z3 trans

i just bought at 99 z3, i noticed it has an A and an M buton on the gear shift, when i hit M it loses power. i know its note steptronic because that didnt come until 01. so is this a button for snow or what?

Its your overdrive button. When your crusing down the road at about 40 hit it back and forth and your notice the RMP increase and decrease. The button adds another gear and such.

no the A means driving it as an Automatic and M means driving it as a Manual.