bimmerhitman

I picked up my new 545i last Thursday at the Performance Center in Spartanburg, S.C. First off, I HIGHLY recomend taking delivery there if you can swing it. It is well worth the time and money to get there. Everything else including lunch and dinner is free!!! Driving Instruction and classroom instruction as well is worthwhile. A breaking test 60 - 0 is one excercise and the other is driving on a small track with cones on the backstretch and frontstretch as well is very enjoyable. The driving instructor gives feedback from a two way radio. Only complaint is that they made us stop driving!!! The highlight of the trip was a wet skidpad demonstration of how well the DSC works, and of course, what happens when it is turned off!!!! Drifting around a wet skidpad with a professional driver in an M5 - yes, I said an M5! was great. I received an extra "spin" on the skidpad as he finshed with a full drifting figure " 8 " A tour of the museum is nice but much smaller then I expected, and the tour of the plant is incredible. Technology and engineering at it's best. And the rumors are true, you CAN eat off the floor. Car delivery is nice, better than at a dealer, mainly becasue of where you are and how the setup is. I seemed to know more about the car than the delivery "specialist" did, but he did a good job nonetheless. So here are my impressions so far. I have 953 miles on the car and getting to 1200 hundred cannot happen fast enough! The car's power is incredible, and this is not going above 4500 RPM and not over 100 MPH. I am so much more comfortable in this car than I was in my previous 330i. The car is solid, and super quiet. The engine is very quiet as well. Whether or not I like that I will have to see. I like to hear a little engine and exhaust notes when I get on the power. I have not experience any of the problems others have had at speed with crosswinds, and I had a 670 mile, very windy drive home from S.C. I think I really like the active steering, but need to get used to it. One thing I am not sure of with the steering is how responsive the car actually is in comparison to how it feels. It takes next to know input to get the car to swerve and turn, so it gives the impression that the car really is not moving as quickly and as resonsive as you expect, especially compard to my previous 330i with sport package. IDRIVE is not a problem for me at all - just have to get used to when to turn it, when to click it, and when to hit the menu button but it really is not as bad as others made it out to be. In regards to handling, all I can say is WOW! The 275's in the rear are really doing their job back there and keeping the car right where it should be and reacts to throttle turning just like a BMW is supposed to. And the design - well, I love it! I fell in love with it the minute I saw it and still love to look at the car even more so in person. I have the Premium Sound and cannot be more impressed with a stock system. Sounds are clear and accurate, and the bass response is impressive. For a stock system, not bad at all. It does not compare to my MB Quart speakers, Rockford phosgate sun and amp, and Phoenix gold amp, but good nonetheless. So those are my impressions and my experience to date. My BBS RK 2 piece wheels are scheduled to be here on Monday, so I hope to have them on the car on Tuesday. I will post pics as soon as I get them on and find some time and a nice location for pics.

Thanks!

hoffrussell

You're 100% on regarding the handling and acceleration, and I'm going to steal your words to describe the car to friends, because unless they drive it they wouldn't understand. This is the best handling car I have ever driven. First time with BMW and I am a convert in 2 days!

pennetta

Did your car come with the red rear reflectors at the bottom of the bumper? I heard that on the newer builds they will have them. My car was built March 18 but I won't see it for a few weeks.

bimmerhitman

it came with the black filler plates. all US cars will not come with the red reflectors from what I understand

ky_soldier

it had to do with the Federalization. I bought a set over in Germany. There are plenty of people in the forums buying boxes of them to sell to others here at cost. Keep your eyes open.

tdocz

COGRATULATIONS.

HOW IS YOUR SOUND SYSTEM?

I AM GETTING POOR AM / FM RECEPTION WITH MINE.

LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET YOUR CAR IN THE US.

Rudy

Thanks for the update on the Performance Center Delivery. Your post is the first I've seen across many boards with regard to this choice.

I'm scheduled to pick mine up in Spartanburg on 4/19. Can't wait!

Guest_guest

Hoffrussel - that's great - but what did you drive before? Just Curious!