[SchwarzerM3]

Hello,

would you add these options again if you would order another F10?


Thanks

Alex

[mlai]

Originally Posted by SchwarzerM3

Hello,

would you add these options again if you would order another F10?


Thanks

Alex

I have DHP/IAS and comfort seat on mine. In fact, this is my second F10 IAS may seem a gimmick on paper, but I have people say that my car handles like a smaller car than it is on windy roads. So I guess it does have a fairly good effect. And given the stock suspension, ARS is a great help but you may still want stiffer springs (or even go coilovers).

My 2 cents. And yes, I will get them again if I order another (third?) one.

[skoTner]

I just tested a F10 the other day with IAS, and yes I would defenitly have it on my next car. Going around tight corners down town, around traffic circles etc. was a dream. And parking it was perfect and easy. Loved it

[ibimmer954]

I have IAS and what was known as the dynamic handling package. Both are big winners as far as I'm concerned. IAS makes the car feel really nimble. I test-drove a 550i without IAS and noticed a big difference in the steering, especially at low speeds. IAS was much better.

[hinckley]

I've had IAS on my last two E60s and loved it. I think it's especially useful in city driving and parking. I think the only people who don't like it are those who track their cars and (understandably) don't like the steering ratio changing thru high speed corners.

[SchwarzerM3]

Hello and thanks for the informative replies.

It seems like these are actually usefull gimmicks...


I may place an order for a new F10 550i....right now the "wish list" is endless...I'm looking for a fully loaded car, the only option I left out is the rear seat ent. system....

I try to cross of a few options which are not worth the money, I was hoping the ARS and IAS could be two of them....


How about the night vision....what do you think about the system....does it work well or is THIS just a useless gimmick?


Thanks again

Alex

[mlai]

Originally Posted by SchwarzerM3

How about the night vision....what do you think about the system....does it work well or is THIS just a useless gimmick?

My opinions probably not worth even 2cents but.....

Night vision really depends on what your night driving environments are like. I live in a city and the roads and places are so well lit that I don't even use high beam! So night vision ranks very low on my list. However, if you frequent dimly lit areas, or less well lit sub-urbs with trees, may be worth the money.

Rear seat entertainment is one that ranks REAL LOW on my list. Just put 2 iPads there!

One thing that I wish they have done better and I would have gotten it is the HUD. I didn't appreciate how useful the HUD is until you actually live with the car for a while. The sitting position, coupled with steering wheel position sometimes obscures a bit of the dash. However, if you wear polarized sunglasses when driving, the HUD will not show up

[1HOT BMR]

I have IAS, DHP and HUD. All worth it and would order them again. I don't have night vision, and lane departure or whatever is called - those two I thought would be worthless and I'm happy I don't have them. The other item I left out was the surround cameras and I regret it - this car needs the surround cameras because it is very hard to see out of it. I do have the back up camera as one of the packages but this is not enough - make sure you order the surround cameras. I can see the HUD with my polarized sunglasses if I move my head slightly off center - it's dim but I can see it. IAS and DHP are must haves in my opinion, they make the car feel like a BMW - a driver's car.

[bm323]

Originally Posted by mlai

And given the stock suspension, ARS is a great help but you may still want stiffer springs (or even go coilovers).

Hi, would you say it's preferable to have stock suspension and change it to stiffer suspension, or get the dynamic suspension and change it to stiffer suspension? I have the dynamic suspension but it's not stiff enough in sport mode.

ps I think night vision is unnecessary, unless the OP drives in the country and the warm object shows up on HUD.

[mlai]

Originally Posted by bm323

Hi, would you say it's preferable to have stock suspension and change it to stiffer suspension, or get the dynamic suspension and change it to stiffer suspension? I have the dynamic suspension but it's not stiff enough in sport mode.

ps I think night vision is unnecessary, unless the OP drives in the country and the warm object shows up on HUD.

Dynamic suspension with stiffer springs (ACS) works for me!

[SchwarzerM3]

Hello,

I guess I will skip the night vision....did some reading on it and it seems to be a nice gimmick but nothing I would need....it may even distracts more than anything since you have to look to the screen which takes your eyes away from the street....if they would display the warning in the HUD it would be not that bad....

well, besides the night vision and the rear entertainment pckg I still have anything else on the wish list...I need to thin it out a bit....what else is a gimmick and nothing more?

Alex

[mlai]

Originally Posted by SchwarzerM3

Hello,

I guess I will skip the night vision....did some reading on it and it seems to be a nice gimmick but nothing I would need....it may even distracts more than anything since you have to look to the screen which takes your eyes away from the street....if they would display the warning in the HUD it would be not that bad....

well, besides the night vision and the rear entertainment pckg I still have anything else on the wish list...I need to thin it out a bit....what else is a gimmick and nothing more?

Alex

maybe let us know what's on your listso that we can better help?

[SchwarzerM3]

Originally Posted by mlai

maybe let us know what's on your listso that we can better help?

here it is.....

2012 BMW 550i Sedan
Alpine white
Cinnamon brown Dakota leather
Anthracite wood trim
Convenience package
Driver assistance package
Cold weather package
M sport package
Premium sound package
Luxury seating package
ARS
Sport automatic transmission shift paddles
Parking assistant
Ski bag
Active cruise control
BMW apps
Ceramic controls
Integral active steering

[mlai]

I have Parking assistant on mine. Although it is cool to see it in action, I have not used it even once despite I live in a city and frequently parallel park! With surround view, I can park way faster than the system ever can!

So that definitely qualifies as a gimmick that I can do without in my books.

Having said that, you are going for a 550i! I don't think you should concern about costs. Not like you are living on a budget........

[alex_c]

Parking Assist says: I don't know how to park a car myself... Definitely off my list.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Am slightly surprised by the various calls for surround cameras and park assist. Mk1 eyeball in conjunction with the parking sensors has got me into the tightest of tight spaces

[Breach]

My $0.01 worth - Surround View is a must for this car - unless you never have to navigate tight spaces / parking lots. The bonnet is simply too low and you risk scratching your car. Typical examples are airport parking lots where they intentionally put these low concrete slabs at entrances/exits which PDC doesn't detect but your bumper does. I don't know how big of a problem in the US, but in Europe everything seems designed for smaller cars ;-)

HUD is very, very useful, but not a must.
IAS is very, very useful, but not a must.
Lane departure warning - umm... not worth it, I guess it's meant for DUI drivers anyway
Lane change warning - I'd get any additional safety any day and think it's worth it - it saved my ... at least once in a near miss on the motorway
Night Vision - I seriously considered getting it but didn't - bottom line - if you spend at least 20% of your time driving at night on unlit backyard roads - get it - otherwise it's just a gimmick - not worth it.
Park Assist - is fun, but after the 1st month I just stopped using it - where I need it it can't park - the space is apparently insufficient so I end up parking the car which sort of defeats the purpose. Where it can park you can usually park a 767 ;-) I wouldn't get it again.

[mlai]

Originally Posted by Breach

Where it can park you can usually park a 767 ;-) I wouldn't get it again.

Are you sure it is a 767 parking spot? I could have swore that it was looking for a 380 parking spot

[j3o3t3]

I have added IAS on my last 2 5er's as options, came std. on my '05 545i.

best way to explain it, is when I drive any other vehicle without it, that car is much more difficult to steer, not in effort, but in result.

IAS just works, helps in slow speed parking, and in driving speed lane agility.

Steering feel/weight is unaffected.

It is now an expensive option, but one I would absolutely choose !

[Needsdecaf]

Driver Assistance - don't bother. LDW is useless. BSW is useful, but way, way too conservative. You learn to ignore it, which kind of defeats the point. Just get the HUD as a stand alone package and be done with it. .

Self parking - I have it, but not really necessary. It works well, but again, needs a lot of room to work so....

Lux seating - I don't have the 2011 4 zone climate control, so I can't comment. Most useful only if you are going to be transporting rear passengers often, and they are sensitive. My kids are not that picky. Sunshades - I like 'em, but you can get them stand alone. Vented seats - nice, but honestly, not all that effective. Active seats - ok, but kind of disturbing and I have yet to see any benefit, although all my trips are very short. Potential savings here.

IAS - I don't like the added artificiality, I would skip it.

[SchwarzerM3]

well, I guess I will leave the IAS and ARS on my shopping list....
I will not take the car to the track, so the more artificial feel of the steering wont bother me.

The parking assist and the cameras are a must....my wife said so

How about the active cruise control??? Thats a very expensice option...is it worth it?

[mlai]

Originally Posted by SchwarzerM3

well, I guess I will leave the IAS and ARS on my shopping list....
I will not take the car to the track, so the more artificial feel of the steering wont bother me.

The parking assist and the cameras are a must....my wife said so

How about the active cruise control??? Thats a very expensice option...is it worth it?

If you need to ask.... Probably not for you...