[NoLemon]

I bought an almost perfect (no xenon adaptive headlights) Melbourne red sport 328i a couple days ago and I just love how it drives! However, I noticed a few things that were missing and I thought would be included automatically. No alarm, first aid kit, road hazard triangle and split fold down rear seats...These things are just annoyances, not a big deal but I will definitely custom order my next BMW so I get those extra details you expect on a 48k vehicle.

My question is why have that ugly bulb on the rearview, if there is no alarm?

[shabadoo25]

BMW's have many built in anti-theft features that make driving them after a theft very difficult. The only thing you are missing without the alarm is the audible part.

Split fold down rear seats are now included in the 2013 models. As for other options, BMW=pay through the nose for them.

[dbpe]

The first aid kit and road hazard triangle disappeared from the US cars a while ago apparently. Was this a cost savings measure (it still didn't keep my 3 under $60k MSRP) or do we just drive safer here?

[rmnoonan]

Originally Posted by NoLemon

I bought an almost perfect (no xenon adaptive headlights) Melbourne red sport 328i a couple days ago and I just love how it drives! However, I noticed a few things that were missing and I thought would be included automatically. No alarm, first aid kit, road hazard triangle and split fold down rear seats...These things are just annoyances, not a big deal but I will definitely custom order my next BMW so I get those extra details you expect on a 48k vehicle.

My question is why have that ugly bulb on the rearview, if there is no alarm?

Twist the ugly bulb! I was wondering what it was doing there also, until I realized that the car didn't have the "flip" lever most cars did to block headlights!

[mocohead]

You only get the warning triangle and first aid kit when you do euro delivery. They can be purchased from BMW parts and accessories catalogs if you really want them.

[NoLemon]

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

Twist the ugly bulb! I was wondering what it was doing there also, until I realized that the car didn't have the "flip" lever most cars did to block headlights!

So what is that ugly thing? It doesn't twist on my car.

[AndDown]

Originally Posted by NoLemon

So what is that ugly thing? It doesn't twist on my car.

On my 2001 X5 (no auto dimming) the "clown nose" is like the flip lever to dim the mirror - just twist it. Also, it functions as a red blinking light to indicate when the alarm is on (anti-theft option was standard).

On my 2003 325i (with auto dimming) it doesn't twist but still functions as a red blinking light to indicate alarm is on (it has the anti-theft option).

On my 2013 328i (with auto dimming) it doesn't twist and since I don't have the anti-theft option, it doesn't blink (no alarm). Not sure what it functions for the 2013 F30 without the anti-theft option since auto dimming is now standard for 2013.

[AndDown]

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

Twist the ugly bulb! I was wondering what it was doing there also, until I realized that the car didn't have the "flip" lever most cars did to block headlights!

For the 2013 models, the rear view mirrors have the auto dimming feature, so the "clown nose" doesn't twist.

[JUSKIDN]

you should have gotten a good deal on a 2012 this late in the year. The 2013 has better standard features.

[Bmwphile]

Originally Posted by NoLemon

I bought an almost perfect (no xenon adaptive headlights) Melbourne red sport 328i a couple days ago and I just love how it drives! However, I noticed a few things that were missing and I thought would be included automatically. No alarm, first aid kit, road hazard triangle and split fold down rear seats...These things are just annoyances, not a big deal but I will definitely custom order my next BMW so I get those extra details you expect on a 48k vehicle.

My question is why have that ugly bulb on the rearview, if there is no alarm?

On Aussie 328i we get first aid kit, road hazard triangle, split fold rear seats, and auto dimming rear view mirror as standard features, but no alarm. Goes part of the reason my car cost about $AU or $US 80K. More than 30K than what you guys in the US are paying