Question for space space grey owners

[Anonymous]

No hill start assist

Dejavu....there was a thread about that somewhere....

So what you getting instead? Another one in Auto?

Wash techniques....yeah, loads of different methods and recommendations, oh, and products to buy! Claying and waxing and feelign how smooth the paint is afterwards is lovely (my wife just doesn't understand!) but claying takes me ages for some reason (takes me 2 hrs to change winter wheels over...so I am generally slow!). and I'm lazy, so dont like hard work....but it is worth it once done!

 

[Glaikit]

No hill start assist

Believe it or not, correct and getting an auto replacement from BMW UK dealer has been fantastic and handled everything.

Never tried using a clay bar in the past, unsure if I would have the patience :wink:

 

[Zed Five]

Space Grey (red interior though... it's the law :wink: )

Space grey is very easy to maintain. I alternate my bmws between silver and grey for this very reason (lazy)

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Time for a little thread jacking.

Interesting . . . about the hill start. I'm still waiting to hear the final word from BMW.


We've had 10 days to get used to the car. Still don't like doing hill starts with the electric brake. I've gotten better and most of the time I can get a smooth chime free start on a moderate grade.

The car is drivable but long uphill queues are difficult. I keep falling behind. You have to be at a complete stop before applying the parking brake. Then it takes 1 second to apply and another second to release.




back on topic --

If we had our car to do over, I'd consider memory seats and better audio. We love the color, but DSB is almost as much trouble as black.


My advice to you: Anything but white, please!

 

[Anonymous]

We love the color, but DSB is almost as much trouble as black.

Yes I quite agree, DSB looks good but you need to put in the time to keep it looking like that.

My old DSB iS

Also back on topic, I saw a Space Grey E89 today and it looked fantastic, will consider that colour for my next car

 

[Anonymous]

Claying a car is a good thing to do, really satisfying and quite addictive. Don't take me as an example of time involved...it can be done much quicker. They say if you wash your car and dry it, then rub your hand across the paintwork it will not be smooth because of all the contaminants on it. If you clay it and do the same, it is really soft and smooth, and lovely! This is the best surface to apply polish or wax too.

Saw my car at the dealer today, collecting on Saturday and getting detailed on Sunday. Its quite dirty from transportation - they are giving it a light wash but not removing the transportation wax. I got Pro sound upgrade but how are the memory seats worth a grand? (I think thats what they were?).

How did you get BMW to change the car due to the hill start....

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

I got Pro sound upgrade but how are the memory seats worth a grand? (I think thats what they were?).

They aren't. We had them on the e46 and the e83. The memory seats were standard on the X3 and part of a pack that was less than £1000 total on the 325i.

We like them because we share our cars. The seats move to the memory position when you unlock the car

 

[Anonymous]

I got Pro sound upgrade but how are the memory seats worth a grand? (I think thats what they were?).

They aren't. We had them on the e46 and the e83. The memory seats were standard on the X3 and part of a pack that was less than £1000 total on the 325i.

We like them because we share our cars. The seats move to the memory position when you unlock the car

Fair enough - you share cars, so I can see it being useful. We don't generally share our cars, but when I do drive the wife's car I always need to move the seat back...despite her being taller than me...and then she moans that I've left it too far back!

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

If the memory seats had been reasonably priced we would have put them on the car. But £985 is absurd. £485 we might have taken them. £250 absolutely.

At the moment re-adjusting the seats takes forever. I'm sure that will improve as we get used to the car. This is our first BMW with manual sport seats.

 

[Zed Five]

Justto make you want SG even more:

 

[Zed Five]

and:

 

[Glaikit]

Justto make you want SG even more:

Oh you are a bad man! Seriously tempting... :wink:

That is rather nice.

 

[Wondermike]

No hill start assist

Believe it or not, correct and getting an auto replacement from BMW UK dealer has been fantastic and handled everything.

Never tried using a clay bar in the past, unsure if I would have the patience :wink:

Interesting. Are you having to pay for the auto gearbox then?

 

[Glaikit]

No hill start assist

Believe it or not, correct and getting an auto replacement from BMW UK dealer has been fantastic and handled everything.

Never tried using a clay bar in the past, unsure if I would have the patience :wink:

Interesting. Are you having to pay for the auto gearbox then?

Nope

 

[Wondermike]

Good deal then

 

[rfx45]

I do find it weird that it cost nothing to get the 8-gear auto trans on the E89, at least that is the case here in the US. It usually cost $2k-$3k to get that option. I think the new 328i cost nothing to get an auto trans as well.

 

[Wondermike]

Yeah it's about £1800 here from memory. Not sure why it's a no-cost option in the US, it wasn't before the 28i came.

 

[jaz4]

My last 3 were stearling grey and others and they are perfect. My new one is silvr and would have loved the grey but hay red interior and a 3.0 it was due a change.

I dont want to upset anyone but its simply me. I love the red but scratches are so visible especially under street lights. All my other cars before the zds were red with the exception of 1 which was a celica 190 in silver (sort of a pattern going on). White looks so nice but unsure. With the grey though it never looked clean, or dirty other than the rear numberplate needing cleaning to actually see the numbers when salts on the road, or wet days down contry roads, which I need to do on any zd.

The grey is more stealth and may seem to pass without looks, the silver is a bit more seen.

 

[rfx45]

Yeah it's about £1800 here from memory. Not sure why it's a no-cost option in the US, it wasn't before the 28i came.

It might have to do with the new N20 engine? Or it might just be the 8-speed auto? My 28i has the sport auto with paddle shifter but the DCT is still $450 option for the 35i here in the US. And for the new 328i and 335i, it looks like the regular steptronic auto is a free option while the Sport auto with paddle shifters cost an extra $500.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

I do find it weird that it cost nothing to get the 8-gear auto trans on the E89, at least that is the case here in the US. It usually cost $2k-$3k to get that option. I think the new 328i cost nothing to get an auto trans as well.

BMW NA has been doing that for awhile on various models. It was a no cost option on the 2007 X3. On cars where AT isn't standard there is often an option credit for the auto box.



I think it has to do with American customers. They like to hear "Automatic is a free upgrade on this car."

Most Americans don't know how to drive a manual. Many of those that do are aging and may not want a manual. Take rate on a manual transmission 3er is very low. Try and find a 3 series 4-door with a manual in US dealer stock. Want to see a US BMW sales person turn a special shade of white? Tell them you want a station wagon with a manual transmission.