u/No-Crazy7818

I posted my first impressions of a new-to-me 2024 eDrive40 CPO about a week ago - https://www.reddit.com/r/BMWi5/comments/1vd692c/2024_i5_edrive40_cpo_first_impressions/

Here's my week 1 follow-up focused on gadgets I bought/installed (because I'm a sucker for those) and changes I made...

The seats are great - thanks to u/L-Malvo for pointing out the side bolster feature!

They are Veganza - I bought McKee's Vegan Leather 3-in-1 product, which seems to do a great job and the smell is pleasant enough. I'll probably get a little vacuum to keep in the car as well - suggestions welcome!

I love the HUD, but of course it doesn't work with polarized sunglasses - so I got some cheap Ironman non-polarized ones.

I debadged it (using dental floss, Goo Gone, and a Dremel with a polishing pad) - that may be looked down upon in some circles, but I prefer the clean look. Also blacked out the front and back roundels (using eBay decals) - I'll do the wheels when I have plenty of time and patience. At least I'm not slapping on racing stripes or M badges!

Someone mentioned liquid getting in the USB-C charging ports - I can understand that since the ports are indeed basically in the cup holders! Mine are working fine, but I bought cheap covers anyway.

I also got a cheap plastic insert for the middle console so now I have a "layered" middle console.

License plate cover is a basic "BMW colors" one - bonus, it came with semi-decent looking BMW-themed tire valve covers.

For the key fobs, I got a great "Heavy Zinc Alloy Key Fob Cover" from Amazon - it's heavy AF but I like it. I'm hearing these things are crazy expensive so I wanted to protect mine.

I went with 3D Maxpider Kagu floor mats and I'm impressed - great fit (both front and back). I had WeatherTech in my old car, but that always felt outdated.

I have the FitcamX on order - yes, I have read the reviews and I understand it won't be the greatest quality (I have my old Viofo one on standby if it doesn't work out), but the form factor is worth a try - I'll share my experience once I install it.

I also have Dr. ColorChip coming (Squirt 'n Squeegee Plus Kit) to see if I can fix some minor chips (and the gash I left with the Dremel when debadging wasn't going fast enough....)

I bought the Emporia Pro charger with PowerSmart for home charging - that will be installed next week; I'll update then. So far, I've been charging on 120V (painfully slow but it works just fine). Definitely excited about Home Assistant integration!

I have the BimmerTech ProTool Bluetooth Adapter coming this week - excited about that as well.

And last and also maybe least - I couldn't resist and bought some Puma "Drift Cat Decima" shoes... They're actually pretty decent.

Just picked up a new-to-me 2024 i5 eDrive40 (CPO) - Brooklyn Grey Metallic. Picture is from my first charging experience!

I come from a 2018 Audi A4, which I absolutely loved - it had a Stage 2 tune on it, which made it that perfect balance between utter comfort and a beast when pushed. Alas, that Audi is no more.

I picked up the i5 from a dealer ~ 200 miles away. Within 5 minutes of leaving the dealer, I had the car in self-driving mode - what a great experience! I already cannot imagine not having the DAPP option.

HUD was new to me, and again - I cannot imagine not having it.

Seats are not as comfortable as what I had in the Audi - maybe because I have the Veganza option? To be fair, I did not know about the option to raise the front part of the seat (that small piece that sticks out), and that did make a positive difference (still not as comfortable as the Audi's full leather one, though).

For the DAPP driving experience, the main thing I had to get used to was where the car positions itself: always in the middle of the lane. I am used to adapting (if there are 3 lanes and I'm in the middle lane and there's an 18-wheeler in the right lane, I'm not going to be driving in the middle of my lane - I'll be towards the left... That's especially true when I'm in the left lane).

It also acts like a driver that I'm used to cursing at - it will merge into a lane and then slow down to respect the trailing distance. I know that can be adjusted, and I do prefer the safety of this automation over my own "get in that left lane and get going!" attitude...

Also took me just 1 missed exit to realize that the car will not take exits for you - I was fully expecting it to do that for me since it had the route all planned out.

I have the 21" wheels - I've done enough research to realize that I'm probably going to regret that at some point, but damn, for now, do they look good or what!!

I had major range anxiety that first day, which wasn't helped by the system suggesting some charging points in shady parts of town at motels that barely have electricity in the rooms, let alone at EV chargers - I was completely surrounded by no EV chargers at all. Not sure what's up with that. I ended up at a reputable Electrify America one (the one in the picture) and paid as much as a tank of gas - but it cured my range anxiety. I'm having an Emporia charger installed at home.

One major gripe is the material on top of the center console - that's where my elbow sits, and it's not comfortable. I may need to find something to cover that.

The air conditioning buttons being on the screen is not as bad as I was expecting - however, there desperately needs to be a fan option between "Ultra Low" (or whatever it is) and "Low".

Stereo (I have the H/K option) is just fine - I would have gotten the B/W one if I could have found it, but no big deal.

Probably of note: I haven't taken it out of "Efficiency" mode yet!

In short: I love the driving tech, I love how it drives, but I'm not in love with the seat. I was hoping for it to be plusher.