8 Must-Have Car Accessories for BMW Owners

Even if you own a range-topping BMW M8 with all the bells and whistles, there’s certainly a car accessory, gadget or add-on that would make life easier, safer or more exciting. So, we asked some loyal Braman BMW Miami customers to help us narrow down the best luxury car accessories they’ve purchased for their BMWs over the years.

1. Surfboard Rack

My boys and I surf every weekend. The surfboard and windsurfer carrier I had installed on my BMW SUV saves me at least 45 minutes, round-trip, each time we plan to hit the beach. I’ve not once had a problem with the rack damaging my board, either. And at just about $150, it’s a great value.

Garrett Simpleton of Palmetto Bay, FL

2. Window Tint

Before moving to South Florida, my buddy from Miami said to me, “Don’t forget to have your windows tinted.” He was right. In this climate, I noticed the leather seats in my M4 were hotter than normal, and the cabin temperature was oppressive even in the morning.

I went to get my windshield tinted to 35% and my side windows tinted to 28%, and it made a world of difference. If you’re making the move to Florida, consider doing the same. It might save you some leg hair.

Brent Banackle of Miami, FL

3. A Good Air Freshener

A few years ago, I bought my very first Bimmer – a used BMW 330i – from a cranky old man outside of Miami Springs. In retrospect, I should have gone to the used BMW dealer near me, as the previous owner did not disclose that this was a smoker’s car. After the initial sorta-new-car smell vanished, I could nearly taste Marlboros in the back of my throat. Yack.

I got my BMW 3-Series detailed thoroughly. Although the detailers did a great job, I couldn’t shake the stench. So, I invested in some good air fresheners made for BMWs. They covered up the scent right away, and after another deep clean, the nasty smoke smell vanished. I’ve continued to buy air freshener replacement cartridges for the last 3 years. Worth every penny.

Jon Bletherington of Hialeah, FL

4. Rear Sunshades

After having our first child, we decked our BMW X3 out with all the items we thought we’d need as new parents. What we forgot was the rear sunshade to block the sun from hitting our napping son’s face. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper.

We decided to order a sunshade from our local BMW dealership, and once it arrived, they installed it for us quickly. It’s not only kept the sun out of sight, but it’s also helped to keep the inside of our X3 SUV cooler. Win-win.

Tabatha Yi of Coral Gables, FL

5. Dashboard Camera

My grandfather owned BMWs. My dad owned BMWs. When I bought my first one in the mid-90s, I took it for granted by leaving the doors unlocked. This was a mistake; someone broke in while I was in the office and stole my new radio, radar detector, and even the CD changer in the trunk. Ever since then, I’ve been extra vigilant about protecting each BMW I buy.

A decade ago, I invested in my first dashcam as an additional security measure. The camera monitored the road when I was driving, but it also had a feature that automatically began recording when it detected motion near the car. It turned out to be a wise purchase, as the video recorded a hit-and-run that would have cost me $5,000 in repairs. I handed over the video footage to the police, and the other driver’s insurance covered everything.

Charles Weeblam III of Fisher Island, FL

6. All-Weather Floormats

Having been raised in rural New Hampshire, my parents always had car floormats to catch snow, sleet, ice and all that nasty stuff. Unfortunately, they bought cheap aftermarket mats that would tear and degrade after one or two winters.

Once I bought my first vehicle out of college, the first thing I asked from my car dealer was to throw in a set of all-weather floormats into the sale. He obliged, and they lasted for seven years, which is when I sold the car for above-market value and moved to South Florida. Those durable floormats paid for themselves.

Gretchen Przybilla of Miami, FL

7. Quality Car Cleaning Products

I grew up with newspaper and Windex® as our car cleaners. Once I started buying my own vehicles, I put my money down on good cleaning products that were specifically made for vehicles. Now the only newspapers that sees the inside of my car are ones I intend to read.

Since I travel across the country for work, my cars accumulate a lot of crud and grime – and bug guts. As such, one of my favorite car cleaners has been a bug and tree sap remover. These products enable me to quickly wipe away bugs, tree sap, tar and other sticky substances off my car windows and paint. I keep a bottle and clean cloths in my trunk everywhere I go.

Ian DeMamp of Kendale Lakes, FL

8. Wind Deflector

If you’re buying a convertible, don’t forget to add a wind deflector to the package. My wife and I were talked into one by a pushy salesman when we purchased our BMW convertible. At first, we weren’t sure if the upgrade was worth the extra money. But after a weekend tour of the Rickenbacker Causeway with the top down, we were sold.

Chris & Nancy Boatwright of Key Biscayne, FL

Want to join the chorus of happy BMW owners? Don’t risk getting a cheap aftermarket accessory. Instead, grab an OEM BMW accessory from our Miami luxury car dealership. Contact us at 786-374-2132 or place an online order for an authentic BMW product, and we’ll let you know when it’s ready to be installed.