Not sure the argument that a BMW should have every feature standard is valid. BMW offers everything KIA does and more. And they install all those features in a much better car. Build your own 3 series with everything you think it should have standard and look at the price. That would be the base price if options were standard. If that's what you want they will be happy to sell you one that way. What about the people who just want the quality and feel of a BMW but don't care about frills and gadgets. I like the idea that BMW has a car for them too.
You have a point there. At least BMW will still let you order a car pretty much the way you want it (although not to the extent they used to) as opposed to the Asian car makers that bundle everything into packages.
I don't know. I think Mercedes Benz is pretty bad for bundling options in to packages and then requiring you to get a certain package if you want a specific other package. Porsche is pretty bad too.
I agree with the Benz part, they have many $5, 6, 9 thousand dollar option packages. Porsche is a good, lots of stand alone options, unfortunately the cost of each of those options is eye wateringly bad.
Yeah, I agree with the Benz thing as well. They seem to have an unerring ability to identify the 3 or 4 options I want most and put each one in a different option package. ![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/rolleyes.gif)
Going to have to disagree there. I just went through the E-Class configurator and could not find a single option that required any stacking.
(This is for E350 4M)
You can literally order a car with just the $3k Exclusive Package (fancy leather + headliner) and a Massage Seat (which is a standalone option!) and pass on everything else.
They also offer passive blindspot + lane keeping for $800 which is good IMO, less annoying version of the nannies.
The "advanced nannies" package replaces the $800 one, doesn't stack on top of it.
The premium package gives you all the requisite gizmos (smartkey, Harman Kardon, power trunk closer thing, 360 degree camera etc.) for $4k, while Nav is standard.
The LED lighting package is $1300 and gives you presumably excellent LED headlamps. Used to be a $1000-1200 BiXenon AFS package.
Panoramic roof is a standalone $300 option (!)
Metallic paint is free except the Red $500 and "Diamond White" $900
Almost any combo of paint/interior is available.
You want the AMG wheels? $500 standalone.
I think every combo of interior trim/interior color is also available. They do charge $250 for the one "special" interior trim thing, but its also standalone choice.
Way better than BMW. Maybe the C-Class is different but if memory serves Mercedes option setup is much better and more flexible than BMW.