The Forgotten Features in Your Car You Never Knew
Hidden European tech gems that are smarter than they look
We’ll just say it: European cars are weird. Brilliant. Precise. But still a little weird.
And one of the weirdest (and most wonderful) things about them? All the little features baked in that nobody tells you about—unless you read your owner’s manual cover to cover... which, let’s be honest, none of us are doing.
We’re talking about buttons and settings your Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, MINI, or VW came with that you’ve probably driven past for years. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re actually useful. They’re just... well, not obvious.
So let’s pop the hood on a few of our favorite hidden features that might be sitting quietly in your car right now—just waiting to make your life easier, safer, or at least mildly more satisfying.
- Auto Hold: The Anti-Roll, Anti-Annoyance Button
What it does:
Auto Hold automatically holds your brakes after you come to a complete stop—so you don’t
have to keep your foot on the pedal at red lights or stop signs. Once you press the gas, it releases.
Why it’s great:
It’s like cruise control for your foot in traffic. No more awkward half-pressure on the brake. And
it’s a godsend on hills.
Who has it:
Most modern BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and some Volkswagens and Volvos. Look for a button
near your gear selector marked “AUTO H” or “HOLD.”
Pro tip:
It’s especially useful if you’re driving a stick—or sipping coffee at a stoplight and don’t want to
do the whole left-foot shuffle.
- Rear Fog Lights: The Button You Thought Was Broken
What it does:
Activates an extra-bright red light (usually in one taillight) to make your car more visible in
dense fog or heavy rain. It’s not a second brake light—it’s a visibility tool.
Why it’s great:
In low-visibility conditions, it keeps you from becoming someone else’s surprise. In Europe, it’s
required. In the U.S., most people don’t even know they have it.
Who has it:
Common in European brands like Audi, Volvo, VW, BMW, and Mercedes. Look near your
headlight switch—usually an icon that looks like a fog light with a vertical line.
Pro tip:
Don’t leave it on when it’s not foggy. It’s really bright and can annoy drivers behind you.
- Tire Pressure Reset Button: The Forgotten Step
What it does:
After inflating or rotating tires, you need to reset the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
so the car recalibrates its baseline. Otherwise, you might get false warnings.
Why it’s great:
It prevents the dreaded “Check Tire Pressure” light from haunting your dashboard unnecessarily.
Who has it:
Pretty much every modern European vehicle, but the button hides in different places—sometimes
in the glovebox, sometimes in the iDrive (BMW), or MMI (Audi) system, or buried in a menu.
Pro tip:
You must reset it after tire service. If we do the work, we handle this for you. But if you top off
your tires yourself, look it up—or ask us how.
- Hidden Rear Hatch Release (a.k.a. The Kick Trick)
What it does:
Wave your foot under the rear bumper, and—like magic—the hatch opens. No hands, no keys,
no wrestling with bags of groceries.
Why it’s great:
It turns your car into a magician. And it makes juggling a toddler, a dog, and three bags of mulch
slightly less frustrating.
Who has it:
Newer Volvos, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes SUVs, and some Volkswagens—usually as part of a
convenience or premium package.
Pro tip:
The motion has to be a swift kick, not a swipe. Trust us—we’ve practiced in the parking lot more
times than we’d like to admit.
- “Comfort Exit” or Easy Entry Mode
What it does:
Moves the seat back and/or tilts the steering wheel out of the way when you shut off the
car—making it easier to get in and out.
Why it’s great:
Perfect for tall drivers, bad backs, or tight garages. And it feels... classy.
Who has it:
Many Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi models—especially with memory seats.
Pro tip:
Sometimes it’s disabled by default. Dig into your settings to activate it (or let us show you how
next time you’re in).
- Rest Function (Residual Heat for Cabin Warmth)
What it does:
Uses residual engine heat to keep the cabin warm after the engine is off—like when waiting for
someone in the car or running into a store.
Why it’s great:
You get free cabin heat without idling the engine. That’s Euro efficiency at its finest.
Who has it:
Common on Mercedes and BMWs—look for a button labeled “REST.”
What it does: Auto Hold automatically holds your brakes after you come to a complete stop—so you don’t have to keep your foot on the pedal at red lights or stop signs. Once you press the gas, it releases.
Why it’s great: It’s like cruise control for your foot in traffic. No more awkward half-pressure on the brake. And it’s a godsend on hills.
Who has it: Most modern BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and some Volkswagens and Volvos. Look for a button near your gear selector marked “AUTO H” or “HOLD.”
Pro tip: It’s especially useful if you’re driving a stick—or sipping coffee at a stoplight and don’t want to do the whole left-foot shuffle.
What it does: Activates an extra-bright red light (usually in one taillight) to make your car more visible in dense fog or heavy rain. It’s not a second brake light—it’s a visibility tool.
Why it’s great: In low-visibility conditions, it keeps you from becoming someone else’s surprise. In Europe, it’s required. In the U.S., most people don’t even know they have it.
Who has it: Common in European brands like Audi, Volvo, VW, BMW, and Mercedes. Look near your headlight switch—usually an icon that looks like a fog light with a vertical line.
Pro tip: Don’t leave it on when it’s not foggy. It’s really bright and can annoy drivers behind you.
What it does: After inflating or rotating tires, you need to reset the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) so the car recalibrates its baseline. Otherwise, you might get false warnings.
Why it’s great: It prevents the dreaded “Check Tire Pressure” light from haunting your dashboard unnecessarily.
Who has it: Pretty much every modern European vehicle, but the button hides in different places—sometimes in the glovebox, sometimes in the iDrive (BMW), or MMI (Audi) system, or buried in a menu.
Pro tip: You must reset it after tire service. If we do the work, we handle this for you. But if you top off your tires yourself, look it up—or ask us how.
What it does: Wave your foot under the rear bumper, and—like magic—the hatch opens. No hands, no keys, no wrestling with bags of groceries.
Why it’s great: It turns your car into a magician. And it makes juggling a toddler, a dog, and three bags of mulch slightly less frustrating.
Who has it: Newer Volvos, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes SUVs, and some Volkswagens—usually as part of a convenience or premium package.
Pro tip: The motion has to be a swift kick, not a swipe. Trust us—we’ve practiced in the parking lot more times than we’d like to admit.
What it does: Moves the seat back and/or tilts the steering wheel out of the way when you shut off the car—making it easier to get in and out.
Why it’s great: Perfect for tall drivers, bad backs, or tight garages. And it feels... classy.
Who has it: Many Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi models—especially with memory seats.
Pro tip: Sometimes it’s disabled by default. Dig into your settings to activate it (or let us show you how next time you’re in).
What it does: Uses residual engine heat to keep the cabin warm after the engine is off—like when waiting for someone in the car or running into a store.
Why it’s great: You get free cabin heat without idling the engine. That’s Euro efficiency at its finest.
Who has it: Common on Mercedes and BMWs—look for a button labeled “REST.”