Pulling the Trigger SOON...some final Qs
 

hello all....

First off, let me say that everybody has been very helpful on this site, so thanks a lot.

I am about ready to pull the trigger on a new '06 X3 (we are buying) but haad a few questions:

will do the following:

-Prem Package
-5 speed steptronic
-nav system (Wife insists on this)
-upraded airbags (again, the wife)
-bluetooth/assist
-xenon headlights
-seat warmers
-a few other add ons (bike rack, floor mats, etc)

Have some questions regarding the following:

-is the Premium sound worth it? Seems that, unlike the X5 and others, which offer up to 13 speakers, the x3 upgrade is better but still only 8 speakers.....Do i NEED to do the upgrade if i'm considering ICELINK?

-Servotronic: Our salesman said not to get this...first time I've ever seen a sales guy undersell an upgrade, so i guess maybe he's right? He said you won't know the difference

-is there any kind of BMW product that is a worthwhile phone cradle or is this something i should do aftermarket? Or does one even need it? W/Bluetooth obviously the phone will work anyplace in the car

-Privacy Glass: We like the very light tinting, but don't want this to look like a cheesy Limo....is there any range of tinting that the factory offers?

-has anybody used the Aux Power Adapter they offer? It's like $9 but not sure if it's usefu

-Also, there is a $40 Aux adapter for MP3s etc...this worth it if i am considering ICELINK, or just simply redundant?

Am i missing anything?

Thanks for all the help folks

Servotronic - I love it and can't imagine without it!

Aux Input adapter - redundant if you are getting Icelink for iPod but not sure if it works with Nav system. I have Icelink for my ipod which is left inside the center console, and I also have the Aux input adaptor so that my CFO is in the car, she can put her ipod in occasionally.

No comment on the rest.

Good luck in your buy!

congrats on your upcoming purchase! i'm sure you will love your X3!

i don't have the servotronic steering or premium audio, so i can't speak to those. i wanted the bmw ipod integration kit, which does not work with the premium sound system (though i think bmw has announced a new kit that will come out this summer that will), so i skipped premium audio.

i do have the privacy glass - i believe there is only one tint level available (you can't configure different tint levels when building an X3 on bmwusa.com). if you want additional tint, you'd need to go aftermarket.

do you have your buying strategy planned out yet? there a lots of different methods out there, but this will be key to making sure you get the best price possible. :)

I've had an X3 without either the servotronic steering or the premium sound. I now have an X3 with both, and can't image how I lived without them before! I will admit the servotronic steering takes some getting used to, and I initially didn't like it. But it has proved invaluable especially in the parking garage at work.

Privacy glass: Find a reputable tint shop in your area and get an even tint on all the windows, which looks a LOT better, IMO.

The 'phone cradle: If you have a Bluetooth enabled 'phone, you don't really need a cradle unless you want to charge your 'phone on long road trips, for example, or unless you like a clean look, and would like everthing integrated. You should realise that if you do install the cradle, you lose storage space in the centre console, which is not necessarily a good thing. In addition, should you upgrade your 'phone, you may also need to upgrade the cradle, and that can get expensive.

Aux input vs. ice>Link Plus: There's no competition here. Get the ice>Link Plus. I've had both (the aux in my "old" X3, the ice>Link in my current X3), and the ice>Link Plus is a much better choice. It allows COMPLETE control of your iPod using the steering wheel controls, which is not the case with an aux. input. The only reason to get an aux input in addition to the ice>Link Plus, is if there are MP3 players other than the iPod which will be used in the car.

If I may suggest adding one more option: The steering wheel warmer. You'll wonder how you've lived without it, and when winter rolls around, you'll thank me!

If you are going for the Prem package you'll get the bluetooth / assist as part of the deal. I had our windows tinted after the sale as I wanted a clean look of a single color tint. The phone cradle is a great idea if you want to keep it from floating around the cabin. I just ordered mine for my Moto E815. Not only does it keep the battery charged, it uses the outside antenna on the roof. Heated seats are great, good move. I have them but not used them yet. I also added the sirius reciever. I bought the kit and did the install myself for under 280.00. One more thing to look at is the sports package. Some like it, some don't but I do. I like the mono color body and trim. I like the firm suspension, the sport seats and the "M" steering wheel. Even the door sill plates are different. Just a thought but once you buy your X3 without it, it'd be hard to add it later. Lastly, I'm very happy with the stock stereo and could find other things to do with the $$ for the premium unit.
Ours is equipted as follows
Prem / Sport / Step / Heated seats. I did the tint / sirius / and phone cradle thing.

thanks for all the great advice.....We just placed the order, and did go with the sevtronic streering, didn't go with privacy glass (we think the plain glass look is very clean...not sure why everybody tints SUVs...you don't really see sedans or coupes tinted)...also added Xenon headlights

For us the sports package was not really that appealing....the firm ride, especially, so that wasn't really a consideration

We did do Sirius and the Premium sound, and will consider adding the icelink...we'll see....We live in NYC and really the car is for weekend use, so I think Sirius will give us a lot of options, but I'll add ICELINK later if need be (If i can, with premium...i think you can)

Rasta.....hmmm...I guess we can think about the steering wheel heater...It does get cold in NYC but i'd say most of our car use in nicer weather usage....and LOL we do have gloves, but maybe you're right

On the phone cradle....I've been trying to "do the math" on how much you gain versus the loss to center console....I think this will also be a wait and see thing....we'll see how much we need the console...I do like the clean look as opposed to a phone rattlinng around in the cup holder or what not

Car drives like a dream though....we were able to get it out on open roads, and that was fun

There are some dealer options we'll do as well, including a non slip mat for the back (we have Lab, so that'll be for her) and also the roof top racks for bikes/ski....they look like a very clean fit

and, of course, chrome tips for the pipes....Gotta pimp my ride somehow

Good choices, but I'm tellin' ya, you'll rue the day you didn't get the steering wheel warmer! I haven't worn gloves (except when snowboarding) in 2 years! :) I'm assuming you didn't get the navigation system, so storage won't be a problem as there's a storage container in the dash where the screen for the nav would be, so the 'phone cradle shouldn't be an issue.
Good luck, congratulations, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your purchase!

actually, we did get the nav system...so the center console will be a needed unit for us

how much is the heated steering wheel? I think i have time to call it in, not sure

It's only $150, and totally worth it! Trust me on this one!

I added the heated wheel on a day after I placed my order. My hands sweat a lot so I originally wasn't interested. After the test drive though, I have to say it was wonderful and made the X3 immediately seem warm and comfortable.

Glad to see you got the Servotronic and Premium Sound. The sound system has 10 speakers. Mid's and tweeters in the front and rear doors (8 speakers total) and 2 subs under the front seats. Plus upgraded amplifiers. I like mine just fine. Much better than standard. There are also adjustable equalizer settings for the stereo available on the Nav system screen (something I didn't know when I got my '05, and I didn't get Nav!)

Servotronic steering is great. It's road speed controlled instead of engine speed controlled. It has a much better feel at higher speeds but is still very comfortable and easy in the parking lot.

Hope you enjoy your new X3 as much as I do mine! :thumbup:

Servotronic..........good
Premium sound............good if you're an audiophile
heated steering wheel.............sounds funny but it's a really nice feature.

thanks guys....

well, we kind of swapped out the privacy glass and went with servotronic....I'd seen enough raves on here, and at $250 it was easy (the privacy glass is $350)

def an audiofile, so that's good to know....can't wait to hear the speakers (our test drive model had the basic stereo)

Looking forward to delivery.....should be June, they tell us

Not sure about BMW dealers in any other part of the country, but our dealer can't keep the x3 in stock....they even sold the test drive model.

B/c of this, the salesmen are really not "selling".....nor is there any negotiation that goes on

And, b/c of all the research i did, i ended up knowing more than he did....and the sales guys basically used "Build Your BMW" on BWM.com

With forums like this, and such knowledgable customers, can it be long before the middleman is cut out, and/or only left for SERVICE?

I mean, i think most of us here could have ordered directed from BMW and saved the $$$

Glad you got servotronic. Never have I seen a system that gives you such light steering, yet still conveys lots of feedback from the road.

Premium sound is great. I love the sound, especially the fine tuning of the DSP and the echo effect. My friends also love to thump rap, so it serves a multi-purpose :). People always ask what upgrades I've done to the sound system, to which I always reply - its all stock BMW (ok maybe not really stock, but not aftermarket if you catch my drift...).

Xenons are a no brainer and you will love them. (I really regret not getting them on my X3)

Nav & Xenons are those options that once you get, you can never get another car without. The BMW nav system may not be state of the art, but it definitively gets the job done. I use it all the time to take new routes (when stuck in traffic), find restaurants (to get addresses and phone numbers). I always enjoy having the map up regardless... Plus its so much more intuitive to use the screen for the radio or to adjust DSP...

All in all, hope you like your X3. Post some pics when you get it. What color exterior & interior are you going?

thanks xx3....great to hear...I'm excited for the stereo....and the Sirius. Considering getting icelink, but will see how much need we have for the iPod...we live in NYC and it's really mainly for weekends or short city drives....not daily work commuting. and, yes, for a stock stereo, it seems amazing....I am actually a fan of maintaining a stock dash/interior, as it was meant to look at build....I've always liked the simplicity of the BMW dash/control center, esp the stereos....compared to the Lexus, it's like a course in design simplicity....So, i've never been one for aftermarket flashy stereos, and usually i like the "poppy" sound of stock systems....Just not a fan of heavy bass (no offense to those who love aftermarket mods...I appreciate it, just wouldn't spend my $$ that way).

I'm glad we went with the servotronic, from what i hear, and yes, xenon was an easy pick

we went with a silvery gray/black leather interior....Love the exterior, black is nice, and we figured it would be easiest to clean/maintain (we have a dog, and will soon have kids, etc.). We have an old 1994 325i convertible with the tan interior....great car, but the tan is showing wear....I know it's 12 years old, and been in the sun, but i think the light interiors "show more" wear/tear.

I'll def post pics when she arrives....should be mid June, they till us (we made the May build)