Which to buy.. 530i or 530Xi?
12-31-2009, 11:47 AM
#21
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Zoo York
Posts: 9,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Originally Posted by Sebastiano' post='1082475' date='Dec 31 2009, 03:45 PM
thanks again for all the replies, if I do lower it with H&Rs I will get Bilsteins to go along with them. I have lots of experience lowering my previous cars and I agree, springs only ruin the ride pretty fast.
So to be sure, OFFSET on the wheels I get for an Xi, does it have to be something special? I wouldn't think so because the OEM wheels (17"s) already have a ridiculous looking offset and if I get wheels my offset will be going the other way
So what if I fit 530i sport springs on the Xi? OEM ones that is.. Don't think they will fit right?
I'm thinking more and more about getting the Xi
So to be sure, OFFSET on the wheels I get for an Xi, does it have to be something special? I wouldn't think so because the OEM wheels (17"s) already have a ridiculous looking offset and if I get wheels my offset will be going the other way
So what if I fit 530i sport springs on the Xi? OEM ones that is.. Don't think they will fit right?
I'm thinking more and more about getting the Xi
01-04-2010, 01:15 PM
#22
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PNW
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Pending..
yea I will be looking into the OEM M5 wheels and buy 4 fronts. Do you know the offset on those? I'm thinking to put spacers at the rear to make it flush
Also what is this I see everyone talking about M6 offset on M5 wheels? I'm confused..
Also what is this I see everyone talking about M6 offset on M5 wheels? I'm confused..
01-05-2010, 10:27 AM
#23
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 titanium silver metallic
Like new 41k
Cold Weather Package
Originally Posted by Sebastiano' post='1082345' date='Dec 31 2009, 11:58 AM
Yes see that's another thing I just thought about yesterday. On an Xi since you have to run same size tires all the way around, you can rotate the tires but on the a staggered set-up you obiviously can't so I will be spending a lot more money on tires just to be staggered. Hmm all these things got me thinking... the Xi I am looking at has ALL options (Navi, Xenons, Cold weather pkg, PDC etc) with only 30k on it and I could get it at same (or even cheaper) than the 530i I am looking at with 36k on it.
Has anyone lowered an Xi before? I don't want to SLAM it, I just want to throw on some Eibachs and buy the M5 Reps 19X8.5 all the way around....but what offset do I need to look at for the Xi as far as wheels go?
Has anyone lowered an Xi before? I don't want to SLAM it, I just want to throw on some Eibachs and buy the M5 Reps 19X8.5 all the way around....but what offset do I need to look at for the Xi as far as wheels go?
01-05-2010, 10:29 AM
#24
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 titanium silver metallic
Like new 41k
Cold Weather Package
Originally Posted by v_therussian' post='1082407' date='Dec 31 2009, 01:58 PM
2. I've done loads of research on the subject of lowering of the Xi and here's the deal: if you are planning to use your car in any manner other than "show", you have to use KW coilovers to lower. You can do your own research, but I can just tell you this: I've spoken (privately and publicly) to every forum member who lowered his/her Xi that I've run into. H&R springs ruin the handling and the ride on the Xi, you'll be riding on suspension's bumpstops, there will be bouncing and crashing. Original ride and handling will be lost.
(Sorry for correcting you, John
)
(Sorry for correcting you, John
)
01-05-2010, 11:35 AM
#26
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 titanium silver metallic
Like new 41k
Cold Weather Package
Originally Posted by C's Bimmer' post='1084578' date='Jan 5 2010, 02:40 PM
Does the XI Master need to step in and settle this? 
01-06-2010, 12:01 PM
#28
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 titanium silver metallic
Like new 41k
Cold Weather Package
Originally Posted by Sebastiano' post='1084783' date='Jan 5 2010, 07:50 PM
lol easy guys
thanks for the pic deeznutz
got any more?
thanks for the pic deeznutz
got any more? 
01-07-2010, 11:39 AM
#29
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PNW
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Pending..
nice thanks! Yea looks like the Xi will be a No Go because the dealer auction he was going to buy it from sold it for way more than we were expecting 
I will go down to the dealer Saturday and try to see if he still has a silver 530i with 29k on it...wish me luck I actually like this one better than the Xi since it has ALL the options I want (L7 sound, Navi, Xenons, COMFORT SEATS which I adore)
I will go down to the dealer Saturday and try to see if he still has a silver 530i with 29k on it...wish me luck
I actually like this one better than the Xi since it has ALL the options I want (L7 sound, Navi, Xenons, COMFORT SEATS which I adore)
01-07-2010, 11:51 AM
#30
Members
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 BMW 530xi Space Grey / Dark Grey
Sport pkg, Sun screens, Navi, 30% tint, HID Fogs, RDash license plate lights, LED Reverse lights, 6000k AE's, 20s Glossy black 128 wheels
Originally Posted by v_therussian' post='1082407' date='Dec 31 2009, 01:58 PM
Just call me V
Yes, the style 123 18s came stock - when I bought my car, I actually found the original sticker in the trunk (I'm the second owner) and it listed the wheels there. However, these particular 18s are not staggered. Up until a year or two ago, BMW did not offer a staggered option for Xi cars. That said, experience shows that staggered rims can work on an Xi, as long as you carefully match the overall rolling diameters of front and rear wheels. Best size seems to be 245/35/19 fronts and 275/30/19 rears (it is also the OEM sizes for the staggered 19 inch option for the X-drive e60's now).
Now, on to the lowering question (VERY VERY IMPORTANT):
1. AFAIK there are no OEM 166s that fit the Xi offset. Any and all replica 166s I've read/heard about aren't nearly as good quality as original equipment.
2. I've done loads of research on the subject of lowering of the Xi and here's the deal: if you are planning to use your car in any manner other than "show", you have to use KW coilovers to lower. You can do your own research, but I can just tell you this: I've spoken (privately and publicly) to every forum member who lowered his/her Xi that I've run into. H&R springs ruin the handling and the ride on the Xi, you'll be riding on suspension's bumpstops, there will be bouncing and crashing. Original ride and handling will be lost.
(Sorry for correcting you, John )
Yes, the style 123 18s came stock - when I bought my car, I actually found the original sticker in the trunk (I'm the second owner) and it listed the wheels there. However, these particular 18s are not staggered. Up until a year or two ago, BMW did not offer a staggered option for Xi cars. That said, experience shows that staggered rims can work on an Xi, as long as you carefully match the overall rolling diameters of front and rear wheels. Best size seems to be 245/35/19 fronts and 275/30/19 rears (it is also the OEM sizes for the staggered 19 inch option for the X-drive e60's now).
Now, on to the lowering question (VERY VERY IMPORTANT):
1. AFAIK there are no OEM 166s that fit the Xi offset. Any and all replica 166s I've read/heard about aren't nearly as good quality as original equipment.
2. I've done loads of research on the subject of lowering of the Xi and here's the deal: if you are planning to use your car in any manner other than "show", you have to use KW coilovers to lower. You can do your own research, but I can just tell you this: I've spoken (privately and publicly) to every forum member who lowered his/her Xi that I've run into. H&R springs ruin the handling and the ride on the Xi, you'll be riding on suspension's bumpstops, there will be bouncing and crashing. Original ride and handling will be lost.
(Sorry for correcting you, John
)
