soft close doors..

[solrac6262]

Hello,

just got a 14' x5 50I that comes with soft close doors, fist BWM I purchased with this option..

the question I have, how do you guys normally close your door, if you have this option, is it like any other car..
or you have to do it slowly and carefully for the door to soft close

thanks for any info

[Doanster]

I use it only for those times where my normal closing action ("full strength") wasn't quite enough. Most useful when kids are closing the doors.
However, with the reports of some CA doors spontaneously opening, I find myself still re-opening and hard closing the doors just to be sure.

[solrac6262]

ok got it , good info thanks

[kkakonn]

It seems like the soft close doors on these cars are almost unnecessary. BMW did a great job on the hinges or something because I barely need to put any effort in closing the doors and they close fully shut. I have not once had to use the soft close feature other than when i'm showing off to people Lol..

[MysticBlue]

Just treat it like a normal door. It slams like any other car door. The only difference is if you happen to not close it hard enough to latch, it will latch itself. Nothing to concern yourself with.

[MiguelPt]

I close mine like normal doors...

In this x5 soft close is almost unecessary because the doors have "different" feeling then the previous x5 and close very well... But, like someone said before, it's good for kids.

[Alan l.]

I share the same sentiment about the X5 doors not needing the soft close option. I have it and its not necessary at all. The doors close very easily on this X5 compared to other BMW's i've had in the past.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by Doanster

Most useful when kids are closing the doors.

Even more so when kids are asleep in the car and you don't want to wake them up.

As to the comments about it being unnecessary, of course it is… no one needs the car to close the doors that last half-inch by themselves……. Just like no one needs a steering wheel that heats up, doors that unlock when you grasp the handle, etc. Unnecessary, but useful, for some. And before I got them, I was in the, "what's the point" camp. But having small kids that are often asleep after a car ride home from relatives' houses, and a wife that likes to slam doors, they're very useful, for us.

[shodanusmc]

like a normal door. My wife however slams them.....no changing her ways after all these years.

[puckybadger]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Even more so when kids are asleep in the car and you don't want to wake them up.

As to the comments about it being unnecessary, of course it is… no one needs the car to close the doors that last half-inch by themselves……. Just like no one needs a steering wheel that heats up, doors that unlock when you grasp the handle, etc. Unnecessary, but useful, for some. And before I got them, I was in the, "what's the point" camp. But having small kids that are often asleep after a car ride home from relatives' houses, and a wife that likes to slam doors, they're very useful, for us.

Heated steering wheel is mandatory. I use it daily for 7 months of the year.

[MiguelPt]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Even more so when kids are asleep in the car and you don't want to wake them up.

As to the comments about it being unnecessary, of course it is… no one needs the car to close the doors that last half-inch by themselves……. Just like no one needs a steering wheel that heats up, doors that unlock when you grasp the handle, etc. Unnecessary, but useful, for some. And before I got them, I was in the, "what's the point" camp. But having small kids that are often asleep after a car ride home from relatives' houses, and a wife that likes to slam doors, they're very useful, for us.

I think you didn't understand our position... In the e70 it was very necessary because doors didn't close well... In f15 it doesn't happen... They close very well and silently so i rarely use soft close at all (i have 3 small kids)...

But this is my opinion/experience and you have a different one

[NoPII]

Originally Posted by solrac6262

Hello,

just got a 14' x5 50I that comes with soft close doors, fist BWM I purchased with this option..

the question I have, how do you guys normally close your door, if you have this option, is it like any other car..
or you have to do it slowly and carefully for the door to soft close

thanks for any info

I got used to closing my (very heavy) E71 doors softly, and letting them soft close.

My F86 doors are so light that it doesn't really need it, even with a gentle close to start with. Plus the "soft close" system seems much slower than the E71 one was.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by MiguelPt

I think you didn't understand our position... In the e70 it was very necessary because doors didn't close well... In f15 it doesn't happen... They close very well and silently so i rarely use soft close at all (i have 3 small kids)...

But this is my opinion/experience and you have a different one

I guess my point was even on the E70, its not like you couldn't close the doors harder... Just saying "necessary" and "useful" two different things. Personally, I never missed them on my E70, don't think they even existed then (was an '07). But I find them useful now that I have small children. Sounds like they were useful for some on the E70 for other reasons as well, and those reasons may no longer apply to the F15... I get that part.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by puckybadger

Heated steering wheel is mandatory. I use it daily for 7 months of the year.

Lol you must have some poor circulation.

[SpacegreyCoupeLife]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Lol you must have some poor circulation.

Or he's just normal and has a luxury car that provides him with top of the line comfort options when he is uncomfortable ei when the steering wheel is cold...

[alphaod]

I don't normally slam my door regardless of vehicle, so this is good.

The only car I've driven that seems I really need to slam is the G-wagen.

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by SpacegreyCoupeLife

Or he's just normal and has a luxury car that provides him with top of the line comfort options when he is uncomfortable ei when the steering wheel is cold...

+1

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

like a normal door. My wife however slams them.....no changing her ways after all these years.

hahaha, i feel your pain. we've had this features in many vehicles but her old commuter car was a subaru and she just developed the habit. very difficult to break that habit.

[double_j]

I've found the soft close doors relatively unnecessary given that it's pretty easy to swing the F15 doors closed. They still slam shut pretty solidly. Maybe helpful if you have kids or somebody who otherwise can't swing the door with regular effort but most people won't miss them.

I was actually a little underwhelmed when I first saw them and I had to check the option sheet to make sure the car actually had the soft-close function. I thought they would 'catch' the door from slamming, similar to how 'soft-close' cabinets work.

[iconoclast]

when i first had soft-close doors it was back in the day on an acura legend. that is how they operated. it would stop the door from slamming and then suck it in. it is weird how now they operate in different manner depending on the manufacturer.

[ajob]

Actually, it was developed as a stealth-back-home option for lovers returning at 3 am.

[SpacegreyCoupeLife]

Originally Posted by ajob

Actually, it was developed as a stealth-back-home option for lovers returning at 3 am.

Right ?????