Not sure how I forgot these key points.

My front drivers-side window is starting to peel/shed a layer of "laminate"

and +1 for pjinca's comment about the paint quality.. subpar AT BEST.. chips too easily.. protective film almost mandatory..

 

Strange shifting patterns.. Sometimes it feels as if it is in the wrong gear..

 

1. The Nav system. It's a $1900 option but a $200 Garmin will run rings around it. And it takes me forever to put a new destination in or find a car parts store, for instance.

2. The cupholders. When I bought my 05 X3, I couldn't believe it was possible to have worse cupholders than that. Oh, how wrong I was!

3. I wish I could control the heated steering wheel from the FRONT of the wheel. I hate reaching around to the side. Minor, yes. But an annoyance just the same.

4. The Clark Griswold Family Truckster station wagon comments that I get from people. "Why would you want a station wagon?" My neighbor made a wise-ass remark like that. He drives a Honda Odyssey. ??? Think I should take him for a little ride in the country?

But this is the 5th BMW I've owned and by far, the coolest, fastest and most fun to drive.

 

Can you provide details on changing NCS code to enable the turn indicators? They're alwaysd hiding behind my wheel.

 

Trying to enter a destination with the stupid wheel is painful. We need a TOUCH SCREEN.

I don't understand the cupholder beef. I use mine regularly for soda cans or med size fountain drinks and have never had any trouble. I wouldn't put a Big Gulp or super size drink in the thing, but still. Am I missing summin?

I get the same "station wagon" teasing from my buddies, but once they go for a ride, they clam up.

 

Go check out the E60 parts and mods section and the forum's DIY section. Lots of active info their to get you what you need - literally within the first 20 threads you should find topics on car coding, new menu options, NCS test results, etc. One of them has a great page or 2 with how to get started, how to search fo more info, etc.

 

I don't put Big Gulp sized cups in it either, I never drink soda anyway. However, when I get my coffee in the morning it seems the cup never fits quite right or deep enough into the cupholder and the cup always tilts one way or another. Which means I sometimes get drops of coffee on my center console, which sucks. This happens whether I get a Starbucks coffee (open hole in top of lid) or any other place that has the little clips that cover the hole in the lid. It's annoying and I've never had a car do that before. Having an additional 2 cupholders in the back seat like every other sedan sold in America would be nice too - I do have kids.

(BTW - I agree, someone who drives a minivan should NEVER criticize another person's car choice. Once you buy a minivan you are admitting your life is now over and you've succumbed to automotive death and are just waiting for the real death to come)

 

Maybe I am the only one that doesnt mind the cup holders... I like that they are hidden until you need them... I do have a gripe about Starbucks cups always spilling but I think thats more of a Starbucks issue than BMW. Even a large D&D coffee fits in the cup holder. And as for the back seats, I am not sure about the other models, but my kids love the rear of the 545i - it has a pull down arm rest with storage and 2 big cup holders.

And x1,000,000 on the minivan thing!!!!

 

Is it possible that the cup holders have changed post-LCI? My car is an 08 LCI and I have cup holders in the rear (pop out of the center arm rest) and no problems with the dash-mounted pop out cup holders in the front. BTW, I don't normally drink soda - I drink the hell out of soda water. You get the burn and the bubbles of Coke/Pepsi, etc, but no calories, sodium, aspartame or other nasty crap :^)

And as for the minivan thing.... ehhh... it doesn't mean your life is over necessarily. With three young kids, I kind of have no choice but to own some sort of "transport" vehicle and a slick mini with AWD and all the bells and whistles, such as a Toyota Sienna is sort of the best compromise. A large SUV can't easily acommodate more than two kids as easily as a mini with dual sliding doors and tons of seating/cargo configuration options. And when I say "own", of course, I mean I bought the Sienna for the wife and AuPair to drive for the benefit of the kids

I bought a touring because I make frequent car parts runs for my E30 M3 and I do minor home improvement projects that are really made much more convenient with the ability to easily transport larger than average or awkward items. I love the car and wouldn't trade it for anything (until the day before factory and extended warranties run out - on or about Sept 2015!!!)

 

weather striping at the top of the windshield and around the back glass.