clarence

Ahh, but Thailand is different. BMW is not averse to making 'Thai specials' just for that market. Our '95 E34 525i has a 2.4 litre engine + 4 speed autobox, a unique combination for Thailand only. I'm not sure whether they've introduced LCI there yet, but they've only recently introduced the Valvetronic engine on the 525i there (they were behind by nearly 2 yrs for that market, hence the continued availability of the 520i).
I'm 99.999% sure the LCI 525i there will not come with the 3 litre engine, due to excise tax applied to cars over 2500cc. The 520d may or may not get the updated engine, there's no news yet it seems. I do hope they will offer the 320d there, then it'll be a good replacement for us.

jurgen

I live Thailand now for 15 years and had a number of Volvo's as they where priced more reasonable. The tax levy is 185% on CKD assembled in Thailand with a minimal local content of 20%. I yet have to drive the new 525, but I don't think the LCI will ever make it here. The Malay 530 assembled in Sha Alam is nice with a good kit level, presumably close or better to the Indo versions, but again, with the tax hitting you, getting one over just doesn't make sens.

I haven't had much success on serching chip's for the new 525 (anyone?) and putting a supercharger on is not an option as the risk is too high for my flavour.

clarence

Volvos were 'prestige' cars that are good value for money. Back in the 80's/90's, Volvo was selling big in the Thai market & they have excellent image. When my family moved there in 1989 from Hong Kong, they bought a 2nd hand 740GLE with a few hundred kms on the clock for I think 1.2m Baht (nearly HK$400k at that time). Comparing prices betwen HK & Thailand, they were put off by the expensive prices of the E34 5ers (the E30 3er is too small). I think a E34 520i w/129bhp engine costs well over 2m, & the 530i (called 5S there for some reason) was well over 3m. Both are CKD with few equipment (as well as a Thai special a/c system with single-zone temp adjustment). Taxes were lowered by the Chuan govt for a time, but vested interest (possibly lobbying by the Japanese) meant changes to the system to penalise cars with big engine or big power output. My father got his 95 525i when they were doing finance specials on that car, with very high deposit rates in Thailand, he calculated that the car costs in real terms 1.6m. We still have that car in Bangkok. taken care of by Millenium Pharam IV. If BMW Thailand does bring out the 320d, we may consider replacing the 525i, as only my dad travels to Bangkok now.
I think LCI will come out after BMW Thailand used up their current stock of CKD parts, but it depends on whether it's sales will be affected by the facelifted E-class. BMW Thailand (& previously Yontrakit) did bring facelifted versions, but at a later date than worldwide markets).
As for chipping ur car, I bought a chip by Superchip (from UK) for the 525i. Got it installed by Yontrakit after buying the German technical manager a few beers, I guess they couldn't care less then as it was approaching handover time to BMW AG for the complete assembly & sales operation. The current 525i engine with Valvetronic is a different matter, as systems are now much more optimised than b4, so performance improvement may not be big. Also don't forget chipping requires RON98 fuel. On the other hand, I can see some tuning potential with the 520d.........

Ricracing

Then you are down to the LCI 523i witch has a 2,49 litre engine.

There will also be available a 520i with a 2 litre petrol engine with 170 hp.

Go for the MI '08 520dA with a 177 hp engine.
It will be out in October.

clarence

Certainly hope so, but u'll never be sure for Thailand. They do not follow the normal factory cycle (same with other CKD markets). LCI has not even been launched in Thailand, & between 520i & 520d (the original 520i with 2.2 engine is still on sale there), which cost the same there, the choice is obvious. It's highly probable that BMW Thailand will not offer the LCI 520i as they want to assemble the most profitable products, leaving 520d as the entry-level 5er.
Quite frequently, technical upgrades on German-build BMWs doesn't apply to all CKD BMWs. Thailand has it's fair share of strange things on it's CKD cars, for example, they used 4-sp autobox on the models where German-build ones used 5-sp (they still used the 4-sp auto on the E39 5er until the 2000/01 facelift), etc etc.
The general market for cars in Thailand is very uncompetitive, with few choices & very high prices.

rodneyremington

bmw_wpq31

We here in malaysia are also uncertain on the lci e60's variant...until now they're still not out yet...rumours say it'll be here in malaysia by this coming november...fyi, malaysia also offers ckd bmw's...most probably, sales & marketing strategy...

p.s : e60 525i here are priced at RM388,888.00 = USD$108,024.44 (USD$ 1.00 = RM 3.60) imagine an M5 priced here at RM 888,888.00...

Ricracing

November sounds about right for the E60 MY '08 overthere.

Look foreward to it and do not buy the old one!