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BMW 5-Series Accessories and Modifications

115 messages,  Last post on Feb 02, 2009 at 7:06 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW, Audio, Navigation System, Performance Mods, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan, Wagon, SUV

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#48 of 115 re: 540i Sport 6 Spd Upgrades by 540isport Apr 09, 2003 (7:17 pm)
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.
#49 of 115 Why Not Just Get M5 Rather Than Upgrade? by riez Apr 10, 2003 (4:15 am)
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?
#50 of 115 Rationale for 540i upgrades by 540isport Apr 17, 2003 (5:16 pm)
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.
#51 of 115 Mods by riez Apr 18, 2003 (3:07 pm)
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.)
#52 of 115 Add Xenon/Rear sun shade/ NAvigation to 525iA? by sambeam Apr 21, 2003 (10:33 am)
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
#53 of 115 RE: Add Xenon/Rear sun shade/ NAvigation to 525iA? by sambeam by snagiel Apr 21, 2003 (11:43 am)
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.
#54 of 115 Aero add-ons by need4speed1 Apr 21, 2003 (11:47 am)
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?
#55 of 115 Xenon add-on by bmwguru Apr 21, 2003 (1:36 pm)
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.
#56 of 115 Adding a CD changer to 530i by hasanas Jun 16, 2003 (6:08 pm)
I just bought a 03 530i. I want to put a CD changer in the back. Any advice on which brands will work? I heard as long as the changer is Apline I should be OK. Any comments?
#57 of 115 Help I had a BLOWOUT...bent chrome wheel! by blkmanwrkin Jun 17, 2003 (5:57 am)
I have 19" wheels on my 99 528. I have the Hartge Classics. They look great! I had a blow on the freeway last wk. My problem lies in the wheel itself was bent. The tire must be replaced. Does anyone know of a place in the Los Angeles area that repairs bent rims? They're chromed and if I can repair the rim rather than replace it with a whole new one then that's what I'd like to do. Email me at wasup_HBhotmail.com

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