[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by jedpause

Yes that's the one I saw... do you have any data on the Amp (interested to see if this is plain Bass/Treble or if there is an equaliser...(I doubt it, think that only comes with HK) and number of channels

Sorry, no more info at the moment

[Chuckyarla]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Sorry, no more info at the moment

There is no equaliser on option 676, but the sound in the 7-Series I listened to was very good.

[MMY]

I notice none of you are debating the merits of the Bowers and Wilkins option!! It's nearly €6000 or something as an option in Ireland. I happen to have a home cinema driven by B&W speakers as well as having a venerable a pair of 803s for my main stereo but I think it would be daft to spend that on a car stereo in a five series...maybe in a Bentley or Rolls. I test drove a Volvo S90 with the B&W option ( a snip under 4 grand in that brand) and asked the sales guy to demo it; he proudly proceeded to stream from his iPhone..at about 128kb quality.!!! I advised him to at least use a CD if he was trying to upsell such an option!! I have the HK system in my current car and it's certainly better than the stock system but most of the time I listen to radio so it's kind of irrelevant

[babaikram]

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

I've made a few changes to my order. I'm going for Bluestone instead of Alpine. I have changed the interior to Ivory and added on Fine-wood poplar grain grey. I have also added 17''V-spoke 631 Style Alloys.
I dropped the Harman Kardon and Replaced it with the loudspeaker System 676. I listened to both systems in two 7-Series in a dealer on Tuesday and I actually preferred the Loudspeaker System. I also dropped the reverse camera as the front and rear sensors should be adequate.

I have always admired F10 Msport with Alpine white colour. I hope it would be the same on G30. I have also noticed even BMW uses G30 M Sport in Alpine white with black wheels in some of their presentations. Therefore my preference for Alpine white.

[Chuckyarla]

Originally Posted by babaikram

I have always admired F10 Msport with Alpine white colour. I hope it would be the same on G30. I have also noticed even BMW uses G30 M Sport in Alpine white with black wheels in some of their presentations. Therefore my preference for Alpine white.

Totally agree with you on the Alpine in relation to the M-Sport with big wheels. But on an SE with 17'' wheels it's a different kettle of fish.

[MMY]

Had a sneak review of an Alpine White 520d MSport with 19 inch black wheels ( can't recall the reference number for the wheels) today, they have to keep it under wraps until the official test drive release day...it was nice to be able to see it in the flesh and not in a box (the teaser demos they had a couple of months ago)... Have to say it looks good and the interior is a step up in quality from the F10

[Chuckyarla]

Originally Posted by MMY

Had a sneak review of an Alpine White 520d MSport with 19 inch black wheels ( can't recall the reference number for the wheels) today, they have to keep it under wraps until the official test drive release day...it was nice to be able to see it in the flesh and not in a box (the teaser demos they had a couple of months ago)... Have to say it looks good and the interior is a step up in quality from the F10

What colour was the interior?

[MMY]

It had the blue leather option...if you ask me it doesn't work with alpine white exterior and I'm not sure I would like it with any option; it's quite a dark navy.

[andrew520d]

Maybe it's my age but I just don't understand the appeal of black alloys.
They are becoming increasingly common on sporty trims along with black door mirrors which again I don't get.
Anyway the first of these g30's will be on the roads soon and I look forward to trying one at some stage. I recently drove a new model Mercedes e220d and have to admit it was a step above the f10 520d . The new 5 will have to be exceptional to beat it but I have a feeling it will.

[Spied4US]

Originally Posted by andrew520d

Maybe it's my age but I just don't understand the appeal of black alloys . . . .

Nor I. IMHO, it's by far the easiest, least expensive way to make virtually any car look like a taxi.

[Badger]

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

(...) I dropped the Harman Kardon and Replaced it with the loudspeaker System 676. I listened to both systems in two 7-Series in a dealer on Tuesday and I actually preferred the Loudspeaker System.

It is strange, I don't understand that. I also prefer Loudspeaker/Hi-Fi than HK in G11/G12. Shouldn't the HK be better?? I wonder how these systems will sound in G30...

[Chuckyarla]

Originally Posted by Badger

It is strange, I don't understand that. I also prefer Loudspeaker/Hi-Fi than HK in G11/G12. Shouldn't the HK be better?? I wonder how these systems will sound in G30...

I think it depends on how you like your music to sound. The HK may be technically 'better' but your ears may simply prefer the non-surround sound of the HiFi system.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

I think it depends on how you like your music to sound. The HK may be technically 'better' but your ears may simply prefer the non-surround sound of the HiFi system.

I have found on most models the HK systems sounds way better when you turn the surround feature off.

There are certain music types though that sound fantastic with the surround on, but those are mostly concert hall type tracks.

[Badger]

Well, that's interesting, I have to check this out!

[morellomax]

I've had F10s with both options. HK definitely sounds a bit better than the 676 option once you switch off surround and fiddle with the equalisation, the factory HK amp is pretty strong and clean and the HK underseat woofers are a definite improvement on the others, but the tweeters are still a bit rough, making it tiring to listen to at higher volumes.

On the 676 option I eventually replaced the factory amp and the whole front speaker stage and underseat woofers.

On the HK option I was satisfied with replacing the mids and tweets with Bavsound units, which integrate really well into the HK system.

[Badger]

Yeah, I've heard that Bavsound makes great retrofits for BMWs... And happily they usually have 'plug&play' option.

[2tek]

Originally Posted by andrew520d

That price is after a 4000 euro discount BMW are giving in the new 5 in Ireland at the moment.
You guys in the UK live in a car buyers paradise compared to us in Ireland

Just configured a sweet 520d M Sport on the UK site, all the extras came in at 44k GBP.

By the time one pays VRT on it will one be making any savings at all?

VRT is on the equivalent rate of similar spec car in ireland right?

or do they base it on the standard equipment minus the extra options?

[martin mustang]

The chances the rates for the G30 are not yet set, and from a colleague at work experience, expect the worst, the options are factored in too.

I moved from London to Ireland 10 years ago and learned that the rate decided on by the tax office can be disconnected from the actual car value.
One option is to setup the same car same spec at a dealer and get the estimate print out showing the VRT due, this will be a good guess.

Originally Posted by 2tek

Just configured a sweet 520d M Sport on the UK site, all the extras came in at 44k GBP.

By the time one pays VRT on it will one be making any savings at all?

VRT is on the equivalent rate of similar spec car in ireland right?

or do they base it on the standard equipment minus the extra options?

[Wonderbug]

G30 ordered now, Bluestone with ivory interior. Coming from Titanium silver 2011 f10 with comfort access, folding mirrors, split rear seats (used once) surround cameras and professional sat. nav with the hard disk option ( great for ripping all my cds to the car) . Anyway, for the G30 went for 18" alloys - run flats, not a lover of run flats and expensive to replace) ..comfort access, gesture control (have to have one gimmick), auto-parking option, high beam assist.., was looking for apple play but was dropped from the Irish BMW configurator but still available on UK version . delivery mid-march so I'm told.... On trade in, was offered 2500 Euro more by one BMW dealer so they got the deal.. so was worth shopping around...

[martin mustang]

Thinking of the same, dealer wise, we currently expecting X5 for my wife ordered December to replace her X3, I was blown away by the trading value on my car under only a month later after ordering the X5, both cars brand new from the very same dealer at around the same amount yet my F10 is valued far less in comparison to our X3 hence I am to shop around.

Originally Posted by Wonderbug

G30 ordered now, Bluestone with ivory interior. Coming from Titanium silver 2011 f10 with comfort access, folding mirrors, split rear seats (used once) surround cameras and professional sat. nav with the hard disk option ( great for ripping all my cds to the car) . Anyway, for the G30 went for 18" alloys - run flats, not a lover of run flats and expensive to replace) ..comfort access, gesture control (have to have one gimmick), auto-parking option, high beam assist.., was looking for apple play but was dropped from the Irish BMW configurator but still available on UK version . delivery mid-march so I'm told.... On trade in, was offered 2500 Euro more by one BMW dealer so they got the deal.. so was worth shopping around...

[Crackity Jones]

Originally Posted by Wonderbug

G30 ordered now, Bluestone with ivory interior. Coming from Titanium silver 2011 f10 with comfort access, folding mirrors, split rear seats (used once) surround cameras and professional sat. nav with the hard disk option ( great for ripping all my cds to the car) . Anyway, for the G30 went for 18" alloys - run flats, not a lover of run flats and expensive to replace) ..comfort access, gesture control (have to have one gimmick), auto-parking option, high beam assist.., was looking for apple play but was dropped from the Irish BMW configurator but still available on UK version . delivery mid-march so I'm told.... On trade in, was offered 2500 Euro more by one BMW dealer so they got the deal.. so was worth shopping around...

Care to give us an idea of which dealer gave the better trade in?

[MMY]

Yes please, do give us a hint as to where the best deal might be had, I'm keen to pull the trigger on a 530d MSport but am crying at the thought of a two year old car with normal mileage losing at least €40k (not that I paid the original list price). Has anyone in Ireland heard whether the BMW contribution if registered by end of March will be extended? I don't see how they can increase price by €5000 on 01 April .... Or is that date a clue??!!!