OEM Retrofit Options

[MattX]

Hello folks.

I'm on the look out for a 2012/2013 Xline or MSport but I have a really fussy wife.
She insists it has to have electric adjustable seats and a reverse camera.

From what I understand these were both cost options from new and it seems from my tireless searching, they weren't picked very often!

My guess is that the seats are very difficult to retrofit as you'd either have to replace the entire seat and switch gear or butcher the existing seats and add switch gear?

But what about the reverse camera? They all come with either business or (ideally) professional navigation systems. Is it as easy as buying a few OEM parts and wiring it up to the control module? (plus coding?)
Or is it much harder than that?

I'm half tempted to go bigger than I want and get an X5 due to the underspecc'd X3's I'm seeing!

[graemeX5]

Hi
I think it is harder on the newer cars as I enquirer about  a 2013 X5 putting in a heated steering wheel and you have to add the modules and code it as well as the wheel and the cost was about 2k for an option that was originally a few hundred pounds. 

The local part dept said I'd have to order the bits as there wasn't a kit for retrofit

I would hold out for an X3 car with the spec or as you said look at an X5 or give the local parts dept to see if there is a kit then you know and can go from there.

[MattX]

I'm happy to hold out but she's due in 6-7 weeks  )

[graemeX5]

Hi

That's sounds like you'll be on the internet searching for the rights spec.

Have you tried BMW approved - cars they have seem to be better spec'd but sometimes they charge more, as well as the usual autotrader etc sites.

When I was looking for an X5 the local dealer knew what I wanted and called me about any suitable cars which saves bit of searching which in the end I went a slightly different route but it worked out.

I just got mine from BMW at Tring in Hertfordshire and very helpful service and car was what I wanted and they did the minor fixes and I ended up with a good deal on the car and nothing was too much to help you.

The only trouble is your in the showroom and you look at a new one and some of the deals are very good and better interest or discounts etc and are tempting.

it just depends on your budget and circumstances and for me I had to buy secondhand.

Good luck with the search

[Pinewood]

BMW tring are part of the specialised BMW group. I bought mine from Stevenage and as Graeme has indicated, the cars they sell tend to be of a higher spec. Fully automated seats are a rarity, but a retrofit rear camera is around the £700 mark.  It's only a £300 option at build time.  I havn't missed it as the X3 has big wing mirrors and parking sensors

[bluestreak56]

As above, had my rear camera retrofitted on the X4. Cost around £500 as I bought it when buying the car. I was only looking for cars with it and electric seats and this was the closest.

Unfortunately nobody seems to retrofit speed limit display, electronic damper control or surround view which were the other niche options I wanted and couldnt find..

[MattX]

Hi folks.

Well plans change it seems! The wife had our baby 4.5 weeks early on Monday so this seriously expedited our search!

Baby on Monday.  Deposit down on a 2012 X3 30D MSport on the Friday!
Buying from BMW Elms in Cambridge.  You're all right, at this age they are by far and away better than indies and, as most were on tick, they go back to dealers for trade ins.

This one has bundles of extras. 
Pro nav
Oyster seats
Electric, heated and lumbar
Reverse camera
Panoramic sunroof
Paddle shifters
Enhanced Bluetooth and bmw assist
19" 369's
Active Xenon headlights

They don't like giving money off at bmw do they!
I didn't get a penny off but they're throwing in paint protection, scotchguard, oil service, tax and fuel.
I was in there for 3 hours yesterday after my worst nights sleep since i was my little babies age  )

Quick question.  Is there an oem dvd player i can get and fit?

[X5Sport]

Congrats on both.  Elms are indeed tricky money wise, but then in Cambridge they aren't worried about that.  >:(

I have used their Bedford branch for years.

There is indeed a DVD option.  If the car has had the 'prep' option done then it should be a straight fit.  Not sure if it hasn't been 'prepped' as the loom parts may be missing.

Parts & kit

If you get them to print the 'EBA' document you can see what it requires.  The page linked also tells you what options you need already fitted.

[graemeX5]

Hi
congrats on your new baby and also the car.

I can see your priority as you only posted apic of the new car, haha  )

Car looks good and a good specand it's amazing how things fall in to place in life.

You could always go the tablet option and download films and just have the tablets which fixes into holders mounted on the headrest. That way you can take the tablet with you when you get to your destination rather than just having it in the car only, which is poss why less cars are spec'd with that option.

I know they do a holder for the X5 which goes in the headrest, and which looks universal for all bmw cars, and you can install the tablet into a holder or have a picnic table which has a cup holder or even a coat hanger Just a thought.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/disco ... =8812.html

Graeme

[MattX]

Has anyone had the paint protection done?

I'd never pay a dealer for it as I'm a detailing hobbyist, but with the baby and the fact they were doing it for "free"  i agreed.
I can see me getting itchy in a few months and machine polishing it  )

[Pinewood]

The paint protection is a money spinner for the dealers. Everyone of the main dealers tried to sell it to me, but i'd rather have the discount thanks and polish it myself.
The paint protection is meant to last 3 years.
There is a dual dvd screen option for £300. One of the screens has the dvd drive on it,  and the other is a slave/bluetooth connection to the other.
Only downside i could see with that option is they will need to be removed overnight,  otherwise some oink is bound to take a pop at your new car.

[X5Sport]

3-years eh?  Only if parked in a garage I would hazard.

The first one I was offered had to be 'refreshed' every 6 weeks.

Save your money, DIY as above 

[MattX]

They weren't going to take a penny off so i took everything they were throwing in.
Initially they said one of aglaze, scotch guard or years tax.  I got all three.
I figured if they weren't going to come down on the price I'd get something out of them in addition to the touch ups they were going to do.

As for the DVD, I'd like it to play on the front screen when waiting around. Which happens a lot in my case (shopaholics wife)

[brandon888]

congrat on your baby and new car , i spent nearly 4 months finding the right spec car . before i finally found my car i have looked into retro fit the parts and after doing some research it would cost way too much and i dont like my car being taken apart too .

[MattX]

Update...

I picked the car up yesterday afternoon and it's epic.
I've never liked 4x4s as I'm far more into smaller rwd sports cars.

They don't do very well at carrying a family around though.

The X3 goes like absolute stink and the spec is superb.
Tt has the pro navigation package which I can't tell from the sales book, does it upgrade the speakers too? The volume and bass seem huge although i can't see many speakers!

It has the Internet option on the spec list.  It's past the 3 year period.  Is it worth re activating? What does it do?

Can anyone confirm the tyre pressures for 19" run flats? Google isn't giving me much confidence.  I found 32 front 35 rear which sounds too low to me?