Bluetooth & more for the E90

[rookie]

Same for me. My sales person called me when the car was ready, and spent abt 45mins - 1 hr explaining abt the car. I guess it's a standard procedure becoz I remember that I had to sign-off on a check-list and one of the items was that the "lecture" on the car

 

[KL2DC]

That sounds to be a comprehensive delivery procedure, by BMW AB. Do they do it outside in the parking lot/heat or inside the showroom?

My Experience
I picked mine up at the dealership in Maryland (no way I'm gonna let some dealership monkey drive the first few critical miles out on the street). The CA wanted to spend the time, but I realized I already knew most everything I needed to know (it was an involving/obsessing 6.5 weeks wait for the car, you see) lol. So I was in and out in less than 2 hours, including the trip to the dealership finance & insurance office and the parts department to get my complimentary exhaust tips, valve caps, mats and keychains. The time included my CA taking me around the dealership's service department and introducing me to my designated SA.

I didn't get to take many pictures eventhough I had planned so. Arriving at the dealership on that Fri afternoon, I was mostly cool (have to maintain my composure, didn't want to show people what a dork I was ). And I was pretty cool and calm when I was doing all the paperwork/finances etc. I was even pretty cool when I was going through the manuals and keys and stuff in the office. Then my CA said, "let's go take a look at the car", and when I saw her for the first time, out there in the front lot, shining in the Spring sun. I just started grinning like an idiot And that new car smell...oh, boy lol. And that first mile off the lot felt so good, eventhough I was knee deep in I-495 traffic, back to DC.

That was a very happy time

What many of you don't know is that I had ordered my car originally for the complimentary BMW Performance Center Delivery in Greer, South Carolina. It's a pretty good deal, instead of taking delivery at your local dealer, you make your way down to S. Carolina where BMW puts you up at the Marriott, wine and dine you, tour you around Zentrum (BMW museum), tour you around the factory (where all the X5s and Z4s are made), feed you lunch at the BMW center, sign you up for a BMW professional driving instruction, take you for hot laps in an M5 and deliver your car in a special glass-enclosed delivery bay.

Doing the PCD meant my car was coming in as a Priority-Nine car and headed straight to Charleston, SC rather than the NY/NJ Neat terminal. It also meant I had to wait an additional 3 weeks (it takes time to set up the PCD schedule). Unfortunately, due to a conflicting work schedule on my part and my wifes' I cancelled the PCD halfway through my car's voyage across the atlantic and my car had to be trucked back up to Maryland. Looking back, I really regretted it. This being my first new made-to-order UDM, I wanted the delivery experience to be perfect and as I dreamt of, for so long. But I did get my car sooner...

Here's one person's experience with PCD: http://blien-pcd.blogspot.com

 

[David Yong]

Wow..... if you really have time, you should have waited for additional 3 weeks to get the car at PCD. I'll bet you will have an unforgetable car delivery process

 

[KL2DC]

Wow..... if you really have time, you should have waited for additional 3 weeks to get the car at PCD. I'll bet you will have an unforgetable car delivery process

Yes, I've been living in regret about it for the last few months. Between the waiting, the cost to travel down there and the time off of work (I wanted the drive back north to be a mini-road trip vacation) I couldn't do it....AT FIRST. Luck be hold, a few days before I took delivery at the dealer, my work scheduled opened up lol.

David, next one for sure, either PCD or European Delivery

 

[David Yong]

Yeah.... your next one and coming one..... 335i wow..... dun forget to share with us the car and also the delivery process at PCD or European Delivery racun racun a bit k

 

[KL2DC]

Yeah.... your next one and coming one..... 335i wow..... dun forget to share with us the car and also the delivery process at PCD or European Delivery racun racun a bit k

Aiya...still some time to go larr Easy on the racun, there my friend. I'm afraid I won't be able to take it and go crazy

But ED is awesome...I think I can save up minimum 10% off MSRP with ED.

 

[KL2DC]

David, check this site for more details on PCD: http://www.performancecenterdelivery.com/


LOL realized, we have veered quite OT

 

[shuksE90]

ShuksE90: realoem.com is a useful resource to look up required BMW part numbers and availability of parts. P/n in hand, you'd then consult with your local BMW parts department (AB or not).

Dude, I heard it's cheaper to order the parts from say, a Singapore dealer, and get AB to fix it for you. Dat true?

I wanna get a few things for the car, like the sunglasses tray u mentioned, the rechargeable torchlight, bluetooth module, cd-changer, rear view mirror + gate controller + compass, and a few unnecessary but kewl to have gadgets.

I can't see AB charging me roundabout the prices (after conversion) quoted by realoem.com Why pay more when you can bypass AB, rite? I don't mind paying them the labour charge for fixing the stuff tho.

Have you any suggestions?

Cheers

Shuks

P/S: I've always thought that AB didn't fully give us the dash's wood panel trims (for the 320iSE model) but when I saw your car pics, you also have your gearknob (and handbrake too i presume) trims in titanium. So, it's normal, rite? What abour your steering wheel? Do they come in titanium trims too? Or wood?

 

[KL2DC]

ShucksE90:

Step shift knob is leather/alu trim and handbrake is leather. There is an OEM accessory leather/wood knob and an OEM accessory wood handbrake handle available. In the US, we do not get the plastic titan trim (choice of alu and wood standard) so the accessory steering wheel trim does not apply. There is an OEM wood accessory steering wheel trim available but not for multi-function wheel which we have standard.

A poor and old picture of my interior...its a bit whitewashed, lacking photography skills/equipment

 

[KL2DC]

I can't comment on parts prices. I figure, Singapore has a lot of independent BMW parts vendors that are able to operate without much intervention and might be able to get you parts cheaper. I'd expect a long wait though, some of the parts may have to be ordered in.

You guys don't get the rechargeable torch light in the glove box?? Sunglass tray is quite cheap (I paid $24) for it and the DIY is not too bad. The rear outlets retrofit was a euro part and that cost me $14.

The bluetooth module and the cd-changer are a more involving installation (esp the bluetooth). Are malaysian spec cars pre-wired for CD changer, telephone preparation and OEM alarm?? All US cars are and the install for the CD changer is not too bad but still required coding by your SA. Same for the alarm system. Bluetooth on the other hand is a pain to retrofit and very expensive. You sure you want that?

Good luck with the install.

 

[pkw88]

Dude, I heard it's cheaper to order the parts from say, a Singapore dealer, and get AB to fix it for you. Dat true?

I wanna get a few things for the car, like the sunglasses tray u mentioned, the rechargeable torchlight, bluetooth module, cd-changer, rear view mirror + gate controller + compass, and a few unnecessary but kewl to have gadgets.

I can't see AB charging me roundabout the prices (after conversion) quoted by realoem.com Why pay more when you can bypass AB, rite? I don't mind paying them the labour charge for fixing the stuff tho.

Have you any suggestions?

Cheers

Shuks

P/S: I've always thought that AB didn't fully give us the dash's wood panel trims (for the 320iSE model) but when I saw your car pics, you also have your gearknob (and handbrake too i presume) trims in titanium. So, it's normal, rite? What abour your steering wheel? Do they come in titanium trims too? Or wood?

I was at AB (Glenmarie) yesterday asking about the iPod interface. The accessories SA showed me a book with a list of packages for retrofitting various options, including wood trim. Shuks, go and have a look at the book. Then you'll be able to compare prices. The book lists the parts package and installation costs.

 

[rookie]

Hi shuksE90, based on some of the prices quoted by AB, it may be cheaper to get the parts from Performance Motors (S'pore's equivalent of AB). You can check out the link "BMW Car Accessories" at their website http://www.pml.com.sg/bmw

 

[KL2DC]

pkw88: do you think you can get a scanned copy of BMW AB's accessories and installation out here. I would like to take a peek.

In the meanwhile, this is the US/EU E90 accessories brochure scans...prices and part number.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687

 

[pkw88]

pkw88: do you think you can get a scanned copy of BMW AB's accessories and installation out here. I would like to take a peek.

In the meanwhile, this is the US/EU E90 accessories brochure scans...prices and part number.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687

Will try. Good to have, then we can compare the part lists and prices with Singapore PML.

Also worth checking out eBay US or UK, the 2nd hand market is more mature there and you can also pick out a value for money slightly used accessory!

 

[shuksE90]

ShucksE90:

Step shift knob is leather/alu trim and handbrake is leather. There is an OEM accessory leather/wood knob and an OEM accessory wood handbrake handle available. In the US, we do not get the plastic titan trim (choice of alu and wood standard) so the accessory steering wheel trim does not apply. There is an OEM wood accessory steering wheel trim available but not for multi-function wheel which we have standard.

A poor and old picture of my interior...its a bit whitewashed, lacking photography skills/equipment

Come to think of it, if everything was wood, it wouldn't really look nice... It'll be too much I think. I think the m/f steering wheel is fine with the slight touch of titan.

Pics is just fine bro. Thx for the overview heheh

 

[shuksE90]

I can't comment on parts prices. I figure, Singapore has a lot of independent BMW parts vendors that are able to operate without much intervention and might be able to get you parts cheaper. I'd expect a long wait though, some of the parts may have to be ordered in.

You guys don't get the rechargeable torch light in the glove box?? Sunglass tray is quite cheap (I paid $24) for it and the DIY is not too bad. The rear outlets retrofit was a euro part and that cost me $14.

The bluetooth module and the cd-changer are a more involving installation (esp the bluetooth). Are malaysian spec cars pre-wired for CD changer, telephone preparation and OEM alarm?? All US cars are and the install for the CD changer is not too bad but still required coding by your SA. Same for the alarm system. Bluetooth on the other hand is a pain to retrofit and very expensive. You sure you want that?

Good luck with the install.

Yup, our E90s are prepped up for the goodies. I'm not sure if me mum's car came with the oem alarm or not. I'm sure it's got alarm, rite? I mean, nowadays they come as standard I think...

Well, I think I'll go for the bluetooth anyway, and maybe the changer as well... Times like this is when I start to regret not insisting on the 325i, haih And no, I've crossed-checked... Can't find no torch! Oh yeah, I need to get 'em chrome trims for the ugly single-barrel pipe too!!! Yeuchk!

 

[shuksE90]

Thanks dude. Will do. Or maybe I'll get them to send a copy to me. Then when I have the time, I'll pdf and post 'em on here. Sharing is caring ma? Haha

 

[shuksE90]

Hi shuksE90, based on some of the prices quoted by AB, it may be cheaper to get the parts from Performance Motors (S'pore's equivalent of AB). You can check out the link "BMW Car Accessories" at their website http://www.pml.com.sg/bmw

Cheers! Indeed cheaper, I guess it makes sense to spend a day or 2 in SG and get them fixed. We'd get taxed otherwise if we bring it across uninstalled, rite? More savings there.

Shuks

 

[KL2DC]

Come to think of it, if everything was wood, it wouldn't really look nice... It'll be too much I think. I think the m/f steering wheel is fine with the slight touch of titan.

Actually I think the alu/leather knob corresponds nicely with the alu ring of the black start/stop button.

On the MY07s (E90/91/92) the interior gets some much needed aluminium bits in the interior. There is alu trim on the wheel, radio knobs and HVAC knobs. Our knobs are a little plasticky for my taste. Trying to retrofit these knobs in my car.

New shiny bits circled in red. Saddle Brown/Light poplar E92 interior.

 

[KL2DC]

Yup, our E90s are prepped up for the goodies. I'm not sure if me mum's car came with the oem alarm or not. I'm sure it's got alarm, rite? I mean, nowadays they come as standard I think...

You might want to check if your car comes with the alarm. All US 3 series do not. Do you have audible lock/unlock confirmation? Does your clown nose blink?

My dealer wanted $425 for the alarm plus install, I turned it down. It really adds motion sensor and the usual door open/close protection, not worth the money.