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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums Regional Forums UK Must Have Options before i order??
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      01-09-2011, 11:47 AM   #1
RCUK
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Must Have Options before i order??

Heya all,

Used to have a 335d and downgraded to an E46 330d Touring, but sold it today and now decided i want a 520se auto. for a company car.

Trying to minimise the outlay i need to make personally, so getting the heated seats and USB for free is a huge win in my book!

Im thinking of adding:
BMW Business Speakers
Sports Steering wheel
Sports Auto
18" wheels.

Are there any 'must haves' that i should consider - still umming and ahhing over the 18's as they cost a few quid.

Also heard stop start is coming to the 8 speed auto - but not sure for when.

Cheers!
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      01-09-2011, 12:41 PM   #2
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Just got my 520d SE Sport Auto, spec in my signature.

For me, pro sat nav, heated seats, , lumbar support, USB, sun protection glass & visibility pack were all must-haves.

On the 'really want, but not essential' were 18" wheels, sports wheel/sports auto.

On the 'what the hell, it's not much extra per month on a lease' were ambient lighting, rear camera and auto tailgate.

It's worth doing the sums, as I went from a £31k A6 2.0TDI SE Avant, from the 520D which came in at £39k and actually it only costs me about £20 per month extra because I'm saving loads in company car tax due to the emissions being so low.

If it helps, here's what I paid for the options on mine on a 3yr 20k miles per year contract hire through BMW corporate.

lumbar - £5.91
Seat heating - free for some reason
Sports wheel - £2.65
Auto tailgate - £10.12
Metalic paint - £1.95
Sport auto upgrade - £2.65
Reversing camera - £7.71
Ambient lighting - £5.18
USB audio - £4.94
Sun protection glass - £6.99
Visibility pack - £29.17
Media pack pro - £47.25
18" wheels - £16.03

That's the danger of leasing when you set your own budget... it's only an extra £10 per month here and there...
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Space Grey/Cinnamon Brown F11 520d SE with Sport Auto.

Pro media pack, visibility pack, sports steering wheel, heated seats, lumbar support, ambient lighting, USB interface, 18" wheels, parking camera, auto tailgate, sun protection glass.
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      01-10-2011, 09:31 AM   #3
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Think i need to minimise extras ... car is already costing me a bomb in tax!!

so spec'd up;
Black
beige lether (forgot the name!! - though was tempted with white)
18's
professional stero
windscreen with the grey band
sports wheel
sports auto

USB link and Heated front seats are free.

Just trying to figure out when the stop/start is going to be introduced before i place an order.

i think thats enough for me ... nav etc would be great, but i hardly use it at the mo.
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Last edited by RCUK; 01-10-2011 at 09:38 AM..
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      01-15-2011, 02:58 PM   #4
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Powered tail/mirrors and ambient lighting will give a lot more pleasure than 1in larger wheels which you can always add later if it ruins the look for you.Plus you'll get a better ride if you're not ordering VDC
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      01-16-2011, 04:55 AM   #5
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I would strongly recommend an audio speaker upgrade on all BMW's, the standard audio on BMW cars is absolutely shocking.

Personally I also think VDC is a must have after driving a car with and without it.
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      01-16-2011, 07:01 AM   #6
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I went REALLY basic in the end...

Just sports auto, sports wheel and upgraded stereo.

Have sourced some 19's for £500 ... much better value!
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      01-23-2011, 06:52 AM   #7
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The other must have option that I forgot to mention is DAB. I won't buy a car without this now. I have it in the M3 and its fantastic.
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      01-23-2011, 10:54 AM   #8
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+1

DAB was a must have for me as well. on US model's don't BMW put satellite radio in as std? if so then seems a bit stingy that BMW in europe don't fit DAB as std as well....but I guess you could say that about most of the cheap'ish options.....if they were all std it would be like owning a lexus.....got to admit i do like that fact that with things like lexus the options list is short....tis the only thing i dislike about BMW, too many things optional. when your base OTR price is over 40K i'd like xenons, DAB, folding mirrors, memory seats, powered boot release standard if your listening BMW product marketing!
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      01-24-2011, 02:27 AM   #9
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yah, my 535d that i've speced up comes to almost 70K!!!!

Neil.
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      01-24-2011, 03:52 AM   #10
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70k??? for that money id be looking at a second had maserati quattroporte!!
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      01-25-2011, 12:50 AM   #11
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Right then, ask the same question if you have to pay for extras in cold hard cash. My F10 will be a company car when its ordered in March, and the only extras I get are metallic paint - anything else I can pay for if I want it!

On a 520d I'd like better speakers, DAB, power mirrors, ambient lighting and sports auto, but I suspect I'll just end up with DAB. I do 60k miles a year so I practically live in it, but trying to justify a lot of cash for the car is hard.....
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      01-25-2011, 07:01 AM   #12
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Mine is a company car too... so i kept extras to a minimum... paying out for a car which isnt mine didnt seem a wise thing to do.

Car has a lot of the nice to haves.
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      01-25-2011, 08:29 AM   #13
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i guess when its a company car that puts a different perspective on the options list. mine was a private purchase so i went to town a bit...you only live once blah blah blah and all the usual things you say in your head when spending money on options.

in terms of options i spec with a practical business hat on (i do get an allowance from my work when using the car for business) I would say things I use regularly when going to from clients are:

- DAB
- Hifi Upgrade
- Sat Nav
- Bluetooth Phone
- iPod Connection
- Auto Gearbox
- heated seats

so for me those options alone are always must have's, i personally prefer the built in media pack pro to the bolt on aftermarket jobs but totally "get" the cost difference, as a private purchase i find it easier to justify plus i use it all the time.

.....as for my other fitted options not on the above list they were just nice to have's
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      01-25-2011, 08:57 AM   #14
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Rochdale, I think your list is spot on for a sensible spec- would definitely recommend the pro-hifi though,with 60k/year you'll get full value for that as long as you do listen to music and not just spoken word
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      01-25-2011, 09:23 AM   #15
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Totally agree re sat nav ... i have it in both our cars here and its so nice to have a built in bit of kit with a large screen ... but as a £2k option on a company car.... really cant justify it. If it was covered by the company allowance - hell yes, but forking out myself each month to then hand the car back is a no-no for me.

So have to find a way to stick the tom tom to the car somewhere discreet - looks cheap having a nice car with a tom tom inside - but hey.. where needs must and all that!!

Or just use the nokia navigation software on my phone instead.... hmmm.
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      01-25-2011, 04:24 PM   #16
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Lead time for a new order still 14 weeks? My boss ordered his in August* and he gets it on Thursday!

*As in signed the paperwork. When the the lease company actually ordered it, who knows. however, the car being described as "the New Vectra" in the office who went for an A4 instead seems to be taking forever for everyone who ordered them at the end of the summer.
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      01-27-2011, 03:36 PM   #17
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I stuck to the basic spec - 520d in Ocean Blue with Dakota Grey leather. I saw one in the dealer in Nottingham and it looked the dog's danglers. Sure would be nice tp have the Sat Nav, bigger wheels etc etc but company car and if i want them I have to pay. The basic spec is so high - and I am coming from a Passat SE - that this will be a lovely car.

My only gripe is why the hell are folding rear seats an option on a car at this level? Jesus, even a £5k FIAT has them as standard as does all the 5's competitors.

First ever 5 series - had 3's and 1's before - and I confess the car seems scarily wide !!

Hope i enjoy it but I think I will
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      01-27-2011, 03:38 PM   #18
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My order went in today - 27 Jan - and I was quoted 28 May for a 520D Saloon with no options.
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      01-28-2011, 03:38 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers View Post
Lead time for a new order still 14 weeks? My boss ordered his in August* and he gets it on Thursday!

*As in signed the paperwork. When the the lease company actually ordered it, who knows. however, the car being described as "the New Vectra" in the office who went for an A4 instead seems to be taking forever for everyone who ordered them at the end of the summer.
Massive problems with stock of VW/Audi diesel engines at the moment due to demand in China apparently. A couple of people ordered VWs in the office recently and couldn't even place the order initially. When they could they were quoted 12-16 weeks min.

I ordered my F10 520d SE with a load of options 2 weeks ago with BMW corporate leasing. The factory order was placed by the dealer handling it before the paperwork was even signed, and it's being built week 10 in March with expected deliver mid-April. Will be 9-12 weeks in total I reckon.
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      01-28-2011, 03:42 PM   #20
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Now a pair of brand new 520d's inhabiting the car park. My boss in his Milano Beige/Cinnamon car, and my colleague in a slightly less garish Space Grey/Black. Both ordered late summer!
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      01-29-2011, 04:55 PM   #21
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mine was ordered just over a week ago, delivery date is 18th april, 520d m-sport in alpine, with pro media, ambient, 19s, xenons
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      01-29-2011, 04:59 PM   #22
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Having had mine a few days I would say one must have option is a speaker upgrade! The standard setup really is poor.
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