[TonyMeister]

Everything is attached to another option or package.

If you want the $500 paddle shifters, you've got to order the $2.200 Sport package and same goes for the $2.700 "Dynamic Handling Package". If you want parking assist, you've got to order the $1.750 "Driver Assistance Package". It must be said, however that you can't have the parking assist in the xDrive models; DAP is a $1.350 in the xDrive models.

The worst offender of this "BMW USA Option Ripoff" is the Premium Package 2. It costs $4.500 in the 528 and 535i and adds the $1.800 Premium Package 1 and yet the premium package 2 is a $2.400 option in the 550i. WTF?! Why such discrimination against the customers who don't want a V8 in their lives???

[guji]

550i has more items as standard, so it is cheaper.

[ibimmer954]

Yes, the options may be more packaged. But the last I checked, overall the car is much cheaper in the U.S. than it is anywhere else in the world. Even Deutschland.

I think the big difference is the leather seats which are standard in the 550i but not the other models.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

overall the car is much cheaper in the U.S. than it is anywhere else in the world. Even Deutschland.
.

Bingo.

Ever try to option any Japanese car? Especially Toyota? The BMW options list looks like a smorgasboard in comparison.

[Losco]

Originally Posted by TonyMeister

Everything is attached to another option or package.

If you want the $500 paddle shifters, you've got to order the $2.200 Sport package and same goes for the $2.700 "Dynamic Handling Package". If you want parking assist, you've got to order the $1.750 "Driver Assistance Package". It must be said, however that you can't have the parking assist in the xDrive models; DAP is a $1.350 in the xDrive models.

The worst offender of this "BMW USA Option Ripoff" is the Premium Package 2. It costs $4.500 in the 528 and 535i and adds the $1.800 Premium Package 1 and yet the premium package 2 is a $2.400 option in the 550i. WTF?! Why such discrimination against the customers who don't want a V8 in their lives???

OK, here's what we get in Japan.

528i base: 7,150,000 yen, tax included <- $88,328

and we only have 4 options to add, anything else = individual order

comfort package: comfort + vent seat, rear heated seat for 270,000 yen <- $3,335
M-sport package: 390,000 yen, <- $4,818 kinda like sports package + aero.
innovation package: night vision, lane change warning, ACC, HUD for 740,000!!!! yen <- $9,142
advanced active safety package: 350,000yen <- $4,324, above package with no HUD and no night vision. they added this recently so wasnt there when I got my F10.

you US folks got it good, trust me. I tried to add 6FL and was told to custom order which meant my dealer would give me 2k discount instead of 10k....

[AlexK]

I agree, the choice of options is somewhat limited. At least it's better than any model from Lexus USA... When I try to "configure" (for example) an IS350, the only 2 real options I have is either "package A" or "package B"

[bdardashti]

Originally Posted by TonyMeister

Everything is attached to another option or package.

It must be said, however that you can't have the parking assist in the xDrive models; DAP is a $1.350 in the xDrive models.

I'd agree with what everyone else has been saying. Generally BMWNA doesn't offer as much choice for individual option selection. But BMW Canada is even worse. We get one or two options at most. Everything else is bundled into packages. And random packages too.

But parking assist not being offered in xDrive is not a business decision, but a technical one. Parking assist requires power steering, which xDrive F10s don't have. The xDrive models continue to come with hydraulic steering.

[Losco]

Originally Posted by AlexK

I agree, the choice of options is somewhat limited. At least it's better than any model from Lexus USA... When I try to "configure" (for example) an IS350, the only 2 real options I have is either "package A" or "package B"

That's same in Japan too. it's supposed to be "fully optioned"
Its got to do with how Japanese ppl not being able to decide with so many options...

[F11-Diesel]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

Yes, the options may be more packaged. But the last I checked, overall the car is much cheaper in the U.S. than it is anywhere else in the world. Even Deutschland.

Say that again!
You in the US are the lucky ones!
Is tax the only explanation for this?

To the OP;
The x models have hydrolic steering so the electric functions of the steering in RWD such as PA are not possible. But why consider AWD, the main fuctiion is the added weight, responsible for lesser driving capabilities and poorer MPG.