F10's tedious trim choices - would BMW offer alternatives?
Discussion
With the proviso that almost doesn't need to be mentioned - yes, it's all a matter of personal taste, so am prepared for the griping from the black'n'silver brigade, et al, but.... Leaving aside the desirability of the new M5 as a machine (though I'm that enamoured of the E39 that my response will - given a few "big ifs", as follows - probably be 'Yes, please!'), is there any chance that BMW would accede to a request (and, if so, no doubt at an appreciable cost....) to provide some decent leather colours, better veneer trims, etc.? I'm thinking, for starters, of some of the colours that have shown up in 7s - Amaro Brown, Cinnamon, Saddle (ok, you see where I'm coming from, taste-wise). And why couldn't these be extended around the binnacle/parallel passenger's side (yes, a la 7)? And what about a choice of, say, Alcantara Amaro Brown headlining? Or is this aesthetic world reserved for 7 customers? Or are BMW simply too big to bother about a potential customer who finds the choices on offer achingly dull? (Black, Silverstone, Graphite, Silk Grey, Platinum - snooooaaaarrrrr. Sakhir Orange - hmmmmmm. That black and silver thing - so millennial, so boring.) The inside of the F10 COULD be a very nice place to be lured into - but please give the customer (and probably not as many around at the moment as they'd prefer) some inviting choices!
That's what BMW Individual is for. As for leather up the door cards and centre console, that's what they term "extended leather" and that plus door cappings, dash top, sun visors and rear parcel shelf used to be "full leather" and made for a very special cabin in E38/9s.
There's also ALPINA who will concoct just about any leather and trim interior you care to imagine, good taste notwithstanding.
There's also ALPINA who will concoct just about any leather and trim interior you care to imagine, good taste notwithstanding.
Thanks for the info, Zwolf - you seem well informed. However, I'd like to check/find out for sure - the M5 (F10) brochure lists the 'Individual' leather options as Graphite, Silk Grey, Platinum, Champagne and Cohiba Brown, so would they REALLY accede to a request for, say, full Rust Brown leather and Eucalyptus Red Brown veneer in an M5, which are both shown as Individual options for the rest of the 5 series? And what about asking for that leather round the instrument/upper forward passenger panels (which would admittedly be an unusual request, but surely easily manageable for the trim shop)? (Without going to Alpina, who imho have perpetrated some horrors - some no doubt requests, others not.) In other words, just how far do you think BMW would go to meet such requests....? (Leaving aside the question of the likely price....) I'd imagine they'd be keen to sell as many e.g.s of the F10 - if only as glamorous mobile advertisements of what BMW can do - in these 'ard times....
Hi
AS stated BMW individual will offer more choices, but not all or every option or potential choice out there.
Alpina's do indeed cater for such potential customisation tastes, but again, to their options as to what they will 'actually' do.
If you find there's something you want not covered by the above, this is what the high end of the aftermarket specialists are for. By going this route, the only limit is your imagination. How about Carbon Fibre leather for the outer panels of the seats and alcantara for the inner cushions? in exactly the colour(s) you want? dashboard covered in Alcantara or leather ? you can have it, trim pieces done in genuine carbon fibre, yes can easily be done. These are just examples - and i know of many other choices and possibilies, some of which I'll be doing in my own E39 as I get to that section of my to-do list!.. and as i mention, the only limit is your imagination !
BMW won't be able nor will want to cater to such customisation level requests.
Cheers, Dennis!
AS stated BMW individual will offer more choices, but not all or every option or potential choice out there.
Alpina's do indeed cater for such potential customisation tastes, but again, to their options as to what they will 'actually' do.
If you find there's something you want not covered by the above, this is what the high end of the aftermarket specialists are for. By going this route, the only limit is your imagination. How about Carbon Fibre leather for the outer panels of the seats and alcantara for the inner cushions? in exactly the colour(s) you want? dashboard covered in Alcantara or leather ? you can have it, trim pieces done in genuine carbon fibre, yes can easily be done. These are just examples - and i know of many other choices and possibilies, some of which I'll be doing in my own E39 as I get to that section of my to-do list!.. and as i mention, the only limit is your imagination !
BMW won't be able nor will want to cater to such customisation level requests.
Cheers, Dennis!
Alpina are willing to do more bespoke work, even compared to their usual options shown in the lists. I was at the factory last summer and they were doing complete retrims on a couple of F10's there, full interior out jobs, with full leather and wood trim personal to the customers taste. Therein lies the problem, one looked amazing and one was horrific!
The Lavalina (think that's how you spell it) leather option is stunning I think, they had a B7 in the showroom and it looked awesome. My friend with me didn't rate it, again it's down to taste.
The Lavalina (think that's how you spell it) leather option is stunning I think, they had a B7 in the showroom and it looked awesome. My friend with me didn't rate it, again it's down to taste.
Here's a Q? for you interior designers then!!
If i were to have parts of my seats retrimmed by a leather specialist (such as the bolsters and bits that scuff easily on the E60 because its got quite thin leather for what is a £70k top of the tree car) is this going to upset BMW when it comes to warranty? Technically its not a mechanical part and leather is more of a wear item like pads, discs and tyres. Its only supposed to last 'X' amount of time. I really prefered the thick, tight, natural leather in my C5 RS6 to whats in my M5 and was wondering if it would be sensible to have some work done to get rid of the niggling marks. They are not bad by any stretch of the imagination but the way they mark so easily really annoys me. Any thoughts?
Eddie
If i were to have parts of my seats retrimmed by a leather specialist (such as the bolsters and bits that scuff easily on the E60 because its got quite thin leather for what is a £70k top of the tree car) is this going to upset BMW when it comes to warranty? Technically its not a mechanical part and leather is more of a wear item like pads, discs and tyres. Its only supposed to last 'X' amount of time. I really prefered the thick, tight, natural leather in my C5 RS6 to whats in my M5 and was wondering if it would be sensible to have some work done to get rid of the niggling marks. They are not bad by any stretch of the imagination but the way they mark so easily really annoys me. Any thoughts?
Eddie
Zod said:
They will, but you really will pay if you want to go fully bespoke.
REALLY??? (My local dealer won't go an iota beyond the uninspiring 'choices' in the brochure.) I'd really like to find out how! Get in touch with a dealer (not Alpina) in Munich/Bavaria to start the process? (Anyone) please provide some names/contacts - thanks! Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff