[dougman]

I just ordered my car today and specified premium package. I ordered premium because I knew I wanted Dakota leather, and bluetooth.

However, playing around with the configurator, I see that you can get leather ($1450) and bluetooth ($750) separately for a savings of $1050 over premium ($3250).

Doesn't $1050 seem like a lot for power seats, a garage door opener and a compass?

Also, and perhaps more importantly:

It seems like rear-seat entry is dramatically easier with manual seats. The release lever lets the seat tip forward AND slide forward, and you don't have to hold down the button and wait for the seat to move.

Does anyone have manual seats and can confirm this benefit?

Seems like a nice $1K savings to put into something performance-oriented later on...

[E90330iS]

Investmentwise, spending that $1k and have the premium package will increase your resale value later so you are not really spending $1k! I didn't purchase ZPP because Dakota Leather wasn't available for E90s at that time and the leatherette is really of great quality! If I were you I spend buy the premium package!

[LEDZEP]

There are some other tidbits in ZPP too. It's a choice... you'll just have to decide.

[Oz]

I think the power seats make a big difference but that's just me. ZPP is great IMO and I would pay 1k more just for the Bluetooth because it is that useful.

[teknochild]

500$ power seats
150$ garage door opener
100$ compass
100-200$ adjustable lumbar (really important for some people)
50-100 $ power folding exterior mirror

900-1500$ depending on how you price it

totally worth it


and yes it will help your resale, who would buy a bmw w/o some of these things

[dougman]

Forgot about the mirrors--power folding and auto-dimming.

Power seats are definitely nice for minor adjustments while underway. And I really liked the compass...

Thanks for the suggestion on the resale. Think that about settles it!

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by dougman

Thanks for the suggestion on the resale. Think that about settles it!

How long do you plan on keeping your car? I made the decision to get what I wanted and not to worry about what the next owner thinks he needs in a car.

[iatacs19]

Don't you want the auto-dimming mirrors? I think that is very useful now that everyone drives SUVs and blind you. Also, folding side mirrors are nice to have when parking in tight spaces.

But, if those things are not appealing to you then save the money and just get leatherette + bluetooth, you save a lot more.

[E90330iS]

Originally Posted by STE92VE

How long do you plan on keeping your car? I made the decision to get what I wanted and not to worry about what the next owner thinks he needs in a car.

You are right, but getting more options is still the better for both worlds unless if you just really really are not going to benefit from the options. I learned this lesson the hard way.. $1~3 more grands invested in options for a car is really not that bad considering the 30~40% return when you sell your vehicle

[poiney]

Some other comments:

Interesting point about potential disadvantage of power seats that you can't slide the seats forward quickly. I find this very annoying on power, but not sure how it works on non-power seats.

Since auto-dimming includes the rear view and side view mirror, I think that is quite helpful. It also dims at to a good level.

The compass is great provided you do NOT have navi. If you have navi, then I think that obviates a compass. no need.

Power folding mirrors, not that useful since they aren't automatic, unfortunately.

[teknochild]

Originally Posted by poiney

Some other comments:

Interesting point about potential disadvantage of power seats that you can't slide the seats forward quickly. I find this very annoying on power, but not sure how it works on non-power seats.

Since auto-dimming includes the rear view and side view mirror, I think that is quite helpful. It also dims at to a good level.

yea the seat thing is kind of annoying, but i didnt buy the car to lug people around in the back, its just an added convienance if needed, dont really care HOW convienant


and your sideview mirrors dim too? i dont think mine do, or maybe i just dont notice it, but i definatly think they dont (and i was looking foward to that too, because i could always flip the rearview down, but you cant do anything about the sides)

[poiney]

Pretty sure they all do with power.

I think that the auto dim on rearview mirror is close to pointless if the side mirrors don't do the same.

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by dougman

I just ordered my car today and specified premium package. I ordered premium because I knew I wanted Dakota leather, and bluetooth.

However, playing around with the configurator, I see that you can get leather ($1450) and bluetooth ($750) separately for a savings of $1050 over premium ($3250).

Doesn't $1050 seem like a lot for power seats, a garage door opener and a compass?

Also, and perhaps more importantly:

It seems like rear-seat entry is dramatically easier with manual seats. The release lever lets the seat tip forward AND slide forward, and you don't have to hold down the button and wait for the seat to move.

Does anyone have manual seats and can confirm this benefit?

Seems like a nice $1K savings to put into something performance-oriented later on...

I like the power seats because currently the E90 is our only car, so my wife and I are constantly going back and forth between our seat / mirror settings. I also think they are one of those things that a lot of buyers would expect when looking for a used BMW, so if resale value is important then I'd say get ZPP.

[danimal]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

Don't you want the auto-dimming mirrors? I think that is very useful now that everyone drives SUVs and blind you. Also, folding side mirrors are nice to have when parking in tight spaces.

But, if those things are not appealing to you then save the money and just get leatherette + bluetooth, you save a lot more.

I drove a ZPP-equipped 328i for a week and didn't like the auto-dimming mirrors at all. They dim way too much for my taste. I'd rather deal with a little occasional glare and know where everything is around me. I also found the Bluetooth useless with my LG phone (which is, admittedly, not listed as a compatible phone). Compass? I'd want that like once a year tops. Power seats would be nice because they have memory, but since I'm the only driver, the only time I have to readjust is when I take the car is for service. Finally, fake (but convincing) dead animal skin is just fine with me

-Dan

[Paul330d]

Power seats alone are $2000 extra here, so think yourself lucky.