[Bimmer Pleaser]

Economy is not my forte, why does Europe impose tariffs on American cars (do they)? Before Trump got in, What was US reasoning not to counter Europe tariffs?

[bimmer_girl89]

Beautiful car! Congrats

[kivyee]

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/html/152998.htm

Us also charges tariffs on Eu imported cars. Essentially tariffs are measures used by a country to ensure it's down products are competitive with foreign imports on its own soil...Usually the result of politicians (mis?)guided by lobby groups.

[VMRWheels]

Congrats on the addition! Estoril Blue is one of my favorites! Something about those wheels looks like a step backwards from previous models, though.

[MarkDemma]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Congrats on the addition! Estoril Blue is one of my favorites! Something about those wheels looks like a step backwards from previous models, though.

I actually have the opposite opinion haha. I really like the bi color look. But 7 inches is a bit small for me.

My first choice for replacing them was the V801 in MERCURY BLACK METALLIC but they aren't available in 18". You have no idea how torn up the roads are here on Treasure Island right now as they redevelop the island. So I'm afraid to get 19s.

[1FUNCAR]

Congrats! That's a L-O-N-G wait! Mine just hit US soil the other day after ordering on 3/31. Hoping to take delivery this Friday or Saturday.

[Denk]

I really like this wheel too. You could just get a pair of them in the 18x8, put on some 245/35 Michelin PS4's or Conti Extreme Contact Sports and call it good. It's not bad but e46 M3 sizes look better on this car IMHO. I'd skip the PS2 or go for the Michelin A/S 3+ for the same dry performance plus excellent cold wet weather grip and they're cheaper. Here's mine in stock staggered sizes with just 10mm spacers in the back.

[3rdcoast228i]

Nice! You got to love that color.

[3rdcoast228i]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

My only gripe is that when I ordered they weren't able to get me the bi color wheels with the performance tires, so I opted for the all season run flats ... without realizing that this also meant that I'd be getting 7.5x18 on all 4 with 225 tires, not 7.5 front 8 rear.
Rounding a couple of curves I'm very used to, doesn't seem to have the same grip as my 330Ci ZHP with it's 255 in the rear.

So think I'll be swapping out the wheels and tires as the first thing, as much as I love how the bi color wheels look.

Was thinking of

BEYERN RITZ Gloss Gunmetal with Brushed Face (18" x 8.5", +35 Offset, 5x120.65 Bolt Pattern, 72.6mm Hub)
PILOT SPORT PS2 Tires (93617) by Michelin®. 225/40ZR18
BEYERN RITZ Gloss Gunmetal with Brushed Face (18" x 9.5", +45 Offset, 5x120.65 Bolt Pattern, 72.6mm Hub)
PILOT SPORT PS2 Tires (45327) by Michelin®. 255/35ZR18

I like the bi-color look of these wheels. And the price wasn't too awful.

It's also possible you got the lower speed limiter with that setup. May want to check your vin if you care about that. I think after 10 hours run time it's hard coded.

[ramy_who]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

It's been a long wait - I ordered it 23 January of this year and just picked it up Saturday.

Here is a few shots of it back home where I live:

Love the rims! Never saw this style before.

[MarkDemma]

Originally Posted by 3rdcoast228i

It's also possible you got the lower speed limiter with that setup. May want to check your vin if you care about that. I think after 10 hours run time it's hard coded.

Oh crap, I didn't know that. My dealer is saying they can't reset it, can only be done at the factory. I'm even more upset that they wouldn't let me order with the performance tires now. I waited since January for this car, wish it had been EXACTLY the car I wanted.

[1FUNCAR]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

Oh crap, I didn't know that. My dealer is saying they can't reset it, can only be done at the factory. I'm even more upset that they wouldn't let me order with the performance tires now. I waited since January for this car, wish it had been EXACTLY the car I wanted.

BMW told me the limiter is set in the factory and can't be changed after the car is built.

[makrop]

FWIW, my dealer said it can be programmed / removed at any time... I asked about this once I realized the mistake I had made when speccing out all season tires. They said the reason its on there is the all season tires are only rated for 130mph. They kind of made it sound like if you bought the tires rated for 155mph from them, then they can code it out for you. I also asked about the need for that to be done within 10 hours and they said no, it can be done at any time. This is from the "genius" as well. I didn't think to ask about if you had bought higher rated tires elsewhere and brought it in, if they would code it out for you.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

Oh crap, I didn't know that. My dealer is saying they can't reset it, can only be done at the factory. I'm even more upset that they wouldn't let me order with the performance tires now. I waited since January for this car, wish it had been EXACTLY the car I wanted.

I feel your pain, as I made SURE that the car I got came with 840 High-Speed Synchronization (or, Increased Top Speed Limiter). That was the first thing I looked for on every VIN I looked up online. A 130-MPH top speed on these cars is nuts if you ever want to track them.

I read on one forum or another that the dealer can reset it, but IIRC it can only be done during the first 10 hours of the car's life, which hopefully haven't already passed.

Another poster said it can be done via a particular sort of tune (IIRC, non-piggyback - i.e., one that overwrites the ECU), and that there was one outfit in Europe offering this type of tune. I looked at that tuner's site (I'm pretty sure it was in Belgium or the Netherlands), but I've just now searched my drive to see if I held on to any of that info, and I can't find anything specific - sorry.

[MarkDemma]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I feel your pain, as I made SURE that the car I got came with 840 High-Speed Synchronization (or, Increased Top Speed Limiter). That was the first thing I looked for on every VIN I looked up online. A 130-MPH top speed on these cars is nuts if you ever want to track them.

I read on one forum or another that the dealer can reset it, but IIRC it can only be done during the first 10 hours of the car's life, which hopefully haven't already passed.

Another poster said it can be done via a particular sort of tune (IIRC, non-piggyback - i.e., one that overwrites the ECU), and that there was one outfit in Europe offering this type of tune. I looked at that tuner's site (I'm pretty sure it was in Belgium or the Netherlands), but I've just now searched my drive to see if I held on to any of that info, and I can't find anything specific - sorry.

I mean, it's not like I PLAN to need to go over 130 MPH anytime soon ...

[3rdcoast228i]

It's one of those things that you probably will never do but it's the point of it. IE my M sport 228i 4 banger has the 155 top speed limiter, if I had the 6 cylinder with the 130mph limit I would be a little miffed about that.

You aren't the only one getting bit by this, a lot of other people are finding out they have the 130 mph limiter after they get the car. Its really something they should make you aware of when you order. But they know most people will never hit the 130 mph limit.

BTW just to be clear, I highly don't recommend going going that fast. In the end these are still passenger cars, not dedicated track machines.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

I mean, it's not like I PLAN to need to go over 130 MPH anytime soon ...

Understood. I suspect the only time it might matter is when these cars' values drop down into the $8-12K range and track rats begin using them. They will seek out a way to eliminate any speed limitation.

Originally Posted by 3rdcoast228i

You aren't the only one getting bit by this, a lot of other people are finding out they have the 130 mph limiter after they get the car. Its really something they should make you aware of when you order. But they know most people will never hit the 130 mph limit.

I was surprised when I came across this limitation in one of the forums, and then not so much when I learned the reason for it. Still, you'd think the sales people would make potential buyers aware of the situation - it makes me wonder how this was presented during their training, if it was at all.

[MarkDemma]

Some some impressions after a week of driving it in fairly "regular" traffic.

I see why folks spend money on upgrade exhausts for purely "better sound" and negligible actual performance gains. My daily fun is pulling out from the metering lights on the Bay Bridge. I always felt it was pretty quick in my E46 330Ci ZHP with the Dinan exhaust and it made such a lovely sound. With the M240i, it doesn't SOUND like I'm going that fast, but then I look down and it's like crap I'm doing 90 I should slow down a bit I don't need the ticket. The ZHP also had a lot more road feel / harsher ride and I imagine a modern car has more noise dampening going on. So I know I'm going way faster, it just doesn't feel / sound like I am. More noise to make me think I'm going faster sooner might save me from a ticket!

If I did an exhaust upgrade, would probably go for a Dinan mid pipe with MPE or just a cat back Remus setup. Really want something that can use the valve so I can keep it quieter when starting up early in the morning.

I'm still getting used to the steering. It's EASIER ... but I just don't feel as connected as I felt in the E46.

I was driving thru some of the hillier sections of SF yesterday and remembered that newer BMWs hold the brake for you for a second or two when you are on an incline. I thought I'd be annoyed by it but it worked pretty well. There are a couple of inclines so steep that I've actually used the parking brake to start out.

The rev matching isn't as awful as I thought it would be.

The 225 All Seasons aren't as bad as I thought, but still will want the swap out for beefier tires. The E46 has 255s and I fear that I may take a corner thinking I still have that amount of traction and go splat. After that I'll debate if I think I need the LSD. And after that if I need the Dinan stage 1.

Some Car Play annoyances. Seems I can only have contacts available via Car Play OR iDrive. Until Waze is available for CarPlay, I'd really rather use the BMW navigation system but it can't seem to pull in contacts unless I've turned CarPlay off.

Still trying to figure out what the 3 buttons on the rear view mirror do.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

Some some impressions after a week of driving it in fairly "regular" traffic.

I see why folks spend money on upgrade exhausts for purely "better sound" and negligible actual performance gains. My daily fun is pulling out from the metering lights on the Bay Bridge. I always felt it was pretty quick in my E46 330Ci ZHP with the Dinan exhaust and it made such a lovely sound. With the M240i, it doesn't SOUND like I'm going that fast, but then I look down and it's like crap I'm doing 90 I should slow down a bit I don't need the ticket. The ZHP also had a lot more road feel / harsher ride and I imagine a modern car has more noise dampening going on. So I know I'm going way faster, it just doesn't feel / sound like I am. More noise to make me think I'm going faster sooner might save me from a ticket!

If I did an exhaust upgrade, would probably go for a Dinan mid pipe with MPE or just a cat back Remus setup. Really want something that can use the valve so I can keep it quieter when starting up early in the morning.

I'm still getting used to the steering. It's EASIER ... but I just don't feel as connected as I felt in the E46.

I was driving thru some of the hillier sections of SF yesterday and remembered that newer BMWs hold the brake for you for a second or two when you are on an incline. I thought I'd be annoyed by it but it worked pretty well. There are a couple of inclines so steep that I've actually used the parking brake to start out.

The rev matching isn't as awful as I thought it would be.

The 225 All Seasons aren't as bad as I thought, but still will want the swap out for beefier tires. The E46 has 255s and I fear that I may take a corner thinking I still have that amount of traction and go splat. After that I'll debate if I think I need the LSD. And after that if I need the Dinan stage 1.

Some Car Play annoyances. Seems I can only have contacts available via Car Play OR iDrive. Until Waze is available for CarPlay, I'd really rather use the BMW navigation system but it can't seem to pull in contacts unless I've turned CarPlay off.

Still trying to figure out what the 3 buttons on the rear view mirror do.

I think Waze is coming to CarPlay. The three buttons on the rear view mirror are memory HomeLink buttons that can be programmed to operate garage doors.

[MarkDemma]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

I think Waze is coming to CarPlay. The three buttons on the rear view mirror are memory HomeLink buttons that can be programmed to operate garage doors.

Yeah from what I read they will be able to add it to iOS 12, but Waze is needing some time to get it to work.

Oh that's what they are for. I have a carport haha

[morphomeman]

Automotive tariffs are especially silly. Since 1964, the US has imposed a 25% Chicken Tariff on trucks imported from Europe, in retaliation for an EU tax on US chicken. European trucks sold in the US are disassembled, shipped, and then reassembled here to avoid the tax. Harley-Davidson will probably go the same route in Europe. All just a waste of funds and a large tax on consumers.
But wait, it gets better. Trump is about to impose a tariff on EU autos, ignorant of the fact that the largest exporter of cars from the US is BMW and that they export more cars (all X-models, their biggest seller) than they import. Expect the EU to slap a tax on X-models, leading to a large loss in jobs in South Carolina, one of Trump's biggest supporters.
I second the kudos on the EB. Mine still gets heads turning after three years.

[kivyee]

Yup, that's why no one really wins in trade wars...