[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Dealers don't have any money invested in their stock. The cost of the cars is fully financed by what's called in the industry a floor plan. That floor plan may be financed by a bank, but it's usually by the manufacturer finance company, in our case BMW Financial. In the days when interest rates were high dealers were always trying to sell their stock rather than special order, because what they paid in floor plan interest could wipe out the profit on a car that sat too long. That's not the case today. I bet BWM doesn't charge more than 1% annual interest, if they charge any at all. Their job is to promote the sale of BMWs, not to make a profit off floor plans.

As to how cars in stock are equipped, that's as often as not out of the dealers hands. The factory equips cars not only based on where they think demand lies, it's also on what add-ons are most profitable. When factory allocations are made the dealer seldom gets much of a say as to what he'll get.

I assume they have a limit as to how much stock they can carry at little or no cost?

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

My wife's car slammed on the brakes when I was trying to turn around in a tight parking lot. It wouldn't let me run over the tall grass. WTF.

Ahhh the nannies "on top" of the PDC...I'd be pissed too and can relate. The last car I had with PDC along with the nannies wouldn't allow me to park in my garage as the lip was always detected as an object stopping the car. They finally got it sorted by adjusting the sensors but that shouldn't have been necessary.

[paul e]

I bought my 340ix....already well equipped...with a couple options...Leather, Adaptive LEDS, Rear Camera/parking, and Cold Weather (heated F&R seats and wheel), Manual Trans and the power rear window shade.
I wanted to get the Driving Assistance Plus $1700 but that would have forced me to get the electronic package at ANOTHER $2750 in addition to the DAP cost...no way.
NOt missing the stuff I didn’t get, liking the stuff I did.

[tpliquid]

bought a f31 few weeks ago with M sport package thats it. Only thing I wish it had was nav package.

[wrickem]

I'm the other end of the spectrum.

If I had the option to pay even $10K more for more luxury options in a car that's a smaller size than the 5 or 6, I would. Even though my 435 is very nicely equipped, there are tons of little things that I miss from my higher up models when I drive the 4.

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by tpliquid

bought a f31 few weeks ago with M sport package thats it. Only thing I wish it had was nav package.

You can retrofit, no worries

[kern417]

Originally Posted by wrickem

I'm the other end of the spectrum.

If I had the option to pay even $10K more for more luxury options in a car that's a smaller size than the 5 or 6, I would. Even though my 435 is very nicely equipped, there are tons of little things that I miss from my higher up models when I drive the 4.

I feel like there are a lot of basic items too that they reserve for more expensive models. Like why do I need to buy a 5 series to get a sync button on the climate control? Why doesn't the top view camera show the front of the car?

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by kern417

I feel like there are a lot of basic items too that they reserve for more expensive models. Like why do I need to buy a 5 series to get a sync button on the climate control? Why doesn't the top view camera show the front of the car?

Or something that's now available in the majority of cars such as ventilated seats....simple yet effective.

This doesn't bother me per se but MB reacted quickly to the remote start complaints (or lack thereof) here in the US and is now available on the C so there are no more excuses for BMW in that area.

[CalCarNut]

Mine is lightly optioned; I didn't want Nav, heated seats (SoCal..who needs more heat?) etc. Leather is nice but I've had leather cars and they get hot and crack. Since mine is NOT a lease, longevity is important. The only option(s) I wanted and didn't get would be a Harmon Kardon upgrade but I can upgrade it anytime and maybe a metallic paint color. Oh, I'd probably go 440 next time as well. The MPG between the 4/6 engines isn't great enough to warrant going smaller displacement. My wife's X3 has all the packages. The only one I'd add from hers is the birds-eye view cams. THAT is cool. With her, she hasn't curbed a wheel yet using it . I don't 'need' it as I'm super careful and the car is never on the street but it's useful. Lastly, all the extra power options are just asking to break and cost an arm and a leg to fix if you're not leasing..so I'd rather prevent those headaches on the front end since they're not that important to me anyway..

[jinxremoved]

I find a lot of the newer tech annoying and all of it is expensive to replace when it fails. I don't want top view cameras. I don't need a camera showing me how to back up.

I got an M-Sport equipped car used (for no real discernible difference in price) because I like the body improvements and wanted the big opening for a big FMIC. That was really all I was interested in from the dealer.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by jinxremoved

I don't need a camera showing me how to back up.

That's not the main reason for having one, and that main reason is why all cars built from May 2018 must have them.

[swagon]

Adaptive lights, nav, heated seats, pdc, sport pkg. Don't need anything else at all. You guys in the US are lucky since the cars come with better equipment than in Europe.

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

That's not the main reason for having one, and that main reason is why all cars built from May 2018 must have them.

One day, he "might" (just might) thank that technology for saving a life...

[jinxremoved]

Originally Posted by jeffc83

One day, he "might" (just might) thank that technology for saving a life...

I have represented people involved in tragedies such as that which you allude to. It's hard to say if a back up camera would have helped in the specific situation, but I'm not against them being mandatory. I just wouldn't choose that option if I had the choice. But I appreciate all of the condescension in a thread asking me what options I'm not interested in.

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by jinxremoved

I have represented people involved in tragedies such as that which you allude to. It's hard to say if a back up camera would have helped in the specific situation, but I'm not against them being mandatory. I just wouldn't choose that option if I had the choice. But I appreciate all of the condescension in a thread asking me what options I'm not interested in.

The intention of the backup camera is not to show you how to backup either! I get your point too

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by jinxremoved

But I appreciate all of the condescension in a thread asking me what options I'm not interested in.

New to the internet?

[XutvJet]

It really depends. I'm not one for LCD instrument clusters, and LCD/touch audio controls or HVAC. I'm not a huge fan of factory navigation systems, moonroofs, or blind spot monitoring, braking assistance, or similar safety features. I do welcome things like articulating seats (manual or power), good headlights, a good steering wheel, heated seats and steering wheel, basic BT functionality for audio and phone, parking sensors and back up camera, keyless entry, a decent stereo, and leather or a high grade sports cloth seating.

My M235 was specifically ordered without an automatic, nav, or moonroof. I did order it with a HK stereo, leather, and the cold weather and parking packages.

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

high grade sports cloth seating.

Off-topic a bit but I wouldn't mind going back to cloth seats for a number of reasons. The leather works too but I've felt this way with the past few cars...

[Kafkaesque328]

Not I, but I don't need to go crazy with options to be happy but I don't go crazy with options. I had a 2014 320i with moonroof and sport package only. Pretty bare bones, very bare bones compared to even the lowest end rental cars at the airport. Drove great but it was kind of bleak. I'm much happier in this car but I still only have basic driver assist, no top view camera, no HUD, etc. I like the nav in this car and extended display and contents. The base iDrive is bleak. I like the little comforts and tech. I wish I had auto cruise control etc.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by jeffc83

The intention of the backup camera is not to show you how to backup either!

And that's why it's usually referred to as a rear view camera, allowing you to see what your mirrors won't. I might not have done PDC if it didn't come with the rear view, but now that I have it I really like it, also because it sees things that I can't, not even in the rear view.
On the subject of moon roofs, I got one because it came standard, otherwise I wouldn't have. Now that I have it I'm glad, I doubt if I've had the liner closed more than a few hours in nearly three years.

One add-on I put in is an aftermarket HUD speedometer. I like it because at night I can see my speed without taking my eyes off the road. It has other stuff, like a tach, but those I don't care about, so I put black tape over those displays on the projector.

[MacklinUSOB]

When I consider options I think of if it is providing me with automation or not. I can drive the car myself, so self-driving/assist features aren't necessary; I can adjust the seats myself, so power seats aren't necessary, and so on. However, when it comes to options that improve the quality of the base vehicle outside of automation I am more than willing to spend the cash. Bring on the Red Dakota, metallic paint, HK, Sport package, coordinated trim. I have had well-optioned vehicles for some time, and the things that break are very consistently what I consider to be unnecessary accessories, particularly sunroofs and power seats. Save money, save weight, save complication. That's my approach.

[jgoens]

I buy my cars with every option and then I add mods to that. I just prefer the car to be the best it can be for as much as I want to spend.