[ben_e71]

Firstly hi I'm new but I've been lurking for a few days.

I am speccing up a company car so want to max the most useful options whilst keeping costs tight (don't want to waste money on a car I don't own).

So base car 520d SE saloon.

Need to choose black or white so money can be used on options (tempted by white but worried I will look like a wedding car)

I have choice of Pro or Business Nav - now I know everyone says Pro nav is much better - but why specifically? I can live with the smaller screen so what functionality do you lose? If I go business I could add DAB is it worth it?

Thinking I should upgrade to xenons as dull lights are by biggest bugbear - but is it worth the extra ££ to go for visibility pack - ie are adaptive lights a must and if so why?

Finally allowing myself a little pimpage ambient lighting is nice especially for the door handle lights like I have on my 1 series.

Sorry for all the questons but having read loads I am still confused as bit?

cheers

B

[northernmonkey]

Originally Posted by ben_e71

Firstly hi I'm new but I've been lurking for a few days.

I am speccing up a company car so want to max the most useful options whilst keeping costs tight (don't want to waste money on a car I don't own).

So base car 520d SE saloon.

Need to choose black or white so money can be used on options (tempted by white but worried I will look like a wedding car)

I have choice of Pro or Business Nav - now I know everyone says Pro nav is much better - but why specifically? I can live with the smaller screen so what functionality do you lose? If I go business I could add DAB is it worth it?

Thinking I should upgrade to xenons as dull lights are by biggest bugbear - but is it worth the extra ££ to go for visibility pack - ie are adaptive lights a must and if so why?

Finally allowing myself a little pimpage ambient lighting is nice especially for the door handle lights like I have on my 1 series.

Sorry for all the questons but having read loads I am still confused as bit?

cheers

B

Bought my car private so no idea what monthly diff is on pro bs bus nav but I would always go pro nav. The bigger screen is worth it when actually navigating or using split screen function.

If budget tight forget ambient lighting and put that towards pro nav IMHO

I have ambient lighting on my 530d (STD I think on 530) hardly notice it. Not an option that comes in useful especially if you are looking for funds to buy pro nav.

Dab worth it. I went for it use it all time. Visibility pack also must have IMO.

[Jon D]

Adaptive xenons are amazing, especially up here in the northern darkness. You see around corners before you get there.

[Mud]

Pro nav and visibility package.

[xenon]

Echo the above: Pro-Nav is so much better with the split screen - with standard nav you can't split the screen so it's nav or nothing. Also, you get the ugly plastic fillers around the screen.

Adaptive xenons really are superb.

[ben_e71]

thanks chaps

[Hub Dub]

Originally Posted by ben_e71

thanks chaps

Definitely Pro Nav.

I went for the Halogens and wish I'd gone for the Xenons, but still balk at the cost.

I'm delighted with the ambient lighting - along with comfort access is by far the best value for money option.

I'd go Alpine White

[ben_e71]

cheers .. I think I've narrowed it down to adaptive and pro nav and that's my limit used up.

The only thing nagging me now is the 320d Msport plus I drove ...

[northernmonkey]

Originally Posted by ben_e71

cheers .. I think I've narrowed it down to adaptive and pro nav and that's my limit used up.

The only thing nagging me now is the 320d Msport plus I drove ...

Don't let it.....within months that 320d will be the "old model" and people will talk about you behind your back

[ben_e71]

What are the differences for going for the sport box and steering wheel, flappy levers I know on steering wheel but what else?

[northernmonkey]

Originally Posted by ben_e71

What are the differences for going for the sport box and steering wheel, flappy levers I know on steering wheel but what else?

Theres more to the sports auto trans than the flappy paddles. Threads like one I've linked below will give some idea. Think when I ordered difference between auto and sports auto was 100 GBP, no brainer. Go for it!

http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=551946

[ben_e71]

Thanks. I've tried to read as much as possible, but playing catch up a bit.

[JohnF]

Hi, got my 520d SE sports auto last week. I added VDC, which is great, a huge improvement on the demostrator I had without VDC. Really worth it to kill the slightly jiggly ride of the standard car. The option I did not include, which I think I might regret was lumbar support on the standard seats, or maybe sports seats instead. The standard seats lack really good lumbar support for me.