Help with narrowing the field please...

M

moxox

New member
Hi,
What are considered the real 'must have' optional extras please? I'm committed to an auto, and have a budget of 22-23k ( 20k cash plus E46 trade-in).
Specifically, the BMW navigation? the elec seats,or heated seats? folding mirrors? PDC? and also is cruise standard? Upgraded stereo?
Also, does experience indicate a 'Tracker' is a worthwhile 'extra'?

So many questions...but any responses gratefully received, looking to hunt down the 'best' (for me) car in next 4 weeks or so...and all pointers welcome!
 
Hi moxox and welcome to the forum. I had the same problem when looking for mine and managed after weeks of looking to find the perfect car. It's down to personal requirements to be honest. For me, what I had to have as a must was:

Front PDC
Heated seats
Sports seats
Powerfold mirrors
Cruise control
Uprated stereo
Blue-tooth
USB interface
Extended storage

I wasn't bothered about electric seats or sat-nav. A Tracker is a good option but doesn't reduce your insurance I have found with my company. Some insurance companies do insist on having one fitted. Aviva did on my M3 due to it's value and I had to have one fitted on my motorhome as well.
 
E89 Satnav is a Must. - it is nav/phone/playlist for harddrive, vehicle settings etc. In my view its sort of the heart of the car inside. It was the top of the list followed by:

M sport model ( sports seats)
Cruise
Heated seats
PDC front and back
Connectivity pack
Folding mirrors
 
'Cruise' isn't standard and adaptive suspension is a must in my opinion, pdc also useful, folding mirrors - i have them and never use them, auto dimming is useful, as i get older heated seats nice
 
i think sat nav is not worth the extra money, nice to have if its thrown in, but a tomtom is probably better
 
Are you purely focussed on gadgets? If it were me... I'd be focussed on the car. i.e. Get the best engine I could afford, then look at interior items after that. If you want the look but not the running cost or performance, get the 23i. If you want performance, which frankly, its a sports car, why wouldn't you, then get the 35i.
 
Maniac said:
Are you purely focussed on gadgets? If it were me... I'd be focussed on the car. i.e. Get the best engine I could afford, then look at interior items after that. If you want the look but not the running cost or performance, get the 23i. If you want performance, which frankly, its a sports car, why wouldn't you, then get the 35i.
Click to expand...

Or if you want something in between, get the 30l, as for options

Heated Seats
BMW Business stereo 245 Watts, standard stereo is 4 x 25 watts, i.e. rubbish
Sports seats
Storage pack
 
Heated seats are very nice to have, because they extend the temperature range for comfortable top-down motoring. I decided that was a must-have when I was looking for my Z4. I did not care too much about the rest of the options.
 
Thanks everyone, what a really helpful set of responses. To start with the car, there seem to be quite a few about, to be honest the order for me is - condition, engine, colour, extras. I (think) I know the answers to the first 3, and the above provide a really good start to the last one.
I'm still a bit vague about cruise, could someone explain how that fits in - is it on the steering wheel, part of another package?

Thanks again!
 
As others have said. heated seats are really nice to have. I would prefer if PDC was on the front given the long nose...

I miss the cruise I had on my e46 3 series.... :(
 
moxox said:
Thanks everyone, what a really helpful set of responses. To start with the car, there seem to be quite a few about, to be honest the order for me is - condition, engine, colour, extras. I (think) I know the answers to the first 3, and the above provide a really good start to the last one.
I'm still a bit vague about cruise, could someone explain how that fits in - is it on the steering wheel, part of another package?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Cruise is on the steering column, like the old z4. It can be ordered seperately but I rink its part of the comfort pack too.
its worth having.
I found PDC more important in the e89. Its not so easy to place when parking as the e85/6.
 
moxox said:
Thanks everyone, what a really helpful set of responses. To start with the car, there seem to be quite a few about, to be honest the order for me is - condition, engine, colour, extras. I (think) I know the answers to the first 3, and the above provide a really good start to the last one.
I'm still a bit vague about cruise, could someone explain how that fits in - is it on the steering wheel, part of another package?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Cruise is on the steering column, like the old z4. It can be ordered seperately but I rink its part of the comfort pack too.
its worth having.
I found PDC more important in the e89. Its not so easy to place when parking as the e85/6.
 
It has been mentined before concentrate on the car not the gadgets.

My first z4 had the lot but was not a lot of difference in price whan i got it when 2 years old. SO gadgets are worthless in trade in but make it easier to sell.

the other 2 were si sport so had most of the gadgets from the first except the sat nav. I would never get one with sat nav again, the screen failed 3 times and last time was out of wrt so they wanted £770+vat +2 hrs fitting. I did get it for free as it ws only 3 months old when replaced so they took it up with the supplier. My HTC phoe with copilot is way better.

We all have a price and wants if the following 3 were up at the same price

1.2 year old 3.0 s drive 9K miles auto grey, red leather
1.5 year old 2.3 M sport 12K miles maual grey black leather
2 year old 3.0 s drive black with black leathe satnav all trinkets 5K miles

I would get the 1st one, I think the bigger engine and red interior pulls my chain (Im biased as this is one Im getting on Wed) the 2 year one is less wtry and will be effectively 2K less in a few years time due to the age and as the accessories dont count in trade in.

I will miss my BT, sports heated seats, cup holders rear parking sensors, but if I wanted them than I would need to fork out 2K which I will put towards my next one in 2 years time (if I got the last one then extended warty will need to be purchaased sooner and for longer) which im planning to be the 2.8. But having a new z4 and 3.0 with all the additional benefits from the old z is a massive bonus
 
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