[spuntyb]

I personally wouldn't spec a car without it. I'll be buying this lease out in November, since I know there's no point trying to find an allocation with B&W available to order in the next few months. Sucks, but I like my car, and spending a ton of $$$ to "upgrade" to the new iDrive that I don't like and the HK sound system is a no-go, even with the other LCI improvements.

But that's just me. I think I'm in the minority.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I have a '19 M5 with HK, soon to be retired for a '22 M5C. It's the best daily driver I've ever had, but I decided that "absolutely, no matter what" my next M5 would have BW, or else I wouldn't get a new one. Played around with the online configurator a lot before I started shopping around and knew exactly what I wanted. I started shopping around for an M5C all over the country, but couldn't find the color/wheel combination I wanted. After months of searching daily, I found a car, built exactly how I wanted to the T via the configurator, including BW, with a CA dealer who wanted $20K ADM on top a fully specced $125k-ish M5.

I considered the option, but couldn't justify the ADM, on top of having to enclosed trailer the car to the Northeast.

I have a preexisting relationship with my dealer that previously sold me my M5 and another BMW years ago. I got the exact same build as the CA dealer car, for no ADM (in fact, below MSRP), as I wanted, except for the BW. Even though this was a "deal breaker" for me in the beginning, and I was dead set on BW, when they told me they could get me the car expeditiously, I decided to forego it.

To go backwards a little, I hated the HK sound so much during the time with my car, that I went to BavSound and go the under seat Ghost Subwoofer Kit to replace the HK under seat subs. They're certainly not BW, but a hell of a lot better than HK. I'm going to transfer them into my new M5C. You should start with those as well. They have a generous no questions asked return policy if you're not satisfied, and you can install the pair yourself in about an hour with a tool kit they will sell you as well. They also do upgrade kits for the rest of the car's speakers. While I didn't do that in my existing car, I will do it on my new one.

Start with subwoofer kit, if it's not enough for you, go with the complete kit for the whole car. Feel free to shoot any questions my way!

As more knowledgeable people than me have said on the forum, it's going to be a while if you decide to wait for BW.

[micvite]

Originally Posted by AAM5

Hi there,

New to providing advice on the forum, but a few really cool owners (@micvite, @SFT33, @can-am) really helped me out here today, so I am trying to pay it forward.

I have a '19 M5 with HK, soon to be retired for a '22 M5C. It's the best daily driver I've ever had, but I decided that "absolutely, no matter what" my next M5 would have BW, or else I wouldn't get a new one. Played around with the online configurator a lot before I started shopping around and knew exactly what I wanted. I started shopping around for an M5C all over the country, but couldn't find the color/wheel combination I wanted. After months of searching daily, I found a car, built exactly how I wanted to the T via the configurator, including BW, with a CA dealer who wanted $20K ADM on top a fully specced $125k-ish M5.

I considered the option, but couldn't justify the ADM, on top of having to enclosed trailer the car to the Northeast.

I have a preexisting relationship with my dealer that previously sold me my M5 and another BMW years ago. I got the exact same build as the CA dealer car, for no ADM (in fact, below MSRP), as I wanted, except for the BW. Even though this was a "deal breaker" for me in the beginning, and I was dead set on BW, when they told me they could get me the car expeditiously, I decided to forego it.

To go backwards a little, I hated the HK sound so much during the time with my car, that I went to BavSound and go the under seat Ghost Subwoofer Kit to replace the HK under seat subs. They're certainly not BW, but a hell of a lot better than HK. I'm going to transfer them into my new M5C. You should start with those as well. They have a generous no questions asked return policy if you're not satisfied, and you can install the pair yourself in about an hour with a tool kit they will sell you as well. They also do upgrade kits for the rest of the car's speakers. While I didn't do that in my existing car, I will do it on my new one.

Start with subwoofer kit, if it's not enough for you, go with the complete kit for the whole car. Feel free to shoot any questions my way!

As more knowledgeable people than me have said on the forum, it's going to be a while if you decide to wait for BW.

HEY! I didn't think there existed people that didn't think I was just an asshole! Glad I was able to help (with whatever it was)

[MackSea70]

If you personally feel that you absolutely MUST have B&W and that by not having it, it will ruin your enjoyment of the car, then only YOU can make that decision, not a bunch of us.

Having said that, I had B&W in my spec and I was pretty upset when I was told not only was it going to be delayed, but was then subsequently pulled from my build by BMW NA and once pulled was no longer able to be added back, no matter how long I was willing to wait. This, combined w the fact that there was a cohort of cars built around when mine was with B&W was frustrating.

So I took the loss of B&W as an opportunity to option up. I added CCBs and MPE. I love both the options - my wheels are always clean w the CCBs and the MPE gives the car some attitude.

Now, back to B&W / HK. So I end up with HK. During my drive home from the performance center, I'm playing some music but did not take time to set up the EQ and such and I'm pretty unimpressed. Got home, looked up some tuning threads, made some adjustments, ran some music thru at a relatively high volume to break in the speakers and viola the HK sounds pretty darn good. Is it audiophile? Heck no, not even close. Does that matter? Heck no, not when you've got MPE drowning out most of the music anyway. Does it give a little bass bump? Yeah and the highs are pretty good too. Do I miss the lighted speakers? Yeah.

YMMV

Enjoy the car however you spec it!

[bmw.ant]

I ordered an M5 withj BW in december, was delievred to vpc 3/5, still waiting on RAM. No idea how much long it will take, but theres seemingly no way to get answers.

[Moserkm]

Just contacted my dealer about my order that seems to have stalled. Talked with the general manager/co-owner. He’s the one that mentioned he has a contact that might still be able to get the B&W added to the order. Now, a month later, he says his contact was not able to because the B&W has been completely removed from the system. He says he hesitates to call it impossible now because he has seen crazier things, but highly unlikely it will get added back into the system.

[CFoote]

I've had both systems, the B&W in a 540 and the HK on another 540 and a incoming CS. The B&W is not $3k+ better in my opinion. The light show is nice at night, but the system does not sound 3x as better. I have B&W with Krell electronics for my home system, so I do know what good sound is...

The chassis needs bigger drivers in the doors and bigger subs under the seat to give you the dynamics and loudness/clearness that many are seeking. While the B&W is very good, it is limited by the design.

If the car is a "forever" car and you plan to keep it for a long time, I can certainly understand waiting, but if you plan on selling the car or leasing it, I really don't see the need to wait on it.

Tune the h/k with the equalizer and it sounds very nice for what it is.

Chris

[NJ_F80ZCP]

Originally Posted by CFoote

I've had both systems, the B&W in a 540 and the HK on another 540 and a incoming CS. The B&W is not $3k+ better in my opinion. The light show is nice at night, but the system does not sound 3x as better. I have B&W with Krell electronics for my home system, so I do know what good sound is...

The chassis needs bigger drivers in the doors and bigger subs under the seat to give you the dynamics and loudness/clearness that many are seeking. While the B&W is very good, it is limited by the design.

If the car is a "forever" car and you plan to keep it for a long time, I can certainly understand waiting, but if you plan on selling the car or leasing it, I really don't see the need to wait on it.

Tune the h/k with the equalizer and it sounds very nice for what it is.

Chris

Originally Posted by CFoote

I've had both systems, the B&W in a 540 and the HK on another 540 and a incoming CS. The B&W is not $3k+ better in my opinion. The light show is nice at night, but the system does not sound 3x as better. I have B&W with Krell electronics for my home system, so I do know what good sound is...

The chassis needs bigger drivers in the doors and bigger subs under the seat to give you the dynamics and loudness/clearness that many are seeking. While the B&W is very good, it is limited by the design.

If the car is a "forever" car and you plan to keep it for a long time, I can certainly understand waiting, but if you plan on selling the car or leasing it, I really don't see the need to wait on it.

Tune the h/k with the equalizer and it sounds very nice for what it is.

Chris

I couldn't agree more about my B&W. Its very underwhelming for the $3k. My biggest issue is the "depth" in sound due to a lackluster mids and lows from it being "underpowered." I'm not excited to be shopping around for aftermarket solutions. The biggest plus is the ambient lighting from the speaker grills. Just not sure if its worth $3k.

[nerdogray]

It's definitely not worth $3k, but it's worth $3k to avoid spending $10k on aftermarket... and the unavoidable cosmetic damage someone always causes when working on a vehicle at that depth. The B&W is just good enough that it keeps me out of that "this thing just plain sucks" mode of thinking... so I can think of other things that suck more... like Tesla.

[aj_g80]

lol. might as well wait forever.

[sevenn]

Thanks to everyone for the reply! We made the change to H/K.

Finally got production time also (first time since 21 July): Week 18
Expected delivery end of May/early June

[Ron1n]

Personal opinion, but having had the HK in my 2018 M550i and the B&W in my 2021 M5C, the sound difference (to me) is dramatic. It has more low frequency expression (if that's your thing), the clarity of sound is better, and overall, just a better system to me. I used to think it didn't matter that much, but my opinion has changed and I will not order/buy another without B&W in it. I do miss the Logic 7 system that I had in my 335d, though....best bang for your buck, period, but that was back in 2010.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by sevenn

Thanks to everyone for the reply! We made the change to H/K.

Finally got production time also (first time since 21 July): Week 18
Expected delivery end of May/early June

Congratulations!

[mjr24]

You guys realize last date of production for the M5 is like June of 2023. By the time you get your car delivered, the car is going to be an old model in less than a year and you are still paying new car pricing. That's why the LCI wasn't an option for me when my 19 M5 lease ended in December.....

Especially with pricing where it is now...I could never pay new car pricing for what will be an old model.

[windtendo]

Originally Posted by mjr24

You guys realize last date of production for the M5 is like June of 2023. By the time you get your car delivered, the car is going to be an old model in less than a year and you are still paying new car pricing. That's why the LCI wasn't an option for me when my 19 M5 lease ended in December.....

Especially with pricing where it is now...I could never pay new car pricing for what will be an old model.

Mark my words, the next generation M5 won't come out until 2025. BMW has a track record of the M5 lagging a year behind the regular 5 series model. If you get a 2023 M5 delivered later this year, you could drive it for 2 full years before the new M5 is even out.

[Moserkm]

Originally Posted by mjr24

You guys realize last date of production for the M5 is like June of 2023. By the time you get your car delivered, the car is going to be an old model in less than a year and you are still paying new car pricing. That's why the LCI wasn't an option for me when my 19 M5 lease ended in December.....

Especially with pricing where it is now...I could never pay new car pricing for what will be an old model.

This is why I'm so anxious to find out if there are any changes for the 2023 MY. If there are significant changes like the wrap-around dash display, I will change my order to be a 2023. If there are no changes, it really doesn't matter if I get a 2022 or a 2023. I have about 30 days right now to decide. I actually had the number one slot for a 2023 when another dealer said I could get an allocation through them. I gave up my spot and I'm thinking it might have been a mistake. We'll see I guess.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by windtendo

Mark my words, the next generation M5 won't come out until 2025. BMW has a track record of the M5 lagging a year behind the regular 5 series model. If you get a 2023 M5 delivered later this year, you could drive it for 2 full years before the new M5 is even out.

Oh absolutely….the new M5 comes out a year after. However, regardless, it's still an old body style 5 series once the new model comes out (even if the M5 isn't out yet for the new series).

People need to keep that in mind when they pay the prices they are paying. The 7 series right now can be had for 10 percent off MSRP for the same reason.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by Moserkm

This is why I'm so anxious to find out if there are any changes for the 2023 MY. If there are significant changes like the wrap-around dash display, I will change my order to be a 2023. If there are no changes, it really doesn't matter if I get a 2022 or a 2023. I have about 30 days right now to decide. I actually had the number one slot for a 2023 when another dealer said I could get an allocation through them. I gave up my spot and I'm thinking it might have been a mistake. We'll see I guess.

They aren't doing anything new for the 2023 like that….

[sevenn]

She got the VIN today

[SFT33]

Life is short - trying to keep up with the next greatest thing is a losing battle. Pre-LCI, LCI, new model, Pre-LCI, etc. It’s a special car. Buy it and drive it.

[Ron1n]

Originally Posted by mjr24

They aren't doing anything new for the 2023 like that….

Can confirm. LCI had already happened, and this would be an LCI level change.

[imolaa_m5]

BW is worth the wait. I ordered my car 9 months ago just got it 2 weeks ago it was ordered so long ago that it was a 21 production car and they pushed it to a 22 just because of the BW delay plus also probably because I did individual color lol but yeah worth the wait.