Congrats, Palmo. Nice car!
Perhaps some day you can post some night interior pic, to see the effect of the LCI changes...

Thanks for your posts, and congrats again!

 

Good choice then !!


With regards to the mudflaps, I don't mind them, but I've never had any stonechips on the rear side anyway...

 

The aim for me with this car is to have a 'practical' car for my current circumstances that has a decent amount of performance, but that is balanced with acceptable economy. For me, the new 525d appears to be hitting that balance perfectly, albeit I won't know for approx. 750 miles how good the actual performance is, although it initially feels good under light load and low revs. The car seems an excellent balance, although in reality I realise it won't yield the same performance as the 530d or 535d, but then they don't yield the same economy (or list price for that matter) as the 525d.

In terms of "Economy is always a tradeoff against performance", not sure this is 'always' the case although this follows good logic. My previous car was tuned including remapping which upped the bhp from 215 - 285, an increase of 70 bhp, with similar gains in torque. However, in like for like driving situations the economy was actually improved by about 3 - 4 mpg. This shows that economy does not always have to suffer. In this case the fuel profile and boost curves were finely tuned resulting in a more efficient combustion process for the same amount of throttle being applied.

Ultimately, you are absoltuely right, where cars are involved (and I have learnt through bitter experience) you 'keep on paying' one way or another!

 

Update with further Pictures
Car has now done over 800 miles and is beginning to loosen up nicely and is proving to be an easy, enjoyable drive all round.

Today I went to get the 'M Sport Gear Lever Knob' retrofitted as it was missing (a standard SE one had been fitted) when I collected the car. However, the one that has arrived is the same. According to my dealer they ordered an 'M Sport Gear Lever Knob' and that is what has come. They have double checked and no other Gear Knob is listed at all. They agree that the one shown in the brochure is different and they are going to look into this further...... Has anyone got an M Sport LCI with a manual gearbox in the UK? If so what gear knob is fitted?

Anyway, over the weekend I fitted a set of Mudflaps and detailed the car. Here are the latest pictures:

Car in the process of having Mudflaps fitted..... (my father owns a garage so I have the luxury of using a ramp FOC).


Car following thorough detailing session which took several hours.....

 

And some more.....

 

And some Interior Pics.....

 

M Sport Gear Lever Knob Update
Just had call from my dealers who have been in contact with BMW UK and have now been able to identify the correct Gear Lever Knob that should have been fitted. I'm told it should arrive on Wednesday and am booked in to have it changed on Thursday. Will update after Thursday.

I am interested to hear if this has happened to any other new LCI owners with manuals or if this is an isolated case?

 

Quite blue on my screen.

ABC

 

Agreed that the colour of the interior pictures is a little off. I took these pictures with direct sunlight beaming through the windscreen which has made the colour appear much lighter. However, I would have to say that the Black Dakota Leather seats are not a dark shade of black, but somehow seem lighter in colour, although I would still refer to them as being black if that makes sense.

 

Well you know what the original looks like.

It might be an idea to have a go with white balance adjustment if there are to be more.

I'm intrigued that no-one ever posts a photo of the "Ford Escort" driver's door.

ABC