Not sure how to word this topic, but here goes, I'm on my 3rd E60, 04,07 and now an 09 all with sport pkg. but for some reason this car is way lower to the ground than my other two. I've screwed up my bumper for the second time today, dam I'm pissed, the first time I thought that the parking bumper was a little high and maybe I wasn't careful enough. My dealer was able to refit it for the low price of $500.00.

Today, it happened again in front of my office where the parking bumpers are new and all level, what gives why did BMW make these bumpers so low, I know the car has new M style bumpers and side skirts, but they still need to be usable.

Am I the only idiot with this problem or are others having similar issues?

 

u got ripped off btw

im slammed and i am just careful how i drive in some areas

 

i did that before when i first got an m3. you just got to learn to not pull up too far. stay back.

 

+1

 

I fit the car right in the middle of the parking spot. No need to hang the front or the rear of the vehicle over the parking bumper or into the sidewalk. Save the sidewalk width for pedestrians, strollers, wheelchairs, shopping carts etc. I no longer approach the sidewalk or the parking bumper. With this habit, I park my E60 Sport/M-Tech, Lexus LS, or any of my other cars/truck without incident.

Sidewalks and parking bumpers come with different heights. Even parking bumpers in the same lot. Damaged parking bumpers are replaced with bumpers of different heights. The iron rods (rebar) that hold the bumpers to the ground sometimes stick up a few inches! Try placing the front or rear end of the vehicle over that iron rod in the dark!

When approaching a bump, so down sufficiently to that you can release the brake just before reaching the bump. This gives you a few precious extra millimeters of ground clearance because you are not compressing your front springs with your brake. As always, angle your way up and down an inclined ramp or driveway.

--Victor

 

I have had similar problems on my last three 5s. The E34 M5 was a bear - but learned to not pull too far ahead after driving over a concrete bumper bar held in place by two upright rebars sticking up 3 inches above the concrete. Ouch!

My current 535xiT, with the M-Sport pac does not seem to be too low. Perhaps BMW does not lower M-sport cars with X-Drive

Since I have park distance - I have often thought that it would be nice if PDC had a monitor just for high bumper bars - usually just after making contact.

 

Off topic, but... Your new car looks great!!

 

Ummm, errrmm, , my wife has done this several times. She's scored up both sides of the front, plus detached the parking stop feeler underneath, don't know how she manages. Then again this is the same woman that backed over my lawnmower and kept going (not in the e60 thankfully).

Do you have a lawnmower Jocet? JUST KIDDING!

I always park short of the parking stop/curb, whatever is there.
My solution is to leave it for now, and when I get her a car of her own to destroy I'll take sole possesion and put on the M body kit.

 

I have the Hamann lip and no issues just be careful...I always reverse in and park. Opps...but my wife did scrape the bottom of it one time when she drove it.

 

I appreciate everyones advice, it's not that easy to park short of the curb or parking bumper all the time, no doubt, I'll try. The real question I have and maybe I should have worded my topic better would be, is the bumper on the 2009 550 with sports pkg to low. The car is very cool and looks great, but guys I have had 3 E60's all with sports package and 4 3 series cars also with sports package, I've never had this problem before. Why can't BMW offer the same looks with another inch of clearance, or is this a profit center for the dealers???