Perfect Spec?

ezmaass · 11-20-2016, 08:14 PM

I'm considering replacing my 550xi with a '17 650xi GC, and I'm stuck on just a few options - looking for input from owners.

- Full Leather: I've had black leather exclusively in my BMWs, and I was thinking of sticking with black here, too. However, it looks like full leather only comes in shades of brown, cream, and white. I could see trying brown (Amaro), but I really don't know if this is the way I want to go. However, I do like the extra leather coverage of full leather - dash canopy, lower doors, around steering column, etc. Thoughts?

- Night Vision: As a techie, this is cool to me. However, the reviews in the past have been mediocre. Anyone here have it and find it useful? I live in a semi rural where you do come across deer on the road, certainly potential for people in/near the street, etc. Worth it?

I'm pretty much planning to load the car with every other option. MSRP is coming to around $114k the way I'm spec'ing it right now (which includes night vision but not full leather).

Appreciate any input from folks here - what would you have included but didn't/regret, or what would you have left off if ordering/buying again?

sewright · 11-21-2016, 07:09 AM

I have both full leather and night vision. If I were choosing one or the other, I'd take the full leather (and change the grill to black which you can't get with the night vision).

I've only ever had one encounter with a deer and it ran into the fender, so the sensor never went off. I do like to turn the night vision on when I'm driving after dark though, it looks pretty cool but I'm not sure how useful that it has been for me.

F30Andy · 11-21-2016, 09:49 AM

For me the only must tick boxes were HUD, reverse cam and Harmon Kardon sound.

Speed limit display here in the UK is handy. Its like parking sensors in the sense that until you have had them you wonder how you ever lived without it before. But at the same time if I had to do without it I could.

Everything else I can live without.

Jon D · 11-21-2016, 10:17 AM

HUD
Surround View
Adaptive Drive
Driving Assistant Plus
Adaptive LED
Comfort Seats

ezmaass · 11-21-2016, 05:42 PM

Thanks for the input guys. Spent some time at the dealer today with a 650xi GC - had the dash leather that comes with M-Sport here in the US... appears to all be leather but the canopy isn't stitched like what you get with Individual Leather. Plus, there's not leather on the door bottoms or around the steering wheel. Still, it's very nice, and it's a nicer quality than what's in my 550xi.

I've wavered on the night vision because I've heard it was only "so-so" in usefulness. I have a feeling it'll be more of a toy to show friends/family versus truly useful... but for the time being, I'm still including it in my spec.

I've also confirmed with BMW that the shadowline trim can be "deleted" - reverted back to plain chrome. I haven't decided whether or not I'd do this, but it's nice to know it's possible. When fitting M-Sport here in the US, they automatically include shadowline trim. I have it on my 550xi, as well, and while it looks nice, on an all-black car, it really tends to mute things a bit. So, I'm considering deleting this option.

Lastly on the interior side, if I went with Amaro, I'm trying to decide what trim would go the best. The Fine Line is probably the safe bet... with Sycamore potentially being my next option... and something very different, but potentially beautiful, would be the Ash White. The Ash White in combination with the Amaro and Black leathers makes for a pretty stunning combination, I think... but certainly out of my typical comfort zone at the moment.

Bobby_Drake · 11-22-2016, 01:00 PM

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1315574

Here's a pic of my M6 GC's interior. Amaro brown with Sycamore trim. BTW, very easy to maintain.

ezmaass · 11-23-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_Drake

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1315574

Here's a pic of my M6 GC's interior. Amaro brown with Sycamore trim. BTW, very easy to maintain.

Thanks - very helpful. The Sycamore trim isn't as red as I was expecting, interestingly.

I don't usually carry passengers (randomly), but I'm a tad concerned how the leather will hold up if I decide to load my toddler's car seat into the back. Any comments from folks who've done it? The leather appears soft, and the curvature of the seat means the plastic edges/underside of the seat may dig-in a bit. Is the full/individual leather sturdy enough for this on an infrequent basis?

LarrySinNJ · 12-02-2016, 06:16 PM

The night vision saved my butt as a deer ran out into the street. Without it, there would have been a collision. But as the all leather is concerned, I have the Vermillion Red Nappa, with the black leather dash and it's gorgeous!

11-20-2016, 08:14 PM	#1
ezmaass Lieutenant Colonel 370 Rep 1,698 Posts Drives: '17 650xi GC / '15 Audi R8 V10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Perfect Spec? I'm considering replacing my 550xi with a '17 650xi GC, and I'm stuck on just a few options - looking for input from owners. - Full Leather: I've had black leather exclusively in my BMWs, and I was thinking of sticking with black here, too. However, it looks like full leather only comes in shades of brown, cream, and white. I could see trying brown (Amaro), but I really don't know if this is the way I want to go. However, I do like the extra leather coverage of full leather - dash canopy, lower doors, around steering column, etc. Thoughts? - Night Vision: As a techie, this is cool to me. However, the reviews in the past have been mediocre. Anyone here have it and find it useful? I live in a semi rural where you do come across deer on the road, certainly potential for people in/near the street, etc. Worth it? I'm pretty much planning to load the car with every other option. MSRP is coming to around $114k the way I'm spec'ing it right now (which includes night vision but not full leather). Appreciate any input from folks here - what would you have included but didn't/regret, or what would you have left off if ordering/buying again? __________________ 2017 BMW 650xi Gran Coupe \| MSport \| Exec Package \| Driver Assist Plus \| ACC Stop & Go \| Adaptive Drive \| B&O \| Night Vision \| Cold Weather \| Active Seats 2015 Audi R8 V10 \| Brilliant Red on Black \| S-Tronic \| Carbon Sideblades \| Carbon Trim \| Full Leather \| Sport Exhaust \| Illuminated Doorsills \| I-Pod \| Contrast Stitching Previous: '14 550xi, '07 335i, '01 325i
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11-21-2016, 07:09 AM	#2
sewright Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2013 650i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Pennsylvania, USA iTrader: (0)	I have both full leather and night vision. If I were choosing one or the other, I'd take the full leather (and change the grill to black which you can't get with the night vision). I've only ever had one encounter with a deer and it ran into the fender, so the sensor never went off. I do like to turn the night vision on when I'm driving after dark though, it looks pretty cool but I'm not sure how useful that it has been for me. __________________ 2013 650i - Imola Red
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11-21-2016, 09:49 AM	#3
F30Andy Brigadier General 1771 Rep 3,486 Posts Drives: An Entire Fleet Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	For me the only must tick boxes were HUD, reverse cam and Harmon Kardon sound. Speed limit display here in the UK is handy. Its like parking sensors in the sense that until you have had them you wonder how you ever lived without it before. But at the same time if I had to do without it I could. Everything else I can live without.
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11-21-2016, 10:17 AM	#4
Jon D Brigadier General 224 Rep 3,016 Posts Drives: 2022 840d Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	HUD Surround View Adaptive Drive Driving Assistant Plus Adaptive LED Comfort Seats
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11-21-2016, 05:42 PM	#5
ezmaass Lieutenant Colonel 370 Rep 1,698 Posts Drives: '17 650xi GC / '15 Audi R8 V10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the input guys. Spent some time at the dealer today with a 650xi GC - had the dash leather that comes with M-Sport here in the US... appears to all be leather but the canopy isn't stitched like what you get with Individual Leather. Plus, there's not leather on the door bottoms or around the steering wheel. Still, it's very nice, and it's a nicer quality than what's in my 550xi. I've wavered on the night vision because I've heard it was only "so-so" in usefulness. I have a feeling it'll be more of a toy to show friends/family versus truly useful... but for the time being, I'm still including it in my spec. I've also confirmed with BMW that the shadowline trim can be "deleted" - reverted back to plain chrome. I haven't decided whether or not I'd do this, but it's nice to know it's possible. When fitting M-Sport here in the US, they automatically include shadowline trim. I have it on my 550xi, as well, and while it looks nice, on an all-black car, it really tends to mute things a bit. So, I'm considering deleting this option. Lastly on the interior side, if I went with Amaro, I'm trying to decide what trim would go the best. The Fine Line is probably the safe bet... with Sycamore potentially being my next option... and something very different, but potentially beautiful, would be the Ash White. The Ash White in combination with the Amaro and Black leathers makes for a pretty stunning combination, I think... but certainly out of my typical comfort zone at the moment. __________________ 2017 BMW 650xi Gran Coupe \| MSport \| Exec Package \| Driver Assist Plus \| ACC Stop & Go \| Adaptive Drive \| B&O \| Night Vision \| Cold Weather \| Active Seats 2015 Audi R8 V10 \| Brilliant Red on Black \| S-Tronic \| Carbon Sideblades \| Carbon Trim \| Full Leather \| Sport Exhaust \| Illuminated Doorsills \| I-Pod \| Contrast Stitching Previous: '14 550xi, '07 335i, '01 325i
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11-22-2016, 01:00 PM	#6
Bobby_Drake Major 389 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: '16 X5M Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Diego, CA -> Honolulu, HI iTrader: (0)	http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1315574 Here's a pic of my M6 GC's interior. Amaro brown with Sycamore trim. BTW, very easy to maintain.
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12-02-2016, 06:16 PM	#8
LarrySinNJ Lieutenant 122 Rep 425 Posts Drives: 2019 330i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	The night vision saved my butt as a deer ran out into the street. Without it, there would have been a collision. But as the all leather is concerned, I have the Vermillion Red Nappa, with the black leather dash and it's gorgeous! __________________ 2019 G20 330i xDrive Med. Blue/Cognac Leather ZCV\|ZPP\|ZPX\|HK\|Remote Start (Ret'd) 2016 F06 640i xDrive Med. Blue/Red Leather MSport\|B&O\|Driver Asst+\|Cold\|Night (Ret'd) 2013 F30 335i xDrive Mineral Grey/Black Leather (Ret'd) 2011 E90 328i xDrive Space Grey/Black Leather(Ret'd) 2009 E90 328i xDrive Monaco Blue/(Ret'd) 2007 E90 328i xDrive Graphite (Ret'd)
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