I haven't researched the OM on this, but I just found this in the 2014. I can't imagine what I'd put in here...

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WHY do the pictures ALWAYS come out sideways? No amount of orientation changes seem to fix the issue. Grrrrrr.......

Trian · 03-18-2019, 03:35 PM

I am unsure based upon your pictures but it looks like a through-door between your trunk and back seat (for skis, etc.)

BigKutta · 03-18-2019, 03:38 PM

That is not a hidden compartment. The hidden compartment is the one above your left knee when driving

DentalBoy · 03-18-2019, 06:35 PM

That's a great hiding spot!!(under left knee) So great, that I put my sunglasses in there on a trip and couldn't find them for 3 months??? I actually bought another pair. One day I opened it up and there they were.. Stupid

lsturbointeg · 03-18-2019, 07:38 PM

Bro, what am I looking at?

SWFLf10 · 03-18-2019, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Bro, what am I looking at?

It's in the middle of the rear seat. My 2015 has this as well. You can lower the arm rest and this is a compartment behind it. The whole compartment is also removable and allows you to use the area as a ski pass through.

lsturbointeg · 03-18-2019, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

It's in the middle of the rear seat. My 2015 has this as well. You can lower the arm rest and this is a compartment behind it. The whole compartment is also removable and allows you to use the area as a ski pass through.

Oh. I have that already. Didn't know people wasn't aware?

ezaircon4jc · 03-19-2019, 12:26 AM

Yeah, that whole section is removable for the pass-through. I just found that compartment in the removable section by accident.

I found the one in the dash pretty quickly after we purchased our 2012.

BigKutta · 03-19-2019, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

It's in the middle of the rear seat. My 2015 has this as well. You can lower the arm rest and this is a compartment behind it. The whole compartment is also removable and allows you to use the area as a ski pass through.

Is that optional? I dont think I can open any compartment once I lower the back seat arm rest. Ir maybe I never tried.

SWFLf10 · 03-19-2019, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

It's in the middle of the rear seat. My 2015 has this as well. You can lower the arm rest and this is a compartment behind it. The whole compartment is also removable and allows you to use the area as a ski pass through.

Is that optional? I dont think I can open any compartment once I lower the back seat arm rest. Ir maybe I never tried.

I believe it's only there if you have the ski pass through option. Not 100% sure.

socale39 · 03-19-2019, 04:16 PM

Definitely a ski pass through

ezaircon4jc · 03-19-2019, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socale39

Definitely a ski pass through

Not the compartment. The rear is solid. The whole assembly must be removed to use the ski pass-through.

Surly73 · 03-20-2019, 07:30 AM

My theory:

I think the "compartment" is where the ski bag is stored. The bag wraps your "skis" when you use the passthrough so that you don't damage or dirty your interior.

If you don't have the ski option, or have a clepto previous owner, you may not have the bag even though you have the pass through.

I believe mine has a bag in that spot. I may go verify over the next couple of days.

Qsilver7 · 03-20-2019, 09:20 AM

Yes...the actual "bag" in the ski bag set-up...gets folded up and stored in this "hidden" compartment you found.

But unfortunately as has been stated...some POs (previous owners) keep the bag when they trade the car in.

socale39 · 03-20-2019, 11:58 AM

Yep exactly what that compartment is for. I’ve had some BMWs with the bag, others without, probably because the previous owner removed it.

ezaircon4jc · 03-20-2019, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly73

My theory:

I think the "compartment" is where the ski bag is stored. The bag wraps your "skis" when you use the passthrough so that you don't damage or dirty your interior.

If you don't have the ski option, or have a clepto previous owner, you may not have the bag even though you have the pass through.

I believe mine has a bag in that spot. I may go verify over the next couple of days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Yes...the actual "bag" in the ski bag set-up...gets folded up and stored in this "hidden" compartment you found.

But unfortunately as has been stated...some POs (previous owners) keep the bag when they trade the car in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by socale39

Yep exactly what that compartment is for. I’ve had some BMWs with the bag, others without, probably because the previous owner removed it.

Well then....

THANK YOU!!!! "Mystery" solved!! This car has so many surprises!

If the bag is standard with the opening I'm sure the PO absconded it. If it's part of the cold wx package then the car probably didn't have the bag in the first place.

Bbb34 · 03-22-2019, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Is that optional? I dont think I can open any compartment once I lower the back seat arm rest. Ir maybe I never tried.

If I recall correctly, don't quote me on this, it has been a while.
It's either optional, or not at all on 528, but standard on 535 and 550.

I remember thinking "well no pass-trough is a deal breaker for me" when I initially started looking at 5 series.

ezaircon4jc · 03-22-2019, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbb34

If I recall correctly, don't quote me on this, it has been a while.
It's either optional, or not at all on 528, but standard on 535 and 550.

I remember thinking "well no pass-trough is a deal breaker for me" when I initially started looking at 5 series.

I believe there are 2 options... The ski pass-through without the fold down seats and the pass-through with the fold down seats. Our 2012 535i has neither.

db32 · 03-22-2019, 02:21 PM

I don't believe all cars come with the ski bag even with the split rear seat, mine didn't. Mine is a 2012 535i and has the ZCW (cold weather package) which includes option 465, through loading system but doesn't have option 464 ski bag. I found this when I decoded the vin and compared it to the BMW options for my year car. As I read it you get the hole in the seat with a split rear seat but had to add the ski bag option if you wanted that.

Bbb34 · 03-22-2019, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I believe there are 2 options... The ski pass-through without the fold down seats and the pass-through with the fold down seats. Our 2012 535i has neither.

That's just wrong on the part of the manufacturer in my opinion.

I mean, I get that it's a luxury sedan and trips to Home Depot are not main criteria for buying this type of vehicle, but c'mon, folding rear seats should be standard option on any modern vehicle (ski passthrough can be argued as an option, that I can somewhat understand, but wouldn't myself get one without as I do need and use it).

OrcaPod · 03-25-2019, 03:42 PM

Based on VIN decoding my 2011 528i has S465A Through-loading system (folding rear seats and ski pass through) but doesn't have 464 ski bag option. and there was no ski bag in that "hidden" compartment.

03-18-2019, 12:36 PM	#1
ezaircon4jc Major General 4476 Rep 5,356 Posts Drives: 2019 540i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Hidden compartment? Granted I haven't researched the OM on this, but I just found this in the 2014. I can't imagine what I'd put in here... WHY do the pictures ALWAYS come out sideways? No amount of orientation changes seem to fix the issue. Grrrrrr.......
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03-18-2019, 03:35 PM	#2
Trian Second Lieutenant 79 Rep 264 Posts Drives: 2015 535i M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Victoria, B.C. iTrader: (0)	I am unsure based upon your pictures but it looks like a through-door between your trunk and back seat (for skis, etc.)
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03-18-2019, 03:38 PM	#3
BigKutta Brigadier General 3901 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C, 2019 330xi, 2017 Q7 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington DC Burbs iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 330xi [0.00] 2017 Audi Q7 3.0 [0.00] 2020 M2C [0.00]	That is not a hidden compartment. The hidden compartment is the one above your left knee when driving
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03-18-2019, 06:35 PM	#4
DentalBoy Lieutenant 50 Rep 519 Posts Drives: 2016 M6 Gran Coupe Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GrandJunction, Colorado iTrader: (3)	That's a great hiding spot!!(under left knee) So great, that I put my sunglasses in there on a trip and couldn't find them for 3 months??? I actually bought another pair. One day I opened it up and there they were.. Stupid __________________ _____________________________________________ 2016 M6 GC under construction,2013 F10 M5 Akrapovic(sold) 2012 F10 AW 550i MSPORT,Vossen CV3s,ACS Springs,Meisterschaft GTC,.Totalled! E60 M5 Dinan stg3,hiflow throttle bodies,coldair,evosport rear diff,Eisenmann Race sold E39 M5 UUC short shift,UUC Corsa and More Sold
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03-18-2019, 07:38 PM	#5
lsturbointeg Lieutenant General 9153 Rep 14,522 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Asian lost in OH iTrader: (0)	Bro, what am I looking at? __________________ ~F90Conversion~21"3Piece Forged AvantGardeWheels~KWV1Coilovers~CQUENCE slotted/drilled rotors~GoodridgeStainlesslines~MeisterschaftQuadEx haust~Akrapovic 4"tips~VRSF DP~VRSF CP~TurboSmart BOV~K&N filter~CarbonFiberExteriorComponents~GladenAlphaCo mponents~MatchUp7BMW~Punch P300-12T~ Follow me on Instagram: lsturbointeg
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03-19-2019, 12:26 AM	#8
ezaircon4jc Major General 4476 Rep 5,356 Posts Drives: 2019 540i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Yeah, that whole section is removable for the pass-through. I just found that compartment in the removable section by accident. I found the one in the dash pretty quickly after we purchased our 2012.
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03-19-2019, 04:16 PM	#11
socale39 Major 209 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 04 545i SMG Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Definitely a ski pass through
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03-20-2019, 07:30 AM	#13
Surly73 Lieutenant Colonel 534 Rep 1,873 Posts Drives: '11 535xi 8AT KWv3 MPE MHD xHP Join Date: May 2012 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (1)	My theory: I think the "compartment" is where the ski bag is stored. The bag wraps your "skis" when you use the passthrough so that you don't damage or dirty your interior. If you don't have the ski option, or have a clepto previous owner, you may not have the bag even though you have the pass through. I believe mine has a bag in that spot. I may go verify over the next couple of days.
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03-20-2019, 09:20 AM	#14
Qsilver7 Major General 4427 Rep 7,470 Posts Drives: F06 650ix GC / F15 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Indiana, USA iTrader: (0)	Yes...the actual "bag" in the ski bag set-up...gets folded up and stored in this "hidden" compartment you found. But unfortunately as has been stated...some POs (previous owners) keep the bag when they trade the car in. __________________ 2015 F06 650ix Gran Coupe`(Moonstone/Cohiba Brown)\| 2014 F15 X5 50i MSport (Space Gray/Mocha) Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
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03-20-2019, 11:58 AM	#15
socale39 Major 209 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 04 545i SMG Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Yep exactly what that compartment is for. I’ve had some BMWs with the bag, others without, probably because the previous owner removed it.
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03-22-2019, 02:21 PM	#19
db32 New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW 535i Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	I don't believe all cars come with the ski bag even with the split rear seat, mine didn't. Mine is a 2012 535i and has the ZCW (cold weather package) which includes option 465, through loading system but doesn't have option 464 ski bag. I found this when I decoded the vin and compared it to the BMW options for my year car. As I read it you get the hole in the seat with a split rear seat but had to add the ski bag option if you wanted that.
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03-25-2019, 03:42 PM	#21
OrcaPod Private First Class 74 Rep 168 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW F10 528i N52 engine Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Based on VIN decoding my 2011 528i has S465A Through-loading system (folding rear seats and ski pass through) but doesn't have 464 ski bag option. and there was no ski bag in that "hidden" compartment.
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