[mani]

ok, so E92 330i due to go back in March and with a new baby needed something more family friendly and economical... so, I've ordered:

F10 520d SE
6 Speed Manual
Space Grey
Oyster / Black interior
18" Alloys
Black Headlining
Ambient Lighting
Sun Protection Glass
Xenon Headlights (essential - first option I ticked)
Electric Memory Seats (std on my current car so now essential ;o)
Sports Seats (essential - although debated long and hard about comfort Vs Sport)
Automatic Bootlid (complete indulgence)
Reversing Camera (bit of an indulgence)
USB and Heated Front Seats (now std in the f10)

I agonised over dropping some of these options for pro-nav but couldn't justify it based on how often I need sat nav and the other options I really wanted.

Due mid-April apparently. Will be quite different to my current car but looking forward to a change and think the F10 is a great looking car, plus its a bit of a stop gap car - will only have the F10 for 2 years and thinking I may go F11 or new 3-series after that (didn't want to order another 3er if it was getting replaced this year).

So begins the wait...!

[uhn2000]

Wow.. nice order man.. very very nice! The F10 is a looker.. every time I see one on the road I wonder.

[k44ENT]

Very nice! I have the sports seats and they are very good but as you are going for the memory option it's only another £375 to get the comfort seats, worth it IMO. I would also go for the sports steering wheel at £110, much nicer than the standard one. Oyster / Black is very nice as well

[james d]

Fab,but definitely agree with E61 re Comfort Seats and Steering Wheel.I would also add Folding mirrors to the "bit of an indulgence" column,Pro Hifi to the "complete" column but delete the reversing camera as F/R Sensors do a fine job.

[northernmonkey]

if you need some practicality ditch the auto bootlid or reverse camera in favour of the split fold seats....yes it is amazing a car at this price doesn't have split fold rear seats as std and if your not going F11 yet the split fold option does give you some practicality at least for odd occasions you need to transport larger loads

if it was out of the two i'd do without the camera, bit of a gimmic, works well but the sensors do a good job as last poster stated.

[deejaygee]

Pro nav is really a must in my opinion makes the car!

[delvek]

Congrats on your order, the wait will eventually pass and you will be enjoying your new F10!

[mani]

Originally Posted by james d

Fab,but definitely agree with E61 re Comfort Seats and Steering Wheel.I would also add Folding mirrors to the "bit of an indulgence" column,Pro Hifi to the "complete" column but delete the reversing camera as F/R Sensors do a fine job.

good point... I forgot to include 'Sports Steering Wheel' in the list. The test car had it and thought it looked much nicer than the std item.

Debated about the pro hifi also but after reading lots of reviews it seemed the opinion was the standard item was ok (and better than the crap one in my current car anyway).

Folding mirrors... not sure I'd use them as car is rarely park in garage/on street.

Agree with comfort seats... came very close but as I had lots of other options decided not to go the whole hog.

The boot lid was one of those things... basically was considering the split fold rear seats (which I think is incredible that its not standard) but over the course of two years worked out costing me an extra £280. For that much I could pay for delivery on the few things I might need to transport. On the other hand, £280 didn't seem enough to pay for someone to stand and open and close my boot on demand ;o)

[northernmonkey]

the "bmw business loudspeaker pack" hifi upgrade (400GBP odd i think) is well worth it IMHO if you don't want to stretch for the "pro" upgrade.

I've got the business hifi in my f11 and am very pleased with the sound quality at all volume levels. for me it was a lot better than the standard setup for kind of music i play. if you mostly just listen to talk radio programs std would be fine or don't like to crank up your tunes

I've had two E60's before one with standard audio and one with business hifi and the car I didn't have it in I always regretted it so this time I wasn't making the same mistake, one of the first options i ticked as must have.

[Titanflux]

Great choices there. The sports steering wheel is a no- brainer for the cost in my opinion, especially in combo with sports auto gearbox - but if you prefer a manual then that's fine too!

I ordered just over 2 weeks ago, and am down for a week 10 build with collection estimate of 15th April

[mani]

quick update: my estimated delivery is 22nd April... seems AGES away..!

Any suggestions on how to pass away the wait ? (already downloaded the manual from the US site ;o)

[james d]

How about giving us your final spec after all our advice.....then we can all tell you where you went wrong and you can tear your hair out/give your dealer a ring to see if it's too late to change spec!

[F11-Diesel]

Sun protecting glass?
You're in England!

[james d]

That's a low blow! Especially from sub-Saharan Netherlands.

[delvek]

Originally Posted by james d

How about giving us your final spec after all our advice.....then we can all tell you where you went wrong and you can tear your hair out/give your dealer a ring to see if it's too late to change spec!

+1

[mani]

ok, ok, so sun protection glass was more 'cosmetic' than 'functional' for UK..... ;o)

the option I think I made a mistake on was ordering reversing camera rather than upgrading memory sports seats up to full 'comfort' seats... hmmm, wonder if its too late...!

The other one was split folding rear seats. Assume the boot is big enough? Should I change this? Damnit! I might need to go back to the dealer.....

[mani]

and final spec so we're clear:

520d SE
6MT
Space Grey
Oyster Black

255 Sports Lthr Steering Wheel-3 Spoke
2K2 18in Light Alloy V Spoke
316 Automatic Bootlid Operation
320 Model Designation Deletion
3AG Reversing Assist Camera
3AP Windscreen Grey Shade Band
459 Front Seat Adjustment+Elect Dr Memry
481 Front Sport Seats+Part-Elect Adjust
4UR Ambient Interior Lighting
522 Xenon Headlights For Low/High Beam
761 Sun Protection Glass (aka, anti snow and rain glare glass for UK market)
775 Anthracite Headlining

[james d]

I warned you....here goes
Reversing camera-bin it
Seats-upgrade to Comfort
Split/folding seats- must have
Model designation delete-fine on a 550,but on a 520D SE-Pretentious,Moi?
Air-con-Extended features- worth it
Anthracite headlining- who looks up there?
Food for thought?

[mani]

ok...I'll bite...

Air Con Extended features.... what are those features as it never said in the brochure??

Also - model deletion - funny, I didn't bother ticking that option on my 330i ;o)

[james d]

Extended air con gives you dual control with sync and max cooling buttons,anti fogging and solar sensors and nicer looking knobs!
The 520D badge gives you licence to wave smugly at hybrid and electric car owners

[F11-Diesel]

Mani, sorry for the spectacle joke, couldn't resist.
I am with James advise, especially the comfort seats are a must have.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by james d

I warned you....here goes
Reversing camera-bin it
Seats-upgrade to Comfort
Split/folding seats- must have
Model designation delete-fine on a 550,but on a 520D SE-Pretentious,Moi?
Air-con-Extended features- worth it
Anthracite headlining- who looks up there?
Food for thought?

Post of the day, hands down