Comments on: Must-Have Options?

By: Hantra

Hantra — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:55:47 +0000

Make sure you listen to the new stock stereo before you decide not to upgrade. I think they’ve made it a lot worse than it was in the E46. Might be worth it this time around.

By: Mike D

Mike D — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:26:46 +0000

@Howie_In_AZ: Not a renter ... we bought our 330xi and X3.

By: Gragop

Gragop — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:35:15 +0000

@Endicott: I know it's not superb but I'm happy with the radio in my E46. Who cares what purists say as long as you're happy with it, right? I'm not an audiophile so mine's good enough!

By: Endicott

Endicott — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:04:14 +0000

At the risk of ticking off the purests, I have to say the stock sound system is very good in the E9x. I don’t doubt the premium system sounds better, but in the presence of road noise or, certainly, with the windows open, the stock system is more than adequate.

Must have the iPod option. I use a USB thumb drive, and it’s a great solution.

I have the coupe, so I can’t speak to the sport/non-sport suspension, but I passed on the sport package because:
a. the stock seats are fine; I’m not planning on autocrossing
b. 17″ wheels have low-enough aspect for New England roads (read: pot-holed); I don’t want 18s

By: Horatiu B.

Horatiu B. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:34:52 +0000

@gragop: yeah, especially with those crazy 0.9% rates.

By: Joshi

Joshi — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:55:22 +0000

@Bsd107: Yeah, unfortunately not anymore. I remember that being an option a while back. And I also remember how much people were bitching about not having the moonroof standard

By: Bsd107

Bsd107 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:44:26 +0000

I wish I could delete the moonroof from the US E90 but they wouldn’t let me do it….

By: Artmic

Artmic — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:23:35 +0000

The must have’s for me are: Automatic, Red Leather, space Grey color

By: gragop

gragop — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:12:01 +0000

I leased my first two bimmers and bought the second at lease end as I was waaaaaay over my miles so I own mine. As I don’t want to be stuck in that cycle I’ll be buying my next bimmer versus leasing as well. In this economy I’d rather finance than lease anyway

By: Howie_In_AZ

Howie_In_AZ — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:03:26 +0000

Low financing since buying cars is better than renting them; sport package, premium package; manual transmission; iPod adapter or auxillary input jack.

The navigation system is worthless since you can get a GPS unit for 1/4 of the price. The automatic transmission is useless since it’ll die after 60-100,000 miles (renters need not worry about this as they’ll be ditching their car far before then).

The moonroof is a toughie — costs a lot to repair but it’s nice to be able to open it and take in some air.

A mandatory add-on is the Valentine-1 radar detector, ~$400USD, since you know you’ll be speeding, and cops don’t usually let people driving luxury cars off with just a warning.

As a sidenote, are there any BMWBlog writers that aren’t renters?

By: Mike D

Mike D — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:48:18 +0000

@James Olson: Comfort Access is funny thing. Seems nice, but not necessary, until you have it. Then, after you have it, you can’t live without it. Our 330 has it.

I’ve actually caught myself walking out to our X3 (which I don’t drive much), keys in-pocket, grabbing the door handle, and nearly falling over when the door doesn’t unlock after I pull it.

Comfort Access = great feature, but stupidity-inducing.

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:46:43 +0000

Sport package is really the only one I care about. The rest can come or go, depending on the deal. Nav is nice, but I can easily get an aftermarket unit. Sat radio is nice too, but once again… I don’t mind going aftermarket (I was more than happy with my AVIC-Z1 in the M3).

But I have to have the sport seats. I never have and probably never could own a BMW that didn’t have the little slide-out on the bottom of the seat and side-hugging bolsters.

If/when they get to the point where the manual gearbox is an optional extra, count me in for that one as well.

By: Gragop

Gragop — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:07:32 +0000

@beto_L.A.: When I got my car I got them to throw it in as part of the negotiations. Best option I have on my car and aside from the engine, gearbox and wheels, it's the one I use the most.

By: James Olson

James Olson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:06:19 +0000

My 1st Bimmer which I picked up just a few weeks ago. The only options I ordered that really cost me as the Logic 7 was a free upgrade on the 550i was the Sports Package. I could probably live without the 19″ wheels and the body kit…… No I couldnt I ordered the iPod which IMHO is a must, Cold weather package, Comfort Access (could live without but its a nice touch).
I declined on the Nav as for the price I just cant see myself paying that much for it. The car itself came with tons of standard equipment that blew me away. By the way the new iDrive controls are terrific with all the new buttons for shortcuts.

By: beto_L.A.

beto_L.A. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:04:34 +0000

sorry for my typo is a E46 325I….

By: beto_L.A.

beto_L.A. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:49:26 +0000

my 1st bimmer an ‘04 E46 sedan 225I all I wanted was the sport package, leather interior, xenon, auto transmission I was the 1st customer @ my bmw center to have the ipod interface installed $600 parts and labor, all worth it!!!…..5 years later I’m doing it again…”09 E90 sedan 328I same as above and I couldn’t live with out the ipod interface…is a must…i would like sat. radio but it gets a bit expensive….
need money to buy more vinyl records!!!!!

By: Mike D

Mike D — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:27:10 +0000

Living on top of a hill in Illinois where it snows, with a long driveway that slopes down to my garage, I’m partial to all-wheel-drive.

Sport is a must because of the seats. Premium is a must because of the lumbar support adjustment, the smell of the leather, the garage door opener, and the power folding mirrors (handy in a narrow garage full of too much stuff.)

Heated seats are a must (again Illinois = cold, icky winter), but I’ve tended not to care about full Cold Weather (though I have it now.) With the heated steering wheel on the ’09s, though, CWP is probably a yes.

PDC is a must (narrow garage, hard-to-navigate driveway, narrow congested street.) Nav/iDrive are a must for me on the 3 … w/PDC and Nav, you get the graphic PDC display, and it’s better than the audio-only set up. Re: Nav, I’ve had it in several cars, and I’m spoiled by it. That said, portable Nav is a better deal on most cars. On the 3, though, you get so much other stuff w/nav because of the iDrive, it makes sense to me. Can’t wait to see the revised set-up in person.

Sat. radio and iPod/USB … a must. Don’t know about Logic7 … I’ve never not had it.

Xenons … a must. I like the way they turn with the steering wheel. They’re great on curvy, country roads at night.

I like having a 6-speed manual.

By: Horatiu B.

Horatiu B. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:38:41 +0000

In my case, Sport, Xenon and PDC. Chicago parking situation is terrible and it helps to have the sensors.

By: rhnorb

rhnorb — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:49:57 +0000

I’m planning to add new options on my next BMW. First, it has to have the new iDrive, then I’m looking to add night vision, lane departure warning and the ipod connnection.

By: nidget

nidget — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:00:17 +0000

Of course, sport package and Xenon. I love the sensor for the wipers and the automatic lights too. The heated seats and the auto-dimming foldable mirrors are a “very nice to have”. I tend to favor the things that add confort when driving over what looks more like gadgets to me (satellite radio, iDrive, bluetooth, tv, …etc).