Rudy

If you want ventilated front seats, you have to have the Nasca leather option. The Nasca leather is a bit softer and it has the perforations in it that allow the air to flow through. Bottom line -- the ventilated seats are expensive because you have to go with the $1,850 Nasca price plus the $1,025 ventilated price. Also, you need the comfort seats which in my case was included in the sport package but normally they cost another $1,090.

Active cruise control is the option that uses a radar signal to "latch on" to a car ahead while cruising. The car will "actively" adjust your speed according to how fast the car ahead goes (up to your preset cruise speed.) In other words, it'll automatically slow down if it detects that you're gaining too much ground on the car ahead. For model year 2008, the active cruise features a "stop and go" feature that will take the car down to a full stop and back up to speed again if the situation calls for it.

Why no M5? Because I like my toys. There's no way an M5 equipped similarly would be in the same price range. I chose a loaded 550 over a not so loaded M5. To me, as much as I'd love to have an M5, it was a no-brainer to go the route I went...

Rick24C

Nice car - congrats.! BTW, I picked up my Carbon Black 550i Sports with Sport tranny on 7/3. I can not wait until the car is broken in.

DrLev99

Congrats, Rudy! I am glad you got a look at it before next week. Sorry to hear about the hood, but we all know they will fix it right for ya. I can't wait to see the pics after you get her home and all shined up, and like everyone else, I can't wait to hear how she drives. Love those options! Enjoy!

wasupdu

$83k!! Wowzers!! I've suddenly lost a bit of interest in my '05 Alpine white e60. Very nice car. Can't wait to hear you reviews on it. I'm glad you're taking the hood damage well.....I'd be PISSED.

JSpira

Congratulations Rudy. Looks great and I'm sure the bonnet can be sorted. I wonder if the dealer caught the problem independently of your probing camera.

Rudy

Thanks again everyone.

Jonathan, I doubt the dealer noticed it. Since it was a Saturday, I think they just parked the cars after they got off the truck and that was it. They did all comment on how nice it was, etc. so obviously they checked it out...

When I first looked at it, while the dealership was open, the sun was in a position that made it hard to see the dings. I returned later (after the dealership had closed) and the angle of the sun made them much easier to notice.

Sure, I'm pissed but I can't blame the dealership at this point -- if I planned on buying instead of leasing, I think I'd be way more upset and I'd be considering other options but right now, I think they'll take care of things and I'll be fine for the next three years...

mogsyman

Rudy

What a lovely car and I'm sorry to hear about the damage.

No doubt you'll have the 'beast' in a few days and I look forward to reading your review

info@trinityautosport

sorry to hear about the dings in the hood of you future baby. but other than that, congrats man and enjoy it once you take it.

dba1t

Looks great. Congratulations!

aybeesea

I wish we could buy cars like this for that price here! My 535dwas way more than that. If buying, a 550i in UK would lose a third of its value as you drove it out of the showroom.

I know it's MRSP is that PLUS tax?

ABC