New member and new BMW 128i owner!

Hello everyone,

Hopefully I'm writing this in the right part of this forum... just wanted to introduce myself as a new member to these forums. I just put in and order for my first ever BMW, a 128i manual transmission with a couple of add-on options.

I've looked around the forum and can't seem to find an answer to a couple of questions I had, however (apologies if these have been covered elsewhere!)

- does anyone have any recommendations for a good rear mounted bike rack and is it easy to install? I notice that there's one on the BMW accessories site but my dealer seemed to not know much about it and said it couldn't be factory fitted.
- I'm told my car went into production this week in Germany so does anyone have any thoughts, anecdotes on how long it'll likely take until it's delivered to Massachusetts?
- I didn;t order the bluetooth option as didn't want to pay extra for BMW Assist... anyone know if it's easy to retrofit a bluetooth option easily into a 2011 model?
- Does anyone have any experience in living in the NorthEast and not switching to winter tires over the winter months? I've never had to do this in my previous Audi TT, VW Golf etc. (not RWD I know) so wondered if this is really a necessity?

That's it for now, many thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your order. I ordered my 128i on July 3rd, Production was complete on July 23rd. It is currently on a ship from Germany on it's way to California and according to the Ports website, it is to dock this Friday so I should have it delivered to my dealer early next week. I should be picking it up by the end of next week. It's been a long wait, however it is finally coming to an end. I have driven my local BMW dealers crazy because I have been going around to all of them, test driving their 128s that they have in stock. Am I crazy or what. Anyway your sales rep will have the complete details on dates. Don't go by the BMW website because they were never correct. It still says my car is "On Order" even though I'll pick it up next week.

Unfortunately I don't have any of the other answers for you. I'm sure someone else will chime in with those.

LS.

congrats and welcome to the forum. i have a base 328i manual sport package. While i live in Atlanta, i grew up in the northeast and mountain west. I can tell you from experience that the summer tires that come on the BMW's are no match for cold temperatures (they get very hard) and snow (zero traction). Throw in rear drive and you'll never survive the winter. The few snows we had in Atlanta last winter were pretty much undriveable in my car. Do yourself a favor and get 4 snows. It'll make your summer tires last twice as long so it won't cost more in the long run.

I also special ordered my car from Germany in 2008. I recollect it took like 8 weeks or something. It was a bit quicker than what I was quoted at the dealer.

Last, I am an avid biker. My first option to move my bike is I put it in my car (i have folding rear seats for this reason). My second option is I use my wife's audi A4 wagon with a roof mounted Thule rack. My third option is I have a trunk mounted rack (Yakima) that is OK. I don't like using it because it might scratch the car, dent the trunk (unlikely) and provides no theft protection. If I only had my 328, I would by a roof rack from Thule or Yakima, not a trunk rack. Much more options with that, more security and less road spray if it's raining.

Good luck-

Not a BMW owner myself but currently looking into it and about to post myself - was a long time Mass native though. My brother has owned 3 BMWs there and currently owns a 328i and a 5 series sportswagen. Living in Newton, MA he highly recommends the winter tires and frankly back when I lived there I regularly saw BMWs sliding around in the winter on the roads. This is fairly far from the expert opinion you are likely looking for but based on personal observation and the experience of my family which has quite a few BMWs between them in MA I would recommend the winter tires. Between 10 years in MA and 5 years living in Maine I can tell you that a BMW without winter tires is a bad idea. Of course you can always chance it and hope for a soft snowbank.

one more thought on the bike rack. If you don't move around bikes that much, then the trunk racks from Yakima ore Saris would probably be fine. If you're truly an avid biker and use it alot, then you need the longevity, security and stability of a professional roof mounted system. Just my 2 cents.

Welcome to the Fest!

Originally Posted by mlpnov

Hello everyone,

Hopefully I'm writing this in the right part of this forum... just wanted to introduce myself as a new member to these forums. I just put in and order for my first ever BMW, a 128i manual transmission with a couple of add-on options.

I've looked around the forum and can't seem to find an answer to a couple of questions I had, however (apologies if these have been covered elsewhere!)

- does anyone have any recommendations for a good rear mounted bike rack and is it easy to install? I notice that there's one on the BMW accessories site but my dealer seemed to not know much about it and said it couldn't be factory fitted.
- I'm told my car went into production this week in Germany so does anyone have any thoughts, anecdotes on how long it'll likely take until it's delivered to Massachusetts?
- I didn;t order the bluetooth option as didn't want to pay extra for BMW Assist... anyone know if it's easy to retrofit a bluetooth option easily into a 2011 model?
- Does anyone have any experience in living in the NorthEast and not switching to winter tires over the winter months? I've never had to do this in my previous Audi TT, VW Golf etc. (not RWD I know) so wondered if this is really a necessity?

That's it for now, many thanks in advance!

Congrats and welcome. I'm sure you're going to love your car, but I predict you will regret not ordering bluetooth.

Don't trust the rear bike rack go with the OEM roof mount bike rack and you be happy with the decision. Check out my set up.

Forgot to upload picture.