Things I find odd...

[goodchip]

Having just upgraded to 325i from a Nissan Maxima, there are a couple of omissions that I frankly find odd on the BMW line.
1) Why is the security system optional? What does it cost to activate?
2) Why no home link garage door opener? I'm told the car is "pre-wired" for this, but it seems pretty standard stuff on most competitive models.
3) Why no compass? YOu usually find this in the rear view mirror.

These aren't big deals, just minor gripes. I definitely understand that this is a car made for driving first and foremost, and that doodads and toys are secondary to the driving expereince, which is second to none.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

the first two usually come with teh car even though they are optional, unless you get it custom ordered, otherwise the dealerhsips around here, all the cars, usually have it, as for #3 not sure why they don't have them, with navigation you can see what direction your going or by hitting the emergency screen, and i think some of the rear view mirrors you can buy from them do have the compass, but not sure why its not standard

 

[hosagod]

Simply because BMW is a german auto maker.

Those "amenities", I doubt, are ever needed or used by Germans so they didn't bother to carry them over to their american models.

That would be my guess...

 

[andreyiv]

Yup, just like with the cup holders I guess. They don't see it as a necessity, why put it in, a good driver should know where he/she is going, then again, explain the NAV.

 

[codex57]

Psssh, leather should eb included on a car this price. It's not there cuz BMW is cheap and wants you to pay for it instead of them. They know the customers will too. Allows them to brag about a low starting MSRP for marketing purposes.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

Psssh, leather should eb included on a car this price. It's not there cuz BMW is cheap and wants you to pay for it instead of them. They know the customers will too. Allows them to brag about a low starting MSRP for marketing purposes.

hehe, so true, some of the stuff they say is optional its really not, some stuff you will just find standard on their cars even if you search and search, just to get a cheaper MSRP

 

[codex57]

hehe, so true, some of the stuff they say is optional its really not, some stuff you will just find standard on their cars even if you search and search, just to get a cheaper MSRP

So true. Unlike most people on this board, my car's sort of a stripper. It can be sooooo hard tryign to find a car that does NOT have certain options. For example, it's hard enough finding a 325i without premium package included. If you do find one, then it doesn't have anything other than maybe a moonroof. Automatics overwhelm cars of any combo. Finding a sedan with just sport package is almost impossible. Finding it with an interior color other than black pretty much is. They absolute first time I looked into BMWs (before I was even sure I could get one), I tried finding a base 325i with Sport, and a tan interior. Dealers thought I was crazy. My current car isn't exactly how I wanted it. Dealers all seem to think that if you have SP without leather, you want it in black. If you want your car a certain way, you just gotta order it.

 

[AIO]

Did you guys know that the 'outside air temperature display' is an optional item?
You either have to buy the board computer or the digital A/C.

 

[deutsch100]

The outside temp display is included in the Premium Package, or it can be an individual option "On Board Computer". My cousins "stripper" 2003 325i like Codex57 said has the outside temp display...but she does not have premium pkg. I agree that a very base model 3er, or any BMW is hard to find. She has a 325i with steptronic, leatherette and that is basically it. Funny...she too has black interior. Never thought about it before, but every non-leather newer BMW I see is always black. Maybe tan or gray leatherettte looks really ghetto.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

So true. Unlike most people on this board, my car's sort of a stripper. It can be sooooo hard tryign to find a car that does NOT have certain options. For example, it's hard enough finding a 325i without premium package included. If you do find one, then it doesn't have anything other than maybe a moonroof. Automatics overwhelm cars of any combo. Finding a sedan with just sport package is almost impossible. Finding it with an interior color other than black pretty much is. They absolute first time I looked into BMWs (before I was even sure I could get one), I tried finding a base 325i with Sport, and a tan interior. Dealers thought I was crazy. My current car isn't exactly how I wanted it. Dealers all seem to think that if you have SP without leather, you want it in black. If you want your car a certain way, you just gotta order it.

ya, when we went searching for an X3 we didn't want to spend that much over MSRP, so we wanted to only get sport package, but the salesman told us that to find a car with only sports package would be nearly impossible if we needed it within 2 weeks, that they would probably have to order it like that from factory and that would take forever, the only cars that had sport and premium and all this other stuff that we didnt' want....