M550d on order

Looks like my new F11 M550d is being built this week, production status code of 152.

A52 Spacegrey
LCSW Dakota leather, black

Standard options for the Swiss market
1CA CO2 selection what is this?
1CB ACEA what is this
230 EU specific something-or-other
258 Runflat tyres
2PA Locking wheel nuts
302 Alarm
316 Automatic tailgate opening
337 M Sport package
423 Velour footmats
428 Warning triangle and firstaid kit
430 Dimming inner and outer mirrors
488 Lumbar support for front seats
494 Heated front seats
4B9 Brushed aluminium finish
502 Headlight washers
508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
522 Xenon headlights
524 Adaptive cornering headlights
575 Extra 12V sockets
710 M Steering wheel
715 M Aerodynamic package
760 High-gloss Shadow Line
775 Anthracite headliner
8TF Active pedestrian protection

Packaged extras
Comfort package
322 Comfort access

Communication package
609 Navigation system "Professional"
614 Internet
615 BMW Online Information
6NF Music bus for smartphones
6NK Bluetooth and USB device connection
6NR BMW Apps

Optional extras
248 Steering wheel heating
-- it gets cold in Switzerland in the winter time!
2VB Tyre pressure monitor
-- sure, run-flat tyres but feel safer having this
358 Climate comfort windscreen
-- ROI is about 2-3 years in terms of reduced AC
3AG Reversing camera
-- feel its necessary on such a large car
3MC Roofrails high-gloss Shadow Line
-- fits with option 760
417 Mechnical rear-window Sunblinds
-- thought about 761 (tinted rear windows) but just didn't like the look
453 Seat ventilation
-- it gets hot in Switzerland in the summer time!
456 Comfort seats, electric
-- only choice that goes with 453
5AG Lane-change warning
-- feel its necessary on such a large car
5DF Active stop-and-go cruise control
-- we will have to see if this was a useful addition or not
5DL Surround View
-- easier parking - had to have it
610 Head-up Display
-- oh yes!
676 HiFi speaker system
-- minor upgrade
6WB Multifunctional instrument display
-- oh yes!
8TH Speed Limit Info
-- and oh yes!

Thought about but didn't go for it
2N9 - 20" wheels
-- expensive (but pretty)
2VA - adaptive drive
-- a fair chunk of extra cash - didn't see the value
319 - universal remote control for garage doors etc
-- didn't see the point really
320 - No model inscription
-- so I'm buying a M550d and no one gets to see what a pimp ride it is ? C'mon!
323 - soft-close doors
-- gimmick
3AC - towbar
-- didn't need it
402 - sunroof
-- didn't see the point - in previous cars i've never really used a sunroof all that much
418 - luggage space organising kit thingy
-- didn't see much of a point - maybe i'll regret that one
441 - smoker ashtray
-- no one is smoking in this car!
455 - massage seats
-- might have been tempted if it was cheaper
496 - heated rear seats
-- i didn't have heated seats when i was a kid, so there.
4M8 - rear reading lights
-- wouldn't often use
4U1 - ceramic iDrive knob
-- what's this good for?
4UY - snowboard bag
-- got one already
536 - "Standheizung"
-- not for what it costs...
5AC - high-beam assistant
-- would hardly use it. anyway, I can do that myself!
5AD - lane-departure warning
-- if you need this, then you shouldn't be driving
5AL - active protection
-- donno what this would be good for
601 - TV
-- wouldn't use it
654 - DAB+ tuner
-- thought about it - can always retrofit if need be
696 - DVD changer
-- wouldn't use it - music etc will be on our phones mostly. or on the builtin hard drive
6FH - rear entertainment system
-- a couple of iPads would be cheaper
6UK - night vision
-- seems a bit of a gimmick
761 - tinted rear windows
-- didn't like the look, went for the blinds instead

:jealous

Pics when you get it of course

Jealous, wish the USA got the M550dx.

I would have ordered 2VA personally. Also not sure what the difference between 5AG and 5AD is. Pretty much agree with everything else, great choices.

Originally Posted by Kar Don

Jealous, wish the USA got the M550dx.

I would have ordered 2VA personally. Also not sure what the difference between 5AG and 5AD is. Pretty much agree with everything else, great choices.

Lane departure warning vs. Blind spot assist. One yells if you veer out of your lane without signaling, in case you are sleeping or not paying attention. The other yells if you signal and someone is in your blind spot.

I have both, always use blind spot, never use LDW.

I would have ordered 2VA personally. Also not sure what the difference between 5AG and 5AD is. Pretty much agree with everything else, great choices.

I was humming and hawwing about 2VA, and I guess when the dealer said that only 10% of F11 orders have it in, I figured that I'd join the 90% who wouldn't be unhappy with not having it. I did end up spending more (half the amount that 2VA would have cost) on 5DF, which was one of the extras I added in after I did the original order in October.

And thankyou - hope I'm happy with the choices too! Pics coming at the end of January when I take delivery.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Lane departure warning vs. Blind spot assist. One yells if you veer out of your lane without signaling, in case you are sleeping or not paying attention. The other yells if you signal and someone is in your blind spot.

I have both, always use blind spot, never use LDW.

Good to hear! I figured that the blind spot detection would really come in handy... and I could see myself just leaving LDW off rather than having the car yell at me in the situations where I don't use the indicators... in the situation that there's absolutely no one near me I quite often don't bother. Bad habit perhaps... (-;

Having just moved from Singapore, where no one can drive in a straight line to save their lives, I would make 5AD mandatory for all cars, and make it permanently enabled! And for almost the price of a new M550d, I was rumbling around in a 3-year old 1.8 Audi A3 - truly amazing how expensive cars are in that country.

On the considered options, I really love the ceramic controls. It is more than just the i-drive knob and they look phenomenal. Congrats and enjoy your new car!

Looks great! If only some of the SUV/minivan obsessives here in the US would come around to the idea that a wagon might be superior fit, maybe we could have the opportunity to get buy those over here!

Originally Posted by SLO_AERO

Looks great! If only some of the SUV/minivan obsessives here in the US would come around to the idea that a wagon might be superior fit, maybe we could have the opportunity to get buy those over here!

Yeah, I was rather disappointed when I discovered that there were no diesel BMWs to be had in the USA when I moved there in 2005. I ended up with a E46 330xi and I really preferred my old E46 320d that I had in Switzerland. Sure, the 330xi had a higher top speed, and it had more bhp, but they had almost the same torque and the 320d used to get that same torque at much lower revs. Plus, the 320d used to get around 4.5l/100km aka 50mpg. The 330xi got around half that.

BMW NA should really start importing diesels - they have a bad reputation somehow in the US and it's really undeserved.

Looking forward to seeing what mpg I can get out of the M550d! (-;

Originally Posted by M550d

Yeah, I was rather disappointed when I discovered that there were no diesel BMWs to be had in the USA when I moved there in 2005. I ended up with a E46 330xi and I really preferred my old E46 320d that I had in Switzerland. Sure, the 330xi had a higher top speed, and it had more bhp, but they had almost the same torque and the 320d used to get that same torque at much lower revs. Plus, the 320d used to get around 4.5l/100km aka 50mpg. The 330xi got around half that.

BMW NA should really start importing diesels - they have a bad reputation somehow in the US and it's really undeserved.

Looking forward to seeing what mpg I can get out of the M550d! (-;

They are.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Lane departure warning vs. Blind spot assist. One yells if you veer out of your lane without signaling, in case you are sleeping or not paying attention. The other yells if you signal and someone is in your blind spot.

I have both, always use blind spot, never use LDW.

My 535d is ordered with both LCW & LDW. Australia is a big country & we have some really long roads so its easy to get tired driving & start to wander off your lane (done it myself a few times & have taken the warning to take a break from driving) so LDW wil be a useful warning tool to have. LCW should be mandatory here with the number of idiots who sit in your blind spot
I wish we could get the 550d here in OZ. It's figures look awesome,

If only that car were sold in the USA....

Taking delivery tomorrow - about time, it's been a while since it was ordered !

Congrats!
all the best...do post pictures...

Congratulations. Such a pity they don't make it in right hand drive as it is a fantastic car. I just love the touring shape!

- more later... I have a two inch thick instruction manual to read through, first. (-;

Beast.

You can always earn some nice side gig cash yanking tree stumps out of the ground!

Originally Posted by mryakanisachoad

Beast.

You can always earn some nice side gig cash yanking tree stumps out of the ground!

I'm going to be taking it easy for the first 1500km or so... but after that it's time for the jackboots to come out. There are some unrestricted sections of the german autobahn not too far away from Zurich, according to this map...

Congrats!! that is an amazing machine. Please let us know what your real world fuel economy is after you've had it for awhile.

This isn't quite the full startup sequence where it flashes M550d all over the display when you first unlock the doors but it's the best I could capture for now. It's with the 6WB display option: . I'm getting about 10l/100km out of it at the moment, but that's city driving, plus a quick outing up the nearest hillside to the top of the Uetliberg. So far it's been a ***** cat, but I can tell it's just itching for some leadfoot treatment...

So it's been three days... and it had its first autobahn outing yesterday though it was only on the Swiss autobahn which are 120kph maximum (unless you care to get your n*ts chopped off by the local plod). Fuel economy so far has been 7.7l/100km aka 30mpg (US gallons) or 36mpg (imperial gallons). Maybe time to review the options choices:

Optional extras that I did order
248 Steering wheel heating
-- definitely a nice to have. It was just below freezing last night before the journey back to Zurich but the heated wheel plus heated seats made things warm and toasty before I knew it. You don't want to have it turned on for very long though... it wasn't exactly an expensive option anyway, so I'm glad I got it, but I might not order it again. For now it's a take it or leave it, but mind you, I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune when I take it out skiing and it's -10C!

2VB Tyre pressure monitor
-- without a spare tyre in the boot, I think it's worth it just for peace of mind.

358 Climate comfort windscreen
-- probably worthwhile, won't notice it until the summer I don't think.

3AG Reversing camera
definitely necessary on such a large car - it's quite a beast to park and the rear + top-view cameras are an enormous help.

3MC Roofrails high-gloss Shadow Line
looks great - would order again

417 Mechnical rear-window Sunblinds
a good-enough replacement for 761 dark-tinted rear glass

453 Seat ventilation
no first impressions yet, but no doubt it'll be really nice in the summer

456 Comfort seats, electric
the only choice that goes with 453, and they can grip your body enough to feel like sports seats... feel like a good choice

5AG Lane-change warning
definitely very handy to have. you get used to the car after a while and the wing mirrors are really good, but it's nice to not have to crane your neck to double-check the blind-spot, and they also detect people approaching quickly from behind too.

5DF Active stop-and-go cruise control
yes, well worth having despite my initial misgivings - it's a truly great feature!

5DL Surround View
expensive... but worth it for the views it affords

610 Head-up Display
expensive... but again quite worth it!

676 HiFi speaker system
nice enough... and it didn't cost the earth

6WB Multifunctional instrument display
very nice to have!

8TH Speed Limit Info
very nice to have! There are about a million "Blechpolizisten" (lit: steel policemen) dotted all over Zurich and this already saved my bacon twice already in the last three days.


And out of the things i didn't get, it turns out that 4M8 are just fancier rear reading-lights and the regular ones are just fine anyway. Maybe I'll wish I'd got the luggage system 418, maybe not - you get 4 luggage eyes anyway. And 5AD isn't worth it in Europe IMO, but I can see its use in places like Oz or the USA where there are far longer stretches of straight roads with minimal or no traffic.

Pics!