Is Premium Package worth it on the 330i?

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 09:19 AM

Got my e90 330 with no Premium Package, and know thinking I should have not cheaped out and got it. Do you guys think this Package is worth it? I could not justify it at time of purchase and only got the sport package, and heated seat on a stick e90 330i SG with alumin trim...

Oz · 10-17-2005, 09:25 AM

It's definitely worth it if you like leather and bluetooth technology

F32Fleet · 10-17-2005, 09:26 AM

I've never been impressed with the premium pkg. Did u have leather seats?

thd13 · 10-17-2005, 09:30 AM

I passed the premium package also and I have no regrets. I have a handsfree headset for my cell phone and I did not see any difference between the leather or L'ette besides color choice. However, for some people, that in itself may be worth the money, especially for the Terra. But other than that, I felt like I made the right choice by not going with ZPP.

dpcdomino · 10-17-2005, 09:37 AM

I am going to op out of that option. Getting Black interior which is offered in letherette so I can deal. The other items are not worth the $2K+ addition to the cost.

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 09:39 AM

Nah...I skipped on the leather as well. Leatherette is more durable and could not tell much of a difference (cant tell when its black leatherette). When people get in the car, not one even notices that its leatherette...

These are the only options i got:

Heated Seats
Sport Package
Mettalic paint - Saphire Graphite

I ended up getting this car for 37,800. Was originally going to get the 325i, but to get xenon's and power seats (a must when you spend 30+k), the price difference was only like 3k...so it was no brainer...a stripped down 330i with sport....but know I think I should have gone all out and got premium and NAV...i dont know...opinions?

Meatnog · 10-17-2005, 09:43 AM

I think it is very worth it.

Then again, I wanted the leather seats, the bluetooth support, the foldaway mirrors (and autodimming is nice), the compass and the lumbar support in the seats.

The remote control garage-door opener was useless to me.

Really, I found the Sport Package to be the worthless one (to me). I didn't particularly want larger tires that would absolutely need snow tires in the winter. I found the sport seat to be uncomfortable. The sport suspension wasn't that big of a difference to make it worth $2K by itself. That was what I skipped.

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 09:50 AM

The car does not look right w/o sport. the rear wheels are too small...
sport package is a must

dpcdomino · 10-17-2005, 10:16 AM

Plus the steering wheel looks nicer too with the Sports.

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 10:29 AM

DPCDomino? What config are you getting?

magmd · 10-17-2005, 10:30 AM

Definitely the Sports pkg is the way to go. The premium pkg would be down the list. I opted out of it...I do not like being so accessible, so bluetooth tech did not really appeal to me. I did get the leather...so I bought part of the package. I used the extra $$ to tint and add the rear deck spoiler instead

Edit: although...the side mirror folding feature is cool!

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 10:33 AM

yeah...leather is a difficult call..i like the smell, but I also like the 1500 dollars in my pocket...

Recluse · 10-17-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerchild

Nah...I skipped on the leather as well. Leatherette is more durable and could not tell much of a difference (cant tell when its black leatherette). When people get in the car, not one even notices that its leatherette...

These are the only options i got:

Heated Seats
Sport Package
Mettalic paint - Saphire Graphite

I ended up getting this car for 37,800. Was originally going to get the 325i, but to get xenon's and power seats (a must when you spend 30+k), the price difference was only like 3k...so it was no brainer...a stripped down 330i with sport....but know I think I should have gone all out and got premium and NAV...i dont know...opinions?

I'm thinking about a 330i myself, and if I pull the trigger, I will get one configured exactly like yours, except I'd probably get the Arctic paint instead.

Don't much care about leather, and I barely know what Bluetooth does.

BTW, I also had the exact same thought on the 325i...after you add Sport, Xenons, and heated seats, it's already in the mid-$30K range.......might as well spring for more horses too.

scottz5 · 10-17-2005, 10:38 AM

Worth it

bimmerchild · 10-17-2005, 10:40 AM

HEy Ssott...

White looks hot on an e90!!!

Mauricio · 10-17-2005, 10:51 AM

I opted out of the premium package because it seemed like a lot of money at the time. I originally was going to buy a 325i but they didn't have a combo I liked. Then I saw my car which had the sports package. I hadn't yet seen the rims on a 330 with sport and I fell in love with it. So I felt like I was going too far with a 330 but I decided to go for it.

In retrospect, what would the payment difference have been? $40? I think it would have been worth it. Not really for the leather, but because of the Bluetooth and BMWassist.

mds82 · 10-17-2005, 11:02 AM

YES... its awesome to have leather, bluetooth, power seats, auto dimmer mirror, etc etc. also it will help the resale of the car eventually when you sell it!

dpcdomino · 10-17-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerchild

DPCDomino? What config are you getting?

Jet Black manual 330i w/black letherette and aluminum trim
Sports
iDrive
Fold down rear

330 comes with the Halos, Levinson, and power seats but I would get those too if not.

benoitch · 10-17-2005, 11:08 AM

In the previous car, I did not go for the PP. This time, I definitely wanted the Terra seats. I don't really mind the power seats (didn't have before), but I must admit that the lumber support is really good -- I have a bad back so it helps a lot. Once you get the Terra which only comes with leather, might as well get the PP for the difference I got the power seats (a bonus), the lumber support which I wanted and all the other gizmos that are not really important but hey once you have them.

Basically, I don't regret it ! And I REALLY love those sport seats !

Meatnog · 10-17-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauricio

I opted out of the premium package because it seemed like a lot of money at the time. I originally was going to buy a 325i but they didn't have a combo I liked. Then I saw my car which had the sports package. I hadn't yet seen the rims on a 330 with sport and I fell in love with it. So I felt like I was going too far with a 330 but I decided to go for it.

In retrospect, what would the payment difference have been? $40? I think it would have been worth it. Not really for the leather, but because of the Bluetooth and BMWassist.

So you paid $2000 for better rims? That doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to me.

I think most people get the Sport Package just so they can say they have the Sport Package. It is a love affair with the word 'sport' versus actually looking at what you get: One inch larger rims (with more expensive tires that don't actually perform much better), seats with additional 'support' that is wholely superfluous, a marginally different steering wheel and a marginal increase in suspension ... for $2000.

Oh, and in the E90 there is a pretty huge difference in Leather vs Leatherette. In the previous versions the leather wasn't that hot, but the new E90 leather is excellent quality and you can tell the first time you touch it or sit in it.

Also remember that BMW Assist is an ADDITIONAL $240/yr if you want it on, which is $20/mo for those of you that are math impaired

jiggax23 · 10-17-2005, 11:29 AM

i think its definitely worth it. the leather and bluetooth alone are worth it to me, add in the dimming (and folding?) mirrors, multilink garage system, and lumbar and those are pluses (don't really need the compass, i have navi). but, the biggest reason why i got it is because i heard it helps the re-sale a lot (more people out there want their bimmers w/ this package than without it).

Mauricio · 10-17-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatnog

So you paid $2000 for better rims? That doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to me.

I think most people get the Sport Package just so they can say they have the Sport Package. It is a love affair with the word 'sport' versus actually looking at what you get: One inch larger rims (with more expensive tires that don't actually perform much better), seats with additional 'support' that is wholely superfluous, a marginally different steering wheel and a marginal increase in suspension ... for $2000.

Oh, and in the E90 there is a pretty huge difference in Leather vs Leatherette. In the previous versions the leather wasn't that hot, but the new E90 leather is excellent quality and you can tell the first time you touch it or sit in it.

Also remember that BMW Assist is an ADDITIONAL $240/yr if you want it on, which is $20/mo for those of you that are math impaired

Absolutely not! I was going to purchase a 325 with sport package also. It wasn't an issue with the looks in the first place, it was performance for the money. The difference between a 325i w/ sport and 330 w/ sport was more than $150/ month. That's a big difference. The performance increase, some would argue is marginal over a 325. But seeing the car in person and driving it helped convince me that it was worth the extra money.

If I was only interested in looks and features, I wouldn't have bought a stripped 330i (not that it's that stripped to begin with, but you know what I mean), manual transmission with a sports package for $40k. There are many other cars with more power and more features for less money. I bought this car as an enthusiast for BMW's. It's not my first and won't be my last.

Don't hate if you don't think the Sports package is worth it, only because you don't have it!

10-17-2005, 09:19 AM	#1
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Is Premium Package worth it on the 330i? Got my e90 330 with no Premium Package, and know thinking I should have not cheaped out and got it. Do you guys think this Package is worth it? I could not justify it at time of purchase and only got the sport package, and heated seat on a stick e90 330i SG with alumin trim...
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10-17-2005, 09:25 AM	#2
Oz Lieutenant Colonel 33 Rep 1,770 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2004 X5 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wayne, NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	It's definitely worth it if you like leather and bluetooth technology __________________ 2006 330i Steptronic/Alpine White/Black Leather/Burl Walnut Trim/Premium Package/iDrive/Heated Seats/Winter: STYLE 159 Blizzak LM-22 RFT/Summer: TBD 2004 X5 Steptronic/Alpine White/Grey Leather/Poplar Trim/Premium Package/Heated Seats/iPod Adapter
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10-17-2005, 09:26 AM	#3
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3637 Rep 10,394 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	I've never been impressed with the premium pkg. Did u have leather seats?
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10-17-2005, 09:30 AM	#4
thd13 Major 46 Rep 1,445 Posts Drives: A07 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Murrland iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I passed the premium package also and I have no regrets. I have a handsfree headset for my cell phone and I did not see any difference between the leather or L'ette besides color choice. However, for some people, that in itself may be worth the money, especially for the Terra. But other than that, I felt like I made the right choice by not going with ZPP. __________________ My other ride is your mom.
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10-17-2005, 09:37 AM	#5
dpcdomino Enlisted Member 2 Rep 35 Posts Drives: FX35 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silver Spring, MD iTrader: (0)	I am going to op out of that option. Getting Black interior which is offered in letherette so I can deal. The other items are not worth the $2K+ addition to the cost.
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10-17-2005, 09:39 AM	#6
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Nah...I skipped on the leather as well. Leatherette is more durable and could not tell much of a difference (cant tell when its black leatherette). When people get in the car, not one even notices that its leatherette... These are the only options i got: Heated Seats Sport Package Mettalic paint - Saphire Graphite I ended up getting this car for 37,800. Was originally going to get the 325i, but to get xenon's and power seats (a must when you spend 30+k), the price difference was only like 3k...so it was no brainer...a stripped down 330i with sport....but know I think I should have gone all out and got premium and NAV...i dont know...opinions?
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10-17-2005, 09:43 AM	#7
Meatnog Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 202 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	I think it is very worth it. Then again, I wanted the leather seats, the bluetooth support, the foldaway mirrors (and autodimming is nice), the compass and the lumbar support in the seats. The remote control garage-door opener was useless to me. Really, I found the Sport Package to be the worthless one (to me). I didn't particularly want larger tires that would absolutely need snow tires in the winter. I found the sport seat to be uncomfortable. The sport suspension wasn't that big of a difference to make it worth $2K by itself. That was what I skipped. __________________ 2006 330i Sedan: Monaco Blue, Beige/Walnut, Premium Package.
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10-17-2005, 09:50 AM	#8
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	The car does not look right w/o sport. the rear wheels are too small... sport package is a must
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10-17-2005, 10:16 AM	#9
dpcdomino Enlisted Member 2 Rep 35 Posts Drives: FX35 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silver Spring, MD iTrader: (0)	Plus the steering wheel looks nicer too with the Sports.
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10-17-2005, 10:29 AM	#10
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	DPCDomino? What config are you getting?
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10-17-2005, 10:30 AM	#11
magmd Major General 162 Rep 5,271 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (13) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Definitely the Sports pkg is the way to go. The premium pkg would be down the list. I opted out of it...I do not like being so accessible, so bluetooth tech did not really appeal to me. I did get the leather...so I bought part of the package. I used the extra $$ to tint and add the rear deck spoiler instead Edit: although...the side mirror folding feature is cool! __________________ 2006 330i \| Black Sapphire Metallic \| Step Auto \| Navi with iDr \| Sports Pkg \|OEM Rear Spoiler \| 3M CS35 Tint \| H&R Sport Springs \| Koni Yellows \| Advan RS Racing Hypersilver: 19x9 et22 19x10 et20 Last edited by magmd; 10-17-2005 at 11:22 AM..
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10-17-2005, 10:33 AM	#12
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	yeah...leather is a difficult call..i like the smell, but I also like the 1500 dollars in my pocket...
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10-17-2005, 10:38 AM	#14
scottz5 Lieutenant Colonel 96 Rep 1,730 Posts Drives: 13 F10 535xi & 11.75 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Worth it __________________ 13 F10 535xi JB/B working on it 11.75 E93 M3 MR/Black Stock (wifey) 11 F10 535i AW/CB Mods Gone
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10-17-2005, 10:40 AM	#15
bimmerchild Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 06 330iSport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	HEy Ssott... White looks hot on an e90!!!
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10-17-2005, 10:51 AM	#16
Mauricio Private First Class 16 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, MT, SP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I opted out of the premium package because it seemed like a lot of money at the time. I originally was going to buy a 325i but they didn't have a combo I liked. Then I saw my car which had the sports package. I hadn't yet seen the rims on a 330 with sport and I fell in love with it. So I felt like I was going too far with a 330 but I decided to go for it. In retrospect, what would the payment difference have been? $40? I think it would have been worth it. Not really for the leather, but because of the Bluetooth and BMWassist.
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10-17-2005, 11:02 AM	#17
mds82 Major General 365 Rep 5,842 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Central Connecticut iTrader: (40) Garage List 2006 325xi Snow Pics [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00]	YES... its awesome to have leather, bluetooth, power seats, auto dimmer mirror, etc etc. also it will help the resale of the car eventually when you sell it!
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10-17-2005, 11:08 AM	#19
benoitch Captain 19 Rep 959 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Great white North of Montreal iTrader: (0)	In the previous car, I did not go for the PP. This time, I definitely wanted the Terra seats. I don't really mind the power seats (didn't have before), but I must admit that the lumber support is really good -- I have a bad back so it helps a lot. Once you get the Terra which only comes with leather, might as well get the PP for the difference I got the power seats (a bonus), the lumber support which I wanted and all the other gizmos that are not really important but hey once you have them. Basically, I don't regret it ! And I REALLY love those sport seats ! __________________ E90 SG,SP, Manual,PP,Terra http://www.benoitchampagne.com
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10-17-2005, 11:29 AM	#21
jiggax23 Private First Class 9 Rep 169 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: so. california iTrader: (0)	i think its definitely worth it. the leather and bluetooth alone are worth it to me, add in the dimming (and folding?) mirrors, multilink garage system, and lumbar and those are pluses (don't really need the compass, i have navi). but, the biggest reason why i got it is because i heard it helps the re-sale a lot (more people out there want their bimmers w/ this package than without it).
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