[Jurgen]

Beautiful color, really like it, well done.

[davesf]

Originally Posted by TunedIn

How do you think ceramic controls would look in a light-colored interior ?(like the Dakota Beige leather with Light Wood trim I have on order).

hard to say. they are real classy against dark surfaces. there might be more mismatch between the shiny/smooth ceramic and the more rugged/charactered dakota texture. i've only seen the ceramic with smooth textured nappa (including my black nappa, anthracite, ceramic).

Also, I'm getting the 6SP manual, do you happen to know if the shift lever gets the ceramic replacement ? It all looks great in your car, but I'm not sure if it would look as good in my car. Thanks.

they have ceramics for both the regular automatic and sport automatic shifers.. i would be shocked if they don't have a ceramic manual shifter. check it out in the eu web configurator?

[remmib]

Originally Posted by davesf

they have ceramics for both the regular automatic and sport automatic shifers.. i would be shocked if they don't have a ceramic manual shifter. check it out in the eu web configurator?

Nope, need auto to get the ceramics.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by TunedIn

How do you think ceramic controls would look in a light-colored interior ?(like the Dakota Beige leather with Light Wood trim I have on order). Also, I'm getting the 6SP manual, do you happen to know if the shift lever gets the ceramic replacement ? It all looks great in your car, but I'm not sure if it would look as good in my car. Thanks.

It's difficult to say. My gut feel is you may be better off with the silver, since the dark ceramic finish will stand out a lot - whereas I think it blends very well with the dark wood.

If I was you, I would recommend you get Oyster-Black with either light wood, or Piano Black wood. If you go Piano Black, get the Ceramic Controls.

Oyster really will look amazing with LeMans Blue. BMW Colors - Blue and White.

If you want to create a lighter interior, Oyster with light wood works very well. See this thread.
http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420080

Plus beige is a nightmare to keep clean because of the beige carpets.

[TunedIn]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

It's difficult to say. My gut feel is you may be better off with the silver, since the dark ceramic finish will stand out a lot - whereas I think it blends very well with the dark wood.

If I was you, I would recommend you get Oyster-Black with either light wood, or Piano Black wood. If you go Piano Black, get the Ceramic Controls.

Oyster really will look amazing with LeMans Blue. BMW Colors - Blue and White.

If you want to create a lighter interior, Oyster with light wood works very well. See this thread.
http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420080

Plus beige is a nightmare to keep clean because of the beige carpets.

My wife's 2008 750i with sport package is Monaco Blue (almost exactly the same color as your Imperial Blue 550i) with the Oyster Black interior. I agree it looks great, but there's something from my childhood I suppose that has me always preferring Beige (aka Tan) interiors. Perhaps a red/tan Ferrari Daytona 365GTB I saw early on has forever predisposed me to like this color interior. My 2001 740i was Steel Blue with the Tan interior (and carpets), a very European look which I loved. I just ended up buying new floor mats every 2 years !

Question: PLEASE tell us how much the leather dash cost ! And who is Greg Poland ? THANKS !

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by TunedIn

My wife's 2008 750i with sport package is Monaco Blue (almost exactly the same color as your Imperial Blue 550i) with the Oyster Black interior. I agree it looks great, but there's something from my childhood I suppose that has me always preferring Beige (aka Tan) interiors. Perhaps a red/tan Ferrari Daytona 365GTB I saw early on has forever predisposed me to like this color interior. My 2001 740i was Steel Blue with the Tan interior (and carpets), a very European look which I loved. I just ended up buying new floor mats every 2 years !

Question: PLEASE tell us how much the leather dash cost ! And who is Greg Poland ? THANKS !

$2000. Greg Poland was my BMW Dealer at Pacific BMW. Superb guy - will look into anything you ask, is very transparent, and also gives great deals. I highly recommend him to anyone buying a BMW either in California, or within driving distance of the Performance Center in SC.

[TunedIn]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

$2000. Greg Poland was my BMW Dealer at Pacific BMW. Superb guy - will look into anything you ask, is very transparent, and also gives great deals. I highly recommend him to anyone buying a BMW either in California, or within driving distance of the Performance Center in SC.

Thanks. $2000 for the leather dash is more than I'd want to spend, so I don't need to dwell on that one anymore. Question: Since you were willing to spend that sum, on a fully-loaded 550i, do you regret not spending another $4K - $5K for the Monte Carlo Blue you preferred to the Imperial Blue you ended up getting ?

P.S. - Are you in Southern California, near Glendale BMW, or do you just go through Greg Poland anyway ? (I'm in San Diego, but I'm buying my car through Alexander BMW in downtown Los Angeles).

[stealth.pilot]

No a custom color would have made the US MSRP $90k. At $85k it is on the edge of reason for a 550. At 90k it would be a depreciation nightmare.

Plus I really like Imperial Blue. I would like LeMans better, but I am very happy with this configuration.

[SavetheChief]

Love the entire package (ext + int color). That blue is really gorgeous.

[M2COMP]

It's a gorgeous car. Congrats and drive safe.
I just wanted to ask that 7% discount you get on ED is on base MSRP or does it also includes options as well.
What was your final cost minus travel for 2.
I am thinking about ordering one like yours.

[GTAutoConcepts]

Originally Posted by pittx52011

It's a gorgeous car. Congrats and drive safe.
I just wanted to ask that 7% discount you get on ED is on base MSRP or does it also includes options as well.
What was your final cost minus travel for 2.
I am thinking about ordering one like yours.

The 7% is discounted on the base price, options are full priced. The ED program comes with round trip flight for one person. This is a trip of a lifetime. Congrats OP, car looks great

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by l_taylor

The 7% is discounted on the base price, options are full priced. The ED program comes with round trip flight for one person. This is a trip of a lifetime. Congrats OP, car looks great

What you say about the price is correct, however there is no plane ticket included. You need to cover your own travel costs.

[Lee]

Appreciated your good pics -- used them to choose mine. It's arrived in the dealership and I'll pick it up a little over a week.

Thanks!

[LiveLarger]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

No a custom color would have made the US MSRP $90k. At $85k it is on the edge of reason for a 550. At 90k it would be a depreciation nightmare.

Plus I really like Imperial Blue. I would like LeMans better, but I am very happy with this configuration.

I am a bit jealus you guys get a 550 for under $90K. I had to fork out almost $120K for my 520. And I was getting a discount of 8% ..

Considering the moronic taxes here, BMW was in fact giving a lot more discount for the actual number to pay ending up 8% less.

A 550 would end up costing me twice as much.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Lee

Appreciated your good pics -- used them to choose mine. It's arrived in the dealership and I'll pick it up a little over a week.

Thanks!

Congratulations. You are so lucky have access to Autobahns to fully enjoy a car like this.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by LiveLarger

I am a bit jealus you guys get a 550 for under $90K. I had to fork out almost $120K for my 520. And I was getting a discount of 8% ..

Considering the moronic taxes here, BMW was in fact giving a lot more discount for the actual number to pay ending up 8% less.

A 550 would end up costing me twice as much.

Guess I won't mention the discount we get for military purchases...

[Lee]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Congratulations. You are so lucky have access to Autobahns to fully enjoy a car like this.

Planning my trip as we speak. I'm in Bavaria, so I'm gonna take it home to Munich, down into Salzburg, up into Vienna, and then Prague, and then up to Berlin before heading home -- autobahn all the way back!

Would be very interested in hearing what you think about it, now that you've had it for a while.

Thanks!

[Hunter399]

Beautiful car, love the color combo.

[raddy]

Leather dash makes a huge difference. Diff something I will get!