[djarchow]

I am shopping for an M235i to replace my 335is. there are none here in Iowa and I have my dealer searching for one to ship in. Since I haven't heard back from him in a couple days I have been searching myself on cars.com and autotrader.

Here is what I want:

M235i
Estoril Blue
Blk Dakota interior
Aluminum trim
Tech package
Winter package - there are lots with just heated seats but I really want the heated steering wheel too
Harmon Kardon
I don't care about the Driver assist package but will take it if need be as most have it. I don't want the DA Plus package as it will set off my Valentine1, not to mention the extra cost.

Seems like a reasonably common build but I have only found three nationwide that are close. There are a lot that would be exact but the dealers ordered them with run flat all seasons. Who wants an M(ish) car with all seasons? Of the three I found, all have a bunch of dealer added extras like carbon bits or the LSD.

So do I settle for something I am not overly crazy about like the wood interior on a blue car, missing the winter pack etc. or wait to have one built. Yeah I know only I can make that decision but it also feels good to rant a bit.

Thanks!

[Luminous]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I am shopping for an M235i to replace my 335is. there are none here in Iowa and I have my dealer searching for one to ship in. Since I haven't heard back from him in a couple days I have been searching myself on cars.com and autotrader.

Here is what I want:

M235i
Estoril Blue
Blk Dakota interior
Aluminum trim
Tech package
Winter package - there are lots with just heated seats but I really want the heated steering wheel too
Harmon Kardon
I don't care about the Driver assist package but will take it if need be as most have it. I don't want the DA Plus package as it will set off my Valentine1, not to mention the extra cost.

Seems like a reasonably common build but I have only found three nationwide that are close. There are a lot that would be exact but the dealers ordered them with run flat all seasons. Who wants an M(ish) car with all seasons? Of the three I found, all have a bunch of dealer added extras like carbon bits or the LSD.

So do I settle for something I am not overly crazy about like the wood interior on a blue car, missing the winter pack etc. or wait to have one built. Yeah I know only I can make that decision but it also feels good to rant a bit.

Thanks!

I'd say disregard the interior trim, that's something easily changed. Plenty of people including myself have aluminum trim sets for sale, or just do yourself a favor and upgrade to the cf interior.

[BEM-S4]

I don't think a lot of stock cars came with HK. Call around you may have some luck and find someone with an allocation about to enter production but still be able to change options. We got my Allroad order to finish in 7 or 8 weeks that way.

[djarchow]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I don't think a lot of stock cars came with HK. Call around you may have some luck and find someone with an allocation about to enter production but still be able to change options. We got my Allroad order to finish in 7 or 8 weeks that way.

Thanks. I am not having too hard of a hard time finding the Harmon Kardon, but finding cars with the winter pack is tough, at least in Estoril blue. I found over a dozen that have heated seats but only three that have the full winter pack which is only $200 more than just heated seats. If I look for a white one, there are tons with the winter pack.

[merlin3008]

In my opinion, a car is too big of a purchase to not get it like you want. You will only regret settling. Order it at the right time and it's not tooo bad.

And BTW, I have all-seasons and don't regret it.

[dphjr]

My 2 cents: Don't bother with the HK, just be like me and spend that money on exhaust mods You won't miss your music at all and the stock speaker system is (in my opinion) very good for what it is. Also go for the summers if you can, the pilot super sports are some really incredible tires. I have a set of winter tires for just that and will be switching between them in the seasons.

[xantdieselx]

Well I'm in the skip the cold weather pack camp. I've had it on my last 2 BMW's and ordered my M235i with just the heated seats.

The heated wheel is very nice and I like it. I just hate the useless headlamp washers more. You go through washer fluid like crazy in the winter and it makes a mess if your clean car every other season.

I live in RI and we some of the worst winters in New England. There has never been a time where I was like "Man I'm glad I have headlamp washers on my car". Now if BMW made the heated wheel an a la carte option I'm sure the take rate would be close to 100% in cold weather climates.

[HighRevs11]

I say go for the order! I just put in my first order - now the hardest part is just waiting for it to get delivered! But seriously it's a cool experience to order your own car and have everything spec'd out to your liking. Your going to spend the money either way so you might as well get what you want! Good luck - I'm sure either way you will be happy

[djarchow]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

Now if BMW made the heated wheel an a la carte option I'm sure the take rate would be close to 100% in cold weather climates.

I have the washers on my 335is and like you could do without them. But the heated steering wheel on my wife's maxima makes me jealous.

Of the 40 or so new M235i's I found online matching what I wanted only four had the cold weather package,the rest all just had heated seats.

[HeyMoe53]

I would just order one. You will drive that car most every day, and if it is missing something you wanted, you will think about it.

[BentZero]

Order and then take advantage of the performance center delivery program. That's what I did. Of course I live in SC, so it's only a 4 hour drive for me. 14 more days.............

[rti35]

The cold weather package should really be a standard feature on the M235ix

That being said, mine doesn't have it and I get by just fine without the heated wheel. I find it a bit useless because really, how long am I going to be outside cleaning the car off for? It takes 3 minutes max to brush some snow off the car, and if it takes any longer than that that means the roads are so bad I'm not going to work anyway

[slider86]

I was never a fan of the headlight washers - they've popped out on me on my old e92 in the winter. No, it was not the washer fluid freezing. The little bumper covers for them were also similarly flimsy as well.

Do the headlight washers on the 2 function the same way they did on the e90/e92?

[HeyMoe53]

I forgot about PCD-I skipped that last time, but next time, I'm all in. I've heard nothing but good things about it.

[Alpine F31]

Order.


You can have fun tracking the car on-line (from build to boat to your dealer), and you will have no regrets once it finally arrives because it will be EXACTLY what you want. I LOVE my car and wouldn't have been as happy if I "settled."

[csg]

Measure twice, cut once. I recommend ordering.

Regarding your comment about cold weather package, I actually opted for the heated seats only, since I didn't want cutouts in the front bumper and I've gone this long without a heated steering wheel, it wasn't worth $400..

Lead times these days are only 8-12 weeks, which IMO is well-worth it. Mine goes into production in 3 weeks, and will be delivered in Early May (hopefully).

[EEBreh]

Order the car you want - you are spending a decent amount of money in this purchase. In addition to this, if you order your own car, you know it has not been beaten on by people test driving the car or scumbag car salesmen. I custom ordered my car and it was worth the wait.

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by EEBreh

Order the car you want - you are spending a decent amount of money in this purchase. In addition to this, if you order your own car, you know it has not been beaten on by people test driving the car or scumbag car salesmen. I custom ordered my car and it was worth the wait.

This was another reason why I ordered. I know how I was on test drives. I didn't want that for my car since I bought.

Winter package is only $200 more. I got it just because I wanted the novelty of the heated steering wheel. To each his own.

[djarchow]

I placed my order today. Here is what I got:

M235i
Estoril blue
Blk Dakota
Tech package
Winter package
Driver Assistance
Harmon Kardon
Black kidney grills

I have my production number and now the wait begins.

[Anderw]

Originally Posted by djarchow

I placed my order today. Here is what I got:

M235i
Estoril blue
Blk Dakota
Tech package
Winter package
Driver Assistance
Harmon Kardon
Black kidney grills

I have my production number and now the wait begins.

wooo congrats !

it will feel like forever , but when you're behind the wheel thats all that will matter!

[Hemisedan]

Sounds great. I'm from Iowa too and will be doing a PCD pick up in 9 days now. I ordered mine from David out if Steve Thomas BMW though, and really liked the service and follow up they've done for me. Couldn't get together, dealwize with my local dealer. I will be doing service there though.

As for options, my only option is the full Cold Weather package. I'm not enamored with heated seats on my MINI, but when I test drove the 228i either the heated steering wheel, well that's nice. I, also did moonroof delete. Don't like the 90 lbs in the wrong place, plus I'm not a fan of moo roofs. I went with a manual transmission as well
My other options are port installed: LSD, m performance exhaust and carbon/Alcantara interio trim. Mineral Gray in color.

[krhodes1]

Go one better - order and do European Delivery. The Euro is in the toilet, it is like Europe is ON SALE! Airfare is very reasonable right now too. There is no better feeling than legally driving your M235i on the Autobahn at 155mph. Though driving through the mountains in Italy was a darned close second. The Austrian Alps third, then Switzerland, then across France...

I've done it twice now, just an amazing experience, and you save enough on the price of the car to more-or-less pay for the trip.