[morellomax]

This is a thread for anyone in the UK who would like to rant about the fact some options we DO want are ONLY available on M-Sport cars and other options we DON'T want are unavoidable on M-Sport cars.

I want:
- MSport lower suspension
- maybe MSport brakes
- nappa leather option on comfort seats
- maybe the 19" wheels that come with a MSport 6 cylinder car

but I don't want at any price:
- anthracite headlining (so gloomy !)
- MSport front bumper with its scrapey lip

and I object to paying an inflated price for cosmetic stuff like the sensatec dash, decals, pedals, sills etc.

Why is the MSport pack so full of marmite or poor value stuff ?

End of rant.

[morellomax]

Difference between SE and MSport on 520d is £3k. (Using 520 d as an example so I don't have to think about MSport brakes)

Allow for the cost of sports seats and 1" wheel upgrade, no argument there, say £1.6k.

So I'm paying £1.4k net for other completely non-functional cosmetic stuff, some of which I actively dislike. Hmmmmmm.....

[Anglo_dude]

Its not just the MSport package... The technology package is the same HEad up display - cool, everything else - tacky and gadgety...

Msport Plus? Bigger wheels and nappa, plus a bunch of other stuff...

The only one I thought was useful (and so added) was the comfort one, full electric seats, comfort access, folding mirrors and rear camera were all things I wanted

[morellomax]

Hi Anglo_dude, welcome to Bimmerpost, and to my rant thread !

Have you got your 540i yet ?

[Anglo_dude]

Thanks

Not yet, it's just off the boat and I'm hoping I can pick it up this weekend, but it's going to be tight...

The dealer will register it tomorrow whatever happens, so I keep the lower tax and here is my spec:

540i Msport in Bluestone with ivory Dakota leather and shadowline with:

Comfort Package (sports seats)
VDC
HK stereo
Head up Display
Active Cruise control
split seats
Standard wheels - I did think long and hard about the black wheels, but decided these suited me better...

Can't wait! If I get it this weekend I'll be doing close to a thousand miles in a week as I've got trips all over the country next week...

[morellomax]

Sounds great. Whereabouts in the UK are you ?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by morellomax

Why is the MSport pack so full of marmite or poor value stuff ?

UK market has a particular liking to the M-sport packages. BMW are milking it.

I favour the single options list, rather than grouped packages.

Personally I prefer the non sport models, add the bits I like. Current F11 is M-sport, without the panoramic roof the anthracite roof liner would make the cabin far too dark inside.

M-sport is viewed as easier to sale, another reason for having the 535i as an M-sport. Hope it holds more of its value for when I sell it.

[Anglo_dude]

Originally Posted by morellomax

Whereabouts in the UK are you ?

Maidenhead, but picking up the car from Blackpool. Going to enjoy the drive home...

[babaikram]

Or bundling together unrelated options like tilting mirror with full electric seat but not with folding mirrors or parking package. However I like sensatec and anthracite headlining. I use gesture controls a lot, work 90% of the time. I my head this helps avoid pressing buttons that may become lose later or their paints wearing off.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by babaikram

Or bundling together unrelated options like tilting mirror with full electric seat but not with folding mirrors or parking package. However I like sensatec and anthracite headlining. I use gesture controls a lot, work 90% of the time. I my head this helps avoid pressing buttons that may become lose later or their paints wearing off.

Weird thing is I cracked out my old e61 brochure and it clearly shows the dipping mirror as part of the electric seat option. I expect that's where it's always sat on a 5er..?

[ZigmundUK]

So things I wanted from m:

Body styling
Steering wheel
Exhaust pipes
Anthracite headlining
Rhombical
Led fogs
Brakes

Things I didn't:
19" wheels

Others are styling features I'm kinda ambivalent about.

[babaikram]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

Weird thing is I cracked out my old e61 brochure and it clearly shows the dipping mirror as part of the electric seat option. I expect that's where it's always sat on a 5er..?

My pre LCI did not have electric seat option but has a folding mirror as part of advanced parking package and the mirror did dip. A friend currently using LCI F10 with only folding mirrors also has a dipping mirror with no electric seat or parking option.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by babaikram

My pre LCI did not have electric seat option but has a folding mirror as part of advanced parking package and the mirror did dip. A friend currently using LCI F10 with only folding mirrors also has a dipping mirror with no electric seat or parking option.

So clearly no consistency then.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

So things I wanted from m:

Body styling
Steering wheel
Exhaust pipes
Anthracite headlining
Rhombical
Led fogs
Brakes

Things I didn't:
19" wheels

Others are styling features I'm kinda ambivalent about.

Edit: I've fallen for the wheels now too.

[Bandiano]

My dislikes are less msport vs se and more included but you must pay for;

Leather seats - don't get the need to sit in some mangy old cow let alone the environmental disaster that is from the auto industry ( cloth / alcantara any day )
Sat nav - always avoided this on all my bmws inc my f11 waste of £2k, now no choice.
A/C - give me fresh air not cocooned in hermetically sealed conditioned air

As for a lot more of the 'toys' forget it, what I want is better engineering - steering, handling and power, that's why I love BMW's, give the engineering department more cash not the toy department

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Bandiano

A/C - give me fresh air not cocooned in hermetically sealed conditioned air

As for a lot more of the 'toys' forget it, what I want is better engineering - steering, handling and power, that's why I love BMW's, give the engineering department more cash not the toy department

So much bulk and heat soak to the HVAC system in cars these days, you can't keep a car cool without A/C, even at typical UK ambient temperatures.

If manufacturers put less emphasis on the 'toys', (even BMW), they'd lose sales. Car reviews these days seem to get more time and column on the toys and luxuries, than the drive. Customers have moved on to the toy and bling count.

[hantsxlg]

I agree on the m-sport bundling. Id like the steering wheel and 19" wheels but nothing else. But i cant spec those on an se. Id like nappa on my se but not allowed even though i'm ordering comfort seats.

However merc is even worse. If you want an upgraded hifi on the e class u have to buy the £3.5k prem plus pack and get a load of other stuff you mostly dont want.