BMW question.

The_Dark_Side · 27 Nov 2009 at 18:21

As I haven't driven an e60, I was wondering if the HUD fitted to the M5 is available in any other model from the range?
It seems a useful toy to have and it'd be strange to keep it only for the flagship model.

cdcopyman · 27 Nov 2009 at 18:34

ive seen it on non m5 e60's so yes i think its an option.

[TW]Fox · 27 Nov 2009 at 18:35

It's an option throughout the range.

The_Dark_Side · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:27

[TW]Fox;15410355 said:
It's an option throughout the range.

In practice do many people take it up, or is it a rare site in used 5's?
I take it that only the 5 series has this as an option at all?

[TW]Fox · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:29

6 Series has it as well. It's rare because most people who buy new BMW's are idiots.

Further examples of idiocy can be found in the fact that nobody ever specs the 'Sports Automatic' transmission option for the autobox which adds paddleshift, despite the fact it only costs £105 extra.

The_Dark_Side · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:32

[TW]Fox;15410819 said:
6 Series has it as well. It's rare because most people who buy new BMW's are idiots.

Further examples of idiocy can be found in the fact that nobody ever specs the 'Sports Automatic' transmission option for the autobox which adds paddleshift, despite the fact it only costs £105 extra.

That's actually a bargain by Audi/BMW/Merc standards.
I suppose most people can only afford some of the options, and they tick other more important (to them) boxes before reaching their budget.
Conversely, it's possible that items like the one you describe above weren't even explained to them when they ordered their car so they weren't even aware what it was and how little extra it would cost.

[TW]Fox · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:33

The brochure explains it perfectly though, but I guess we shouldn't be amazed at the number of people who will drop £40,000 on a car without even spending an hour thumbing through the brochure first.

The_Dark_Side · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:43

[TW]Fox;15410849 said:
The brochure explains it perfectly though, but I guess we shouldn't be amazed at the number of people who will drop £40,000 on a car without even spending an hour thumbing through the brochure first.

TBH, the number of people spending £40k on a car who have no real interest in cars is staggering. Most think along the lines of "as long as it has this that and the other", and after that they're not too fussed.

Sin_Chase · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:44

Plenty of after market kits to give you a HUD, although admittedly they will not be as integrated or fully fledged, but possible nonetheless.

Fr0dders · 27 Nov 2009 at 19:57

Corvettes have this.

mjt · 27 Nov 2009 at 20:47

MrLOL said:
Corvettes have this.

it looks rubbish compared to the BMW HUD though.

Spamalot · 27 Nov 2009 at 20:58

It's a £925 option on the 530d I think. It's not cheap is it Fox?

mjt · 27 Nov 2009 at 21:04

Spamalot said:
It's a £925 option on the 530d I think. It's not cheap is it Fox?

yeah, it costs ~£1000

not only is it expensive, but how useful is it really? unless your racing and can't take your eyes off the road, i can't really see why anyone would want it.
apart from epeen obviously

NickXX · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:00

mjt said:
unless your racing and can't take your eyes off the road

We are talking about BMW drivers here...

With regards to the £105 paddles option. I'd imagine most 6 series auto buyers have absolutely no with to change gear manually.

I want new plastic paddles for my m3, they cost more than £105 just for the plastic bits!

thepharcyde · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:05

NickXX said:
We are talking about BMW drivers here...

With regards to the £105 paddles option. I'd imagine most 6 series auto buyers have absolutely no with to change gear manually.

I want new plastic paddles for my m3, they cost more than £105 just for the plastic bits!

CSL wheel?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-STEERING-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item4a9c759503

mjt · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:55

NickXX said:
With regards to the £105 paddles option. I'd imagine most 6 series auto buyers have absolutely no with to change gear manually

probably true with a lot of 5 drivers too.
my dad gets annoyed when i use the steptronic :confused:

"stop messing about with the gears and leave it in D!"

NickXX · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:59

thepharcyde said:
CSL wheel?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-STEERING-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item4a9c759503

Nah, it's just that the paddles are scratched. I just want to mint up my M3.

mjt said:
probably true with a lot of 5 drivers too.
my dad gets annoyed when i use the steptronic
"stop messing about with the gears and leave it in D!"

My dad borrowed my car the other day and wasn't remotely interested in using the paddles (is a Merc auto driver).

J1nxy · 27 Nov 2009 at 23:03

mjt said:
probably true with a lot of 5 drivers too.
my dad gets annoyed when i use the steptronic
"stop messing about with the gears and leave it in D!"

My 3 has the paddles which are fitted on the 5 and I mainly use them when come up to a roundabout just to make sure its in a low enough gear to get into gaps. Most the rest of the time the autobox, even in D, does a pretty decent job, I do tend to use DS round town though. You can still use the joystick controller on the LCI E60 to knock it up and down the gears and that works pretty well.

mjt · 27 Nov 2009 at 23:12

i mainly use the manual override when slowing down at junctions and for accelerating away quickly, as the torque converter holds the revs at around 3k

never driven a car with paddles so i can't comment, but i like using the gearstick as a shifter. thankfully it's the proper way with pull back to go up and push forward to go down a gear.
must be crap in VAG cars

NickXX · 27 Nov 2009 at 23:19

I personally nearly always use the paddles. The only time I switch into auto mode is if i'm in an epic motorway jam.