[EternalVendetta]

Ended up with this final build for ED pickup in late September:

2016 M235i (RWD)
Estoril Blue
Coral Red leather
Aluminum hexagon trim

Cold Weather Package
Tech Package
Driver Assistance Package

HK Sound
Orbit Grey wheels w/ performance tires
EDIT: 6MT!

I went a bit crazy with options but am happy that it still ended up at ~$49K out the door. Big shout-out to Mike Wendroff from Morristown BMW in NJ for being so responsive and making this a simple process so far!

EDIT: Also just wanted to note that I'm coming from a 2001 Maxima SE that my dad had bought new for me many years ago when I first started driving; it was a great car but has more issues than I'm willing to pour money into at this point, so I'm quite looking forward to the update.

[bizzyqu]

cant wait to see pics of orbit grey superman. Thinking of doing that combo but in an awd convertible. (I have EB 335i with black interior so want things to be different but don't want to give up EB).

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by bizzyqu

cant wait to see pics of orbit grey superman. Thinking of doing that combo but in an awd convertible. (I have EB 335i with black interior so want things to be different but don't want to give up EB).

I'm hoping to see pics of the new wheels soon, as I'm not actually sure how it'll look vs. the ferric grey wheels on EB.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats!!

[VolTekka]

Congrats man. I also placed an ED order for a M235i.
Picking it up this July in just a few weeks!

[juyeop]

wow, that's pretty good price you paid there. I optioned out as yours on bmwusa website and it gives me close to $51,000 without tax, but then again, you paid <$50,000 otd. Nice.

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by juyeop

wow, that's pretty good price you paid there. I optioned out as yours on bmwusa website and it gives me close to $51,000 without tax, but then again, you paid <$50,000 otd. Nice.

Thanks! I basically ended up at something like $800 above ED invoice, which I think put the car roughly at 14% off MSRP. I can't wait!

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by VolTekka

Congrats man. I also placed an ED order for a M235i.
Picking it up this July in just a few weeks!

Awesome! How'd you spec yours out?

[Covello]

Looks great! I ordered (also picked coral red), but getting shipped stateside. Pick up in two weeks!! It's been a long few months :P

[VolTekka]

Originally Posted by EternalVendetta

Awesome! How'd you spec yours out?

Black Sapphire Metallic
Coral Red Leather
Cold weather package
Driver assistance package
HK premium sound
Performance tires
ZF8 auto

I kept it pretty simple aka I don't have that much money to blow lol.

Tech package would've been nice for the bigger screen (aesthetics),
but I couldn't justify the price.
I got the back up camera since it's a lease; figured it's going to save me a few scratches or dents.

I also wanted a manual since I never had one, but having no experience definitely turned me away. Had it been cheaper than an auto instead of a no-cost option, I'd probably considered it even more, however.
Thank god the ZF8 is still quick and fun enough (for me at least).

BTW I'm also based in Jersey haha.

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by VolTekka

Black Sapphire Metallic
Coral Red Leather
Cold weather package
Driver assistance package
HK premium sound
Performance tires
ZF8 auto

I kept it pretty simple aka I don't have that much money to blow lol.

Tech package would've been nice for the bigger screen (aesthetics),
but I couldn't justify the price.
I got the back up camera since it's a lease; figured it's going to save me a few scratches or dents.

I also wanted a manual since I never had one, but having no experience definitely turned me away. Had it been cheaper than an auto instead of a no-cost option, I'd probably considered it even more, however.
Thank god the ZF8 is still quick and fun enough (for me at least).

BTW I'm also based in Jersey haha.

That looks pretty spiffy to me - it's basically what I got minus the tech package!

If it's any consolation, the ZF8 is slightly faster than the manual while also being slightly more fuel-efficient, is the same price (in the US at least), allows you to mess with the launch control function, and it isn't nearly as big a deal that the radio controls are on the right side of the steering wheel and not the left.

Despite all of that, the main reason that I'm not getting a manual is because I won't be able to practice with one enough to feel good about the prospect of driving with a manual around Europe when I pick up the car in ~3 months.

[3PedalMINI]

T-Minus 10 days until I pick mine up

[krhodes1]

OP, welcome to the ED club! Don't be intimidated by driving in Germany, it's WAY easier than driving in Joisey!

I'm scheduled for 8/21 at 9:10 in the morning, the waiting is killing me!

You did well with the price. I got EB on Oyster Sensatec, Tech, Cold Weather, H/K 6spd and sunroof delete for ~$46.5K OTD, but I think sales taxes are lower here than in NJ by a little bit. I'll get reamed at registration time though.

[mpizutti]

I just ordered mine pretty much the same build..i have tech package added
I am picking mine up at the welt on aug 27th..cant wait

[opfreak]

the time to ED pickup flies. The time after ED drop off slows doowwwwwwn.

Dropped mine of on Friday. Miss it already.

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

I just ordered mine pretty much the same build..i have tech package added
I am picking mine up at the welt on aug 27th..cant wait

Congrats! Make sure to post thoughts and pics when you get back!

Originally Posted by opfreak

the time to ED pickup flies. The time after ED drop off slows doowwwwwwn.

Dropped mine of on Friday. Miss it already.

That it does. It's hard to believe that I'm only ~2 months out; I'm only now starting to figure out what winter wheels I want to get from tirerack.com and what M Performance parts I want to buy! I'm thinking that carbon fiber mirror caps, black kidney grills, and black chrome exhaust tips to complement the orbit grey wheels will be a nice start.

[EternalVendetta]

Is it completely crazy to go with a manual on this car even though I don't yet know how to drive manual and likely won't be able to get much practice in before my ED pickup? It just seems right having a manual in this kind of car, but I'm a bit intimidated that I'll be driving around in Germany (including a 4-hour drive from Munich to Frankfurt). What is also driving this recent thinking is that I'm also thinking that it'd be cool to keep this car for the long haul and keeping it as a weekend fun car once kids are in the picture.

Is the auto really 3 mpg better than the manual? I care less about the auto being slightly faster, the auto integrating well with the drive modes, and the zero-cost difference between the two transmissions; however, 3 mpg more with a 13-gallon tank means I'd be getting 40 more miles per tank, which seems like an appreciable difference.

[3PedalMINI]

Originally Posted by EternalVendetta

Is it completely crazy to go with a manual on this car even though I don't yet know how to drive manual and likely won't be able to get much practice in before my ED pickup? It just seems right having a manual in this kind of car, but I'm a bit intimidated that I'll be driving around in Germany (including a 4-hour drive from Munich to Frankfurt). What is also driving this recent thinking is that I'm also thinking that it'd be cool to keep this car for the long haul and keeping it as a weekend fun car once kids are in the picture.

Is the auto really 3 mpg better than the manual? I care less about the auto being slightly faster, the auto integrating well with the drive modes, and the zero-cost difference between the two transmissions; however, 3 mpg more with a 13-gallon tank means I'd be getting 40 more miles per tank, which seems like an appreciable difference.

You will regret not getting manual, however driving in a different country (not that bad) plus the added stress of trying to teach yourself stick will not be fun Do you know anyone that has a manual car you could learn on?

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by 3PedalMINI

You will regret not getting manual, however driving in a different country (not that bad) plus the added stress of trying to teach yourself stick will not be fun Do you know anyone that has a manual car you could learn on?

I have a sister and a friend relatively close by (1 hour drive) with manual cars, but I probably wouldn't be able to get in more than small parts of maybe 2 days with each of them before my trip.

[opfreak]

Originally Posted by EternalVendetta

I have a sister and a friend relatively close by (1 hour drive) with manual cars, but I probably wouldn't be able to get in more than small parts of maybe 2 days with each of them before my trip.

I would see if you could borrow your sisters car for a few days.

Driving on the freeway with a stick is fairly easy.

When I got my first stick, I was fairly nervous driving the first 1000 miles. Dont know how i'd do that, and be learning overseas.

I did get the m235 with the auto, no regrets after driving the first 1000 miles.

[EternalVendetta]

Originally Posted by opfreak

I would see if you could borrow your sisters car for a few days.

Driving on the freeway with a stick is fairly easy.

When I got my first stick, I was fairly nervous driving the first 1000 miles. Dont know how i'd do that, and be learning overseas.

I did get the m235 with the auto, no regrets after driving the first 1000 miles.

I don't think that'd fly, unfortunately. I even considered buying some beater car for $500 and messing with that until my ED pickup, but I think I'm just going to stick with the auto; I'll probably go with a sport sedan to replace this car eventually, and I'll wait for a few years after that to maybe consider a fun weekend car.

[EternalVendetta]

Well, I've officially changed my order to 6MT. Time to practice every chance that I get over the next 6-7 weeks!