Here's my wish list:

1. Engine
2. Leather/Premium (can't have luxury car without leather)
3. Navigation (freedom to drive without looking up maps first)
4. Sports package (for handling, looks)
5. Fold down seats (makes car more versatile)
6. Logic 7 (makes rides more pleasant)
7. PDC (prevents scratches/dents)
8. Heated seats (women like it)
9. Rear sun shade (for long hot summer days)
10. Comfort seats (for long rides)
11. HUD (cool feature)

 

Thank you to all that replied! Many of your opinions are the same as mine.

1. Biggest engine I can afford
2. Sport package (and premium if not 550)
3. SMG

The part where I get stuck are the next options are they must haves? That is the real questions. Buying a 530 would not even make it matter, but going to the 550i that bill starts getting up there. Since I Live in San Diego and make just shy of six figures (yes thats right you try living here) buying my next house has been a challenge. If I lived anywhere else but here that 550i would be on order right now....fully loaded.

L7
Active Steering
Comfort Access
Comfort Seats

 

I have a 550 on order and I went with:

Sport
Cold Weather
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Nav

I tried cars with both sport and comfort seats and really felt the sport seats were better for me.

Comfort Access and Hud are just too expensive and gimmicky

I though real hard about active steering but decided against it.

 

1. High-output engine
2. Manual transmission
3. Sports package
4. Premium sound

Navigation is unnecessary in HI - it's nearly impossible to get lost, and most systems don't work here anyway. I also need decent window tint to keep the temperatures down inside. Anything else is not really important to me.

 

Active Steering(the very best of BMW)
bluetooth
Navigation
Run Flat
Night vision
Sports package

 

yes, we don't need nav but it also means we won't have mp3 :'(.