BMW-ALPINA

Sorry.. I writed wrong. I mean.. What is the different betveen your LCI headlights, and the LCI headlights under. Look at my examples..

Palmo

I see what you mean now. To be honest I am no expert on this, but guess that the 'other' LCI may have Xeon optional lights fitted maybe? Mine doesn't - I have the Halogen standard fitment - this is the only thing I can think of.......... Can anyone else clarify?

dawi

The lower picture is of the xenons where the inner lamp, flash/ high bean has a kind of multi-faceted lens cover - kind of like the headlights of old before clear units became more fashionable. Not sure I like this as much as my pre-LCI xenons which feature the flash/high bean light in clear glass just like the LCI non-xenon set up. To me it looks much cleaner and modern - the LCI xenons as I say look like round car headlights from 20 or so years ago.

Good to see though that the new non-xenon set up features an ellipsoidal lens for the main/ low bean light rather than the empty shell of the pre-LCI lens. At last now the new non-xenon units look a bit like they are xenons. Only when they are switched off of course as it obvious when on the difference between halogen and xenon.

IrishEyes

Pardon my ignorance, but what is HGSL?

pmmeke

i dont have the short shirter also and i have the same car. Just letting you know its not isolated

Palmo

Thanks for the clarity - it makes sense.

Palmo

HGSL stands for High Gloss ShadowLine. This is the trim surrounding the windows. E60's come as standard with chrome (SE models). On pre-LCI M-Sport models this was 'de-chromed' and replaced with a mat finish. LCI M-Sport models are also de-chromed but should, according to the spec, have a High Gloss finish but non of the initial LCI's seem to be coming through with this fitted due to a production problem and so are being fitted with the mat finish. The HGSL can be specced separately at a cost of ?285.

Palmo

Interesting, a much more widespread problem than I initially thought. Anyone from the UK got a new LCI M-Sport manual without the M-Sport Gear Lever Knob fitted?

Palmo

UPDATE after 1 month & 3k miles

After 1 month of ownership I have some good and not so good observations - some of these relate directly to the car itself, whilst others are down to the dealer I bought the car from.

Good Points

1. Car looks fabulous IMHO.
2. Drives and handles excellently whilst maintaining a respectable ride quality with the 19" non RFT's.
3. Economy of the 3.0d engine in 525d spec is first class, urban = 33 - 37 mpg, 60mph cruise = 54 mpg, 70-80 mph cruise = 42 - 48 mpg.
4. Performance (taking the economy into account) is very respectable and has power immediately in any gear.
5. Excellent motorway cruiser.
6. Well balanced brakes and steering.
7. Fabulously sounding and smooth engine for a diesel.

Poor Points :thumbsdown:

1. Paint finish is pathetic - 100% orange peel - looks great from a distance, but not so close up. Then again most new cars are like this - would have expected more from BMW though, also marks so easily.
2. Handles terribly when there is a crosswind - this MUST be an inherent design flaw (not related to AS or RFT's) - numerous posts on here to same effect.
3. Drivers seat belt began to rub against the drivers seat bolster. Fortunately I noticed before the leather was really damaged with only a slight scuff. Turns out the belt stitching is the cause, a simple bit of sticky backed felt provided a cure - why couldn't BMW have thought of this.
4. Rear seat belt buckles dig into leather seat base due to their positioning when in use, especially when a baby seat is fitted.
5. Car had ding in lower part of passenger front door which dealer repaired (paintless dent removal). Only one problem, trim on inside of door was damaged and required replacing.....then the door panel itself was damged and required replacing.....took 4 visits to sort.
6. Car came fitted without M Sport gear knob - now retrofitted - took 2 visits to sort.
7. Car came fitted without HGSL (same as many others). Still waiting to hear what dealer proposes.
8. Car now has an iDrive problem (separate thread about this).
9. Pathetic dealer loan car 116i - a bit of an insult really when looking at car I have actually purchased. They then tried to charge me a daily rate when the reason for use was down to an iDrive problem with my car which is only 1 month old - a joke really.

The poor points seem to out way the good points, but I put a lot of the problems down to teething trouble - which granted I shouldn't be having.

In Summary.....
A great enjoyable car that does everything and more - just a shame some of the rough edges haven't been smoothed especially on the newly launched LCI. Can't help but feel BMW could do more for the money in terms of quality. Having said that, I'm sure I am going to love my car when I get the latest iDrive issue resolved and hoping it then remains reliable. I do get a smile each day when I drive the car.

It is very practical, combined with excellent performance & economy and handles very well indeed, whilst providing a relaxing environment to travel from one side of the country to the other.

Come on BMW you have the foundations of an all time great car, you just need to make a few minor improvements to get it there - something owners spending this kind of money demand!

e60scotland

Palmo

Bloody hell mate you have been having a rough old time of it, I have to agree with most of what you have said above, I'll for sure be checking the drivers seatbelt today, having said that i have a bit of a midlife bulge so the belt is probably way off rubbing the seat.

The paint for me is a big issue, i spoke to the valet at the dealer and he slipped me a bottle of BMW's deep hard polish (sounds pornographic), it was a long job but the result has been a far better finish, deep shine for most of the time, I really cant wait to build my garage at our new house though, the whole dust issue with carbon black is indeed a nightmare.

I've been informed that my HGSL is now at the dealer, apparently i need to book the car in for a day, they estimate 4-5 hours to fit, if honest i like the car as it is, i hope the HGSL is the dogs bollox , if it's not they will be removing it again, I'll post images in the weeks to come.

I'm intreagued with the idrive problem, i'll check out your seperate thread in a second.

I collected my roofbars and cycle rack over the weekend, sadly my present contract has been terminated due to a government U Turn on HIP's so i wont be needing it for now, should come in handy in the future though, I also collected the carbon black touch stick, three tiny chips on the bonnet so far, nothing to serious, I'll sort those the next time i strip the wax off.

All in all though i do conclude the car is a wonderful daily driver.

R