[razman]

Paying $2500* to have BMW remove a feature (155 mph limiter) they've added that hampers the performance of the performance version of their car really ticks me off.

Am I alone in thinking this is bullshit? I wish they'd just raise the base price of the car instead of playing these games.

*I understand the "package" also comes with a track day so the amount paid for removing the limiter is in theory less.

[S58King]

Hundred percent agreed the limiter is terrible

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by razman

I wish they'd just raise the base price of the car instead of playing these games.

I don't get it... you're mad about paying for it but you'd be ok paying for it if it standard in the car but with an increased base price?

[NightWriter]

If it's any consolation, Tesla charges its customers $12k to unlock software that helps them beta test "Full Self Driving" capabilities that apparently have trouble detecting bicyclists, erected bollards, and cherry red fire trucks with lights ablaze that are parked in the middle of the road.

[Mowe]

It's the only box I didn't check. I'm going to tune the car at some point and that will remove the limiter. Waste of money…. If you're not gonna then it then you probably don't need the limit over 155 😂

🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[Besharaf]

Originally Posted by Mowe

It's the only box I didn't check. I'm going to tune the car at some point and that will remove the limiter. Waste of money…. If you're not gonna then it then you probably don't need the limit over 155 😂

🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

Truth. If you don't live in Germany or track the car, no need for it.

Unless there's boy racers here going 155mph on public roads

[nal13]

Whats even more BS is that on lesser models, like the M340i, if you spec if with the non run flat performance tires, the limiter is removed. My dealer was not even aware of this until my current daily was ordered and it came up on the build sheet. I believe the limiter for the M340 is 170 something.

[razman]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I don't get it... you're mad about paying for it but you'd be ok paying for it if it standard in the car but with an increased base price?

Yes. This is like someone walking into a market for a bottle of water. They're too thirsty for the small bottle of water, so they opt to buy the more expensive, large bottle of water. Right before the clerk hands over the bottle, he opens it and pours an ounce into a shot glass right in front of the customer and says for an extra 25 cents he'll pour the shot glass back into the bottle. I imagine most people's response to this would be: "That water was already in the bottle. You went out of your way to take it out and now you're trying to nickel and dime me just to put it back in? Asshole!"

If the price of that water was 25 cents higher to begin with, most people would be none the wiser and would pay it and leave happy because they wouldn't feel like they were being taken for a ride. So maybe this has less to do logic and more to do the emotional aspects of making purchases.

[dimab0]

Originally Posted by razman

Yes. This is like someone walking into a market for a bottle of water. They're too thirsty for the small bottle of water, so they opt to buy the more expensive, large bottle of water. Right before the clerk hands over the bottle, he opens it and pours an ounce into a shot glass right in front of the customer and says for an extra 25 cents he'll pour the shot glass back into the bottle. I imagine most people's response to this would be: "That water was already in the bottle. You went out of your way to take it out and now you're trying to nickel and dime me just to put it back in? Asshole!"

If the price of that water was 25 cents higher to begin with, most people would be none the wiser and would pay it and leave happy because they wouldn't feel like they were being taken for a ride. So maybe this has less to do logic and more to do the emotional aspects of making purchases.

Except that your analogy is mildly off. It's more like a customer walking in and seeing all of the large water bottles are not quite full. They have all had some water taken out and put into the shot glass, but well before the customer arrived. So the water bottle that is 80% full costs $2, and for an extra $0.25 you can get it completely filled.

Doesn't change that someone went through some effort to take a bit out in the first place, but not certain if that is relevant. It has been speculated before that there is some relation to liability or insurance, as you get the added speed together with a 'performance driving school' that may or may not prepare you for said speed.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by razman

Yes. This is like someone walking into a market for a bottle of water. They're too thirsty for the small bottle of water, so they opt to buy the more expensive, large bottle of water. Right before the clerk hands over the bottle, he opens it and pours an ounce into a shot glass right in front of the customer and says for an extra 25 cents he'll pour the shot glass back into the bottle. I imagine most people's response to this would be: "That water was already in the bottle. You went out of your way to take it out and now you're trying to nickel and dime me just to put it back in? Asshole!"

If the price of that water was 25 cents higher to begin with, most people would be none the wiser and would pay it and leave happy because they wouldn't feel like they were being taken for a ride. So maybe this has less to do logic and more to do the emotional aspects of making purchases.

I'm sorry but that doesn't really make sense.

An equivalent scenario to your analogy would be:
BMW advertised 180mph top speed, you order the car, and then on day of delivery you go to pick up your car and the dealer tells you, we put in a governor and in fact your top speed is only 155 mph, and to unlock it you have to pay an extra $2,500.

Here's what the reality is:

BMW advertises a 155 mph top speed (you order a medium size drink).


BMW then provides an option to increase that top speed to 180 mph by removing the governor for a cost (For $X, you can upgrade to a large size drink)

Ultimately when your bill comes, you're charged for what you ordered... no surprises.

What you're suggesting is the restaurant shouldn't even offer a medium sized drink... they should just force everyone to pay the extra cost of the large size drink even if customers don't have an appetite for it (which you would have paid for regardless because you want the large size drink). It's totally nonsensical.

['Cane]

I am in agreement that the package is not worth it, but I also don't know why the top speed matters. Where are you all driving that it makes a difference between 155 mph and 180 mph since most of us are in the US.

[G MONEY]

Lol. Typical Dealer /Manufacturer bullshit. They all blow!!!!!

[Tyga11]

This has been discussed in depth and it's an easy way for BMW to generate revenue. It's highly unlikely most people who opt for the package will actually attend a track day since there are only 2 locations so they are essentially pocketing the $2,500 or whatever.

Doesn't Porsche charge like $1,500 for colored seat belts or something stupid? All of the higher end manufacturers have gimmicks like this (not that BMW is ultra high end) but it's just a way for them to enter that market

[bioman]

You won’t even hit 155 on any track unless you’re doing top speed airstrip runs (in the US), which is a fraction of a fraction of owners.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by bioman

You won’t even hit 155 on any track unless you’re doing top speed airstrip runs (in the US), which is a fraction of a fraction of owners.

... or the Autobahn or Nurburgring, but with ED discontinued that's less likely.

[BugKiller]

I almost certainly will not use it but I would like the bragging right of my car being capable.

Truth be told, there is very little of the German Autobahn where one can do 200 kph (~125 mph) for more than 1-2 minutes these days. A max of 130 kph (~80 mph) is recommended. I think at least one German state has made 130 a maximum and you can be partially liable to the extent your speed above 130 kph contributes to damages, e.g., somebody else is totally at fault for the accident occurring but your speed above 130 limits your ability to mitigate the damages.

The rest of Europe has 130 kph national maximums. I am not sure if this applies to toll roads (if somebody knows, please enlighten us). In a place east of Germany with a posted national 130 kph maximum I had a car 200 miles past the wear-in period. I took a toll road autobahn (yes it was labeled "Autobahn") that was very little used and new, perfect roadway. I did not see any posted limits on it and many cars were obviously doing over 130 kph. An older M3 came up very fast behind me, slowed down to look me over, and then accelerated back up to 250 kph (155 mph), which doubtless was what his car was limited to. I thought what the heck, took my car up to match speed and slowly passed him doing 260 kph (160 mph). That was the only time in Europe I ever managed to drive even close to that speed.

In the U.S. I have done 155 mph on tracks but I am not much of a fan of 'Bubba in the round' (big ovals) and I am perfectly happy to hit 130 mph on a good road course (e.g., Laguna Seca). At manufacturer's events Mercedes asked us to not exceed 155 mph (and looked the other way when a professional driver hit 175 on his first laps in an SLR at California Speedway in Fontana). Cadillac asked us to stay under 130 mph on that same track.

Digressing: California Speedway (now Auto Club Speedway) in Fontana is a great track when the big oval and the road course portions are combined for track days. It is one of the reasons I moved to So. Cal., and as I write this I realize I have not driven it in at least 12 years.

[mzwerner]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

I am in agreement that the package is not worth it, but I also don't know why the top speed matters. Where are you all driving that it makes a difference between 155 mph and 180 mph since most of us are in the US.

I took over a lease from someone who was over their skis. My car came with every option including the higher speed. I'm in Miami and sure as hell won't be going over 155mph, but I'm booked and excited for the M school in the summer!

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

This has been discussed in depth and it's an easy way for BMW to generate revenue. It's highly unlikely most people who opt for the package will actually attend a track day since there are only 2 locations so they are essentially pocketing the $2,500 or whatever.

Doesn't Porsche charge like $1,500 for colored seat belts or something stupid? All of the higher end manufacturers have gimmicks like this (not that BMW is ultra high end) but it's just a way for them to enter that market

I think Porsche charges for seats and windows. The Taycan has a dizzying 90 options. The Corvettes seem to be about the same.

I agree, shouldn't be a charge, but realistically, how many of us are going to make it to 155?

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by snareman

I think Porsche charges for seats and windows. The Taycan has a dizzying 90 options. The Corvettes seem to be about the same.

I agree, shouldn't be a charge, but realistically, how many of us are going to make it to 155?

Not me. Not interested in going to jail

[yousefnjr]

As a matter of principle I hate it, but I think even at my local track I don’t have the room to get near 155

['Cane]

Originally Posted by mzwerner

I took over a lease from someone who was over their skis. My car came with every option including the higher speed. I'm in Miami and sure as hell won't be going over 155mph, but I'm booked and excited for the M school in the summer!

If you're not doing 155 on the Palmetto, are you really driving?

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

If you're not doing 155 on the Palmetto, are you really driving?

Just try to keep up behind Patton250. And if he brakes hard, you should too.