550isport

I am dying to find out how the car rides and sounds. As some may know from my many posts, I am not satisfied with the suspension on my 07' 550i sport after installing 19 inch wheels and non-run flats tires (with the OEM rims and winter tires it handles like a proper BMW). So, now that BMW has done the same and recalibrated the suspension to accomodate, I can't wait to see if it merits an OEM retrofit, or whether Dinan/Koni is the way to go.

Yesterday night I paused the Soprano's on my cable box to go get take out for our guests. I wanted to get back quickly. On the higway, going completely straight in the middle lane, I hit a dip in the road (going 55 mph over the limit) and did not lift off the throttle. Well, the traction control light flickered - because the suspension compressed so much that when it rebounded the rear tires came off the ground enough to trigger the DSC - IN A STRAIGHT LINE on DRY pavement! And this was not a contruction zone or some bit of highway in need of repair. It's a normal stretch of highway that I have driven on for the last 17 years. Point is - I'm not crazy or too fussy for being disappointed with the 550's suspension. At present, it is far too soft for its tire wheel package combined with my driving style. I'm chaffing at the bit to change the suspension. I hope a former 545/550 owner takes delivery of an LCI 550 sport soon to make a comparison.

DRP

hinckley

I too have been disappointed by my 545's suspension (and steering and stick), especially compared to my E39 540. It's my fourth 5er and I just never really connected with the car like I did with my other ones.

Like you, I'm hoping the new 550 Sport gets back that old feeling. I have one on order for an ED pick-up on May 3. I'll be in Europe until May 11 and will try to post at least initial impressions, if not pictures, while I'm there.

CWG

I am expectng to take delivery of my 08 550i sport some time in the next three weeks or so. The ship it was on docked on Saturday in California and I am thinking it will take about 3 weeks or so to go through the VPC and then on to Hawaii. I have upgraded most of the other cars I onwed to either Koni or Bilstien shocks, and had a 1990 535i that I had the stage 3 Dinan Suspension set up added (Konis, springs, camber), so I am a fan of a taught suspension. When I drove the 07 sport 550i I was disapointed in how soft the suspension was. I had also driven the 750i with sport package, but it was way to soft and felt about twice as big as the 5, even though the overall size difference is not that great on paper. As my wife said during the test drive in the 5, "you seemed comfortable in the 7, but it seems like you have been driving the 5 your whole life." I will provide an assessment of the new sport suspension as soon as I am able to drive the car.

ucla95

bump