[z1ppo325i]

is the option for just a split fold down option and/or does stock come with fold down rear seats?

[NaTuReB0Y]

I think you gotta get the cold weather option to get the fold-down rear seats....

[Spaceman]

Originally Posted by z1ppo325i

is the option for just a split fold down option and/or does stock come with fold down rear seats?

It does not come stock. You either pay for fold down seats as a separate option ($475 I believe) or opt for the Cold weather package, which gives you folddown rears, heated front seats and heated headlamps washer

[Kao BMW]

In my humble opinion, the fold down should have been standard... i mean i could understand heated seats, lamps, washers... but the fold down? iffy if you ask me.

[Spaceman]

Originally Posted by Kao BMW

In my humble opinion, the fold down should have been standard... i mean i could understand heated seats, lamps, washers... but the fold down? iffy if you ask me.

I agree.

But at least BMW still offers fold downs as an option, even for the 5 series, which I am considering as my next car. Comparatively, the Lexus GS and the Infiniti M class does not even have fold down as an option.

[llaroo]

we have the feature standard in Canada with pass through and ski bag. I guess they figure all Canadians are ski bunnies - maybe 2% of us !

[David328M-Sport]

the e90 is the first 3 series to offer its australian customers the through loading as standard.

i had to pay extra for it in my e36 and current e46.

[dnh325i]

Of course, fold down seats are standard on a Ford Focus. :mad:

On BMW's you pay $475 extra for the privilege.

[Black325i]

Having never had the split/fold rear seat option (only the passthrough previously), this has turned out to be a "valued" option for me. Its amazing how much more convenient it is with this feature. It comes standard in Canada (as previously mentioned), but if it did not, I'd suggest it is worth the $400 - $500 ...

[bmw330ipty]

Originally Posted by dnh325i

Of course, fold down seats are standard on a Ford Focus. :mad:

On BMW's you pay $475 extra for the privilege.

But on a ford focus u dont get xenons, sunroof and logic 7 as standard..

[Athos]

Originally Posted by bmw330ipty

But on a ford focus u dont get xenons, sunroof and logic 7 as standard..

Of course not. The Focus is an econobox that costs a third of what 330i does. The features you mention are not standard on a 325i. Fold down seats ARE standard on many inexpensive cars and you would not expect high-end features like xenons or highend stereo on these cars. That's precisely why it is so absurd that BMW charges US customers extra for this very basic feature in most cheap modern cars. It would be like charging extra for the remote fuel door or trunk release. The 3 is expensive even within its class so this is particularly ridiculous.

[z1ppo325i]

yeah.. thing about Bimmer is that base price is lower than a competitive Acura TL but if you want same amount of options, price start going sky high... -.-;; i hate it...

[RichP]

I would BMW rather raise the base price of all the cars a few hundred and include folding seats in everything; locating a car was that much more difficult because I needed fold down seats above all options.

[ward]

Originally Posted by dnh325i

Of course, fold down seats are standard on a Ford Focus. :mad:

On BMW's you pay $475 extra for the privilege.

but then you have to drive around in a focus

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by Kao BMW

In my humble opinion, the fold down should have been standard... i mean i could understand heated seats, lamps, washers... but the fold down? iffy if you ask me.

I agree as well. They were standard in my last 3 Volkswagens. In fact the Alarm was standard in my last VW as well.

I don't have fold down seats, but they are available as a $475 option in the US, or as part of the Cold Weather Package.

I would have ordered the seats, but I found the car that I wanted without them so I went for it. So far haven't needed them, because I take my wife's Ford Escape surfing! Wasn't married when I only had my Jetta, so I used to fold down the seat to put the surfboard in.

[1stTbuyer]

a big drawback with the fold down seats is that the trunk can easily be reached. If you park somewhere and go hiking, you could normally leave something of value in the trunk, knowing it would a require an experienced lock picker to get to the trunk w/o the fold down seats. With the poorly designed option, you can access the trunk from the front of the car.

[Spaceman]

The ski pass through is quite flimsy though. Even when locked, I don't think its hard for someone to use brute force to get through it no?

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by 1stTbuyer

a big drawback with the fold down seats is that the trunk can easily be reached. If you park somewhere and go hiking, you could normally leave something of value in the trunk, knowing it would a require an experienced lock picker to get to the trunk w/o the fold down seats. With the poorly designed option, you can access the trunk from the front of the car.

I agree with this, but my Jetta had locking seat fold downs. I agree that it will be slightly harder to get through the seats if they don't fold down, but not impossible. You could just pop the trunk with the trunk release inside the cabin anyway.

[ward]

Originally Posted by CC 330i

I agree with this, but my Jetta had locking seat fold downs. I agree that it will be slightly harder to get through the seats if they don't fold down, but not impossible. You could just pop the trunk with the trunk release inside the cabin anyway.

not 100% on this but I know on my Z4, when the doors are locked the trunk release button does not work

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by ward

not 100% on this but I know on my Z4, when the doors are locked the trunk release button does not work

I think you are right actually.

Hmm, well, I would rather have a missing whatever in the trunk than a destroyed seat. Hopefully a theif would take mercy on me if they got into the cabin and wanted into the trunk. There is always a way.

It's like my Dad said when I was a kid: "if a theif really wanted to get into the house, he would just take a sledgehammer and knock a hole in the wall". Point being, there are only so many ways you can protect against theft.

I guess for me, I think the convenience of fold-downs outweighs any risks of loss due to theft.

[1stTbuyer]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

The ski pass through is quite flimsy though. Even when locked, I don't think its hard for someone to use brute force to get through it no?

does it actually lock? The ones I've seen do not have a locking mechanism. If you can get to the front, you can get into the trunk without any difficulties, as the ski-pass-partition is removed from the back seat, not the trunk.
I agree that it would take some effort to destroy the seats to get to the trunk w/o the fold down seats, and that may just be what saves the contents, as not everyone will be willing to undertake the job, specially if it becomes obvious to others around that it is a break-in.
I just think the option is a sad design job, considering the number of times people will place a purse or briefcase in the trunk, --not entirely secure, but certainly a much greater level of protection and piece of mind. In a valet case, may as well leave contents in the back seat, and trust the person you had over the valet key, as placing valuables in the trunk is a mute point.

[E90 Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by 1stTbuyer

In a valet case, may as well leave contents in the back seat, and trust the person you had over the valet key, as placing valuables in the trunk is a mute point.

...or a moot point.

I agree, BMW could have given this issue some more thought.