Changed my order from a 535 to a 550
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My Ride: Look At My Signature. -Other Rides and Previous Rides: 04 BMW X3 | 03 BMW 330i (Sold) | 05 BMW M3 (Gone)-
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Gotta love those V8. the drive is different for both cars, both are fun, just a matter of preference. Good Choice.
#22
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My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.
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Originally Posted by BMWSTL' post='447252' date='Jul 13 2007, 10:56 AM
I had ordered a 535i, reasoning that was a better car for me than a 550i. Close-in performance to the 550, and better fuel economy, for a lot less money.
I started thinking about upgrading the 18? runflats to non-runflats. Then I started thinking that if I was going to go that route, why not upgrade to a set of 19?s? I could then use the 18? rims for winter tires. Not a bad idea. I started pricing wheels and tires, and pretty soon was looking at spending $3000. At that point, the 535 was still a pretty decent deal, but less so.
Then I started looking at pictures of cars that had 166?s, 167?s and 172?s on them. Although I had earlier discounted the M-tech body treatment as something that I didn?t really ?need,? the look snagged me. The 19?s would look a lot better with the M-tech body treatment.
When I reached that point, I realized that the 535?s price advantage had all but evaporated. If I put those upgrades on the 535, I?d wind up with a great looking car but not have additional ZSP features of the 550 (enhanced suspension and exhaust), and would have a difficult time recouping the additional cost of those upgrades on the 535 when the time came to sell the car. I also reasoned that if I got the 550 and wanted to change out the 172?s to 166?s or 167?s, I could just put the tires and TMP sensors that came with the 550 on the new rims and sell the 172?s and probably do better than keeping the 18?s for snows and trying to dispose of a set of 18? runflats. I have no desire to enhance the engine performance of the 535 though a Vishnu or other aftermarket solution, so a 535 tuner upgrade path didn?t factor in. Plus the stock 550 ZSP is faster and, with the upgraded suspension, handles better (perhaps not by a lot on either count).
The 535 is a great car, and has its advantages. But the allure of the extras the 550 ZSP offers relative to the 535, the elimination of the cost difference given the upgrades I desired, and the performance advantages of the 550 ZSP, swung me around.
The dealer was OK with it, so I switched my order to a 550 ZSP. I?ll be waiting about a month longer for my car (end of August vs. end of July), but I?m glad I realized that the 535i was not the better route for me to go before I bought the car than afterward.
Lou
I started thinking about upgrading the 18? runflats to non-runflats. Then I started thinking that if I was going to go that route, why not upgrade to a set of 19?s? I could then use the 18? rims for winter tires. Not a bad idea. I started pricing wheels and tires, and pretty soon was looking at spending $3000. At that point, the 535 was still a pretty decent deal, but less so.
Then I started looking at pictures of cars that had 166?s, 167?s and 172?s on them. Although I had earlier discounted the M-tech body treatment as something that I didn?t really ?need,? the look snagged me. The 19?s would look a lot better with the M-tech body treatment.
When I reached that point, I realized that the 535?s price advantage had all but evaporated. If I put those upgrades on the 535, I?d wind up with a great looking car but not have additional ZSP features of the 550 (enhanced suspension and exhaust), and would have a difficult time recouping the additional cost of those upgrades on the 535 when the time came to sell the car. I also reasoned that if I got the 550 and wanted to change out the 172?s to 166?s or 167?s, I could just put the tires and TMP sensors that came with the 550 on the new rims and sell the 172?s and probably do better than keeping the 18?s for snows and trying to dispose of a set of 18? runflats. I have no desire to enhance the engine performance of the 535 though a Vishnu or other aftermarket solution, so a 535 tuner upgrade path didn?t factor in. Plus the stock 550 ZSP is faster and, with the upgraded suspension, handles better (perhaps not by a lot on either count).
The 535 is a great car, and has its advantages. But the allure of the extras the 550 ZSP offers relative to the 535, the elimination of the cost difference given the upgrades I desired, and the performance advantages of the 550 ZSP, swung me around.
The dealer was OK with it, so I switched my order to a 550 ZSP. I?ll be waiting about a month longer for my car (end of August vs. end of July), but I?m glad I realized that the 535i was not the better route for me to go before I bought the car than afterward.
Lou
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My Ride: Look At My Signature. -Other Rides and Previous Rides: 04 BMW X3 | 03 BMW 330i (Sold) | 05 BMW M3 (Gone)-
05 Infiniti G35 sedan, Premium Package, Bose Sound, HID, Sports Package, Hardwired Escort Passport x50 Blue Installed, New Transmission Installed, Navigation, Keyless Entry+Start
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Its all buyers preference. At the time I got my car, I could of got a 550i with the payments Im paying now for my car right now. Oh well. Whats done is done. With the gas mileage Im getting, Id rather go for the bigger engine. And still I have the updated 3.0L engine and seems not to help with the ridiculous weight of the 5 series.
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My Ride: '05 545i - scheduled for ED pickup in Munich on 7/22!
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that's cool. if i were in the market for an e60 now i'd get either a 535 and mod the hell outta it or get a used m5.
whatever floats your boat.
whatever floats your boat.
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