OK, so yesterday I ordered the 128 vert with convenience, premium and sport pkg, plus nav and Sat radio. So this might sound like quibbling, but what about the heated seats and HK audio? I test drove a 135i with HK and a 128 w/o. Not sure I noticed a difference but there's lots of comments on the web about people who wished they had upgraded to the HK audio. As far as the heated seats, I live in Florida, but the sales manager swears I will miss them during our cooler winter nights. Since my partner is a BMW salesperson, I know the manager is not just feeding me a line, and I do look forward to top-down night drives during the winter here (where we Floridians do feel cold even though it's in the 60's ) I have a 2 week window or so to tweak my order - so should I just go for it and get the HK audio and heated seats? Comments from those with experience are very appreciated.
My 330 does not have the heated seats and I definitely miss them in the winter, yes even in south Florida. My wife's car has them (plus heated steering wheel) and it becomes the vehicle of choice when the temperature drops so I would definitely recommend them. As for the HK, it comes down to how much you enjoy good sound. I have the HK system on my 330 (E46) and I don't think it's all that (it's what the standard sound system should sound like) but it is much better than the weak standard sound system though. Our 535i has the standard system and I would compare it to the sound system found in rental cars in the 80s, it's absolute garbage. Our 2002 Volvo's sound system blows it away easily.
I guess it depends on how often you drive top-down. I see two types of people in convertibles around here (western Massachusetts); those like me who put the top down on any nice day, even if the weather is cool/cold. And those who bought a convertible as a status symbol/trophy car and never put the top down, even on the most gorgeous days. I've been known to drive with the top down and temps as low as 38F... at night! I caused quite a stir pulling into the dealership service department top-down on a cold November evening that you'd think they'd never seen anyone drive a BMW with the top down before! My reply to their comments was "That's what heated seats are for." I say go with the heated seats, Florida or no. Then drive with the top down year-round regardless of temp. If you like top-down driving, you will never regret it. I can't speak much for the HK system, because I had it in my 2003 330i and didn't think it was spectacular. And I have it in my 2002 M3 convertible, and it sounds like crap! (I don't know if the previous owner of the M3 trashed the system, but one speaker buzzes and the overall sound quality is poor.)
Thanks guys. I am going for the heated seats and the HK audio. I am definitely buying the convertible to put the top down when I can, and it is cold at night during the winter here - so it makes sense.
