Closing Thoughts
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, CA
My Ride: 2008 550i
Yesterday I sold my 08 550. I only owned the car for 9 months, and had to sell in order to get a place of my own. As of right now I'm driving my father's 06 MB C300 and I undeniably miss the 5. I just wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on the time that I did own the car and just give a few of my random thoughts on the vehicle.
-The sprintbooster is awesome. It makes the car FEEL faster. A worthy investment at under $300. I left it installed when taking my car in for service and didn't get any flack for it (Stevens Creek BMW - SA: Steve)
-The RPI scoop is a very cost effective mod that would benefit everyone. It definitely makes the car feel more responsive, especially at highway speeds.
-BMC filter is pure gold. I took it out before taking the car to the dealer to have it serviced and it felt a lot more sluggish without it (even with the SB and scoop still installed)
-I had General Exclaim tires put on for the last 2 months I had the car and for the price they are a great value.
-Had my wheels aligned at Sonic MS and they did a great job. Much better alternative than paying the dealer price.
-For anyone with an LCI car and the standard Automatic Transmission, the SAT retrofit is something to consider. I did it mainly because I hated the look of the Stock shifter but it really did make the car drive differently. Check out the thread on it: https://5series.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=55056 Parts came out to around $650 (through Garry @ Newport)
-Formula 1 Pinnacle Series Tint - @ just 35% on the front windows, it made a HUGE difference in reducing the amount of sunlight that came in. Especially with a Black/Black car. Had mine done at Rocky Mountain Tint Company in Livermore.
I also wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the help. I obviously don't post too much, but I'm on here constantly at work just browsing and without your help I wouldn't have known about much of the above. Keep up the great sense of community that you all have established here.
For those wondering what car is next, I'm thinking about an e36 M3 to tie me over for a few years. After that who knows...
Cheers,
Hameed
-The sprintbooster is awesome. It makes the car FEEL faster. A worthy investment at under $300. I left it installed when taking my car in for service and didn't get any flack for it (Stevens Creek BMW - SA: Steve)
-The RPI scoop is a very cost effective mod that would benefit everyone. It definitely makes the car feel more responsive, especially at highway speeds.
-BMC filter is pure gold. I took it out before taking the car to the dealer to have it serviced and it felt a lot more sluggish without it (even with the SB and scoop still installed)
-I had General Exclaim tires put on for the last 2 months I had the car and for the price they are a great value.
-Had my wheels aligned at Sonic MS and they did a great job. Much better alternative than paying the dealer price.
-For anyone with an LCI car and the standard Automatic Transmission, the SAT retrofit is something to consider. I did it mainly because I hated the look of the Stock shifter but it really did make the car drive differently. Check out the thread on it: https://5series.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=55056 Parts came out to around $650 (through Garry @ Newport)
-Formula 1 Pinnacle Series Tint - @ just 35% on the front windows, it made a HUGE difference in reducing the amount of sunlight that came in. Especially with a Black/Black car. Had mine done at Rocky Mountain Tint Company in Livermore.
I also wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the help. I obviously don't post too much, but I'm on here constantly at work just browsing and without your help I wouldn't have known about much of the above. Keep up the great sense of community that you all have established here.
For those wondering what car is next, I'm thinking about an e36 M3 to tie me over for a few years. After that who knows...
Cheers,
Hameed
Contributors
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Sorry you have to part with the car. Nice write-up. Cheers.
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,432
Likes: 1
From: San Jose, CA
My Ride: E60 M5, F85 X5M
Nice write up Hameed. Too bad we didn't get a chance to meet up when you had your car but hey, you're more than welcome to come out to the next meet with your E36 M3. 
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,084
Likes: 0
From: Thousand Oaks, California
My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
Good Luck with whatever your next BMW is (an E36 M3 is a WONDERFUL car by the way!) 
Senior Members
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Rockaway, NJ
My Ride: 04 530i Space Gray/ Black Dakota Leather interior with SMG, Sports Package+ Paddle Shifters, HUD, NAV, Premium Package, Multi-Contour Seats, Xenons , Logic 7.
Good wirte up bro, best of luck with your next car.
Contributors
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,373
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA
My Ride: Titanium Gray 550i, Cold Weather Package, Premium Sound Package, Sport Package, Shadowline trim, Parking Distance Conrol, Xenon, Adaptive Headlight Control, Navigation System, Satellite
Great write up, Hameed! Generous of you to share your learnings. Very good move on the real estate! Congrats!
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,561
Likes: 0
From: Milky Way, Earth, N. America, CA, San Jose, 95136, Latitude N 37� 16.837, Longitude W 121� 50.461
My Ride: 2004 530i | Sapphire Black | Sport | Premium | NAV | Logic 7 | DPE R07 Variant S Gloss Black with Polished Lip 20x8.5 front 20x10 rear | Falken FK452 tires 245/30/20 front 275/30/20 rear | H&R Coilovers | Smoked Tail Lights | M5 trunk spoiler | AC Schnitzer style roof spoiler | HID 8000K headlights & foglights | 35% tint all around | Sprint Booster | Speed Innovation ECU tuning | M5 trunk finisher | M-Tech body kit | Remus Quad Exhaust | AC Schnitzer style pedals | Euro Stickers | RPi Ram Air Induction | Smoked LED Side Lenses | AC Schnitzer style e-brake handle | AC Schnitzer style shifter | AC Schnitzer style iDrive knob | AC Schnitzer style carbon fiber diffuser | carbon fiber hood/trunk/steering emblems | carbon fiber grilles | carbon fiber door pillars | MTEC v2 Angel Eyes | Hamann style carbon fiber splitter
+1 nice write-up Hameed.. like Tony said too bad we never met up especially since you live in Milpitas.. see you around!
