I've entered the BMW fold!!!
Discussion
Dear All
After dreaming of and test driving various E39 M5s to use as a daily driver, I have settled on a 530d M Sport. Keeps some of the looks and handling of the M5 but enables me to save a few qui in petrol and insurance!
It's a very late 2003 model, 193HP, with all the upgraded lights etc. Goes pretty well in sport mode an I was quite impressed with how tight the suspension felt on test drive.
I know they can be chipped for an extra 30 HP but I have heard nasty stories of the turbos and gearboxes blowing up so I think I will leave as is for now.
Love the look of it, especially the 18 inch Parallels which are what makes the car for me!!
Any suggestions for mods??!
After dreaming of and test driving various E39 M5s to use as a daily driver, I have settled on a 530d M Sport. Keeps some of the looks and handling of the M5 but enables me to save a few qui in petrol and insurance!
It's a very late 2003 model, 193HP, with all the upgraded lights etc. Goes pretty well in sport mode an I was quite impressed with how tight the suspension felt on test drive.
I know they can be chipped for an extra 30 HP but I have heard nasty stories of the turbos and gearboxes blowing up so I think I will leave as is for now.
Love the look of it, especially the 18 inch Parallels which are what makes the car for me!!
Any suggestions for mods??!
Lovely looking car you've got there and a great colour too. As already stated leave it standard.
I had a Sapphire black late 525d sport also running on M Parallel's, but unfortunately after bumping it up a high kerb avoiding an accident it never drove the same afterwards (well that was my feeling anyway), so I part ex'd for another BMW.
I had a Sapphire black late 525d sport also running on M Parallel's, but unfortunately after bumping it up a high kerb avoiding an accident it never drove the same afterwards (well that was my feeling anyway), so I part ex'd for another BMW.
Hiya Sshenton,
Looks like a very nice example you've picked up! I'm sure you'll really enjoy the car and appreciate just why the car was voted as best executive saloon for 2 years!
Also, there is nothing wrong with having the car re-mapped, provided it's done correctly and properly by suitable higher end of the specialists out there. There are many 'horror' strories, but essentially boil down to have being done to a not so greatly maintained base vehicle or by the so called 'specialists' out there who don't really know what they're doing. I along with quite a few other PH'ers are on bmw5.co.uk and been having this very discussion recently. As part of your knowledge gathering, I had my E39 530d Touring re-mapped for the second time (the Police were the first owners who did it!) at around 182,000 miles. I now have well over 20,000 miles and I've had zero issues.
As some of the responses say, you can leave the car as it is and really enjoy it, I suspect you may want a few 'choice' mods though and it depends on really what you'd like to have. I'm more of a OEM++ modifier so perhaps some of what I and other's like me do maybe something you'd not go for! the usual areas are performance, styling, audio, braking, wheels, suspension and exhaust. I've upgraded each of those on my E39 (brakes will be very soon I hope!)
If there's any areas you'd want to know about, just ask and perhaps join up at bmw5.co.uk for any specifics etc
Cheers,Dennis!
Looks like a very nice example you've picked up! I'm sure you'll really enjoy the car and appreciate just why the car was voted as best executive saloon for 2 years!
Also, there is nothing wrong with having the car re-mapped, provided it's done correctly and properly by suitable higher end of the specialists out there. There are many 'horror' strories, but essentially boil down to have being done to a not so greatly maintained base vehicle or by the so called 'specialists' out there who don't really know what they're doing. I along with quite a few other PH'ers are on bmw5.co.uk and been having this very discussion recently. As part of your knowledge gathering, I had my E39 530d Touring re-mapped for the second time (the Police were the first owners who did it!) at around 182,000 miles. I now have well over 20,000 miles and I've had zero issues.
As some of the responses say, you can leave the car as it is and really enjoy it, I suspect you may want a few 'choice' mods though and it depends on really what you'd like to have. I'm more of a OEM++ modifier so perhaps some of what I and other's like me do maybe something you'd not go for! the usual areas are performance, styling, audio, braking, wheels, suspension and exhaust. I've upgraded each of those on my E39 (brakes will be very soon I hope!)
If there's any areas you'd want to know about, just ask and perhaps join up at bmw5.co.uk for any specifics etc
Cheers,Dennis!
hiya
Billzeebub - which car are you referring to ?!
Sshenton - Here's my twin ovals, Powerflow stainless steel back box only, £250 fitted a few years ago. The diffuser has to be cut to make space, the fitter in this case did a fantastic job and encouraged me to watch from 8 feet away as he did so! I was worried about it being 'drony' and said to them that if it was, i'd be right back for them to remedy. I needn't have worried! when I took the car out, there's a perhaps 10-15% increase in a 'low rumble' upon maybe 30-40% throttle, any less and the effect is less noticeable. It's in no way obtrusive and I'm very very happy with how it sounds.
Here's what it looks like
You can of course choose smaller tailpipes that may not need the diffuser cutting. I personally really like the big twin ovals and will be getting something similar on the other side for a quad setup
Cheers, Dennis!
Billzeebub - which car are you referring to ?!
Sshenton - Here's my twin ovals, Powerflow stainless steel back box only, £250 fitted a few years ago. The diffuser has to be cut to make space, the fitter in this case did a fantastic job and encouraged me to watch from 8 feet away as he did so! I was worried about it being 'drony' and said to them that if it was, i'd be right back for them to remedy. I needn't have worried! when I took the car out, there's a perhaps 10-15% increase in a 'low rumble' upon maybe 30-40% throttle, any less and the effect is less noticeable. It's in no way obtrusive and I'm very very happy with how it sounds.
Here's what it looks like
You can of course choose smaller tailpipes that may not need the diffuser cutting. I personally really like the big twin ovals and will be getting something similar on the other side for a quad setup
Cheers, Dennis!
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