E61 V8 Bearding

[Jobbo]

hornetrider said:

I test drove a 545i SE prior to buying mine. The ride was appalling - both wallowy and jiggly at the same time.

By contrast my Sport was wonderfully compliant with just the right amount of solidity, quite similar to my E39 Sport in overall quality just with some extra dialled in firmness.

I suspect it may have been down to the tyres, but I can't be 100% sure.

I sold my first 545i because it just didn't ride well. SE but with 18"s on run flats and sport suspension. My second was also an SE on 18"s but I replaced the tyres with Falken non run-flats and it had SE suspension with dynamic drive so no roll but a pliant ride. Amazing how the different spec changed it.

[dom9]

It's all in the tyres by the sounds of it.

My 545i SE rides fantastically on 18s and non run-flats!

[cerb4.5lee]

hornetrider said:

cerb4.5lee said:

... I always go for the bone crunching hard riding M Sport spec.

I test drove a 545i SE prior to buying mine. The ride was appalling - both wallowy and jiggly at the same time.

By contrast my Sport was wonderfully compliant with just the right amount of solidity, quite similar to my E39 Sport in overall quality just with some extra dialled in firmness.

I suspect it may have been down to the tyres, but I can't be 100% sure.

I'm always in two minds because I like the lack of roll and confidence inspiring cornering of the M Sport, but not that keen on the harshness of the suspension/run flat/bigger wheel combo.

In saying that I've only ever driven one SE model bmw and that rolled like a boat in the corners, and it just felt at odds but it did have a nice soft ride on its suspension/smaller wheels.

Edited by cerb4.5lee on Monday 6th March 22:59

[ATM]

My bilstein setup is firm but I couldn't call it hard. No roll here just planted. I saw a 59 reg 535d for sale and thought tempting...

[Jobbo]

dom9 said:

It's all in the tyres by the sounds of it.

My 545i SE rides fantastically on 18s and non run-flats!

Sorry, I missed out a critical fact - my second 545i was initially on run flats too. It still rode way better. Dynamic drive is the key, I'd say; it's a fantastic thing.

[trickywoo]

Jobbo said:

Dynamic drive is the key, I'd say; it's a fantastic thing.

I'm a dynamic drive fan too. Mine sometimes has an electronic wobbly and throws a dynamic drive error and you can really feel the difference with it working and not. I'd say it feels a totally different car with it and would be very reluctant to buy an E60 without it.

[hornetrider]

Ok its no estate but its LCI, new idrive, and absolutely mahooooosive spec.

So I'm posting it.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[ATM]

Yes I saw that but no dynamic drive. I've yet to find one with that. It does have active steering though?

Found a 530i with dynamic drive - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Edited by ATM on Wednesday 8th March 05:23

[JakeT]

hornetrider said:

Ok its no estate but its LCI, new idrive, and absolutely mahooooosive spec.

So I'm posting it.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

That has been for sale for AGES. I saved it on AT (I save anything interesting to me to see how long it sits for) on August 28th last year. Probably ripe for Valve stem seals, too.

[hashtag]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


this looks fun!

[hornetrider]

hashtag said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


this looks fun!

At 100 large it'll come onto my radar in about a decade!

[Bebs]

What a bargain.. Alpinas easily do big miles, got one myself.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

[hornetrider]

Bebs said:

What a bargain.. Alpinas easily do big miles, got one myself.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

20/05/14 Service & MOT at 138354 miles Kwik Fit Cannock
23/04/15 MOT at 142437 miles Walsall MOT
12/04/16 MOT at 145162 miles Rowleys Autos Coventry

[Bebs]

I did see the kwik fit service. But at that price you'd just give it a big service from an indie who knows the H1 engine.
The engine alone was £30k and totally hand built at Buchloe by one man using 30% standard N62 parts and the rest is Alpina specifically developed parts such as Mahler pistons, Alpinas own crank etc etc. It shares very little with a standard 545i. It's an absolute monster.

[Collectingbrass]

Who do people use for insurance? I was with a household name last year who didn't charge me too much when I bought my 645, but they now want 4 figures with no change in circumstances and I would sooner spend that on fuel.

[Philv8s]

That B5 is a bargain, as mentioned the H1 engine is a much improved version from the standard 4.4. you could source a new supercharger, do a top end refresh and still be quids in!

[dom9]

Flux, good post code, no points/ crashes/ other but only 2yrs NCB as I lived abroad previously <£500.

[hornetrider]

Well? Do ya?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322453499726

[JulianHJ]

That's been on AT for a while now at £9.5k

[hornetrider]

Looks well for an SE. Comfort seats. Uber low miles.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...