What Missing Comforts Would Be Deal Breakers ?

[Marcoose]

It's a pet hate of mine. BMWs have loads of these comforts that in my opinion don't improve the drive of the 'ultimate driving machine'. And when they breakdown, and breakdown they do, it's a PITA and expensive to repair. For example, the electronic boot release and close mechanisms. Just the other day there was a bloke on the US site that couldn't open his boot. Even with the key. He finally figured it out with the help from the community. But blame electronic comforts.

But BMWs, especially the E89, are marketed as luxurious vehicles. They must have bling and comforts. It comes with the territory.

So what missing comforts would be a deal breakers for you, that would make you look at Audi, Merc, Lexus, Jag, etc ?

OK, I would not buy a car without aircon. But fancy self-adjustable seats don't make a difference to me.

 

[enuff_zed]

Funnily enough, when I bought my orange E89 I decided I did want a manual gearbox, but I didn't need parking sensors, electric seats, folding mirrors, comfort access, satnav etc.
So I guess I got the perfect car for me, but if I ever wanted to sell it I suspect Mr & Mrs Picky would try to knock the price down.
Can you imagine how disgusted I was when after owning it for two weeks I discovered it had a heated steering wheel?

 

[Rockhopper]

Lack of automatic headlights and wipers would be deal stoppers for me. Oh and air-conditioning especially in a non convertible car.

 

[MikeyH]

I only have an E85 but if I bought a E89 I would want red msport heated seats, parking sensors back and front and 18" wheels. Manual gearbox and air con. Not bothered about auto lights and wipers or electrically adjustable seats.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've only had E86s and while I find some of the options useful only a lack of A/C would be a deal breaker for me.

If I was considering an E89 I'd want front and rear PDC, but I won't be considering one because of the roof issues and electronic handbrake. :lol:

 

[biZ4rreMids]

Top of my list was electric folding mirrors as the entrance to my garage is tight.

As it turned out an E89 fits in the garage without the need to fold the mirrors in which is just as well as it would be a challenge reversing it out without the use of mirrors. The car didn’t have heated seats which appears to be a ‘must have’ for most buyers but I found ok even in the middle of winter with the roof down.

 

[B21]

Maybe it’s just as well that BMW offered most things as options judging by the above responses..

Of course one issue how do you know that you don’t miss an option if you’ve never had it?

For example I thought electrically adjusted seats were a waste of time…but I learnt on a long journey that being able to easily do minor changes helped relieve and aches n pains..but then again if you don’t drive 250 miles 6 hour days then maybe it’s not required..

Each to their own..

For me on any car it’s auto, cruise, PDC, air con, leather, nav, iPod support, decent audio and on the E89 heated seats..

Nice to have

Electric seats, auto air con, folding mirrors, heated mirrors

Not bothered

Auto lights of any type

Cup holders

 

[MikeyH]

Oh, I forgot about cup holders and heated mirrors. Also my wife's car has a heated windscreen but only available on Fords I think. :thumbsdown:

 

[Marcoose]

automatic headlights and wipers

msport heated seats, parking sensors back and front

electric folding mirrors

cup holders and heated mirrors.

All very cool comfort items, but having heard of repairs estimates and bills, I sometimes wish mine didn't have them. (Mine doesn't have parking sensors.)

 

[Marcoose]

Maybe it’s just as well that BMW offered most things as options judging by the above responses..

In hindsight, I wish I was more educated on options, and picked up a used 35is with fewer options. I love the DCT and paddleshifting, though. It was the key reason for choosing the 35is. I know the 35i came with DCT, but the 35is 'seemed' more appealing.

 

[MikeyH]

My E85 doesn't have parking sensors either and I haven't had any problems with the rear but I have caught the front and I think sensors would have helped me. The rear of the E89 is a lot higher I think?

 

[obewan]

I'm with B21
And cup holders? Personally I've never used them or got the attraction :idunno: but each to their own I guess

 

[Ole gits rule]

Oh, I forgot about cup holders and heated mirrors. Also my wife's car has a heated windscreen but only available on Fords I think. :thumbsdown:

Heated seats / PDC but more importantly a roof that fold away, for me the rest I can live without even audio is not that important

Think heated screens are available on more models now.

 

[IRD]

Definitely air con. But many of the others can be added later if you really want them. There are always lots items for sale here. On my last E85 I had MSports heated seats added, the dashboard carbon dipped, the standard wheel recovered by Royal’s, new CSL style wheels etc..

 

[MikeyH]

Oh, I forgot about cup holders and heated mirrors. Also my wife's car has a heated windscreen but only available on Fords I think. :thumbsdown:

Heated seats / PDC but more importantly a roof that fold away, for me the rest I can live without even audio is not that important

Think heated screens are available on more models now.

Very rarely listen to music in the car unless I'm stuck in a traffic jam. I always like to hear the sounds that the car makes

 

[ronk]

I’m happy to say that my old bus has got all the toys with the exception of high beam assist. (I wish it had!)
I’m afraid that I’m too old to hark back to the olden days - I had cars in those times without the toys and I can appreciate what I have now.

 

[Marcoose]

I had cars in those times without the toys and I can appreciate what I have now.

Same here. I do not miss mum's Renault 4L. LOL. But today's gizmos and comforts --when they kaput-- get in the way of the joy of driving. And hurt the wallet. Just my pet hate.

 

[B21]

Maybe it’s just as well that BMW offered most things as options judging by the above responses..

In hindsight, I wish I was more educated on options, and picked up a used 35is with fewer options. I love the DCT and paddleshifting, though. It was the key reason for choosing the 35is. I know the 35i came with DCT, but the 35is 'seemed' more appealing.

I was fortunate when I bought my 20i..it was well specced…the 35is additionally had electrical adjusted seats which I commented on..it did have the heated steering wheel but I binned it in preference to an Audi-esque steering wheel mod…the 14 speaker top fi was anticlimactic…the runflats on 18” were just as shite as 19” on runflats..the DCT box not as good as the ZF8HP and the adaptive dampers were also shite..but..what a stonking engine…

Replaying history if I could have found a DCT well equipped 35i then I would have taken it..but AY E89s are like rocking horse poo..

 

[Nictrix]

Maybe it’s just as well that BMW offered most things as options judging by the above responses..

In hindsight, I wish I was more educated on options, and picked up a used 35is with fewer options. I love the DCT and paddleshifting, though. It was the key reason for choosing the 35is. I know the 35i came with DCT, but the 35is 'seemed' more appealing.

I was fortunate when I bought my 20i..it was well specced…the 35is additionally had electrical adjusted seats which I commented on..it did have the heated steering wheel but I binned it in preference to an Audi-esque steering wheel mod…the 14 speaker top fi was anticlimactic…the runflats on 18” were just as shite as 19” on runflats..the DCT box not as good as the ZF8HP and the adaptive dampers were also shite..but..what a stonking engine…

Replaying history if I could have found a DCT well equipped 35i then I would have taken it..but AY E89s are like rocking horse poo..

I have always wondered why anybody would buy a fully specced 35i with dct instead of a 35is.
I would have thought the point of the 35i was to get a manual box but people getting dct are just basically losing out on some power over the 35is.

 

[Pondy]

So many replies about air conditioning being a 'must'. They are convertibles! What is wrong with you lot? :roll:

Parking sensors on an E89 is the most useful option IMHO. You can't see feck all of the thing when in the driving seat. I drive my daughter's (POS) Mini quite a bit which hasn't got any sensors. I struggle to reverse it onto our drive as am so used to them on all the other cars.

A 'must' for me with an E89 would be not to have the N54 engine. It's great....but boy it is troublesome and expensive when it goes wrong (which it will).