New car.....2 550i's
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
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From: Boston,MA
My Ride: 2003 X5 3.0----->gone
2004 Porsche Cayenne S : Gemballa front and back bodykit, fabspeed bypass pipes, Gemballa exhaust pipes, full option, 20" factory sport design rims------>gone
2005 545i 6-spd manual---->de-badged, CDV removal, Autosolutions short shift kit, resonator removal, premium package, PDC, xenon, almost full options, hardwire V1 install ....looking for mods...
2007 550i 6-spd----> Premium package, sport package, Logic7, heated everything, Rogue Engineering SSK, CDV removal, hardwire V1 install, aFe cold air intake, Custom Magnaflow exhaust....
Hey,
I just returned the lease of my 2005 545i. After 2 years, I have to say that it has been a blast to drive that thing. The acceleration and handling is addictive. At first, I looked at a number of 2004 E55 amg and was actually about to get one for $48000 preused with 29,800 miles. I test drove that thing and it was fast as hell. However, the handling of the E55 was inferior to the E60.
I was looking around for a pre-owned 550 with stick shift that has Nav and Sports package and it was impossible to find. I found one in perfect condition at Barrington Motorwerks but it has no Nav. It has Sports package, cold weather package, 6-spd with monaco blue exterior and beige interior....great looking car. However, I found the car I wanted sitting on the showroom floor at Laurel BMW at Westmont. Dealer gave me a sweet deal on the car and I just took it immediately.
My guardian drove my car for 20 mins from Westmont to downtown Chicago and within a day he got rid of his "lousy, problematic, crappy-brakes" touareg and got the Monaco Blue 550i, also 6-spd. According to the dealer, 6-spd manuals are hard to sell. As of last week, there were only 2 stick 550i's for sale in the country (one in TX and other in MN, both black)
Driving impressions:
Obviously the car is faster compared to the 545i. Handling and braking feels about the same. The biggest difference in power comes at low rpms. You can feel the power down low building up much faster as opposed to the 545. Having had the B&B for almost 2 years, I am not used to the quietnes of the car. I realized that lack of exhaust drone makes you a faster driver. 100mph comes by in a jiffy and you won't feel it until u stare into the speedometer. I had the opportunity to drive back from Chicago to Boston where I reside and it was a smooth drive with no problems.
The only problem I have is with the clutch. WTH is BMW thinking making a clutch that stops the car on a hill when u release the brakes????? I am not used to that feature and find myself using too much gas on uphillstarts. I think this is a ridiculous option that cannot be removed. But all in all, I love this damn car and so does my guardian *hope pics show*
I just returned the lease of my 2005 545i. After 2 years, I have to say that it has been a blast to drive that thing. The acceleration and handling is addictive. At first, I looked at a number of 2004 E55 amg and was actually about to get one for $48000 preused with 29,800 miles. I test drove that thing and it was fast as hell. However, the handling of the E55 was inferior to the E60.
I was looking around for a pre-owned 550 with stick shift that has Nav and Sports package and it was impossible to find. I found one in perfect condition at Barrington Motorwerks but it has no Nav. It has Sports package, cold weather package, 6-spd with monaco blue exterior and beige interior....great looking car. However, I found the car I wanted sitting on the showroom floor at Laurel BMW at Westmont. Dealer gave me a sweet deal on the car and I just took it immediately.
My guardian drove my car for 20 mins from Westmont to downtown Chicago and within a day he got rid of his "lousy, problematic, crappy-brakes" touareg and got the Monaco Blue 550i, also 6-spd. According to the dealer, 6-spd manuals are hard to sell. As of last week, there were only 2 stick 550i's for sale in the country (one in TX and other in MN, both black)
Driving impressions:
Obviously the car is faster compared to the 545i. Handling and braking feels about the same. The biggest difference in power comes at low rpms. You can feel the power down low building up much faster as opposed to the 545. Having had the B&B for almost 2 years, I am not used to the quietnes of the car. I realized that lack of exhaust drone makes you a faster driver. 100mph comes by in a jiffy and you won't feel it until u stare into the speedometer. I had the opportunity to drive back from Chicago to Boston where I reside and it was a smooth drive with no problems.
The only problem I have is with the clutch. WTH is BMW thinking making a clutch that stops the car on a hill when u release the brakes????? I am not used to that feature and find myself using too much gas on uphillstarts. I think this is a ridiculous option that cannot be removed. But all in all, I love this damn car and so does my guardian
*hope pics show*
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: Boston,MA
My Ride: 2003 X5 3.0----->gone
2004 Porsche Cayenne S : Gemballa front and back bodykit, fabspeed bypass pipes, Gemballa exhaust pipes, full option, 20" factory sport design rims------>gone
2005 545i 6-spd manual---->de-badged, CDV removal, Autosolutions short shift kit, resonator removal, premium package, PDC, xenon, almost full options, hardwire V1 install ....looking for mods...
2007 550i 6-spd----> Premium package, sport package, Logic7, heated everything, Rogue Engineering SSK, CDV removal, hardwire V1 install, aFe cold air intake, Custom Magnaflow exhaust....
oh crap.....sorry for the pics...i thought i saved them after i altered them i guess not 
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: Boston,MA
My Ride: 2003 X5 3.0----->gone
2004 Porsche Cayenne S : Gemballa front and back bodykit, fabspeed bypass pipes, Gemballa exhaust pipes, full option, 20" factory sport design rims------>gone
2005 545i 6-spd manual---->de-badged, CDV removal, Autosolutions short shift kit, resonator removal, premium package, PDC, xenon, almost full options, hardwire V1 install ....looking for mods...
2007 550i 6-spd----> Premium package, sport package, Logic7, heated everything, Rogue Engineering SSK, CDV removal, hardwire V1 install, aFe cold air intake, Custom Magnaflow exhaust....
how do u explain this invertied pic? I dont know it just came out this way
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: Boston,MA
My Ride: 2003 X5 3.0----->gone
2004 Porsche Cayenne S : Gemballa front and back bodykit, fabspeed bypass pipes, Gemballa exhaust pipes, full option, 20" factory sport design rims------>gone
2005 545i 6-spd manual---->de-badged, CDV removal, Autosolutions short shift kit, resonator removal, premium package, PDC, xenon, almost full options, hardwire V1 install ....looking for mods...
2007 550i 6-spd----> Premium package, sport package, Logic7, heated everything, Rogue Engineering SSK, CDV removal, hardwire V1 install, aFe cold air intake, Custom Magnaflow exhaust....
ok here's the pic...
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: Boston,MA
My Ride: 2003 X5 3.0----->gone
2004 Porsche Cayenne S : Gemballa front and back bodykit, fabspeed bypass pipes, Gemballa exhaust pipes, full option, 20" factory sport design rims------>gone
2005 545i 6-spd manual---->de-badged, CDV removal, Autosolutions short shift kit, resonator removal, premium package, PDC, xenon, almost full options, hardwire V1 install ....looking for mods...
2007 550i 6-spd----> Premium package, sport package, Logic7, heated everything, Rogue Engineering SSK, CDV removal, hardwire V1 install, aFe cold air intake, Custom Magnaflow exhaust....
more pics plus my guardian's monaco blue 550
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Originally Posted by Jeffs' post='426709' date='May 21 2007, 12:05 AM
Driving impressions:
Obviously the car is faster compared to the 545i. Handling and braking feels about the same. The biggest difference in power comes at low rpms. You can feel the power down low building up much faster as opposed to the 545. Having had the B&B for almost 2 years, I am not used to the quietnes of the car. I realized that lack of exhaust drone makes you a faster driver. 100mph comes by in a jiffy and you won't feel it until u stare into the speedometer. I had the opportunity to drive back from Chicago to Boston where I reside and it was a smooth drive with no problems.
Obviously the car is faster compared to the 545i. Handling and braking feels about the same. The biggest difference in power comes at low rpms. You can feel the power down low building up much faster as opposed to the 545. Having had the B&B for almost 2 years, I am not used to the quietnes of the car. I realized that lack of exhaust drone makes you a faster driver. 100mph comes by in a jiffy and you won't feel it until u stare into the speedometer. I had the opportunity to drive back from Chicago to Boston where I reside and it was a smooth drive with no problems.
: The fast guys play here. So, I say get a g-meter and show us how.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,926
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From: Singapore
My Ride: 530iA Silver Grey , black interior. Premium Package, Navigation System, Head-up Display, Radio Satellite, Adaptive Xenon Headlights. AC Schnitzer Front Lip, H&R springs, Rear red reflector, All season Floor mat,
Congrats Jeff! But why didn't you go for the facelifted models?
But why didn't you go for the facelifted models?
