redondoman

If the salesperson lied to you, yes you have a right to be upset, at him and at the dealership if they have not fired him yet. I personally was never promised MP3 capability and didn't notice a mention of it in the manual (I don't disbelieve that it is in there). Futhermore, I was one of the first people to install the aux input which has not only allowed me to play my ipod, but I've added the nav screen hack from navwithtv to see DVDs. I experienced a couple of annoyances with some of the early electronic glitches (remember the software upgrades?). Yet overall I do not feel shafted. I would have felt shafted if I purchased the outgoing 525 (which I almost did). Fortunately one honest salesperson (out of 3 visited) mentioned the new model was coming. I will consider the new 7 when it comes out in 08 as well. The enjoyment and excitement I've experienced from being one of the first ones on the block with the new 5 has outweighed any of the disadvantages of owning a first gen car. Sure BT would be nice, but my headset works fine for now.

znod

Hi B32:

I cannot name another case where a car was pulled out of a hat at the "last minute" like the 550i. Yep, I can't trust BMW. The Company lacks in customer consideration. Sorry about it being so long to fix your headlight.

redondoman

Hi B32:

I cannot name another case where a car was pulled out of a hat at the "last minute" like the 550i. Yep, I can't trust BMW. The Company lacks in customer consideration. Sorry about it being so long to fix your headlight.
[/quote]

How is improving the product line a lack of customer consideration? Everyone was complaining that BMWs needed more power in comparison to the competition, so they delivered a car with more power.

UUronL

Product life cycles have changed, as have the dynamics. Read this:

"The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton M. Christensen.




Its main focus isn't product cycles, but it touches upon them, and the balance a large established firm must strike when striving to innovate while keeping existing customers happy. BMW is doing the kind of innovation outlined in this book, and sometimes the balance isn't perfect - but by reading this at least one can become aquainted with the environment the consumer is forced to live in.

TexaZ3

Ferrari.
F348 Spider, just a year before the production ended and replaced with new model
F355 Spider - same as above.
F512M - 8 months in production
550 Barchetta - only few hundreds built before production ceased.
And people paid a lot more than $65+ K for these cars...

dgjk

I do not think any company has customer loyalty anymore. It is a thing of the past. The only person who cares if you buy the car is the dealer and as long as the dealer can move product - hich they are doing, then the parent company does not care.

It takes a long time to catch up with the company - look at GM and Ford

The BMW is my first non-GM - partly because I wanted the BMW but just as great a part was there in nothing form GM that meets my specifications.

As far as the switch, is there really that much difference between a 545 and a 550?

znod

To me, the tradeoff would have been getting 545i in June versus getting more HP in a 550i in, say, December. I am not sure which choice I would have made. My objection is not having full disclosure so that I could make the choice that was best for me. BMW prevented me from having the facts I needed so that I could make a well-informed decision. Check out my lengthy post above.

EBMCS03

Ya, resale... smother engine... mentally knowing you got shafted... obsolete engine in less than a year of owning the car. etc etc etc

CRRobert

EBMCS03, just trade in for a M5. You know you want one. Wish you had the M bumper at the So Cal meet I was at.

I generally like to be an early adopter in a lot of things, especially electronics, and always seem to get something, that in 3 months is better and cheaper.

I was a little miffed at the new engine, but since I leased, knew that would be able to trade up when lease was over. I know this does not help anyone that purchases it, but does not bother me to much.

Actually would have wanted more than the 360 HP. Make a 550 with 5 liter with similar output/liter (85hp/l) of the new I6 (would be 425 hp).

As far as the MP3, well did not make a difference to me, since I have the Aux Input installed for my IPOD. Not concerned about resale since a lease, but if I did not have the Aux Input, would be wanting the MP3 capability.

Totally understand the wanting to know so you can make a choice, but think with things starting to change faster than before, might run into this more often unfortunately.

znod