[DR-JEKL]

Hey guys I have been in the JDM tuning scene for more more then 10 years, and now that I'm in my 30's having 600hp on 20's being slammed isn't exactly something I aspire to drive on a daily basis.

I'm looking to buy a 530-545i E60 sedan for daily driving as it offers European styling, performance & class that the euro's do so well!

I realise this is a E90 forum, but there doesn't really seem to be a Aussie E60 forum that I could find and figured some former 5 series owner may be here, and I'm sure most of you guys have a fair idea of the BMW general knowledge for options/issues.

One thing that always amazed me with BMW was the lengthy options list. A 530i for example could be listed as an entry RRP of $110k when new but could easily be $130k by the time the car rolled out of the dealership when delivered with a few options. This makes buying a 2nd hand vehicle somewhat difficult when comparing prices as you cant just use age and mileage for an indication on price.

I have been using the following site to determine what car comes equipped with what options: http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

So I have a few questions in regards to options:

1. adaptive headlights- do they really offer much of an improvement? I cant do without xenon/HID lighting but since I do little driving at night I dont think this feature would be all that critical and if anything could just be another thing to go wrong down the track?

2. Dynamic drive - This option interests me a great deal as I still enjoy a sweet handling car but don't enjoy the crashing over bumps. This option supposedly offers a compromise between comfort and performance, but is it just a bunch of marketing jargon with troublesome electronics (am I better off with conventional upgraded sway bars from eibach- this is a another question in itself also all AUDM E60's came with active steering does that mean you cannot upgrade sways?)

3. sports aero pack - I do like the look of the bumper kit how much lower is the m tech front bar then the standard item?

4. sports/comfort option seating - Do they offer an improvement over the oem items?

5. M Sports Suspension - What does it consist of? I believe they are 1" lower then standard is it just lowered springs with revalved shocks, or does it include reinforcing of the chassis with upgraded bushings also (once again is it just marketing BS when a simple KW coilover kit would suffice)

6. TV - How difficult is it to retrofit this option? I imagine reception would be quite poor in some areas

So if car A is $40k with no options and car B is $45k with sports seat adaptive headlights, dynamic drive, heads up display, is the extra $5k worth it? Or am I just better off buying Car A and putting coilovers and sway bars on with some rims?

Lastly thoughts and opinions on a low mileage 530i <80k vs a 545i with >120-130k? I believe the driveline of the 530i is most bulletproof as it had been honed from its predecessor the E39 and the 545 driveline has also been carried over yet is known to have a few mechanical issues. Needless to say once I purchase the vehicle it will be subjected to servicing as per the logbook, but I don't wish to be replacing major components.

I don't require the extra power that the 545i offers, but hey I'm sure many of you would prefer an extra 100HP & V8 burble at your dispense?

I apologise if this topic has been covered before, please before you flame me add the link of where this topic had been covered countless time before and then feel free to hook in with profanities (but hey this is a bmw forum not a honda forum right!?)

Cheers guys

Shane

[Jexus]

Hey Shane, sold your IS300 yet?

omgitsmejeff from Altezzaclub

[DR-JEKL]

Hey mate, sold her to a young guy on the central coast.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

1. Not much improvement over stock... it's nice on a flowing country road to see them curve, but in the city, you'd be hard pressed to see them working
2. No idea on the active steering part, but dynamic drive in it's earlier forms was a bit of a gimmick... not really any more comfortable than regular - not really any better handling than the sports versions (or aftermarket suspension at that!)
3. M Sports (came as an option with front & rear bumpers, side skirts, sports seats, sports steering wheel and suspension lower by about 10-15mm) is a must in my opinion. The cars look very plain without it. It can be retrofitted though.
4. Sports seats came with the Msports... more comfortable and more lateral support. Standard seats are a bit flat.
5. M sports suspension (unless optioned seperately, came with the Msports pack) consists of sportier dampers and 10-15mm lower suspension... no upgade to sways or bushes or anything.
6. Not sure. If there's a will there's a way!

Go 545 for V8 good-ness

That said, 530 is a very sensible choice.

[shrink]

not to disagree too much, as most of what is said above is spot on.

but if the E46 and E39 are anything to go by, then the M sport version of the E60 will have a thicker ARB, and should have slightly stiffer bushes on the arms. In the E46 the bush parts for the SE and Sport models are seperate.

[sbce90]

In your hypothetical, I'd get Car B.

[DR-JEKL]

Thanks for your input guys, its pretty much what I had suspected in terms of some options being overpriced for what they offer (I believe dynamic drive was a $4k option)

That said the M tech or m sport model is a desirable model as it featues sport seats, steering wheel, rims, lowered suspension, tv, and of course the bodykit which as stated does transform the front end appearance of the car.

[DR-JEKL]

Just another question who is the best co to source replica oem m tech or m5 bars through here in australia?

I did see mars performance offered them, but wasnt convinced by their photos which displays a oem m5 as a demo of their replica product...

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

Just another question who is the best co to source replica oem m tech or m5 bars through here in australia?

I did see mars performance offered them, but wasnt convinced by their photos which displays a oem m5 as a demo of their replica product...

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