[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Soft close doors used to be available on the 5 series (I have them on mine) but they were a victim of the semiconductor crisis.

I thought so as well but I got into a debate with someone this morning that swears that soft close doors is not an elimination because of chip shortage, but because of a survey BMW did that said 5ers don't really want them. He went on to claim they were eliminated before the chip shortage on the 2021's. I think it is hogwash.

[Goody4]

Stuff I thought would be cool/useful when I moved "up" to a 5-series:

Night Vision
Bowers & Wilkins premium audio

These two options were even available on the lower 5-series models (530i and 540i, here in the U.S.) for a time, and then the B&O went exclusively to the 550i and above, I believe. Night Vision disappeared altogether.

And now they're not available on any U.S. BMW vehicle.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I thought so as well but I got into a debate with someone this morning that swears that soft close doors is not an elimination because of chip shortage, but because of a survey BMW did that said 5ers don't really want them. He went on to claim they were eliminated before the chip shortage on the 2021's. I think it is hogwash.

Soft close doors were not an option on the 2021 and had nothing to do with chip shortage. Unless there was an unrelated chip shortage that no one heard about starting in the latter part of 2020.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by crypto

Soft close doors were not an option on the 2021 and had nothing to do with chip shortage. Unless there was an unrelated chip shortage that no one heard about starting in the latter part of 2020.

The BMW line when they nixed it alongside other things like Night Vision was a “low take rate” which I call BS on. Night Vision makes sense as it is dying across the industry as they see new headlight tech to be better. Soft close doors was odd as it was in the Executive Package when I ordered MY2020. So how could it have a low take rate without the same applying to the Rear Sunshade and etc.

I bet the truth is BMW cut it so they could fund something else. And it was something they felt they could cut to generate savings without causing as much anger among customers. I expect we’ll see them return with the next generation 5 series.

[M1903a3]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I thought so as well but I got into a debate with someone this morning that swears that soft close doors is not an elimination because of chip shortage, but because of a survey BMW did that said 5ers don't really want them. He went on to claim they were eliminated before the chip shortage on the 2021's. I think it is hogwash.

I think the truth lies in the number of lawsuits by people who claim the doors "crushed" their fingers. People whose fingers would have been crushed by any other car door because they're too effing stupid to keep their digits away from the doors. The big class action suit was dismissed, but it still costs BMW a lot of money to fight suits in the very litigious US.

[en1gma]

Originally Posted by Johnny Grabble

I think it's simpler than that. The price of a 550i in the USA is about half what one pays for a similar spec in Germany and about 2/3rds of what you pay in the UK. UK base spec on any model is more generous than a German base spec. German models do appear to have more options (and model variants) than other countries.

Yep, it's based on what the marketing departments in the country think will sell best/make most profit. Hence they will only sell some variations. UK Marketing didn't rate the original 'half-physical dial with digital needle' dash on the so all UK G30s were sold with full digital clusters (and I'm sure this was priced in)

Also seen in the spec combos/options offered: the UK doesn't get the 'executive package' for example.

[AP]

Yeh and the U.K. didn't get the 550i for the pre LCI. No doubt because of environment concerns and I suspect low sales. They surprisingly added it with the LCI but assume they are rare, I've never kneeling yet seen one here in the U.K.

I doubt the g60 in the U.K. will have a 550i equivalent. Pushing EVs heavily up now.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

I think the truth lies in the number of lawsuits by people who claim the doors "crushed" their fingers. People whose fingers would have been crushed by any other car door because they're too effing stupid to keep their digits away from the doors. The big class action suit was dismissed, but it still costs BMW a lot of money to fight suits in the very litigious US.

Interesting about the fingers. I guess they aren't concerned about the 7-series. I drove three E65's in a row in the 2000's and soft close doors was either standard or they always configured the cars with it from the factory. I am assuming the current 7 has them or the option.

I have gotten so used to them it is almost a must have.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

The BMW line when they nixed it alongside other things like Night Vision was a “low take rate” which I call BS on. Night Vision makes sense as it is dying across the industry as they see new headlight tech to be better. Soft close doors was odd as it was in the Executive Package when I ordered MY2020. So how could it have a low take rate without the same applying to the Rear Sunshade and etc.

I bet the truth is BMW cut it so they could fund something else. And it was something they felt they could cut to generate savings without causing as much anger among customers. I expect we’ll see them return with the next generation 5 series.

I agree that nightvision had a low take rate and it was a separate option (I have it). But, as you note, the soft close doors were not a separate option but part of the Executive Package which included adaptive lights, automatic high beams, Parking assistant plus, dynamic digital cluster, active park distance control, rear view camera (mandated in the US), and surround view with 3D view. So if the take rate was the reason for soft close doors, then all of these should have been eliminated as well. Fire, fire, pants on fire.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Interesting about the fingers. I guess they aren't concerned about the 7-series. I drove three E65's in a row in the 2000's and soft close doors was either standard or they always configured the cars with it from the factory. I am assuming the current 7 has them or the option.

I have gotten so used to them it is almost a must have.

I just checked the configurator and they are showing as standard on the 750i. I do love not having to slam the doors.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I just checked the configurator and they are showing as standard on the 750i. I do love not having to slam the doors.

So screw little Johnny when he gets his fingers jammed in Daddy's Alpina B7, lol!

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by Goody4

Stuff I thought would be cool/useful when I moved "up" to a 5-series:

Night Vision
Bowers & Wilkins premium audio

These two options were even available on the lower 5-series models (530i and 540i, here in the U.S.) for a time, and then the B&O went exclusively to the 550i and above, I believe. Night Vision disappeared altogether.

And now they're not available on any U.S. BMW vehicle.

I was surprised but found B&W on exactly one model- the iX. Not even the xb7 has it available. The M5 still has soft close doors. The chip shortage has exacerbated the situation, but in the US, you can typically get all the options as long as you spring for the highest trim or an suv, ideally both. There’s always seemed to be an element of corralling the buyer in that direction.

4 way climate control is something I value but admittedly has a low take rate. Yet it’s standard in the M5. Which car is more likely to have rear passengers between a 540i and an M5C?

[Grimsbylander]

Only half my car has soft doors...my wife's side never seems get used. SLAM.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Gautam

I was surprised but found B&W on exactly one model- the iX. Not even the xb7 has it available. The M5 still has soft close doors. The chip shortage has exacerbated the situation, but in the US, you can typically get all the options as long as you spring for the highest trim or an suv, ideally both. There’s always seemed to be an element of corralling the buyer in that direction.

4 way climate control is something I value but admittedly has a low take rate. Yet it’s standard in the M5. Which car is more likely to have rear passengers between a 540i and an M5C?

I am with you on the 4-zone climate option. I could take it or leave it, of course I would take it, but that is more because I am an option whore. I very rarely have anyone in my backseat, never mind the passenger front. The people that may be in my backseat from time to time would not even know to use it. When I had younger kids and were shutting them around, I still didn't really care about their ability to calibrate their individual comfort, lol. I am not even sure the rear heated seats in my M550 have ever been used!

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I am with you on the 4-zone climate option. I could take it or leave it, of course I would take it, but that is more because I am an option whore. I very rarely have anyone in my backseat, never mind the passenger front. The people that may be in my backseat from time to time would not even know to use it. When I had younger kids and were shutting them around, I still didn't really care about their ability to calibrate their individual comfort, lol. I am not even sure the rear heated seats in my M550 have ever been used!

I know what you mean haha.

I skipped the heated rear seats even though it was a super cheap option at the time ~$250 since I rarely have people back there and if I do well… Heated seats aren’t a big deal for them…

I opted for every possible option related to my front passenger though since my wife is in the car a fair bit and we can swap driver duties so I’d prefer us to have the same parity if we’re driver or passenger. But my wife still spends time adjusting my HVAC controls as she finds my settings too cold… Even though she has her own zone of control!!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I know what you mean haha.

I skipped the heated rear seats even though it was a super cheap option at the time ~$250 since I rarely have people back there and if I do well… Heated seats aren’t a big deal for them…

I opted for every possible option related to my front passenger though since my wife is in the car a fair bit and we can swap driver duties so I’d prefer us to have the same parity if we’re driver or passenger. But my wife still spends time adjusting my HVAC controls as she finds my settings too cold… Even though she has her own zone of control!!

Yup, we are on the same page. I assume you have the massage seat? What do you think of them? I am a little underwhelmed.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yup, we are on the same page. I assume you have the massage seat? What do you think of them? I am a little underwhelmed.

I do have them. I don't have previous experience to compare to so there is that...

I don't find them amazing, but I do find them very useful during a long drive to keep my front stiffening up too much.

That's how I feel about the Lux Seating package overall I would say. The ventilated seats are OK, but they didn't do the sort of cooling I expected going in...

I read the warnings before I ordered though and skipped testing with them as I was getting them anyway

[2022M550i]

I have the massage seats and they do the trick for me as I have some chronic pain issues. The best massage seats that I've experienced were on the Lincoln SUV's. Those seats rough you up....but in a good way. The 550 ventilated seats are better than our Lexus, but not as good as a Jaguar F-pace we used to own. The Jags utilize a Thermal Electric/peltier cooler which was outstanding. I do believe some GM vehicles use that as well.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I do have them. I don't have previous experience to compare to so there is that...

I don't find them amazing, but I do find them very useful during a long drive to keep my front stiffening up too much.

That's how I feel about the Lux Seating package overall I would say. The ventilated seats are OK, but they didn't do the sort of cooling I expected going in...

I read the warnings before I ordered though and skipped testing with them as I was getting them anyway

I have had ventilated seats in many of my prior BMW's and have it in my Infiniti. Don't use it much if ever, but they usually come as part of a package I want or with the leather I want. They don't really do much and if you put it on high, you have to listen to the fans that are really just blowing the hot air in the car until the AC cools the cabin. Like I said, I am an option whore though.

[Gautam]

I seem to be in the minority but I like BMWs massage and ventilation both quite a bit, though I don’t have many reference points. Comparing the massage to Mercedes, it’s gentler but also feels a lot more comfortable where mb is too intense for me even on low settings. The ventilation does it’s job for me. If I’m sweaty, it whisks the sweat away within minutes, and for long drives, it keeps my back dry. It’s a very noticeable difference versus not having it.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Gautam

I seem to be in the minority but I like BMWs massage and ventilation both quite a bit, though I don’t have many reference points. Comparing the massage to Mercedes, it’s gentler but also feels a lot more comfortable where mb is too intense for me even on low settings. The ventilation does it’s job for me. If I’m sweaty, it whisks the sweat away within minutes, and for long drives, it keeps my back dry. It’s a very noticeable difference versus not having it.

I don't know what all was available in 2018 because I didn't buy mine new, but I've got Dakota leather with the head rests that look like the luxury seating headsets now. I assume that was part of the "Luxury Line". Anyway, I say all that to say that I did 4 hours in it today and was never uncomfortable. No ventilation or massage feature. Just a damn nice car to ride in, around town or on a road trip.