OK, here it is - BMW round two - The New Order.

OK, here is the planned build I’ll be putting to about three local dealerships today or tomorrow (all owned by somebody else) I’m particularly hopeful that one specific dealership will be the low-offer because I like the staff, but not so much that I’m willing to pay $1000’s extra. As some will remember, I ordered a 535i about this time last year and the dealer messed it up – in some ways I’m glad, this car is essentially nothing like the one I ordered last year – go figure…

2012 535i: BASE MSRP (w/ dest) $53,395
Exterior Color: Alpine White (80% likelihood) Alternative is Jet Black. I considered Sapphire but decided I preferred the inky-black to the metal flake.

Interior Color: Venetian Beige, lightwood trim, Anthracite headliner (assumes Sports Pak). I went round and round on this – Oyster is great but can make the interior look cold – and I have enough of that in Seattle already. It’s great for the black carpet and lower door panels, but you trade that away with the super light seats. I looked at a few on dealer lots – one had only been out +/- a few weeks and you could clearly see marks, stains and wear. If you had time to keep up on maintenance, didn’t have kids and or didn’t wear dark cloths likely to transfer color (I do / have all of these) then I’m sure it’s fantastic. Venetian isn’t much better in some ways but I’ve had cars with similar color interior and it’s just easier to protect light carpets and doors than it is seats IMHO. Black was an option too but I want the light wood and I’ve never seen that combo in person.

Options:

205 – Steptronic Auto transmission
5DL – Side & Top View Cameras
610 – Head-Up Display
ZCW – Cold Weather Package (I want the split-fold seats and heated front seats; it’s not much more just to get the entire package than do it ala-cart)
ZPP – Premium package.
ZTP – Technology Package

Still debatable at this point:

ZSP – Sports Package. I like the Anthracite headliner and the standard Steering wheel didn’t feel as good as I thought it should, so the upgraded sports wheel would be nice. DDC is a nice add too, only I drove multiple non-sport cars and to be honest, didn’t think there was anything “missing” as far as ride goes. I actually prefer the chrome window surround and it’s a toss-up between the standard 18” wheels and the 19” sports-pack version. 19” design looks easier to clean, I guess. Either way, I’ll get the multi-contour seats, so I need to decide if the extra $2300 for the sports package is worth it for a thicker steering wheel, dark headliner and adjustable dampers that may, or may not, actually matter to me.

My guess is I’ll add the Sports package, but it’s still up for debate.

MSRP, including sports package and Destination comes to $64395 Invoice around $59210

I assume you have seen the 2013 changes? Some appear to have been able to get more car for less on paper based on the new, but confusing option packages and individual color choices.

Originally Posted by ksoze

I assume you have seen the 2013 changes? Some appear to have been able to get more car for less on paper based on the new, but confusing option packages and individual color choices.

Yea, I ran the build that way too and it ends up about $960 less, but I'd miss out on a few things, most notably the athracite headliner and Sports steering wheel.

Can you even order a 2012 at this point? Or have the order books not yet closed?

Also, sport package doesn't include the anthracite headliner, only MSport.

I'd do a 2013 if only for the better nav!! If you have to wait, so be it! Anything has to be better than the current nav. Plus, if you're ordering, why would you want the older MY on your build?

Also, get the pricing from your local dealer...then contact Greg Poland at Pacific BMW. I bet he saves enough on your build that you'll be ahead even with a plane ticket down to pick the car up!

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Can you even order a 2012 at this point? Or have the order books not yet closed?

Also, sport package doesn't include the anthracite headliner, only MSport.

I'd do a 2013 if only for the better nav!! If you have to wait, so be it! Anything has to be better than the current nav. Plus, if you're ordering, why would you want the older MY on your build?

Also, get the pricing from your local dealer...then contact Greg Poland at Pacific BMW. I bet he saves enough on your build that you'll be ahead even with a plane ticket down to pick the car up!

No idea if i can order a 2012 still.

Sports package does include athracite headliner, according to the BMW configurator.

There are trade-offs on the 2013 I'd rather not make, Athracite headliner being one of them (only available with M-Sport or ZL1 for 2013).

You will also want premium sound.

Originally Posted by Imothph

No idea if i can order a 2012 still.

Sports package does include athracite headliner, according to the BMW configurator.

There are trade-offs on the 2013 I'd rather not make, Athracite headliner being one of them (only available with M-Sport or ZL1 for 2013).

Not only does the configuration say that Sports Pkg includes anthracite headliner, it in fact is true based on my car.

Originally Posted by kc1953

Not only does the configuration say that Sports Pkg includes anthracite headliner, it in fact is true based on my car.

Must have been a change for 2012 that I missed....

I think you might be overlooking the other value of the Sport Package: the option to get the Sport Automatic Transmission.

That might be one of my favorite options on my car, and when I ordered it, it was mostly for interior aesthetic reasons because the shifter looks so much better than the steptronic.

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

I think you might be overlooking the other value of the Sport Package: the option to get the Sport Automatic Transmission.

That might be one of my favorite options on my car, and when I ordered it, it was mostly for interior aesthetic reasons because the shifter looks so much better than the steptronic.

Most definitely.

Why wouldn't you wait for MY13?

You get the new LCD gauges and the new updated iDrive. I would give up a headliner to get updated electrics

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Why wouldn't you wait for MY13?

You get the new LCD gauges and the new updated iDrive. I would give up a headliner to get updated electrics

Seriously.

And you can probably get anthracite headliner through individual.....

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Why wouldn't you wait for MY13?

You get the new LCD gauges and the new updated iDrive. I would give up a headliner to get updated electrics

Well, here's my thinking:

LCD gauges: Not a fan to be honest. I like the current gauges and even though I'd be ok with the new ones, Its not a "gain" for me

Updated iDrive - I hate them all. updated or otherwise ;-) Im not sure what's getting updated, I'll look into it.

As for the model year itself - if I configure my car the same way, I need to give up the sports steering wheel (so back to the thin / harder standard wheel) No athracite headliner and I'll have the standard 18" wheels versus the current model 19" available with the sports package. Only real gain is blind spot detection. Its also $960 cheaper, but I'd pay that for a steering wheel that feels right - and the $1500 option incentive applies to 2012 only.

Originally Posted by Imothph

Well, here's my thinking:

LCD gauges: Not a fan to be honest. I like the current gauges and even though I'd be ok with the new ones, Its not a "gain" for me

Updated iDrive - I hate them all. updated or otherwise ;-) Im not sure what's getting updated, I'll look into it.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=620468

Higher-res display, better routing, deeper Google integration.

Think about it this way. Once you're ready to sell, used car buyers will flock to the MY13s, instead of the MY11 and MY12, due to this iDrive and LCD gauges upgrades.

For example, first MY of the E90 M3 had the older iDrive, and then BMW added it the next year. The CIC-iDrive M3s command a higher resale and more wanted in the second hand market. Same goes for the E70.

As for the model year itself - if I configure my car the same way, I need to give up the sports steering wheel (so back to the thin / harder standard wheel) No athracite headliner and I'll have the standard 18" wheels versus the current model 19" available with the sports package. Only real gain is blind spot detection. Its also $960 cheaper, but I'd pay that for a steering wheel that feels right - and the $1500 option incentive applies to 2012 only.

Here, you're assuming that BMW won't have any incentives on the MY13 models. BMW thrives on invectives and moves as many 5s as it does because of the discounts. There is no way, the MY13s won't be discounted.

It's all up in the air IMO. Personally, I'd forget about a black headliner in a couple days, but the iDrive, I deal with that **** everyday. Might as well make it the most updated.

Originally Posted by Imothph

Well, here's my thinking:

LCD gauges: Not a fan to be honest. I like the current gauges and even though I'd be ok with the new ones, Its not a "gain" for me

Updated iDrive - I hate them all. updated or otherwise ;-) Im not sure what's getting updated, I'll look into it.

As for the model year itself - if I configure my car the same way, I need to give up the sports steering wheel (so back to the thin / harder standard wheel) No athracite headliner and I'll have the standard 18" wheels versus the current model 19" available with the sports package. Only real gain is blind spot detection. Its also $960 cheaper, but I'd pay that for a steering wheel that feels right - and the $1500 option incentive applies to 2012 only.

How do you know the $1500 only applies to 2012? Been looking in to that myself, no answer yet.

Originally Posted by christianfahey

How do you know the $1500 only applies to 2012? Been looking in to that myself, no answer yet.

Well, mostly because the offer on dealer websites specifically says 2012 models and the current incentives from BMW NA's site are obviously tied to 2012 because they don't have any 2013 5-series offers at all yet. I think its likely there will be some sort of incentive every month through the end of the year, including the 2013s, but we wont know what those are until the 2013 models roll out and BMW starts publishing offers specific to 2013.

Fair to say that I don't know for sure, but there's nothing to suggest a published offer on 2012's will extend to 2013 when those models roll. I suppose I could ask and find out.

Originally Posted by Imothph

Well, mostly because the offer on dealer websites specifically says 2012 models and the current incentives from BMW NA's site are obviously tied to 2012 because they don't have any 2013 5-series offers at all yet. I think its likely there will be some sort of incentive every month through the end of the year, including the 2013s, but we wont know what those are until the 2013 models roll out and BMW starts publishing offers specific to 2013.

Fair to say that I don't know for sure, but there's nothing to suggest a published offer on 2012's will extend to 2013 when those models roll. I suppose I could ask and find out.

It does ...i ask one of the forum sponsors!

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

BMW thrives on invectives and moves as many 5s as it does because of the discounts.

LOL.

Compare BMW's incentives as a % of MSRP vs. other manufacturers, especially domestic.

You'll see some seriously scary crap.