[Westside Guy]

I realize that many people like to have all the "bells and whistles" when they order their cars but I would love to know what percentage of BMW owners actually spend the money for a charging pad when it is available on their build.

I personally don't see the ROI of spending $500 on a charging pad vs buying a charging cable for only a few dollars.

[TAZ007]

I wouldn't. It's nice to have but not $500 nice.

[ebirotedu]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I realize that many people like to have all the "bells and whistles" when they order their cars but I would love to know what percentage of BMW owners actually spend the money for a charging pad when it is available on their build.

I personally don't see the ROI of spending $500 on a charging pad vs buying a charging cable for only a few dollars.

The wireless charging feature coupled with Carplay seems like it's mighty convenient. Instead of having to plug in a cable, and mount your phone someplace (things I do in my current and last daily driver), you just drop it into the charging cubby and interact with it through the touchscreen.

I didn't see the point of having a heated steering wheel or heated seats, or even a Bluetooth media connection when I could route audio through a 3.5mm jack into a stereo aux input. But now that I've had cars with those features and learned to make use of them, I don't particularly want to give them up.

Is it worth $500? Well, the car I'm getting has Active Cruise Control, and the Parking Assistant - these are not things I particularly care about or feel like I need, but I did add them to all of the cars I built in the configurator and they're part of the options list for the car I'm waiting on. Why do I want those features? Partly because it may make resale easier at some point. And also partly because I want to try them out and see how useful they are. The idea of assisted driving for interstate travel is pretty appealing to me. When I was a twenty or thirtysomething driving 4+ hours was no big deal - just another adventure. Now I find those drives to be intolerably boring and somewhat fatiguing.

If the wireless charging feature worked well with iPhones, I'd have added it if it were an option. But it wouldn't stop me from getting a car without it either - I'll just get a RAM mount and a cable and deal with plugging the phone in to charge and managing music app launch and initial playback through the phone UI.

So yeah, the wireless charging isn't something you need, particularly if you're not accustomed to it. But like a lot of things in the modern world, a feature like that can remove some of the rough edges in life.

[Westside Guy]

You don't need to plug in your phone to work with CarPlay.

[ebirotedu]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

You don't need to plug in your phone to work with CarPlay.

Right, but I like to keep it charged, so lacking a wireless charging pad I am going to plug it in.

**EDIT - I take your point - if you’re already putting the phone into the cubby and using CarPlay then having to plug in a charge cable isn’t a big deal. Agreed.

In my case, I’m pretty sick of Apple’s Lightning connectors - they’re worse than micro-USB, and that’s saying something. So I’d still gladly get the wireless charging option just so I didn’t have to deal with crappy lightning cables and the crappy lightning port that can clog up with impacted pocket lint.

I’m due for a new phone, which would have a USB-C port, but have been holding off because this one still shows that the battery is healthy and it runs all my apps just fine.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by ebirotedu

Right, but I like to keep it charged, so lacking a wireless charging pad I am going to plug it in.

**EDIT - I take your point - if you’re already putting the phone into the cubby and using CarPlay then having to plug in a charge cable isn’t a big deal. Agreed.

I used an inexpensive coiled iPhone charging cable which doesn't take up too much space and simply plug it into the phone and leave it in that space.


Also I always let my battery run down before charging the phone. Maybe I am old fashioned but I was always told that the battery will have a longer lifespan if you do it that way.

[COKen]

Has anyone tried an after market wireless charger in the spot where the stock charger would have been if it was installed? If so, does the phone get hot with the after market charger?

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I realize that many people like to have all the "bells and whistles" when they order their cars but I would love to know what percentage of BMW owners actually spend the money for a charging pad when it is available on their build.

I personally don't see the ROI of spending $500 on a charging pad vs buying a charging cable for only a few dollars.

The charging pad assembly probably also includes digital key?

I'd take the charging tray if I could. I use it all the time on my X6, but my new Z4 doesn't have it.

Rob

[ebirotedu]

And it (wireless charging) is back as an option in the BMW USA configurator….

The wireless hotspot could be useful, but I suppose you need a subscription for that? Probably not something I’d pay for.

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by ebirotedu

And it (wireless charging) is back as an option in the BMW USA configurator….

The wireless hotspot could be useful, but I suppose you need a subscription for that? Probably not something I’d pay for.

Owners are far better off using their phone as a hotspot.

Rob

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by mss400

My dealer called me today and told me the charger is back on the Z4 but as a $500 option (even though it's not back on the site yet). I decided to get it even though it's sort of priced crazy and it was included before.

I looked at the picture on the "Build your own" section of the BMW website for this $500 option and it doesn't look like the Z4's console. The picture shows 2 cup holders next to the charging slot and my cup holders are in the closed console section. Did anyone else notice this?

[COKen]

I think some of their photos are just generic and not car specific.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by COKen

I think some of their photos are just generic and not car specific.

I wish the cup holders in the Z4 were located there! 😥

[pinky2022]

Is there an aftermarket one that can be added or can we get the part number and add it?

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I wish the cup holders in the Z4 were located there! 😥

The only thing I don't like about the 'other' position for cupholders is that it blocks access to the charging pad on my X6 (where my phone is) when I have drinks in there.

Someone should design some alternate cup holders for the Z4. Maybe something could be 3d printed?

Rob

[COKen]

Seems like BMW has had issues with the cup holders for some time now. Guess it is because they didn't know what a cup holder was until people in the US started complaining about not having any. My M Roadster didn't come with any.

[Wife'sCar]

Yeah, none of the Z3s had cup holders. But there were a couple enterprising folks who offered them as aftermarket additions that fit into the center console to the rear of the shifter.

But I don't think one buys a roadster based on the existence/absence of cupholders!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by COKen

Seems like BMW has had issues with the cup holders for some time now. Guess it is because they didn't know what a cup holder was until people in the US started complaining about not having any. My M Roadster didn't come with any.

I remember test driving a 2004 645Ci and the cup holder was removable and attached to the passenger side of the console. My salesman in NY said that it was an afterthought because people were complaining about the lack of cup holders in the car.

[COKen]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I remember test driving a 2004 645Ci and the cup holder was removable and attached to the passenger side of the console. My salesman in NY said that it was an afterthought because people were complaining about the lack of cup holders in the car.

That was about the time they were just starting to try to figure out why anyone would want a cup holder in a car.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by COKen

That was about the time they were just starting to try to figure out why anyone would want a cup holder in a car.

I guess they never imagined driving on the open road in the summer with the top down and wanting to stay hydrated.

[leeatmg]

Originally Posted by mss400

My dealer called me today and told me the charger is back on the Z4 but as a $500 option (even though it's not back on the site yet). I decided to get it even though it's sort of priced crazy and it was included before.

Thanks for mentioning it. I emailed my dealer and had them add it to my (as yet unallocated) build.

For me, it's not about the $ but the look and convenience - I'm not a fan of cables where I can avoid them, and I feel like, for the cost of the vehicle, another $500 is a ripoff but one I'm going to do anyway.

[Westside Guy]

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys!