We'll have to disagree on the HK gramophone Tom I think it’s poor, lacking in depth, but I guess it s ok for the outlay. BMW have cheaped out on the new car imo, seat switches for example are old ones, and nothing better than is on a base model 1 series, window switches, the same, just a couple of examples but all these things add up to a parts bin raid car rather than a bespoke effort. Burmester is so much better than the Bose which a agree is far too boomy, lots of power with sub standard speakers...excuse the sub pun....
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The boxy has a bespoke GTS pack, and to get rid of the Alcantara has a very real impact on future values as most people who want a GTS want the pack, according to the sales guys. The only reason to rid the pack is to add cooled seats, you can’t spec them on Alcantara, but as I prefer cloth over leather that was fine with me.
The base 718 starts at 47k, add a few juicy options and you’re at the M40i price, I know which I’d rather have.... I didn’t buy a GTS because it was top of the tree, it was because the options I wanted meant that a specced up base car was the price of a set of carbon ceramics off the GTS, so I ditched the ceramics and paid just 1.5k more for a fully loaded GTS. This car will lose significantly less than a loaded base car so it was a no brainer.
BMW don’t offer cooled seats, Burmester, 18 way adjustable seats, air scarf, for example, which is madness, why not..? You don’t have to pick them but to have the choice would be ideal, I don’t get why they don’t offer them and was another reason why I didn’t buy one.

The boxy has a bespoke GTS pack, and to get rid of the Alcantara has a very real impact on future values as most people who want a GTS want the pack, according to the sales guys. The only reason to rid the pack is to add cooled seats, you can’t spec them on Alcantara, but as I prefer cloth over leather that was fine with me.
The base 718 starts at 47k, add a few juicy options and you’re at the M40i price, I know which I’d rather have.... I didn’t buy a GTS because it was top of the tree, it was because the options I wanted meant that a specced up base car was the price of a set of carbon ceramics off the GTS, so I ditched the ceramics and paid just 1.5k more for a fully loaded GTS. This car will lose significantly less than a loaded base car so it was a no brainer.
BMW don’t offer cooled seats, Burmester, 18 way adjustable seats, air scarf, for example, which is madness, why not..? You don’t have to pick them but to have the choice would be ideal, I don’t get why they don’t offer them and was another reason why I didn’t buy one.