X5M - The Snowman V2.

[Xtremery]

Hey all,

I got an offer from a personal friend who is a manager at a dealer who had a customer interested in my 14' F15 X5 35D (M-Perf with all Carbon bits) and got an offer I could not refuse.

Signed the documents and now have an X5M that is due for March production already ordered some mod's for it as well.

F85 X5M - 2016

• Alpine White
• Black Full Merino Leather,
• Premium Package
• 21 Inch Wheels
• BMW Piano Ind Trim
• Park Assistant
• B&O audio
• Telephone Pack

Mod's already ordered:

• Black out package - grill, badge, side vents
• KWv3 - Coilovers
• 22" Velos Solo V Forged Wheels - Hand Brushed w/ Gloss Clear

Looking forward to making the jump and showing some pics when it arrives sometime in April.

Cheers.

Ryan

[Ryngo]

Sick!! Can't wait to see it. Sounds like it will look like Velos' version which is bad a$$!

[raym3cs]

wow cant wait for pics

[onfireX5]

Congrats. A killer ride.

[robbys3m3]

congrats! we are loving our alpine x5m. jealous of the wheels you are doing..i love that wheel on the car.

[Xtremery]

Originally Posted by Ryngo

Sick!! Can't wait to see it. Sounds like it will look like Velos' version which is bad a$$!

I may have bought those wheels....

[Xtremery]

Reference of my current F15 35D the original Snowman.



and the 4.8 I had before that...

[Ryngo]

Originally Posted by Xtremery

I may have bought those wheels....

OH perfect! Then you got a good deal

[tastelid]

Congrats! Drop the telephone pack if you can, it's a god damn waste of money unless your phone is super old (or perhaps android?). Pointless with an iphone with lightning connector.

[Xtremery]

Originally Posted by tastelid

Congrats! Drop the telephone pack if you can, it's a god damn waste of money unless your phone is super old (or perhaps android?). Pointless with an iphone with lightning connector.

Android - I will never go to IPhone... I actually like the office capabilities, I have it now in my current.
Although I absolutely hate the cradle as I have a note 5 and they haven't released a cradle past GS5...

[UrbanExtant]

Originally Posted by Xtremery

Android - I will never go to IPhone... I actually like the office capabilities, I have it now in my current.
Although I absolutely hate the cradle as I have a note 5 and they haven't released a cradle past GS5...

Why not use the universal adapter for android devices? I have the universal adapter for Apple iPhones, and it's great. I can use my larger sized iPhone with the snap-in adapter. I wish BMW had come out with these universal adapters long ago.

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/51...NDROID-DEVICES

[tastelid]

Looks like they actually added an iphone 6 adapter! Wonder if that will fit well...

My problem with the universal adapters is they look like it's just a long cable attached to the dock, which sort of defeats one purpose of the dock (tidy phone storage). Is that not the case?

The picture here makes the cable quite apparent: http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/52...PLE-(LIGHTNING)

[tastelid]

Originally Posted by Xtremery

Android - I will never go to IPhone... I actually like the office capabilities, I have it now in my current.
Although I absolutely hate the cradle as I have a note 5 and they haven't released a cradle past GS5...

That can be coded in without paying for the dock itself. The cradles will always be many models behind current phones, which, to me, makes it a waste of money.

[UrbanExtant]

Originally Posted by tastelid

Looks like they actually added an iphone 6 adapter! Wonder if that will fit well...

My problem with the universal adapters is they look like it's just a long cable attached to the dock, which sort of defeats one purpose of the dock (tidy phone storage). Is that not the case?

The picture here makes the cable quite apparent: http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/52...PLE-(LIGHTNING)

The universal adapter has been discussed before, here:

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...versal+adapter

It provides the same tidy storage option as the regular snap-in adapters, except it allows one to use a case on their phone, and to use the iPhone Plus version, which I have. It also provides access to the roof antenna, which is, besides tidy storage, the main reason I use these adapters. Cape Cod has poor cell reception, and without access to the roof antenna, using web radio is next to impossible here.

[Xtremery]

Originally Posted by UrbanExtant

Why not use the universal adapter for android devices? I have the universal adapter for Apple iPhones, and it's great. I can use my larger sized iPhone with the snap-in adapter. I wish BMW had come out with these universal adapters long ago.

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/51...NDROID-DEVICES

I honestly had no idea that they even released this. I thought I was forever stuck in purgatory with no option to ever get a cradle that would hold my device....

This I will have to try out - thank you so much! No longer my phone has to be stuck in the cup holder upside down with a charge cable from the cigarette lighter...

[tastelid]

Originally Posted by UrbanExtant

The universal adapter has been discussed before, here:

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...versal+adapter

It provides the same tidy storage option as the regular snap-in adapters, except it allows one to use a case on their phone, and to use the iPhone Plus version, which I have. It also provides access to the roof antenna, which is, besides tidy storage, the main reason I use these adapters. Cape Cod has poor cell reception, and without access to the roof antenna, using web radio is next to impossible here.

Thanks for the link. This photo is exactly what I'm worried about:

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...1&d=1449678649

One of the points of the dock, for me, is to get rid of cables. Instead of slipping your phone into the dock, you have to reach in, grab the cable, plug it in, and then clip it into the dock? Not a huge inconvenience, but I think BMW can and should do better when they are selling it as a factory option.

Better than nothing, if you need the extra antenna boost!

[UrbanExtant]

Originally Posted by tastelid

Thanks for the link. This photo is exactly what I'm worried about:

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...p;d=1449678649

One of the points of the dock, for me, is to get rid of cables. Instead of slipping your phone into the dock, you have to reach in, grab the cable, plug it in, and then clip it into the dock? Not a huge inconvenience, but I think BMW can and should do better when they are selling it as a factory option.

Better than nothing, if you need the extra antenna boost!

I was worried about what you speak of, but after a year of use, I can tell you it's no more inconvenient than reaching in to snap the phone in, which I always did previously. I like that the phone is directly connected to the car, charging, and has increased antenna boost, all while being safely tucked away in the console. I, also, like that I don't have to wait for BMW to come out with another special adapter when I want to get a new iPhone. I can see, however, that the downsides of this particular adapter may out weigh its positives for some people.

[tastelid]

Originally Posted by UrbanExtant

I was worried about what you speak of, but after a year of use, I can tell you it's no more inconvenient than reaching in to snap the phone in, which I always did previously. I like that the phone is directly connected to the car, charging, and has increased antenna boost, all while being safely tucked away in the console. I, also, like that I don't have to wait for BMW to come out with another special adapter when I want to get a new iPhone. I can see, however, that the downsides of this particular adapter may out weigh its positives for some people.

You have a case on your phone right? Can you speak to whether or not you actually get a signal boost? I have read that you can't have your phone in a case for the boost to work, indicating a passive boost (ie, metal in the dock touches metal on the phone). This is contrary to what many may assume, which is that you boost the signal by plugging into the lightning connector.

[UrbanExtant]

Originally Posted by tastelid

You have a case on your phone right? Can you speak to whether or not you actually get a signal boost? I have read that you can't have your phone in a case for the boost to work, indicating a passive boost (ie, metal in the dock touches metal on the phone). This is contrary to what many may assume, which is that you boost the signal by plugging into the lightning connector.

Yes, there is a small signal boost. It would make no sense to operate the way you describe. Even without a case, there are little rubber "runways" that run along the face of the universal adapters, that grip the phone, and elevate it above the rest of the faceplate, so air can move, via the fan operating in the middle of the unit, to cool the phone as it charges and operates. This leaves no metal on metal contact when the phone is "snapped-in."

Others can describe the process better, but from my understanding, the cell signal is picked up inductively, and can occur with and without a case. It has more to do with proximity of phone to snap-in adapter. I was using a case in the photos in that old thread I linked, but I recently went case-free, and the reception is the same as before when the phone is in the snap-in adapter. For me, that equates to an extra "bar" or two of signal, which is just enough to keep my web radio from dropping out all the time while driving around Cape Cod. Metal touching metal would make no sense to me, especially when one thinks back to the iPhone 4, which had a glass backside. The snap-in adapter for the iPhone 4 had no areas of metal-on-metal contact for an antenna amplification to have occurred the way you describe.

[tastelid]

Good points. I just extrapolated the "passive" to mean "metal contact", but your idea makes more sense. Interesting that its performance doesn't change without a case, but I guess signals can flow through cases already...

You may have sold me on this dock for long trips. Thanks for the back and forth.

[UrbanExtant]

Originally Posted by tastelid

Good points. I just extrapolated the "passive" to mean "metal contact", but your idea makes more sense. Interesting that its performance doesn't change without a case, but I guess signals can flow through cases already...

You may have sold me on this dock for long trips. Thanks for the back and forth.

Glad this was able to answer some of your questions. I'm big on the snap-in adapters, for multiple reasons. Another benefit of these adapters is the inability to futz with one's phone while driving. We all say we won't do it, but if the phone is sitting in the cupholder, or in one's pocket, it's all too easy, and tempting, to grab the phone and use it when one should not.

I also like these adapters because they increase the number of music devices one can have directly connected to the vehicle. I put all the music on my iPhone in Apple Lossless (ALAC), and when connected directly to the car, the music sounds better to me than through bluetooth streaming. Plugging my phone into the snap-in adapter frees up the USB port in the center console for another music storage device, or for my passenger's iPhone.

[awesoM]

Xtremery

Since you are getting the 22" tires, why not order the standard stock 20" wheels? If you need a winter setup you can use the 20" size and replace the tires with an all season DWS06 or a snow tire. 21" has very limited option. I didn't have that option since i bought mine off the lot, certainly have done so if i did a custom.