[wac77]

Took delivery last week. What a fantastic car!

I've had two 3-series cars before, and didn't really want to go bigger, but could not wait another year for the F30. So I went for the F10, and the gain in refinement is so dramatic I wonder whether I could ever go back to a 3.

Was a great deal, below invoice. Thanks to whoever posted the tip about using the AmEx Car Buying service a couple of weeks ago.

For pics please visit my garage.

[Bada Bing]

Nice car! Do you have any pictures of the center console area that shows the shifter area, storage tray and cupholders? The design of the center console on MT cars seems like the only area where the designers kind of dropped the ball. The automatic cars appear to have a nicer center console design with full wood trim and dual cupholders with a retractable lid. Manual cars get a single cupholder behind the iDrive controller with no lid (I guess there is another useless one inside the armrest) and a storage tray with a curious looking lid (it looks like it's designed to hold things unless you open the lid). Nevertheless, the 6-speed manual would also be my choice.

[wac77]

Originally Posted by Bada Bing

Nice car! Do you have any pictures of the center console area that shows the shifter area, storage tray and cupholders? The design of the center console on MT cars seems like the only area where the designers kind of dropped the ball. The automatic cars appear to have a nicer center console design with full wood trim and dual cupholders with a retractable lid. Manual cars get a single cupholder behind the iDrive controller with no lid (I guess there is another useless one inside the armrest) and a storage tray with a curious looking lid (it looks like it's designed to hold things unless you open the lid). Nevertheless, the 6-speed manual would also be my choice.

Don't have that pic. You can see pics of an interior exactly like mine with on http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361027 . My comment is I don't mind the single cupholder (and the second one is actually useable, with half of the armrest open), but I would prefer more wood trim on the console. Minor thing IMHO, the car is spectacular either way.

[Bada Bing]

The cupholder design is most likely out of necessity or packaging. I don't think having cupholders in front of the manual shifter would work well (the auto shift lever doesn't physically move the way a manual shifter does). However, I don't see why they could not have provided wood trim over all the area surrounding the shift boot that currently has the black plastic. It just makes it look like they didn't care about the MT models.

In any case, it's a BMW and the driving experience is what matters most. I applaud you for making an enthusiast's choice.

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by Bada Bing

I applaud you for making an enthusiast's choice.

+1

[bodonx]

Originally Posted by wac77

Took delivery last week. What a fantastic car!

I've had two 3-series cars before, and didn't really want to go bigger, but could not wait another year for the F30. So I went for the F10, and the gain in refinement is so dramatic I wonder whether I could ever go back to a 3.

Was a great deal, below invoice. Thanks to whoever posted the tip about using the AmEx Car Buying service a couple of weeks ago.

For pics please visit my garage.

Congratz on the new car!

Do you mind sharing more info about buying from AmEx Car Buying service?

I configured my car on their site. The "your price" is $250 above invoice. Can it still be haggle down when talking to their recommended dealership?

What was your secret?

Thanks in advance.

[dhirm5]

Depends on your geographic location and the car you configure. No secret.

[wac77]

A someone else already answered, there was no secret. I configured what I wanted and it came back with $1250 below invoice. They gave me the names of two dealers that would honor that price. The only condition was that it had to be in stock, which proved hard. One of the dealers had two cars with MT, but wrong colors and options. The other dealer had none, but they searched and found the only blue manual in the area (NY,NJ,CT), for some extra $350. Still a good deal, I thought.