[moldcad]

Better late than never, but you can imagine the agony of such a long waiting - especially when you consider I had to part with my F10 in order to partially pay up-front for the M235i. But it's finally here, and it's great - pictures will follow shortly, when only I have some time and good whether for making a few.

Right now, all I can say is "wow" - after 2 years driving the large, heavy F10 with the little N20 engine, I finally have a real BMW again - and a one that reminds me my best experience with the old good E46 330i I used to have - only in a still better incarnation. I ordered LSD as well, but decided to only have it installed after breaking the car in (just to avoid giving up from too much temptation of spirited driving too early).

There has been one glitch at delivery, unfortunately - the dealer was not able to activate my new car's navigation system. Have no idea why (and neither has my dealer), but the car simply wouldn't accept the FSC code that AG generated basing on the VIN and sent over here. They mention something about a new head unit called NBT-2 (or NBT-Evo), and how it might require some "special treatment" - all this is bullshit to me, and I suspect a simple human error in the generation/activation procedure... Anyway - tomorrow AG is supposed to send another code in for the dealer to try; I prefer to think at the moment everything is going to be fine.

Did any of you had a similar experience of their March-refreshed cars with NBT-2 refusing to activate?

Cheers

Piotr

[moldcad]

OK, so the nav problem has been rectified by the dealer, and I have just returned from my first 600 km-long trip with the car. So much have been written about it, that I'm not going to create another elaborate. Just 2 points:

1. The engine, powertrain, handling are all fabulous
2. Something I never saw commented about, but really disappointing: the driver's seat is simply uncomfortable. I'm a small guy, and yet the width of the seat is too narrow - instead of sitting between the side bolsters, I'm sitting on top of them - which of course causes fatigue in my legs after 2-3 hours driving. Hasn't anyone noticed it before?
3. A quite nasty surprise (after my F10 experience, and even compared to the Golf R): most of the dashboard clocks are only illuminated when headlights are on (and the scales on the clocks are amber); when the headlights are off the clocks look dead. Why aren't they illuminated white?!!! Looks so cheap

[blanquito]

Originally Posted by moldcad

3. A quite nasty surprise (after my F10 experience, and even compared to the Golf R): most of the dashboard clocks are only illuminated when headlights are on (and the scales on the clocks are amber); when the headlights are off the clocks look dead. Why aren't they illuminated white?!!! Looks so cheap

I have always attributed this preference by BMW to the fact that red and amber causes less desensitization of your rods during night time vision leading to less night blindness as a result of your instruments.

It could be worse - they could be using green like cars way back!

[moldcad]

You got me wrong - I have nothing against amber illumination at night, but I find no illumination at day cheap. This should be white.

[gaijin]

Originally Posted by moldcad

2. Something I never saw commented about, but really disappointing: the driver's seat is simply uncomfortable. I'm a small guy, and yet the width of the seat is too narrow - instead of sitting between the side bolsters, I'm sitting on top of them - which of course causes fatigue in my legs after 2-3 hours driving. Hasn't anyone noticed it before?(

First off, congratulations for finally taking delivery of your M235i!

Interesting that you mention the driver seat side bolsters interfering with the long drive comfort. Is the seat leg bolsters properly adjusted to give you the width you need for comfort?

[Supernaut]

I'm surprised you find the leg bolsters tight. I'm 6-1/185 cm and 212 lbs/96 kg, and i find them just right. Is all your weight going to your hips?