Justifying these Add-Ons...comment please!

[Shaw]

Anyone could justify the following options based on their high costs:
- Rear entertainment system: anyone cares to shares his opinion why someone should pay about $2Gs on it? the best dual display can be purchased at what? $200-$300?
- Active Steering: Is it really that different and worth the approx. $2G's
- Dynamic Adaptive Suspension: $3k-$4k!!! Is this a life changer?!
- Driver Assistant Plus: approx. $2k. What's life with or without it?

[newbimmerx5]

Rear entertainment system is upgraded on F15. However, kids are more into dynamic content, on demand gaming and entertainment. So, its worthless.
I am going with ipad holder and buy a ipad Mini and keep it in your car. With your smartphone and hotspot, you can provide internet to your ipad for long drives.



Active steering may be worth on E70 particularly for women drivers. F15 steering is powered by electric one and really agile. So, its not worth.

Driver assistance plus option gained lot of traction in past two years. Many brands are throwing this as standard option. I would say this is a life saving security option. This was first in my options list.

I don't know about Adaptive suspension.

[barcelona]

^If you have a VIN you can see what people have finalized in their F15

[pillpusher84]

- Rear entertainment system: anyone cares to shares his opinion why someone should pay about $2Gs on it? the best dual display can be purchased at what? $200-$300?

I agree with newbimmerx5, go with iPads ... cheaper, more content

- Active Steering: Is it really that different and worth the approx. $2G's

Can't say if it's worth it ... I would also say no ... I have driven the X5 without it, and do not plan to add it to my order.

- Dynamic Adaptive Suspension: $3k-$4k!!! Is this a life changer?!

I have this on both of my 5ers ... definitely worth it for the 5er ... have yet to have the opportunity to compare on the x5 ... but if I didn't get the option to drive it first ... it would still be on my order.

- Driver Assistant Plus: approx. $2k. What's life with or without it?

I am surprised at how high the $$ tag has gotten on the X5 ... for that reason, I was leaving this package off of my X5 build (although I have it on my 550, and use the technology, but the only thing I would really want is the blind spot detection ... the others are just toys ... I am probably going to forego this on my X5 build, as it's already up to $83k

[RickP]

I guess I'm the outlier here. I bought RES for my F15. I thought about iPads but the issue is my two kids (3 and 5) use the iPads to watch Netflix mostly. Anyone that has two kids near the same age damn well knows they won't share an iPad. This means I would have to buy 2 x iPads with data or 2 x iPads with Wifi sharing a hotspot - either way I have to pay for data. What happens when data is not available? Sure, I could convert all my DVDs to iPad friendly files or download torrents I suppose.

I have an E70 with RES and it's like kid kryptonite. Movie comes on, kids go quiet, and I can chat with wifey while enjoying my drive.

I got Driver Assistance and bought ACC Stop & Go separately. I don't know what all the hoopla is about lane warning detection and active blind spot detection. You can buy one those little curved mirrors to show your blindspots.

To each his own...

[Shaw]

are the displays on the RES detachable? because I can easily see my kids kicking the displays and there goes the fancy option!!!
And do the play the same stream or they can be independent and play different programs?

[Shaw]

I also see a small confusion on the Canadian vs. US config:
In the US, there is the "Dynamic Handling Package" which consists of "Dynamic Performance Control + Active Role Stabilization" for $4,500. Also there is a "Dynamic Damper Control + rear axle air suspension" for $1,500.
Now in the Canadian order guide, there's only one option called "Dynamic Adaptive Suspension" for $3,500.
So I'm trying to understand what is similar and covered in "Dynamic Adaptive Suspension"...I really want the Dynamic Damper control that facilitates the bumps along the road by transferring less shock to the cabin.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by Shaw

are the displays on the RES detachable? because I can easily see my kids kicking the displays and there goes the fancy option!!!
And do the play the same stream or they can be independent and play different programs?

No to detachable.

Yes they can show independent content

[MRV99]

He only thing that I feel is with is is the Dynamic adaptive suspension. I have it on the e70(had it on 3 of my X's) and during a 30 day stint, I had a same spec e70 without the Dynamic Adaptive Suspension and it was VERY VERY noticeable. I would never own an X without it.

Adaptive steering to me is bla, if the wife can easily steer a x5 with 275's on it, you should be able to.

Entertainment systems are I've priced and a waste. Seriously, for 1k you can get 2 iPods and headrest mounts. If the kids are too small now, that's what the headrests mounts are for. When the get 3-4 yrs old. They will want to control everything themselves any way. Besides, messing with DVD's are a pain in the ass on road trips.

Most of the drives aids with the exception of heads and parking cams are useless

[patrobX5]

I am curious about the RES, what connections are in the back like USB 3.5mm, etc. Will my kids be able to charge their portable devices? And does the 3rd row also get heated seats & side airbags? TIA

[darksilkx1]

Originally Posted by Shaw

Anyone could justify the following options based on their high costs:
- Rear entertainment system: anyone cares to shares his opinion why someone should pay about $2Gs on it? the best dual display can be purchased at what? $200-$300?
- Active Steering: Is it really that different and worth the approx. $2G's
- Dynamic Adaptive Suspension: $3k-$4k!!! Is this a life changer?!
- Driver Assistant Plus: approx. $2k. What's life with or without it?

+1 - Paid for my last rear entertainment and it was a big mistake. The 2k RES in our 2011 GL350 was the worst investment ever. Hasn't been touched in almost 18 months even on long trips. Get two Ipad minis maybe one with 3g. Someone mentioned the problem with having to pay for data to stream Netflix. If you considered the rear system, I assume you have DVD's your kids want to watch. Rip the DVD's (assuming they are yours) and put them on the Ipads. My daughter has about 10 of her movies all ripped to her mini. That should be good enough to last the kids till you get to a location with wifi for Netflix.

[newbimmerx5]

Your movie downloads faster on LTE on Netflix or Hulu and can't interrupt in streaming even there is no connection for few min.

Most of all, iPad allows them to interact and most likely has content best suited for them. Their downloaded games, books, productivity apps, music, etc.

Also, If RES is inevitable, BMW Offers dealer installed RES which is significantly cheaper than factory fitted one.

[Shaw]

I think with all valuable input...the only one investment that makes sense is Dynamic Adaptive Suspension.
I like the ipad (or Android) idea...
Active steering is not worth it...
Driver assistant is not a huge must...especially that in Canada, there is a Technology package that already includes things like (Active LED Headlights, LED fog lights, High-Beam Assistant, Active Blind Spot Detection, Active Protection, Decoding for high-beam assistance, Lane Departure and Collision Warning)