This pick shows the ride height better:



For me it's OK - but I agree with you that the rear sits quite high. I think this is down to the rear skirt on my car which flares up and out. Newer models don't seem to be quite the same as this (mines an 04 plate)

 

The current se bumper i believe still has the lifting lower rear apron section. The sport models are more rounded under. The facelift model later this year has slightly restyled bumber although from what ive seen harldly noticeable.

 

cheers for the pic needforspeed, looks pretty good!

some cars with standard suspension and big rims dont look right! but the 5 looks good. probably much better in the flesh.

 

Thanks needforspeed, nice locking car even dirty!

One problem we have with these pictures is, that we mostly shoot them
with the car standing still and no one in the car.
The weight of two people takes the car down a bit.
Also the angle of the pic taken makes a big diffarance.

But as said the height of the tyre/wheel combo does not change from 245/40 18
(pic of my car) to 245/35 19".

Only the rear will look better since the tire is wider (245/40 18" vs. 275/30 19").

 

The 06 plate 5's deffo have a different bumper - bit closer to the sport styling.

If you look at ricracings pic - his bumer doesn't seem to have the flared bit right at the back that mine has - I think this might have changed between 04 and 05, but am not sure.

ricracing - thanks for being nice about the car even though it's filthy. Yours is MUCH cleaner

 

As I said the angel of the pics makes a big differance.

The bumpers have not changed since the intruducton of the E60 in the summer '03.

PS. The pic is take last summer.
My car looks like this in the wintertime (see cell cam pic) but is much, much dirty...
Did today 400 km.