2010 1 Series - No more Smoker Package.

[wmo168]

It seems like the new 2010 1 Series will have an empty tray now instead of cover with power outlet.

This is the same move that BMW did on 2009 3 Series to save cost.

Anyone having access to 2010 can confirm this? The build site show an empty slot now.

[pit1]

That would be a real disappointment. Not the smoking aspect (it's a sin to smoke in a car like this), but the elimination of another one of the few compartments in the 1er. Where the hell would you put your change?

[cimbali]

I'd be ok with that...can use it for the cell phone. I dont have any use for the ashtry or that outlet since we have one under the armrest.

But I do miss the flashlight in the glove compartment.

[jibaholic101]

that would suck. but who knows, you might be able to retrofit one in there

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

that would suck. but who knows, you might be able to retrofit one in there

It can be ordered from parts. They are just finding ways to cut costs, and considering smoking is on the out, it is a given.

[jibaholic101]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

It can be ordered from parts. They are just finding ways to cut costs, and considering smoking is on the out, it is a given.

they are charging the same price as the 09s and it had the smokers package. why do they need to cut costs on us? the prices arent going down, so i would think they should be adding more standard features like bluetooth

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

they are charging the same price as the 09s and it had the smokers package. why do they need to cut costs on us? the prices arent going down, so i would think they should be adding more standard features like bluetooth

They are simply trying to make a profit.

It is better than them raising prices instead.

[m7ammed]

Over here smoker's package is a no cost option (even says so on the brochure on the BMW.com site) so i don't think its about cost saving

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by adood84

Over here smoker's package is a no cost option (even says so on the brochure on the BMW.com site) so i don't think its about cost saving

They import this car into the United States, so it is a way for BMWNA to keep the prices down accordingly.

[touareg]

Originally Posted by pit1

Where the hell would you put your change?

+1000000

My canadian-spec '09 does not have the smoker's package, which I didn't know about until I got the car. I was going to keep change in the ashtray and use the power point there to power my radar detector until I got it hardwired. Instead, that's where I have my cell phone now.

Right now I put my change inside the armrest, which is fine until you lift up the armrest and put it back down again, and then the change spills out everywhere when you open the armrest up.

[escobar929]

that really sux, other than not having the outlet there is just looks much cleaner w/ a door there

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

It can be ordered from parts. They are just finding ways to cut costs, and considering smoking is on the out, it is a given.

Not so much in Europe though.
Besides, who says smoking is on the way out?
Just because namby pamby self righteous self important idiots are on the local municipalities boards, and effectively not allowing smoking nearly everywhere, doesn't mean that smokers are on the way. It just means they have go outside to smoke. And those same idiots are even banning smoking outside in some areas.

Yeah, I smoke, and I'm and American, and I eat red meat, like to drink once in a while, watch the occassional porno, look at pretty girls, drive above the speed limit, let people into my lane when they signal, and generally enjoy my right to pursue happiness, and defend every other Americans right to pursue their happiness too.
YOU SUCK and YOU know who YOU are! ARGH!

Ok, I'm done.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

They import this car into the United States, so it is a way for BMWNA to keep the prices down accordingly.

Or, not so much to keep costs down as keep profits up, like not including a spare and it's associated parts even though over 90%, it seems, of BMW owners detest the RFT's. I'm sure BMW doesn't have to pay as much for the RFT's as we do when we go to replace them.

Heck, they could make a higher profit by not having headlight washers, which are pointless to me. Yes, I'm sure some people like them, but I'd rather have the smokers pkg. and coin tray instead of headlight washers. And since we all have different wants, then LEAVE these as OPTIONS then.

Did you notice that there is a new option for "auto high beams"?
C'mon, do we really need that? If you're going to have "auto" headlights, then include the auto high beam. Or why not have a regular BT option instead of paying for the SOS system, and then charge extra to actually use it for something other than an emergency. I mean we already have free road side assistance, so what's the point of a $750 BT, when it should only cost about $300.

Looks like BMW is doing what Audi has been doing with their cars for a while, and decontenting their cars every year. They start with lots of goodies and the model sells well. Then the next year they start taking things out.

Well, at least BMW kept the price the same on the 135i at least.
I've read that the 128i doesn't get a sunroof standard anymore and the cost to add it effectively moves the price higher than last years cost.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by touareg

+1000000

My canadian-spec '09 does not have the smoker's package, which I didn't know about until I got the car. I was going to keep change in the ashtray and use the power point there to power my radar detector until I got it hardwired. Instead, that's where I have my cell phone now.

Right now I put my change inside the armrest, which is fine until you lift up the armrest and put it back down again, and then the change spills out everywhere when you open the armrest up.

So what is there in that spot?
I would think that at least they would leave it as a coin tray, but apparently not.

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by pit1

That would be a real disappointment. Not the smoking aspect (it's a sin to smoke in a car like this), but the elimination of another one of the few compartments in the 1er. Where the hell would you put your change?

Well, there's still a compartment there - it's simply open instead of closed. And it's a bigger area to put things than it would've been with the ash tray.

As long as there is still a power point in the front (on the side), I think this is great. I would much rather have had the extra storage space instead of the ash tray.

If they actually remove the power point from the front of the car, then that's annoying. I might actually choose the smoker's package in that case.

That said, as we all know, the BMWUSA site/pictures is notoriously inaccurate. Don't believe anything you see/hear there that looks odd until you have official confirmation.

It is amusing to see the smokers rush to get angry over this non-event, though. Want to smoke? Order the smoker's package. Solved. What's the BFD?

Or if the smoker's package is too expensive, you could always just order one of these.....


http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...U&linkCode=asm

[ORIGIN M.]

Just like the 3er, the 1er in North America will not come with the Smokers Package.

It will however come w/ a Power Supply on the passenger side, to make up for it.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by touareg

+1000000

My canadian-spec '09 does not have the smoker's package, which I didn't know about until I got the car. I was going to keep change in the ashtray and use the power point there to power my radar detector until I got it hardwired. Instead, that's where I have my cell phone now.

Right now I put my change inside the armrest, which is fine until you lift up the armrest and put it back down again, and then the change spills out everywhere when you open the armrest up.

If you live in Vancouver and park anywhere other than a secure underground parking lot with at least two security doors - never ever leave anything like loose change in your car. It only encourages the crackheads to smash windows at their convenience. They only need a few loonies and toonies to get their next fix.

If there is even a hint of loose change in your car, then out with the spark plug filled wool sock, and gone is your window. Crackheads love spark plugs in a wool sock becasue if they are stopped by the police, they can't be arrested and held for posession of break and entry tools.

Also, don't leave sunglasses, cell phones, cd's, mp3 players GPS devices or anything of value laying around either. Remember, things that to you seem to have little value - to the chemically altered and damaged brain residing in the average crackhead - means an easy score for their next fix.

[Qunadry]

Originally Posted by wmo168

It seems like the new 2010 1 Series will have an empty tray now instead of cover with power outlet.

This is the same move that BMW did on 2009 3 Series to save cost.

Anyone having access to 2010 can confirm this? The build site show an empty slot now.

You got it right, just another BMW move to save a few dollars per car. This will catch-up with them in the end, i.e. more lost sales.

[and 1]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

You got it right, just another BMW move to save a few dollars per car. This will catch-up with them in the end, i.e. more lost sales.

it wouldn't turn me off buying the car, but i def think it'd be worth the $20 it probably costs bmw to make/install

[touareg]

Originally Posted by RPM90

So what is there in that spot?
I would think that at least they would leave it as a coin tray, but apparently not.

It's just an empty tray without a lid, so whatever you put there is in plain sight.

Originally Posted by Lester

If you live in Vancouver and park anywhere other than a secure underground parking lot with at least two security doors - never ever leave anything like loose change in your car. It only encourages the crackheads to smash windows at their convenience. They only need a few loonies and toonies to get their next fix.

If there is even a hint of loose change in your car, then out with the spark plug filled wool sock, and gone is your window. Crackheads love spark plugs in a wool sock becasue if they are stopped by the police, they can't be arrested and held for posession of break and entry tools.

Also, don't leave sunglasses, cell phones, cd's, mp3 players GPS devices or anything of value laying around either. Remember, things that to you seem to have little value - to the chemically altered and damaged brain residing in the average crackhead - means an easy score for their next fix.

I assume you mean to not leave valuable items visible in the car while it's parked, as opposed to completely removing these items from the car? I think your advice is definitely good practice in general, though I hope it doesn't scare off anyone thinking about taking a road trip to Vancouver.

I like to keep my interior uncluttered, none of the visible storage compartments have anything in them (except for some mints and hand sanitizer in the driver's door). I have my radar detector hardwired, but I remove it depending on where I'm parked.

Back to the smoker's package, I believe it comes with a lid that goes over the ashtray and the power point, which would've made it the perfect location to hide change.

[YellowBrickRoad]

Is the power outlet easily and inconspicuously accessible to a portable GPS sytem? I'm thinking of getting a Garmin and a Kuda mount (http://www.kudausa.com/kuda_mount_an...008-3-588.html) and need to have a way for the power to plug in.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by touareg

It's just an empty tray without a lid, so whatever you put there is in plain sight.



I assume you mean to not leave valuable items visible in the car while it's parked, as opposed to completely removing these items from the car? I think your advice is definitely good practice in general, though I hope it doesn't scare off anyone thinking about taking a road trip to Vancouver.

Both, and it depends where you are. If you are in an area you are not sure of, like a shopping mall you don't normally go to - then leave everything in the trunk, with the trunk switch in the 'off' position - eg. electric trunk release = off and the glove box locked. This way, even if they do smash your window, they won't be able to pop the trunk, and even if they break open the glove box, they would have to know where the trunk override valet switch is located.

NEVER leave loose change in the car. Even if it is not visible from the outside. the fact that the crackheads might get their cocaine infested fingers on some loose chage will encourage them to continue in this manner. Just imagine if every car in the world never ever had anything to steal? Always take your change with you.

As far as travelling to Vancouver - be warned - if it looks like there is somerthing in the car worth stealing - they will likely break the window, even in broad daylight. Rumour has it, some of the parking lot attendants are in on the scam. Cars from out of province, especially Washington State are regularly broken into, by the dozens each month. And laptops, purses, gifts, even musical instruments regularly go missing from locked vehicles all over the Vancouver area.