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Sedans BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series Accessories and Modifications
115 messages, Last post on Feb 02, 2009 at 7:06 AM
You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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I do have a 2003 530i. Is one service better than the other? Is the unit a stand alone or intergrated into the factory radio? Another unrelated question,, Are there chrome exhaust tips available for the 530? Thanks. |
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Both XM and Sirius offer similar plans. XM is cheaper ($10/mo versus $13), but Sirius is completely commercial-free, whereas XM has some commercials on some of its channels (albeit far less than regular radio's 20 minutes of ads per hour). You can view their channel lineups on their respective websites. Technically speaking, their satellite and repeater networks are somewhat different. Sirius' system arguably offers better reception, but that's largely an academic distinction, I think, because in the past year I've experienced very few and rare signal loss with my XM receiver. There is a big difference in the two companies' financial strength, though. Both are desparately signing up new customers as fast as possible in a race towards profitability, and both have big automakers partnered and/or invested with them. But XM got a huge head start, and currently has somewhere around 400,000 customers, whereas Sirius has only about a tenth as many. And their respective stock prices reflect those varying finanicials. I love my XM system, and use it almost exclusively in my car (CD's are infrequent, and traditional radio is almost never used). However, since Sirius is now offered as a factory option, it offers seemless integration and control through the factory head-unit, so I'd probably go that route if I were you. The unit includes a receiver module tucked away in the trunk, and an antenna mounted somewhere (presumably on the roof or rear windshield). And you can tune into channels through the factory head-unit and (I believe) see artist and track information displayed there. As for exhaust tips, the standard tips bend and aim downwards, so I don't think it would be easy to attach aftermarket chrome units. Besides, there's no view because the lower bumper molding would obscure them anyway. Some folks have installed low-restrictive muffler systems and cut M5-esque slots into the bumper moldings and fitted chrome pipes, but that's certainly not a cheap or easy option. |
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I have an early 1998 540i Sport-6 Spd. Over time I added Dinan parts including: Stage 2 suspension, front and rear strut braces, cold air intake with KN element, upsized air flow meter housing, free flow exhaust and corresponding soft ware for all that. Also had Momentum - Houston add a short shifter. Impressions. A torsionally stiff chassis is now bulletproof. The car is always hunkered down and looks great with a slightly lower and more aggressive stance. Under steer much reduced ( Stage 3 will eliminate it entirely), turn in much sharper (S03 Pole Positions also help). Short shift kit is great. Engine note and exhaust note is much more aggressive without being obnoxious or sounding like a rice burner. Throttle response is crisper. 0-60 is improved some (5.6) but most benefit is mid and upper range. Mid range torque is very very strong. Upper end breathing is really good for extended track work or if you just want to pull hard to the now 6400 rpm limiter. Aint no Lexus gonna keep up. Same for Must GTs or any Jags without superchargers. At the track very good and predictable handling and good performer. Top end is proven at least 165 indicated (160 calibrated real on mine.) Momentum performance mechanic tells me some of the biggest difference is made by installing a lighter weight fly wheel (the 540i stock one is very heavy to give you more of that smooooth turbine feel.) I will probably do that if and when I need clutch work. |
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540isport... What did all those upgrades cost? I've always wondered why some people spend so much time, effort, and money upgrading rather than just buy the upgraded car to begin with? In this case, why didn't you just buy an M5? |
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Dear riez, Good question. The answer for modifying my 540i are several. First, I bought it because I wanted a sporty car that I could also take clients and other real people around in. In 1998, the choice was easy. Lexus- landyachts, jaguar - performance not even close, reliability aweful, Corvette - 6 spd convertible fun but not a client car and dealers wanted 10k over msrp. NFW. M5 and new M3 not made then. So, the 540i 6spd was a great fast sedan but I wanted a harder edge out of it. First move was suspension which made a big difference despite the fact that I had the factory's sport suspension. Satisfied with Dinan's product the other changes were made over time. Many if not most were done before M5 came out. Cost of changes is less than 10k (if your interested Ill get an exact number.) $53 +10 still quite a bit less than M5. Irrelevant anyway since many of the changes already made. Also, many, many M5s get the same treatment. Many people are buying M5's and putting on Dinan suspensions, Dinan dual cold air intakes, Dinan exhausts and Dinan software. So they are spending the money anyway even though they have an M5. The 540i is lighter than the M5, breaks just as well, handels just as well with suspension and tire upgrades. Add a Dinan supercharger and it is also faster than an M5. Then again, Dinan is developing a supercharger for the M5. It is reportedly tuned for near 600 and made more but driveline components were breaking at 700hp. So, how much money do you want to spend. With an M5 you will spend 75 at least for the car and still probably drop 10k more at least. |
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I'm a stock purist. Other than maybe changing tires and shocks. I wouldn't even consider buying a used car that had been heavily modified. And I can't imagine spending $10,000 or so in addition to the already high MSRP. Nothin' more depressing to me than to see an old classic car saddled with heavy modifications. Nothin' prettier than a stock classic. And they are worth the most. Took my '98 540i6 in for new tires (Continental ContiSportContact 2s). There was a near perfect stock '68 Shelby GT500 convertible w/428. Too bad it was automatic. All the exterior and interior trim pieces. Only 42,000 miles. Immaculate. Complete set of papers! Yours for only $75,000. Probably just me. To each their own. (I prefer my cars like my women. No enhancements.) |
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Hi: If there is a 525iA , is it possible to add - XENON lamp system - Rear sun-shade (manual is fine) - Nav system to the car in after market? preferably by auth. delaers? Does anyone have experience? Pricing? suggestion? THANKS A LOT. Sambeam |
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You can add all of the above, but I suspect a dealer would shy away from these since they're not normally dealer-upgradeable accessories, but rather factory-installed ones. However, if you do find a willing dealer, expect the following prices: Xenons: Parts of around $1300-1500, 1-2 hours labor Sunshade: Electric parts cost several hundred dollars, but labor would probably be 5-7 hours Nav: Parts around $2k, labor 3-4 hours(?) Some other websites (e.g. BMWTips.com) offer detailed instructions on installing some of these, if you prefer to DIY and save some money. |
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Does anyone know whether front air dams/chin spoilers, advertised for 1997-2000 5 series, fit on 2001-2003 models? Also, as far as quality goes, how does fiberglass rate? I've seen body kits on e-bay that are like AC Schnitzer or Hamman kits, but made out of multi-layers of "hand-laid fiberglass." Does installation of roof spoiler and M5 deck spoiler require drilling? |
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| Actually it would be closer to $4k in parts. The headlight housings are different, the wiring harness is different, controllers, etc. Not to mention labor costs. Most dealers would probably avoid doing the install because of the amount of mods needed to make it work. | |
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Sedans BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series Accessories and Modifications
