[SimonB]

Hi guys, sorry that there were no pics yesterday, but I had a power blackout last night until 00:40 this morning..

Anyway, the moment finally arrived and I collected the EBII beast yesterday afternoon.

After more statements along the lines of "Everyone is commenting on the interior! It's the best we've seen on the floor", we did the paperwork. At the end of that, we realised I'd totally forgotten to confirm insurance cover with the arranged agent! Argh! It was, by now, past closing in Brisbane. Phew, temporary BMW insurance organised (but it's competitively priced, so it may stay!)

Here are some pics from the delivery, they're a bit big (I have reduced them from native), but I am sure you won't mind











I took the Sales Manager and the Assistant Manager a bottle of wine each, as they have excelled in their service, none of the delays have been their fault, and I received a BMW M-Sport spray jacket in return. Thanks guys!

After the walk around, the checks and the iDrive update and feature demos and explanations of stuff I wasn't familiar with, we tried to do an auto-park, but couldn't find any suitable spots, in the street (too big) or the dealer car park (too small), so that one will have to wait!

Spent a great drive home playing with HUD (the polarised Oakley's are going to have to be replaced when in the car, but I suspected as much) and playing with Advanced Cruise Control (yippee, THAT is going to be fun).

Lots more info to come. Oh, and another photo or two!

Oh, finally, this was in the boot:

[AtlantaDude]

Very very nice man! She's gorgeous!

[SimonB]

Thanks Bear, I like

For those who came in late:

Estoril Blue
Individual Merino leather in Black with Cashmere Grey stitching and piping
M Sport Package
Adaptive M Suspension
M Sport Brakes
Variable Sport Steering
Comfort Access System
Rear View Camera
Glass Roof
Lane Departure Warning
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function
Parking Assistant
Adaptive Xenon Headlights
Telephony with Extended Smartphone Connectivity
BMW Head-Up Display
DAB+ Tuner
BMW Carbon Fibre interior trim kit
BMW Carbon Fibre Gear Shift kit

To be done in the next week:

Opticoat for the paint, alloys and glass (including mirrors and sunroof).

35% Tint all round, plus sunroof

I think that's it

I should probably add the 'standard' options on the 335i in Oz such as Sports Seats, Pro Nav, electric rear blind, HK Audio etc for the international viewers, just so we get it all...

[KT_F31_EBII]

nice and congrats. btw, they only give you a small hamper? i hope is a dom perignon!

enjoy the ride and look after your b-pillar!!!!

[Ichiro]

Congrats Simon! She looks pretty and that's a fairly extensive list of options.
This has to be the first time I've ever heard of anyone gifting their dealer. They must have been exceptional to deal with.

Enjoy the new ride. EBII is beautiful & Opticoat is a great product to protect it with.

Have you taken any time off work to play with the new toy?

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by KT_F31_EBII

nice and congrats. btw, they only give you a small hamper? i hope is a dom perignon!

LOL - whatever, I don't really care about that stuff.

Originally Posted by KT_F31_EBII

enjoy the ride and look after your b-pillar!!!!

Opticoat being applied shortly, just waiting for Derek to arrive and there's the bell!

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by Ichiro

Congrats Simon! She looks pretty and that's a fairly extensive list of options.

It is a big list, for sure, but why not?

Originally Posted by Ichiro

This has to be the first time I've ever heard of anyone gifting their dealer. They must have been exceptional to deal with.

Well, I had 2 loan cars (318d and 328i Luxury) over two months, at no cost to me other than fuel. That alone was worth a $50 thank you present. I even had a no-fault accident in the first, with no cost passed to me.

Originally Posted by Ichiro

Enjoy the new ride. EBII is beautiful & Opticoat is a great product to protect it with.

Thanks, I intend to. It is just painful that I can't drive it today! I will make up for it over the weekend though.

Originally Posted by Ichiro

Have you taken any time off work to play with the new toy?

Ummmm, maybe

[SteveAus]

At Last!!!!!!!!!
The beast looks beautiful!
You must be a very happy chappie right now!!
Have lots and lots and lots and lots of fun!!

[PabloK]

Nice car. Why does the US get shafted on the leather.

Dakota looks and feels like pickup truck bed liner compared to that fancy Merino.

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by SteveAus

At Last!!!!!!!!!
The beast looks beautiful!
You must be a very happy chappie right now!!
Have lots and lots and lots and lots of fun!!

Thanks SteveAus, I am very happy, yes. I'll be even happier after my coding session this afternoon

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by PabloK

Nice car. Why does the US get shafted on the leather.

its payback for low prices, low interest rates and transparent pricing

Originally Posted by PabloK

Dakota looks and feels like pickup truck bed liner compared to that fancy Merino.

It does, yes. Will take more pics tomorrow or over the weekend.

[PabloK]

Is Merino on the door panels as well?

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by PabloK

Is Merino on the door panels as well?

It's different to the normal Dakota finish, but not the same leather as the seats - it's like a quilted effect. Will take better pics soon, but here's one from last week taken with the iPhone...

God, this thing sucks with attaching pics on the iPad. Will take pics later and upload them to my photo site, too hard like this.

[dcg71]

Enjoy that beast!

[Sherweeeny]

Freaking finally! Definitely looks worth the wait! Congrats!!

[drjekl]

Beautiful car mate, congratulations!

[Spikey]

That's a very nice car with a very nice list of options~!! congrats on finally driving away with the new toy

[SimonB]

Thanks to the last 3 posters. Sherweeney, Spikey and dj someone (sorry, can't review on the app).

I drove down and back to Baldivis this afternoon (about an hour down and 45 back on the freeway) and used the ACC and was blown away. What an absolutely fucking brilliant piece of tech! In conjunction with Nav, HUD and all the rest, wow...

More in another post when my iPad is recharged some!

[328iFan]

Looks fabulous . I'm sure you'll have a smile every morning when you get up. When you have a spare moment, do you mind providing a few comments on how the 335i compares to the 328i please? I was hoping to upgrade mine, but not sure if its worth those extra $$$.

[jon102034050]

Looks great!

[SimonB]

328iFan, I'm not sure I can put it into words that adequately describe it. I'm not a technical car person, so let me just say this...

When I drove the 328i on the race track with BMW, I was surprised at the get up and go and had a new respect as a result. I will say though that I did put the pedal to the metal at the initial start though and it did hit its limit, I would describe it as spirited, but a little wanting.

The 335i? Well, it's mine and still less than 200km old, so I haven't pushed it, but I have, on a couple of occasions, put in in Sport mode (not Sport+ yet), while turning out of a driveway onto a busy road and given it some welly. Holy, snapping, duckshit, batman. There is a beast there that is still to be fully unleashed. No sign of a limit, I suspect I will hit mine before the car hits its. The sound of the 6 from inside the car is something special too, I can only imagine what it sounds like from outside!

[MikeVictor]

So have you had the time to have a good drive of the new wheels this weekend?

Originally Posted by 328iFan

Looks fabulous . I'm sure you'll have a smile every morning when you get up. When you have a spare moment, do you mind providing a few comments on how the 335i compares to the 328i please? I was hoping to upgrade mine, but not sure if its worth those extra $$$.

Having come from a 135i I can attest to the strength of the N54, and I imagine that the N55 is splitting hairs when it comes to the (notwithstanding the obvious mechanical) differences. Unless you were tracking your car and lap times meant a whole lot to you, or alternatively the word "affordability" is a minor consideration only (especially since LCT kicks in at a whole lot lower level), the 328i is a great balanced choice IMHO. I thought I'd miss the 6cyl a lot more than I actually do, and my wallet certainly doesn't when I fill up either.