M3 questions pertaining to options I'm considering...

[Navin323i]

Greetings Gents,
(EDIT: 3/8/11 - I've decided to go with an additional option... leather interior)

So I was up late a good portion of last night surfing our site here and building my own E92 M3 on the BMW USA site (GREAT way to spend the late hours of the night, lol). After going thru the options I've narrowed my list to the 5 below with any questions I have listed there:

1) Heated Seats (I spent about a grand for the parts and labor to completely retrofit heated seats along with all the applicable wiring harnesses, etc. on my 323i, so this time around I want it straight from the factory, lol)

2) Alarm System - QUESTION - For those of you who had the alarm system on your E46 BMWs, is the alarm system for the E9X M3 the exact same or are there any improvements with this alarm system?

3) BMW Assist with Bluetooth - QUESTION - Honestly I'm getting this option mainly for the bluetooth capability... question I have is supposed the bluetooth is enabled inside the car to my iPhone, and suppose I do NOT have the Navigation System... when someone calls me then will I see the caller id information (phone number and/or name?) on the headunit screen or would I need to have the Navigation System's screen to see that info?

4) Ipod/USB adapter - QUESTION - Where exactly would this adapter be situated? In the glovebox?

5) Leather Interior - Either black leather or go Individual - black with red stitching


Thanks,
Navin

[PKL]

I had an alarm on my E46 M3, I'm not sure what differences you would be looking for, and I would NEVER have a car like this without an alarm. The iPod is in the glovebox, or you can use the aux jack in the arm rest. thats the extent of my help.

[///My5UV]

I'd think leather is easier to clean than cloth. Either way you've got to keep it clean or it will not last well. I use a sheet of that rubbery toolbox liner to protect my seats from the child seat's hard plastic edges... keeps the leather from getting dented and keeps little feet from getting mud and scratches on the edge of the seat.
I don't know enough to answer the rest of your questions other than to say if you know you'll want the alarm and heated seats it seems cheaper and easier to get them from the factory than DIY later.
What pisses me off is you have to take the whole premium package to get lumbar adjust IIRC.

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by PKL

I had an alarm on my E46 M3, I'm not sure what differences you would be looking for, and I would NEVER have a car like this without an alarm. The iPod is in the glovebox, or you can use the aux jack in the arm rest. thats the extent of my help.

I was just curious whether BMW has updated/improved their alarm system (possibly by adding more features) on the alarm system they offer for the E9X M3 versus the alarm you bought for your E46 M3, that's all.

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

I'd think leather is easier to clean than cloth. Either way you've got to keep it clean or it will not last well. I use a sheet of that rubbery toolbox liner to protect my seats from the child seat's hard plastic edges... keeps the leather from getting dented and keeps little feet from getting mud and scratches on the edge of the seat.
I don't know enough to answer the rest of your questions other than to say if you know you'll want the alarm and heated seats it seems cheaper and easier to get them from the factory than DIY later.
What pisses me off is you have to take the whole premium package to get lumbar adjust IIRC.

Thanks for the info!

[tlp]

The newer M3's are no longer pre-wired for an alarm. The cheapest way to get the alarm it is order it with the build these days.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Navin323i

Greetings Gents,

So I was up late a good portion of last night surfing our site here and building my own E92 M3 on the BMW USA site (GREAT way to spend the late hours of the night, lol). After going thru the options I've narrowed my list to the 4 below with any questions I have listed there:

1) Heated Seats (I spent about a grand for the parts and labor to completely retrofit heated seats along with all the applicable wiring harnesses, etc. on my 323i, so this time around I want it straight from the factory, lol)

2) Alarm System - QUESTION - For those of you who had the alarm system on your E46 BMWs, is the alarm system for the E9X M3 the exact same or are there any improvements with this alarm system?

3) BMW Assist with Bluetooth - QUESTION - Honestly I'm getting this option mainly for the bluetooth capability... question I have is supposed the bluetooth is enabled inside the car to my iPhone, and suppose I do NOT have the Navigation System... when someone calls me then will I see the caller id information (phone number and/or name?) on the headunit screen or would I need to have the Navigation System's screen to see that info?

4) Ipod/USB adapter - QUESTION - Where exactly would this adapter be situated? In the glovebox?

Finally, I'm toying with the idea of leather interior, but I'm thinking just going with the anthracite cloth/leather interior. Is this a bad idea considering I have kids and will have their car seats in the rear seats? I'm thinking anthracite cloth/leather interior is easier to clean than full leather... correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
Navin

You may want to look at the spec sheet because I believe that you need Navigation in order to have BT/BMW Assist. Double-check though!

[xsb00st]

The iPod/USB adapter is just a cable that on one end plugs into your iPod and on the other plugs into both the USB and AUX inputs in the center armrest. USB connection to control the iPod, get track/file information from iPod displayed in your car, and charge the iPod. AUX connection for sound reproduction.

[SchnellM3]

Originally Posted by RATED ///M3

The newer M3's are no longer pre-wired for an alarm. The cheapest way to get the alarm it is order it with the build these days.

I didn't realize that they stopped pre wiring them but I haven't checked the model changes that closely. It makes sense for them to do it from the factory but at the same time more of a pita if your picking one up off the lot and dealer has to do it. When I ordered my car I got the alarm but they dealer ended up installing it, which I was not to happy about for the possibility of damaging something on my new car

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

What pisses me off is you have to take the whole premium package to get lumbar adjust IIRC.

Looks like that is not the case...

Per the BMWUSA website's list of standard features on the E92 M3:

• Power-adjustable front sport seats with 4-way lumbar support, manually adjustable thigh support and memory system for driver's seat and outside mirrors

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

You may want to look at the spec sheet because I believe that you need Navigation in order to have BT/BMW Assist. Double-check though!

I would have thought that too, but it appears that is not the case... when you go to build your BMW on the BMWUSA site, it allows you to select the option for BT/BMW assist with no mention that you must get the Navigation system.

[DCC]

Originally Posted by xs*****

The iPod/USB adapter is just a cable that on one end plugs into your iPod and on the other plugs into both the USB and AUX inputs in the center armrest. USB connection to control the iPod, get track/file information from iPod displayed in your car, and charge the iPod. AUX connection for sound reproduction.

Do you get full iPod access or does it just list the total playlist and you have to scroll through each song individually to ge to the one you want?

[xsb00st]

Originally Posted by DCC

Do you get full iPod access or does it just list the total playlist and you have to scroll through each song individually to ge to the one you want?

You can search and play songs by an individual Artist or Album. You can also just have it shuffle through your entire library. Doing all this with iDrive is easy. I don't know what it's like w/out iDrive.

[BimmerM]

3) If you get BMW Assist then you can qualify for an insurance discount since BMW Assist can locate your vehicle in case of a theft. They can usually locate it within a few minutes and they will work with your local police.

4) Center console and passenger dash storage bin.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Navin323i

Looks like that is not the case...

Per the BMWUSA website's list of standard features on the E92 M3:

• Power-adjustable front sport seats with 4-way lumbar support, manually adjustable thigh support and memory system for driver's seat and outside mirrors

Power seats aren't standard; manual seats are. The manual seats do come with power adjustable lumbar and side bolsters however. Manual seats also do not allow for driver seat memory (..obviously) and the passenger side mirror does not tilt when the transmission is in reverse.

Originally Posted by BimmerM

3) If you get BMW Assist then you can qualify for an insurance discount since BMW Assist can locate your vehicle in case of a theft. They can usually locate it within a few minutes and they will work with your local police.

This isn't entirely true. State Farm does not offer any additional discounts, and many other insurances don't either. It's best to check with your carrier to confirm.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Navin323i

After going thru the options I've narrowed my list to the 4 below with any questions I have listed there:

1) Heated Seats
2) Alarm System
3) BMW Assist with Bluetooth
4) Ipod/USB adapter

I like your list. No need to spec the car with stuff you don't need, and it will be as light as possible. I'd probably even skip on the heated seats for an E92 (a must in the E93 though! ), and also the alarm cuz I don't need it (but I understand this is a necessary thing in certain metropolitan areas around the country).

One thing though - check out pics of the standard Titanium Shadow interior trim here on the forum. It's electoplated plastic, not true metal. You might want to at least consider upgrading to the true aluminum trim for $500.

QUESTION - Honestly I'm getting this option mainly for the bluetooth capability... question I have is supposed the bluetooth is enabled inside the car to my iPhone, and suppose I do NOT have the Navigation System... when someone calls me then will I see the caller id information (phone number and/or name?) on the headunit screen or would I need to have the Navigation System's screen to see that info?

First off, you definitely do not need IDrive for Bluetooth. I have a single-hump car and still have Bluetooth/Assist. Secondly, yes the caller ID does indeed come up on the headunit screen. I honestly can't remember if it shows both name and number or just the name though. It also assigns a "yes/no" function to two of the head unit buttons for you to answer the call (or not). Optionally, you can answer using the phone button on the wheel too.

QUESTION - Where exactly would this adapter be situated? In the glovebox?

No, the one in the glovebox is only included when you get IDrive. It's used to upload songs and other data to the internal harddrive, not to play music from an external device. The one you'll get will be in center console.

Finally, I'm toying with the idea of leather interior, but I'm thinking just going with the anthracite cloth/leather interior. Is this a bad idea considering I have kids and will have their car seats in the rear seats? I'm thinking anthracite cloth/leather interior is easier to clean than full leather... correct me if I'm wrong.

Not sure the cloth will be easier to clean, but it will probably wear better and work a little better with child seats too. If I could have gotten cloth with my E93, I would have.

By the way, why the E92? With two kids in carseats in back, you may strongly want to consider an E90. At the very least I would try out an E92 (doesn't have to be an M3) in the showroom with the kids and their seats to make sure it is a livable situation for you.

[BimmerM]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This isn't entirely true. State Farm does not offer any additional discounts, and many other insurances don't either. It's best to check with your carrier to confirm.

Good point, I should have been more cautious with my comments. I should have specifically said that if you have Liberty Mutual (as I do) you can qualify for an insurance discounts for having BMW Assist. Your mileage may vary with other carriers and best to ask them first.

Thanks for the correction.

[GOLFFRR]

^^geico does the same

[Sedan_Clan]

You guys are lucky (..not that I'm paying out-the-ass with SF or anything; they do treat me very well).

[Blade929]

Navin if you want to drive my car sometime let me know and we can link up.

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Power seats aren't standard; manual seats are. The manual seats do come with power adjustable lumbar and side bolsters however. Manual seats also do not allow for driver seat memory (..obviously) and the passenger side mirror does not tilt when the transmission is in reverse.





This isn't entirely true. State Farm does not offer any additional discounts, and many other insurances don't either. It's best to check with your carrier to confirm.

Hmmm.... I wonder why the BMW site indicates as a standard feature, "Power-adjustable front sport seats with 4-way lumbar support, manually adjustable thigh support and memory system for driver's seat and outside mirrors".
Is the BMW site just wrong here?

I was about to say the same thing... State Farm doesn't offer any additional discounts.

[Navin323i]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

^^geico does the same

Geico offers the discount for BMW Assist? Cool... I have Geico.

Originally Posted by Blade929

Navin if you want to drive my car sometime let me know and we can link up.

Hey Darby! I'd definitely be interested in meeting up with you, bro! Hope you've been doing well.