Finalizing spec today - any suggestions?

[Jack's dad]

Hi Folks,

While working with my dealer to select replacement for 550 coming off lease an M3 Sedan build slot opened up unexpectedly and I decided to grab it. I need to finalize my specs today and this is what I am thinking:

Alpine White/Black
Technology Package
Premium Package
Blue Gray Aluminum Trim
Heated Front Seats
Fold Down Seats
Enhanced Premium Sound
HD Radio
Sirius
iPod & USB

I have neither seen or driven the car, but based on reviews and previous E46 M3 ownership am confident I will like the car. Do I have the spec right? Missing anything? The omission of the moon roof is intentional. Any suggestions are most welcome...

Thanks a million!

Steve

[TeaRex714]

Looks like a good setup to me! Heated seats and black interior in Tampa?

[Jack's dad]

Good questions. I like the black interior because it is a clean look, and stays clean in spite of my kids best efforts to wreak havoc. My car is garaged at home and at work, so I don't find black all that much hotter in the summer. As to the heated seats, I leave for work very early each day and it is often in the 40's and 50's in the morning during the winter - I love to drive with the windows down to hear the exhaust and the heated seats keep me nice and warm.

Steve

[man02195]

Any interest in either of these options?

415 Power Rear Sunshade
507 Park Distance Control Rear
2MT 19 inch wheels/tires

When the car's not garaged, the 415's might help on the florida sun/heat
507 would keep you from running over a kid's toy in the drive
And the 19s look nice

[Jack's dad]

I know nothing about the sunshade option. I stayed away from it because I wasn't sure I needed it and out of fear that it could be a source of rattles. Anyone have experience with this option?

I have PDC on my 550 and although it is sometimes useful I also find it irritating and not helpful on where I could use it most - it does not seem to pick up the cement barriers at the front of parking spaces, at least not in the 550. I guess I am betting that the M3 is a small enough car that I don't need it...Not certain I am right on this one...

As to the 19's, I was probably going to go with 18's anyway but my dealer made the decison for me by telling me 19's are not available, at least not on my build date. Not sure what the deal is there.

Steve

[LMC]

As to the heated seats, I leave for work very early each day and it is often in the 40's and 50's in the morning during the winter - I love to drive with the windows down to hear the exhaust and the heated seats keep me nice and warm.


Welcome to bimmerfest, Steve! :hi:

As someone who lives where we are sick and #$%@& tired of the $%@# white crap and just wants Mother Nature to cut us some slack and give us a 50 degree low just so we can remember what our hands and feet feel like -- and particularly on behalf on those 'festers who live in REAL winter weather areas like Vermont or Michigan UP or Minnesota: "40s and 50s"? "windows down in the morning"? You wuss!

OK, sorry... I feel better now. Back to normal. Medication kicking in. Nothing to see here. Enjoy the new M3. :thumbup: :bigpimp: :eeps:

[Jack's dad]

I'm afraid I must plead guilty as charged to being a weather wuss. Born and raised in Boston and spent most of my life there and the cold never really bothered me. Transferred to FL a few years ago and it is AMAZING how fast the blood thins out. Clearly I need to toughen up, so from now on I promise to only use my heated seats on the lowest setting.:)

I placed my order tonight and should have the car in April. Now the hard part begins...

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am new here but it seems like a good place...

Steve

[TeaRex714]

The dealer called me today for my allocation. I'm going in tomorrow to go over my setup with them. I'm thinking AW also (It's the color of my current E39 and I like it.) I'm thinking hard about Fox Red leather though. It worries me a little that the dealer acts like he doesn't know the price of anything. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

[MillerTime]

He's just playing dumb (or is he?) The prices are out there, and they already received the #'s internally. To be one of the first, you will pay heavy... MSRP or greater in some cases... plus the rates are high for M's (7-8%)... tag on gas guzzler tax and those last minute 'wheel and tire' and 'baloon' insurance fees....

[Jack's dad]

I thought about red long and hard - white and red are a great combination. Don't be surprised if your dealer knows less about the car than most of the regular posters here. My salesman, who seems pretty good to me, just got the prices very recently...

[TeaRex714]

I think the M3 is going to selling at MSRP for a while. My daughter will be getting her license soon, and I'll be passing my E39 on to her. The M3 is the only car I'm excited about right now (well... there's the Aston Martin DBS of course, but that's serious money.) I won't pay more than MSRP though. I can probably find an allocation at a smaller market dealer willing to sell one for MSRP if my dealer isn't.

[Jack's dad]

My dealer, Reeves in Tampa, is a first class operation and is selling at sticker with no nonsense whatsoever.

[TeaRex714]

I placed my order today for build in March w/ April delivery.
Alpine White w/ Fox Red leather Sedan
19" wheels
Navigation
Enhanced premium sound
Sirius
iPod/USB

[JST]

I know nothing about the sunshade option. I stayed away from it because I wasn't sure I needed it and out of fear that it could be a source of rattles. Anyone have experience with this option?

I have PDC on my 550 and although it is sometimes useful I also find it irritating and not helpful on where I could use it most - it does not seem to pick up the cement barriers at the front of parking spaces, at least not in the 550. I guess I am betting that the M3 is a small enough car that I don't need it...Not certain I am right on this one...

As to the 19's, I was probably going to go with 18's anyway but my dealer made the decison for me by telling me 19's are not available, at least not on my build date. Not sure what the deal is there.

Steve

I have the sunshades in my 335 and like them a lot; they are very nice for our daughter. Haven't had any trouble with rattles. I'd order 'em again, but only because I routinely carry a kid in the back. If I didn't, it probably wouldn't be worth it.

[zoltrix]

Is technology package really worth the money?

[Asteroid]

Is technology package really worth the money?

IMO, yes. You get a lot of goodies for $3250. Separately, nav and comfort access would be $2600 already, for the balance you get the rest.

[TeaRex714]

I chose to skip the technology package. I got the nav seperately. I figured the "M" Drive and Electronic Dampening Control were things I'd rarely use, and they would complicate any future suspension work (I had over 300K miles on my last car and over 200K on my current, so I eventually end up needing to replace stuff.) I also figure it was an additional potential electronic repair. As for the comfort access, it seems kind of cool, but I've been using a key for years and I never recall saying to myself "Gee, I wish I didn't have to take this out of my pocket." Cool stuff I guess, but I just kept it simple and stuck with what I knew I would actually use.

[bobotski]

Good call on the keys. I'd rethink the suspension packages though... look into the future and see if you would say "I wish I could've gotten them" :)

[GregW in Oregon]

Hi Folks,

While working with my dealer to select replacement for 550 coming off lease an M3 Sedan build slot opened up unexpectedly and I decided to grab it. I need to finalize my specs today and this is what I am thinking:

Alpine White/Black
Technology Package
Premium Package
Blue Gray Aluminum Trim
Heated Front Seats
Fold Down Seats
Enhanced Premium Sound
HD Radio
Sirius
iPod & USB

I have neither seen or driven the car, but based on reviews and previous E46 M3 ownership am confident I will like the car. Do I have the spec right? Missing anything? The omission of the moon roof is intentional. Any suggestions are most welcome...

Thanks a million!

Steve
Remember you can keep changing your mind all the way through 112 production status (probably another 4-5 weeks if the order was just submitted). Specs look good, but you might consider the 19s (though there's a supply shortage right now, but should clear up next month). Here's a video of the rear shade in action. I believe on the sedan it's packaged with manual rear side shades.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112020

[Jack's dad]

Thanks, Greg. When I placed my order I was told it could not be changed. My car is a week 10 build. Anyone know if I can still add 19's if I wanted to? Up until what date?

Thanks,

Steve

[MillerTime]

I believe the latest status to change the wheels is 112 (where I'm at... just changed mine to the 19's).

[GregW in Oregon]

Thanks, Greg. When I placed my order I was told it could not be changed. My car is a week 10 build. Anyone know if I can still add 19's if I wanted to? Up until what date?

They are lying to you if they said that. Worst case, they were modifying an order that was already status 112. Even so, you can keep modifying until it starts production at status 150. If it's still on a Week 10 schedule, I would guess you've go at least a couple weeks to make changes, since we're entering week 7. Once it hits 150, you're locked and the car will be built within a week.

[Jack's dad]

Thanks for the information. It is most likely moot anyway, as the only mod I am considering is a switch to 19's, which would push off my delivery date past the point at which I need to turn my 550 in.

[Dave 330i]

I have not read the other recommendations....
I prefer no moonroof either, but you get a steel roof in the sedan, not CF.
Premium radio is not for me in a M3. iPod, yes.
Fold down rear seats a good option (std in the coupe)
Two free doors over the coupe, but ugly tail light.
Jet black over white. Jet black stands out more. Yea, I know you're in FL.
Std 18" wheels are OK from what I've read. Lighter than 19 in wheels.

[Jack's dad]

Thanks for the input!

[REINER77]

Hi, I have a week 8 build. Which means they should start building very soon. I am in the 150 stage. Does anybody know how long until I get my car?

[man02195]

Hi, I have a week 8 build. Which means they should start building very soon. I am in the 150 stage. Does anybody know how long until I get my car?

42 days (+ or - a few)

[Wingboot]

I know nothing about the sunshade option. I stayed away from it because I wasn't sure I needed it and out of fear that it could be a source of rattles. Anyone have experience with this option?

I have PDC on my 550 and although it is sometimes useful I also find it irritating and not helpful on where I could use it most - it does not seem to pick up the cement barriers at the front of parking spaces, at least not in the 550. I guess I am betting that the M3 is a small enough car that I don't need it...Not certain I am right on this one...

As to the 19's, I was probably going to go with 18's anyway but my dealer made the decison for me by telling me 19's are not available, at least not on my build date. Not sure what the deal is there.

Steve

I'm on my 3rd E46. The two previous models were sedans. I had the sunshade on my 01 sedan. It was great....no noise and deployed with the touch of a button, looked great too. My opinion is that if you are not tinting your windows you can't go wrong with this option if you want to spend the money. Not necessary but nice. I had a manual one on my 89 520i that I mostly left up all the time.

My cabrio is the first with PDC. Don't know if I'll get another one WITHOUT. It is great and makes parking and backing up much easier. Again, not necessary but NICE! You have experience with the system so you know if it would be useful to you.

May ride better with the 18's compared to 19's. I know my "ride" got progessively worse as I went
from 17's on the 99 328i (no sport package)
to 17's with sport package on 01 325i
and now 18's on 04 330Cic with ZHP.

Cheers

............post pics when you get it!

[Jack's dad]

Great feedback - thanks!

[GregW in Oregon]

Hi, I have a week 8 build. Which means they should start building very soon. I am in the 150 stage. Does anybody know how long until I get my car?
At 150 it's in production. You should now have a VIN. will be done within 1 week!

[REINER77]

My car is done I have a vin. now the long wait for it to arrive. I cant take it anymore.

[GregW in Oregon]

Std 18" wheels are OK from what I've read. Lighter than 19 in wheels.
You sure about that? 19s are forged vs. cast 18s. Any data?