[///M-er-gized]

I've had my 540 for over a year now, and I've concluded that soft closing doors are pretty much the most pointless feature I've ever had in a car.

Every time I have a guest in my car, SLAM!

Yesterday my wife and I went out to dinner with friends. I drove. When they got out of the car, SLAM.

It took 6 months to train my wife on how to gently close the doors, but she still often forgets. SLAM!

When my adult children visit and we go for a drive somewhere, SLAM!

When I tell people that the car has soft closing doors, they have no idea what I'm talking about. SLAM!

[LogicalApex]

I am not convinced I would pay for the feature as a stand alone option, but I like it on my car. I had a loaner car recently without it and I constantly got hit with the "door open" alert as I've become accustomed to closing the door without slamming it.

I haven't been able to convince my wife to not slam the door, but I've given up trying. At least the mechanism doesn't seem to be negatively impacted from the slammers.

That being said. You never get the annoying "door open" alert since it will make sure that close, but not fully closed door that passengers tend to do a fair bit doesn't happen.

[Anterialis]

i actually love the feature. I often place our sleeping newborn in the baby seat in the back, and really like that i can silently and carefully close the door as "slamming it" elicits the Moro reflex and sometimes wakes him up.. Personally I almost always use the soft close feature, it just feels a bit luxurious Makes me feel happy m

(X5 45e)

[Mach550]

This is one of those small touches that make a big difference to me. Sounds like you just need to educate some people...

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Mach550

This is one of those small touches that make a big difference to me. Sounds like you just need to educate some people...

Easier said then done. The OP has been trying. But after twenty or more years of slamming doors, the reeducation program is a difficult one.

I love my self close doors but folks do tend to slam them anyway.

[sandwi54]

This feature is not so useful on the sedan, but is much more useful on X5 or X7 which has heavier doors. On my last X5, I can gently close the door and let the soft close feature do the rest. Also, when my baby is asleep in the car, I can slowly close the door without slamming it which wakes him up.

[jjscsix]

I had them on my 2012, don't have them on my current 2017. I miss them. 95% of the time I'm by myself in the car. That solves a lot of the problems

[MauiSteve]

Yes, i will agree that girlfriends and/or wives are pretty much untrainable.

But I still like my soft close doors.

[TreyWaters]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

i actually love the feature. I often place our sleeping newborn in the baby seat in the back, and really like that i can silently and carefully close the door as "slamming it" elicits the Moro reflex and sometimes wakes him up.. Personally I almost always use the soft close feature, it just feels a bit luxurious Makes me feel happy m

(X5 45e)

This. It's really great when you've got little ones that sleep in the car.

Also, it's a "nice to have" as it pretty much eliminates not closing the door hard enough, as it will pull in itself. After driving someone's car for a few days with it, I fell in love with it, so I'm a convert.

[CosmicCharlie]

I would never order a car without soft closing doors. It's one of my favorite features on my m550.

I do understand where to OP is coming from re: passengers slamming the doors, but fortunately my family and other frequent passengers don't seem to have any trouble softly closing the door (kids included!). Now if I could just get everyone to stop leaving hand prints all over the gloss black b-pillars and just use the door handle to gently shut the door, I'll be in good shape.

[Qsilver7]

I guess chivalry is dead? Why are your wives and girlfriends slamming the doors...shouldn't you be opening and closing them for her?

[khoa@x-ph.com]

Unless all cars have soft closing features, people will keep slamming your doors.

[Dephead2004]

What happens with soft closers after you've had a row?

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Dephead2004

What happens with soft closers after you've had a row?

had a row?

[MikeElmendorf]

Is it necessary? No. But, I have them on my 2018 540 and I really like the feature.

Unfortunately, yesterday I just ordered my next car (2021 M550) and soft close is no longer available on the 5, at least not this year.

[malpatti]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

had a row?

British term for a fight usually in a domestic setting eg “had a row with the missus”

(Aussie in Boston here)

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by Dephead2004

What happens with soft closers after you've had a row?

Easy.

The wife slams the door, you then proceed to have a go at her slamming the door.

A great way to keep a row going on longer

[BimmerGeneral14]

I absolutely love the soft close doors on my 650. Never was able to train anyone else to "appreciate " them though. Bummed they aren't available on 2021 US M550s, so I guess I'll have to relearn slamming. Ugh!

[LuvMyE92]

My wife is trainable and 90% remembers not to slam. My current 5 does not have the SCD and every time she gets in and closes it gently, she reminds me of that shortcoming. LOL

For passengers, I will demonstrate the door function for them and explain the benefits. 50% of the time they remember.

[Bandoul]

I had them on my 2012 550i, 2015 550i and now on my 2020 M550i, I love them and I have to have them Was never ever able to train anyone to gently push or pull the door to the latch. Slam slam slam all the time. I think after a while people did it on purpose because I was so anal about being gentle. The good news I am 99% of the time alone in the car. When we go out in town, we always take her car and I always drive! Her car is much smaller and this way I avoid door dings which is a trend in Houston, Texas.

[paquet]

Wasn't there a feature in prior 5's where the door motors would prevent someone slamming the door?
I just recall seeing this a few years ago

[ejlover06]

Originally Posted by packet

Wasn't there a feature in prior 5's where the door motors would prevent someone slamming the door?
I just recall seeing this a few years ago

I wish there were