XBimmers X1   XBimmers X1
  XBimmers X1

Go Back   XBimmers | BMW X1 Forum > BMW X1 Forums > General BMW X1 (E84) Forum

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-19-2014, 01:29 PM   #1
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Our 2015 Valencia Orange x28i x1 - Acquisition Story & Review, 24 Hi-Res photos

[This is a long, detailed post describing the process of selecting, acquiring, and early impressions of, our x1, along with 26 hi-res photos. When researching this car and looking for tips on buying a BMW, I found these types of posts extremely helpful, and therefore wanted to create one myself so it might be of assistance to others.]

Deciding on the x1

The five year warranty was soon to expire on our 2009 Volkswagen SportWagen TDI, and given their propensity for exploding high-pressure fuel pumps, I decided we didn't want to own it for a single day outside of warranty. So, the search was on for a new daily driver for my wife that also was the car we used as a family, toting around my toddler son. Due to a few changes in our lifestyle, getting TDI-level MPG was no longer at the top of our priority list and we were also looking to move up-market a bit; however, having an efficient engine was still important to us. We'd both been spoiled by the HP-to-weight ratio of our VW GLI (my daily) and agreed that going forward that was the minimum amount of power we needed out of a car. While we enjoyed the hatch of the SportWagen, in our experience, we hardly ever needed all the space it provided, thusly we wanted the next car to be a hatchback, but a bit smaller than the wagon. For the first time ever, we were planning to lease, so we knew we only needed a back seat that could handle a car seat and two-year-old, up through a booster and five-year-old. All of our previous cars were manuals, but it became quite obvious early on that nothing we were interested in was available with a manual transmission, so we sadly crossed that off our requirements list. We've had a few bad snow storms up here lately and decided we'd like to have an AWD vehicle, and preferably one with decent ground clearance. We also wanted a slightly higher seating position mostly to make it easier to get the kiddo in and out of the car seat. Since we spend a ton of time in this car, and use it for long road trips, we wanted an above-average level of luxury and equipment.

With this list of requirements, it turns out not many cars were even under consideration. We really didn't want an SUV, given their relatively inefficient overall size-to-useable-space ratio, and heavier curb weights. This also often coincides with lower MPG and poorer driving dynamics as well. Trying to find a luxury hatch that isn't a full-blown SUV is a difficult task. In addition to the x1, we considered, but rejected: Audi Allroad (weaker engine, mediocre transmission, worse MPG, bit more expensive), Audi Q5 (too big, too heavy, one engine too weak, one engine too strong, crappy MPG, lot more money), BMW 328xi Sportwagen (liked it a lot, but $10k more, had nothing we wanted x1 did not have), and BMW 335xi GT (liked a lot, but needed bigger engine to match our HP-to-weight desire, about $11k more). The 335xi GT was the only one that really made us think: it was impressive in person with it's not-too-low, not-too-high seating position, and the backseat area is just huge, as well as it's surprisingly cavernous hatch area, and there is a lot to love about a 300HP engine that gets a 4,000 pound car around 30 MPG on the highway. Fit and finish of course was a smidge better than the x1, as well as it having the newest iDrive, but all of that came with a cost of about $11k higher MSRP. We concluded that given our needs for the next three years the x1 was a perfect fit while the 3 GT was a bit overkill.

I did my research and found more-or-less universally positive reviews, this one in particular was very convincing. We test-drove the x1, and it really had everything we wanted. It was just big enough without being too big, just un-SUVish enough to provide an engaging drive, and the 28i engine provided plenty of scoot. Coming from VWs, it's build and construction seemed a solid step up and it didn't feel lacking in luxury at all. We were sold.


Purchasing the x1

Once we knew we were going with an x1, we used the online configurator to come up with our build. I feel like the xLine trim best suits the car itself, though I'd also consider the Sport line. I'm not really a fan of the no-line look or the M-Sport (can't stand how the painted-but-seperate wheel arches, etc. look, seems very unnatural to me). Maybe our hardest choice was the Valencia Orange--we liked it, but you can't deny it's a pretty out there color. Ultimately we decided this would likely be our last chance to get such an exotic color; looking at our potential future cars from Audi or BMW, we didn't really see any offerings outside the standard colors. So, this was our chance and we took it. Valencia Orange also really compliments the xLine well, contrasting with both the black and silver exterior elements, combining for a truly unique look. After that, the Terra Leather was an easy choice, as I love a good brown/orange combo, and enjoyed the opportunity to have such a unique combination (still haven't ever seen another like it in photos or real life). And since we had the xLine trim, the opportunity to select Fineline Bay Matte wood trim made that an easy decision. After that, we pretty much checked every option box to arrive at a $45,570 MSRP, which was actually a bit less than the budget we had set for ourselves.

So, now we knew the exact car we wanted, and I proceeded to spend dozens of hours reading up on the various BMW forums about the process people use to buy a car as well as see the prices people were paying. It was extremely helpful. It was also very helpful to find the Edmunds lease forums where the monthly base lease rates from BMWFS are posted.

After doing my research, I hadn't seen any dealers in the Pacific Northwest called out for their excellence, so I concluded a good place to start was David Aviles aka BMWDavid who had recently moved to Steve Thomas BMW outside of LA. He has a great reputation for giving excellent deals and for total honesty. I emailed him our build and told him we were serious buyers and asked what his best price would be. His quick reply surprised me: even with no incentives (as the 2015 was brand new) it was well under invoice, with no added fees, and the base BMWFS lease rates. Of course, I'd have to fly to LA and drive it back, or have it shipped, both options would add around $600-$800 to my cost. I thanked him for his quick response and let him know I planned to see if a dealer closer to me could compete, but if not, he had a sale.

I then sent an email to our closest 15 BMW dealers with all of our build details, and an offer to purchase the car from them if they agreed to the price David had offered me plus $700 and no extra fees, as well as agreeing to BMWFS base lease rates. This was a decent amount over invoice cost, but not too much (the dealer I ended up buying from has requested I don't list the exact price here). Of the 15 dealers I emailed, 10 simply never emailed me back, 2 emailed basically saying my offer was ridiculously low, 2 said that we could work together, give them a call, and 1 emailed and said, 'OK, I'll sell you that car for that amount.'

That one was David Padgalskis at BMW of Portland. As his email would indicate, there was never one bit of monkey business working with him. In 24 hours I had a signed deal structure worksheet with all pertinent details (MSRP, sale price, lease rates), and in 48 hours I had an official build sheet and production number. Our x1 was in production just 4 days later, and David emailed me the VIN. I can't possibly do justice describing just how dead-easy this process was with David. I never had to ask for anything twice and he never tried to sell me on something I hadn't already requested. In fact, the entire deal, until we picked up the car, was done over email—no phone calls and no in-person visit, which is exactly how I wanted it. I like having a written record of all communication, as well as the convenience of email, and David was happy to oblige. It was my dream experience of buying a car, and was infinitely better than every car-buying experience I'd had previously. While it may help David to recommend him here, I'm really helping y'all: if you live in the Northwest and are buying a new BMW, it'd be foolish to not talk to David Padgalskis. He is the kind of customer agent that enforces brand loyalty by being such a straight shooter and fair dealer. I wouldn't be surprised if in three years when our lease is up, I only have to contact David to get a great deal on our next car and skip all the running around.

(After agreeing to buy the car from BMW of Portland, I emailed David Aviles to let him know and to thank him for the work involved with offering a great price on the car that then enabled me to get a great deal closer to home. I also sent him an Amazon gift card to thank him for his trouble, it was the least I could do. We all complain about crappy salesmen, I didn't want to be a crappy customer.)

Whether a lease is right for you, and all the complexities of how leases work and what makes for a good lease, are topics too large to address here. Suffice to say, a lease was an excellent fit for our circumstance, and worked out perfectly. We put $0 down on the car, and paid our acquisition fee, first months payment, and 4 MSDs with a credit card to get 2% cash back on it, and then paid off the card the next day. Our monthly payment is just a smidge under $500.

We ordered the car on February 18th, the car went into production February 25th (the first day of production for 2015 x1 models), the car was finished by March 3rd, was on a boat on March 11th, and we picked it up April 16th.

By the time the car had arrived, we had already worked out every detail of the transaction, including the lease spepcifics, right down to monthly payment and amount due at signing. I used the excellent iOS app Leasematic which happens to have been created by a fellow Bimmerpost member. It's an invaluable and fanastic app that includes tons of detail and really makes it simple to play around with lease info to get it to look how you want it to look. Since everything had already been spelled out prior to pickup, the pickup process was incredibly quick, easy, and smooth. The finance guy didn't give us a hard sell on anything and the whole transaction probably took just 20 minutes before we were sitting in the car with David showing my wife various features of the x1 (I'd already read thorugh the PDF of the manual twice before picking the car up, but I let David give her the first set of instructions). As an unexpected surprise David threw in a set of BMW OEM All-Weather Rubber Floor Mats, including one for the cargo area as well (MSRP of $200) and a set of BMW OEM Locking Lug Bolts (MSRP $50). Awesome!


Early Impressions


As one might expect, when you do so much research and reading up on a car, there aren't many suprises when it comes time to take delivery—which is exactly how you want it to be! We've had the car for a month and put about 750 miles on it. First, the Valencia Orange: we frickin' love it! It's a really nuanced color and looks entirely different depending on lighting and angles, it's fantastic. From an almost tomato red to pastel-like orange, it's always a delight to look at, and if you go Valencia Orange, expect to get a lot of compliments on it from strangers. It defnitely does not go under the radar. The Terra leather is just beautiful and supple, and the Fineline Bay Matte wood trim makes an excellent transition in the car from the Terra leather to the black elemnts of the interior. We are extremely pleased with both the interior and exterior appearence of the car, and the build quality appears to be truly immaculate—no rattles or creaks have revealed themselves yet and everything feels quite solid. I've found the iDrive to be easy to use and quite intuitive, the stereo sounds quite good, the nav is soild, the music playback controls and graphics are excellent, and I particularly love the programmable buttons that can be set to virtually any function (my favorites are: toggle split screen, split screen content, day/night nav toggle, navigate home, trip/info screen).

As far as performance, I must first state this caveat: for me, a car with a manual transmission will always be superior to an automatic when it comes to my driving pleasure—nothing can replace the connectedness you feel with a manual transmission. Having said that, the x1 has been a blast to drive. For most driving, particularly with the family in the car, driving in normal mode is totally fine. I actually really like the auto start/stop feature, and feel like it really does make the car much more efficient. When I drive it solo, I do sometimes put it into manual mode, and paddle shift to my heart's content—it provides a more engaged experience and allows for all the suburban hoonage that I need. I'll be excited to get out of break-in soon, and get those revs past 4.5k . It's a great cruiser, and can be fun when you want it to be, but I've got to say, if you are buying a car purely for the joy of driving it, then this isn't for you, which I don't think is a suprise to anyone.

The weight and higher center of gravity do give it a little more body roll than a non-SUVish car will offer, but in daily driving it's almost unnoticeable, and I find that in normal driving there isn't any pronounced under/oversteer—which is better than I expected. It carves through corners well and in DS or Manual mode you can really have a blast exiting corners with a little umph. In normal D mode, I find the accleration lag to be annoying if you are attempting to drive in a sporty manner, though not an issue if you are just casually driving along. Overall, I think the compromises BMW made with tuning the transmission and engine to be a sound balance that enables good efficiency when you want it and good times when you prefer those.

We've only measured MPG for two tanks of gas and we're avergaing 18.9MPG with an average speed of 17.3MPH in virtually 100% city driving. I'm very satisfied with these numbers. The one area we haven't tested is extended highway driving where I'm really hoping we can hit a reliable 30MPG. We'll get to that soon, and I will update my experiences here.

One of our only concerns was the size of the car, and making sure it would be big enough. I'm 6' 2" 225lbs, and my 2.5 year old son is 39" 40lbs (he's a big boy!) and in his enormous car seat we can both fit on the samee side of the car comfortably, i.e. me in passenger seat, him directly behind me. I've included a bunch of photos of the car seat in the car to give prospective buyers an idea for how much space remains after installing one of these huge modern car seats. We are 100% satisfied with the space inside the car, but likely at some point in the future it would be inadequate. I would say you can comfortably carry two adults and two small children in this car, but add teenagers or adults to the backseat regularly, and I think this car would be too small to be truly comfortable for all passengers.

The only 'mods' I've done is to add SolarGard Ultra Performance 40 ceramic nanotech tint to all windows except front windshield, and to have my detailer Opti-Coat the entire car. The tint is fantastic, is a very neutral color grey and has great heat blocking properties without introducing radio wave interference you get with metallic tints. The Ultra-Performance 40 actually lets in 43% of visible light, so combined with the small amount of tint that comes in the glass it's probably right around the 35% legal limit for Oregon. I was mostly interested in heat and UV blocking as well as having a slightly darker look for the car, so it worked out perfectly. After doing tons and tons of research on Opti-Coat after my detailer recommended it to me, I finally decided to take the plunge on this new car. You can read all about it on the interwebs (here & here to start), but to simplify: Opti-Coat is a 'permanent' clear ceramic coating that protects your factory clear coat and is scratch, swirl, dirt and water resistant. It functions more or less like a permanent wax. It also has the added bonus of being useable on all the plastic cladding on our x1 (as wheel as on the stock clear-coated wheels). Obviously the longevity of the product is something I can't remark on, but it definitely makes washing the car very easy and provides an excellent shine, and great water beading. The photos below are all with the tint and Opti-Coat on the car.
Attached Images
                        
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 01:38 PM   #2
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Looks great. Interesting color combo. Also like the Surfer Rosa selection.
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 01:49 PM   #3
atomic
Second Lieutenant
14
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 2016 x3 x-line white
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Baltimore, MD. USA

iTrader: (0)

Interesting you are the same height as me and my wife just bought a new VW TDI wagon. It has a lot more rear space than the X1. A toddler seat takes up a lot less seat than an infant seat I assume. I have a child coming in a couple of months and the VW is definitely the family car. There is no way I could fit into the seat with an infant seat behind me in the X1. I don't think my wife will fit as she is 5' 8". My biggest fault with the X1 is the tiny amount of rear seat space.
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 03:29 PM   #4
OpenRoad
New Member
2
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: 2015 X1 sDrive
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!! And congratulations, happy to hear you had such a wonderful outcome!!

Oh and the Car & Driver review you linked has also been my favorite review by far. In fact, after discovering it, I told my husband, "now that's exactly the kind of review I've been looking for!"

Mazel tov!!!
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 04:30 PM   #5
ScottMZ3
Captain
United_States
439
Rep
790
Posts

Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1, 2019 X5 40i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, CA

iTrader: (0)

Congrats on the new X1 and fantastic photos! We just hit ~5000 miles on my X1 and have loved every mile of it...no doubt you will too. It really can be quite a blast once you are out of the break-in.

Don't you just love the matte wood trim? I wish more cars offered the matte as an option.
__________________
- Scott
Current Cars: 2019 X5 xDrive40i M-Sport, 2018 Camaro ZL1
Past BMWs: '16 528i, '00 M-Coupe, '14 X1 sDrive28i, '00 740iL, '02 325i, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '79 323i, '83 320i
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 05:28 PM   #6
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Thanks to everyone for the kind words! Funny that three of us here are former or current TDI SportWagen owners. And yes, the matte wood looks so good, definitely an option I wish more cars had.


Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic View Post
Interesting you are the same height as me and my wife just bought a new VW TDI wagon. It has a lot more rear space than the X1. A toddler seat takes up a lot less seat than an infant seat I assume. I have a child coming in a couple of months and the VW is definitely the family car. There is no way I could fit into the seat with an infant seat behind me in the X1. I don't think my wife will fit as she is 5' 8". My biggest fault with the X1 is the tiny amount of rear seat space.
Yes, rear-facing car seats take an absurd amount of space, probably the equivalent of having a 6' 4" person sitting in the seat. I agree it would make the x1 a tight fit for someone 5'9"ish sitting directly in front, but definitely possible, but likely totally impossible for someone over 6'. All the same, I wouldn't say the SportWagen has *a lot* more space in the back, maybe 1.5"-2" more when you combine front and back seat together, which is what really matters here, but yes, 2" can make all the difference when things get tight.

Congrats on the new TDI, it's a bummer VWofA dragged their feet on bringing the MKVII version over, that new platform has a few inches more of back seat room, which makes a big difference. My GLI has the same amount of back seat room as the incoming SportWagen, and it was really night and day compared to our 'old' SportWagen.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 05:51 PM   #7
Njerts
Lieutenant
Canada
125
Rep
545
Posts

Drives: x3 m40i
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Vancouver,BC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Congrats, and enjoy not getting reamed by VW on services. That and HPFP pushed me away from VW.
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2014, 06:34 PM   #8
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Njerts View Post
Congrats, and enjoy not getting reamed by VW on services. That and HPFP pushed me away from VW.
Ha, yes, my strategy with german cars has been: Don't ever own out of warranty. And it's served me well so far. Finding myself turning over cars so frequently, and being honest with myself about it, ha, is one of the things that has lead me to leasing--that, and BMW's very good lease deals.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 09:22 AM   #9
cwickberg
Second Lieutenant
30
Rep
278
Posts

Drives: X1 35i MSport Ultimate,
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Nice set up although the brown interior and orange exterior are not my personal choices, it looks better than I would have thought.... I wish I could have gotten the matte wood on my X1, it looks great...

Interested in your choice of opticoat and cost, especially for a car you do not own, but rather rent...I am considering adding opticoat on our X1, and am considering a longer term ownership...Perhaps 5+ years or so

Was your opticoat expensive? Did you look at other coatings as well...? It seems you are rather diligent in your research, ( as am I...) so always looking for opinions on folks who have thought things through.

Oh and BTW, I also looked at the VW TDI sport wagon, and in fact rented one for several days...Just was not as fun to drive as the X1!
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 12:23 PM   #10
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cwickberg View Post
Nice set up although the brown interior and orange exterior are not my personal choices, it looks better than I would have thought.... I wish I could have gotten the matte wood on my X1, it looks great...

Interested in your choice of opticoat and cost, especially for a car you do not own, but rather rent...I am considering adding opticoat on our X1, and am considering a longer term ownership...Perhaps 5+ years or so

Was your opticoat expensive? Did you look at other coatings as well...? It seems you are rather diligent in your research, ( as am I...) so always looking for opinions on folks who have thought things through.

Oh and BTW, I also looked at the VW TDI sport wagon, and in fact rented one for several days...Just was not as fun to drive as the X1!
My detailer, who I have a long-standing solid relationship with, charged me $500 for the Opti-Coat, which is about $250 more than the usual new car detail and sealant I usually get that includes some paint correction, clay-barring, and a complete alcohol wipe down prior to application (all essential for Opti-Coat). So, I figured it as a $250 extra cost, spread out over three years, which seemed very reasonable. Especially when you consider I am saving myself from a minimum of 11 times of waxing the car/getting it waxed, and the greater ease I will have when washing the car, which I do quite frequently (always hand wash, of course). Plus in our climate, having car that always resists dirt and is hydrophobic can go a long way in keeping the car looking great through the winter. If it lives up to it's promise it's easily worth it. Plus, I leave behind a car for a future buyer that has an immaculate, swirl-free finish. Doing some good in the world, ha.

My detailer is a big fan of Opti-Coat so I didn't research the alternative much at all. If it's something he has a lot of experience with, then it would be wise to throw a pitch right in his wheelhouse. I was more concerned in just making sure Opti-Coat was truly as good as it sounds, and that does indeed seem to be the consensus. I know he'll stand behind his work and make it right if issues arise.

I understand where you are coming from about a lease being a rental, but honestly if you ever sell a car, then really isn't it the same 'rental' as a lease? The car is mine, I pay for it, and then when I don't want it, it's not mine—same as if you directly buy and then sell a car. Some might bring up the ability to mod a car they buy vs. lease, but really doing mods always hurts the car's value, whether it is at lease return or when selling a car—and whatever you do to remove mods can be done in a lease or a sale. The primary difference is that I'm not paying equity into it that I expect to get back later. I've realized over time that I can make better investments with the money that would otherwise be going into paying equity on a vehicle that I can't touch until I sell it years later. Not to mention the hassle of getting top dollar selling a used car or the risk you take with minor accidents reducing value of car, or unexpected dips in the car's resale value, etc.

Anyway, for me lease vs. buy just comes down to how long you plan to own it. For whatever reason I've found I get the new car itch about every three years, so leases work perfectly for me. This is at least partly because with each purchase I move up market a bit, so in theory maybe one day that will plateau and I'll be more into owning for something longer like 5 years. But maybe not.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i

Last edited by scottomfg; 05-20-2014 at 12:30 PM..
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 02:23 PM   #11
cwickberg
Second Lieutenant
30
Rep
278
Posts

Drives: X1 35i MSport Ultimate,
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by scottomfg View Post
My detailer, who I have a long-standing solid relationship with, charged me $500 for the Opti-Coat, which is about $250 more than the usual new car detail and sealant I usually get that includes some paint correction, clay-barring, and a complete alcohol wipe down prior to application (all essential for Opti-Coat). So, I figured it as a $250 extra cost, spread out over three years, which seemed very reasonable. Especially when you consider I am saving myself from a minimum of 11 times of waxing the car/getting it waxed, and the greater ease I will have when washing the car, which I do quite frequently (always hand wash, of course). Plus in our climate, having car that always resists dirt and is hydrophobic can go a long way in keeping the car looking great through the winter. If it lives up to it's promise it's easily worth it. Plus, I leave behind a car for a future buyer that has an immaculate, swirl-free finish. Doing some good in the world, ha.

My detailer is a big fan of Opti-Coat so I didn't research the alternative much at all. If it's something he has a lot of experience with, then it would be wise to throw a pitch right in his wheelhouse. I was more concerned in just making sure Opti-Coat was truly as good as it sounds, and that does indeed seem to be the consensus. I know he'll stand behind his work and make it right if issues arise.

I understand where you are coming from about a lease being a rental, but honestly if you ever sell a car, then really isn't it the same 'rental' as a lease? The car is mine, I pay for it, and then when I don't want it, it's not mine—same as if you directly buy and then sell a car. Some might bring up the ability to mod a car they buy vs. lease, but really doing mods always hurts the car's value, whether it is at lease return or when selling a car—and whatever you do to remove mods can be done in a lease or a sale. The primary difference is that I'm not paying equity into it that I expect to get back later. I've realized over time that I can make better investments with the money that would otherwise be going into paying equity on a vehicle that I can't touch until I sell it years later. Not to mention the hassle of getting top dollar selling a used car or the risk you take with minor accidents reducing value of car, or unexpected dips in the car's resale value, etc.

Anyway, for me lease vs. buy just comes down to how long you plan to own it. For whatever reason I've found I get the new car itch about every three years, so leases work perfectly for me. This is at least partly because with each purchase I move up market a bit, so in theory maybe one day that will plateau and I'll be more into owning for something longer like 5 years. But maybe not.

Thanks for info on the opticoat...

I've leased cars as well... I just don't pour alot of money into upkeep, other than maintenance and an occasional annual wax...I understand the option of buying, etc...

Glad to hear you like your X1...they are a sleeper vehicle for sure, for the right people...
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 02:34 PM   #12
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

If you have experience using sealants like Zaino, Wolfgang, Klasse or Blackfire, OptiCoat isn't that tricky and it's only $70 retail for an application. You can find it for cheaper too and if you're good, you won't use the whole syringe either on an X1.
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 02:47 PM   #13
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
If you have experience using sealants like Zaino, Wolfgang, Klasse or Blackfire, OptiCoat isn't that tricky and it's only $70 retail for an application. You can find it for cheaper too and if you're good, you won't use the whole syringe either on an X1.
You're absolutely right on all accounts. You can find many accounts of detailing geeks doing their own cars and having success, and indeed, one syringe is enough for at least two full-size vehicles. When you pay someone to do it, you are paying for the many, many hours of labor involved with prep and application, as well as the cost of the various tools and products they use in prep. And for them to fix it if their is a problem.

I've never got that into detailing, for me mastering a good and efficient wash is enough work and investment in tools as it is, plus doing anything permanent to my car, and learning how to do it as I go is a bit too scary. Maybe once the kiddo goes to college and I retire, maybe then I'll go full detail geek.

But if you have the time and patience to do it yourself, it's totally possible.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 04:20 PM   #14
fdpxfunix
Second Lieutenant
fdpxfunix's Avatar
United Kingdom
182
Rep
287
Posts

Drives: X3 xDrive 30d M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK - West Sussex

iTrader: (0)

Great write up and lovely pictures.

The front lip spoiler... is that part of the xLine package in your part of the world?

J.
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2014, 04:49 PM   #15
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by fdpxfunix View Post
Great write up and lovely pictures.

The front lip spoiler... is that part of the xLine package in your part of the world?

J.
Thanks! And yes, it is, though this particular version was changed a bit for 2015 MY. No line version also has the lower lip here, but not the above silver pieces, nor on the sides and rear.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2014, 01:37 AM   #16
c98928
New Member
2
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: F30 320i
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Hoboken

iTrader: (0)

Best write up I have ever read on Bimmerpost.

Glad you like your X1.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2014, 02:46 AM   #17
aris
Second Lieutenant
aris's Avatar
Greece
8
Rep
213
Posts

Drives: X1 xdrive 23d
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: GREECE

iTrader: (0)

Garage List




tip:
put something between the baby seat and your back seat because the baby seat it can leave marks
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2014, 10:26 AM   #18
Kennyboy
Private
United_States
4
Rep
87
Posts

Drives: 2014 X1 Xdrive 28i
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: New York City

iTrader: (0)

Congrats, a decision well made to go with the X1. I just took a almost new and loaded 2014 328Xi loaner car on a 500 miles weekend trip, and both me and my girlfriend think the X1 28i I have is the better car between the two, even without considering the price difference. The X1 Xdrive has way better handling feel and perfect ride height. The steering on the 328i has no feel at all at local speed, and only catch up a bit on the highway. We actually think the interior is better in the X1 compared to the 328i, including adjustable armset, double-sized moon roof, leather wrapped shifter, more focused gauages, bigger inserted GPS screen, and a thicker steering wheel. The sport mode button on the 328i is not that user-friendly either. You gotta look for it before you could make a mode selection. I ran the 328i up to 115mph, and it does not feel any quicker than the X1 28i at any speed. The only two things it impressed me better than my X1 was how sweet the engine sounded in the 328i. In sport mode the 328i sounded really aggressive, while there was no way to produce any sound effect in the X1. The motor was just way too muffled, with only diesel like cold start sound getting into the cabin in the X1. The 328xi had much better fuel economy. I drove the 328Xi hard, and still averaged almost 29mpg. My X1 28i has a daily average of 20.6mpg and average 26mpg on long distance trips, but I never cared much about fuel economy any way. If I had to choose again between a 328xi and the X1 28i, I would still go with the X1 with no doubt in my mind.
Appreciate 0
      05-22-2014, 06:43 PM   #19
Justin(OKC)
Major
Justin(OKC)'s Avatar
United_States
77
Rep
1,376
Posts

Drives: 1988 M3, 1990 M3, 1998 M3/4
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Oklahoma City, OK

iTrader: (7)

Garage List
1998 BMW M3/4  [10.00]
2011 BMW M3 Sedan  [9.28]
1988 BMW M3  [9.40]
1990 BMW M3  [10.00]
2008 BMW 135i - sold  [0.00]
2003 BMW M3 - sold  [0.00]
That X1 is gorgeous! My X1 is headed over on a boat right now. I felt the need to get the M-sport package, but if I were to have gotten any other package it would have been just like yours. Thanks for the great write-up and pics!
__________________
1988 BMW M3 - Hennarot/Black
1990 BMW M3 racecar - Diamond Schwarz/Black
1998 BMW M3 - Alpine White/Mulberry
2011 BMW 328i racecar - LeMans Blue/Black
Appreciate 0
      05-23-2014, 02:15 PM   #20
matjen
Enlisted Member
2
Rep
44
Posts

Drives: 2015 X1 xDrive 28i
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Beautiful car and write up. Thanks for sharing.
Appreciate 0
      05-23-2014, 05:24 PM   #21
scottomfg
Lieutenant
scottomfg's Avatar
287
Rep
439
Posts

Drives: '14 Cayman S 6MT, '21 X5 45E
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

Thanks everyone for all the kind words! Very nice to read after putting a bunch of time into writing it up. Hope it can be useful for people too.
__________________

2014 981 Cayman S 6MT, X73 Suspension, SES
2021 X5 45e MSport, Manhattan Green, Coffee Merino, Review & Photos
Previous: '18 340 GT, '15 M235i 6MT, '15 i3 REx, '15 x1 xDrive28i
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2014, 10:48 PM   #22
Lynn_228i
AW BMW 228i with Black Dakota Leather Seats
Lynn_228i's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
225
Posts

Drives: BMW 228i
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ

iTrader: (0)

Scotttomfg, I love the color of your 2015 X1 SDrive28i! The Orange really makes this vehicle! The Terra and the Fineline Bay Matte look amazing with the Valencia Orange! Thank you for the great review. I am jealous as I am only 4'10" tall and I was unable to touch the floor completely and it was a stretch for my foot to the gas pedal. I am going to be returning my BMW 128i and deciding to either order the rear wheel drive 228i that fits me perfectly or wait for the 2015 version with the AWD feature. My neighbor bought the BMW X1 and loves his so much. Congratulations! Enjoy! Stunning combination!
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST