[DDarkEnergy]

In priority order in my humble opinion the must have are:

1 - Lights, LED or Xenons.
2 - Auto gearbox
3 - HUD. A fantastic safety device, you have all the relevant information in front of you. No need to take your eyes away from the road.
4 - Reversing camera. When reversing at night particularly into tight spots it is indeed a must. Parking sensors are useless in these situations.

Other important accesories are:

Seats. I have the confi ones
Folding mirrors.
Sunroof. Grandchildren love it.
Lane departure

[CmdllbF11]

Originally Posted by SpeedTrip

Have you used the feature?

Its more than a simple Vid of the scene behind you, has guiderails superimposed and colour-coded graphics indicating which sensor has fired up .... and highlights small things that the sensors dont - like lazy bloody cats !

Cats deserve to die if they don't move

[Piers]

Oyster leather
Auto
Pro media
MSport
MFD
Folding Mirrors
Ambient lighting for door handles etc

[accordRE]

Originally Posted by Piers

Oyster leather
Auto
Pro media
MSport
MFD
Folding Mirrors
Ambient lighting for door handles etc

Agree with most of that

I don't have pro media, but I've found Business Media to be great. The screen has a nice resolution, nav is clear and and it does everything you'd want from a nav system.

I'd swap out MFD for Business Advanced audio or Harmon Kardon, the standard sound system on these cars isn't brilliant but the upgraded systems are both very nice to listen to.

[Deano_uk]

So its looks like the following will be my choice
Oyster leather
Auto
Pro media
Luxury
MFD
Reversing Camera
And maybe sports seats

Only issue now is I spotted a space grey F10 on the way home and now I'm torn between Sophisto and space....

Also booked a 72 hour demo so I can have a play before I place my order.

Thanks again for all the tips.
Dean

[accordRE]

Originally Posted by Deano_uk

So its looks like the following will be my choice
Oyster leather
Auto
Pro media
Luxury
MFD
Reversing Camera
And maybe sports seats

Only issue now is I spotted a space grey F10 on the way home and now I'm torn between Sophisto and space....

Also booked a 72 hour demo so I can have a play before I place my order.

Thanks again for all the tips.
Dean

72 Hours! That's mighty generous of your dealer

Just my opinion but Sports Seats are a must imo. The standard seats are definitely a grade below in material quality and aesthetically make the cabin look much nicer.

[hajmuntz]

I have an F11 520d luxury LCI.

Options I love:
Pro media
Bluetooth office
Auto box

Options I really wish I had chosen:
A more powerful engine.
Sunroof.
Hi Fi upgrade.

Options I never use:
Gearbox paddles
Extended luggage pack.

[andyk500]

For me of the options I have, it's pro media combined with HUD, MFD and speed limit display. Also love the LED lights on country lanes and find the surround view really useful when backing into a parking space to check you are square on. Don't really use park assist or the flappy paddles.

[Piers]

Space Grey FTW

[bd250]

My 520d is sophistico, oyster and fineline anthracite. Combined with the auto and pro media the cabin is a wonderful place to spend time.
The 8AT is the option I would have above all others. After that pro media and heated seats.
My car was a stock car, but in the colour/trim I wanted, so it has folding seats that I would not necessarily have paid for, but have been really useful.
If I had my time over again I would defiantly have memory seats. There is an enormous amount of adjustment in the seats and driving position, so if you do have a plus one who drives your car it's worth considering. Just to be aware the standard and sports seats don't have adjustable lumbar support as standard. My back isn't the best, but I don't feel the sports seats lack lumbar support.

[Deano_uk]

Originally Posted by bd250

My 520d is sophistico, oyster and fineline anthracite. Combined with the auto and pro media the cabin is a wonderful place to spend time.
The 8AT is the option I would have above all others. After that pro media and heated seats.
My car was a stock car, but in the colour/trim I wanted, so it has folding seats that I would not necessarily have paid for, but have been really useful.
If I had my time over again I would defiantly have memory seats. There is an enormous amount of adjustment in the seats and driving position, so if you do have a plus one who drives your car it's worth considering. Just to be aware the standard and sports seats don't have adjustable lumbar support as standard. My back isn't the best, but I don't feel the sports seats lack lumbar support.

Thanks for that, do you have any photos you could share of your car?
The Configurator on the BMW site isn't great and Id love to see some real pictures.

[bd250]

Absolutely.

http://flic.kr/p/nAMLqg
http://flic.kr/p/njia4u
http://flic.kr/p/nCySex
http://flic.kr/p/njidvi

I think sophistico is a great colour and works really well with oyster. I know some find the idea of "beige leather and wood trim" very ye olde world Jag, but I think it looks modern and so much brighter than the coal-mine carbon black.

[gspannu]

Sophisto Grey & Oyster [This was my 2013 F10]
Callisto Grey & Oyster [My current 2014 F10]

Sophisto Grey is a great colour (slowly becoming common); Callisto Grey is more rare at the moment.

Oyster inside is a no brainer; it does look beautiful; or if you can extend your budget; go for the Exclusive Mocha/brown interior.

Other things...
- 8 speed Auto [must have]
- A bigger Engine
- Comfort seats (or at least sports seats)
- Active Cruise
- Folding Mirrors [ that this is not standard]
- Reverse Camera (preferably with surround view). The F10 is a huge car and rear visibility is not brilliant unless you are very tall.
- HUD
- MFID
- Safety systems (Lane Departure, Blind Spot, Auto Parking, etc..)
- Comfort Access
- Motorised Boot
- Adaptive LEDs
- others...

[bd250]

I think I would agree with "bigger engine" or at least a 525d. It's not that the 520 is underpowered, it just gets a bit out of puff at motorway speeds when you want to overtake quickly. As I said mine came from stock with a huge discount, the 525d would have been about 8k more, unless I took a white ex-demo which I wasn't keen on.
I've made enquiries about the M Performance Kit. I've been quoted 1900 quid, so that's an alternative option.

If I was ordering from the factory I would have
Sophistico & Oyster
Pro Nav (enhanced Bluetooth is now standard again)
M sport plus package (wheels, spoiler and privacy glass look great, HK sounds fab)
Heated Seats (can't believe they are not standard)
Lumbar Support (as above)
Memory seats (just for convenience)
Comfort Access (because there is nowhere sensible to put the key)
Folding seats (added practicality)
Folding/auto dimming mirrors (it's a wide car)

For me that's a good balance between toys and outlay, YMMV of course.

HUD, active cruise, etc are just not worth it for me. Although the F10 is big I find PDC more than adequate, so I wouldn't bother with the cameras. I suspect BMW will do another pack/ edition at some point towards the end of the F10s life with active cruise, cameras etc but at current prices no thanks.

[Piers]

enhanced bluetooth is standard now!!! Arrgg!!!
Space Grey FTW still
Oyster, of my so beautiful, so glad I took the plunge!

[GMTRB5]

Enhanced bluetooth isn't showing as standard currently? I'm just finalising the final spec for my order with the dealer and enhanced bluetooth is still a cost option of circa £350?

[Jocky Wilson]

Pretty sure that heated seats ARE standard. At least they were when I purchased a new F11 in February.

[gspannu]

...
Heated seats are standard (on the front) in F10
Enhanced Bluetooth can be software coded if you have Pro Media

[Piers]

Originally Posted by gspannu

...
Enhanced Bluetooth can be software coded if you have Pro Media

Ah yes, that is not the same as free from BMW though. Someone mentioned earlier it is now standard, thought it was odd they had changed it, after it was free in the E60!

[GMTRB5]

It isn't standard currently .. still a cost option

[bd250]

Ooops, I'm confusing my 3 and 5 series spec. On the 3 business and pro nav ow includes EBT by default, it also has RTTI and uses the same computer, just the smaller screen. Doesn't seem that's made it to the 5 yet.
Frankly calling Pro Nav a "media package" is pushing it unless EBT is part of the pack.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by bd250

Ooops, I'm confusing my 3 and 5 series spec. On the 3 business and pro nav ow includes EBT by default, it also has RTTI and uses the same computer, just the smaller screen. Doesn't seem that's made it to the 5 yet.
Frankly calling Pro Nav a "media package" is pushing it unless EBT is part of the pack.

The 5 series does have Bluetooth as standard, this gets you the standard connectivity (the same as what other manufacturers do).

Enhanced BT gives you 2 phones, Voice Control, streaming, etc... I think BMW is entitled to milk this option (at least for this year) - as the Enhanced Options are not really a standard on other manufacturer cars either.

My real gripe with BMW charging for silly stuff is 'Folding Electric Mirrors' - spend £60k on a car and you still have to cough up the additional £250 or something for electric folding mirrors