phester

I have a 530i with Sport Package.... amazing car, but a few quick questions.

I have all standard audio. Any way to add a sub? There is very little bass. I had an X5 with standard audio and all I did was add an amp and sub - worked perfectly. I am hearing that this is not as simple on a 5 series....

Second question... The iDrive knob - can it be changed? the new 7 series has one with leather insert. Can we order this and simply put it on the 5 series? Does the current iDrive knob pull off like a manual stick does?

Also, iPod your BMW - does this work with 5 series...? I have a service coming up - I was thinking of just asking them to install it at that time. Is it as easy as that? Do you need anything already installed?

Thanks for any input.

- Phester
'05 530i SP, PP, Xenons, Silver on Gray
'02 325i, SP, PP, Steele Gray on Gray

jksanford

I have the 530 with the sport as well, you have good taste!

I have seen posts about this in the DIY section (i think that's where), but it's not as easy as in the other models.

I think there is another post abou that, and someone posted the part number to order. The knob just comes off (I pulled up--- carefully) and it came off..

iPod doesnt work on the e60, but you CAN get an AUX input for your iPod. This will not give you the playlists, etc. on iDrive, but you will be able to use it. My dealer wouldn't install the AUX port, so I just got SAT.

later,

james

gwf545

Subwoofer - look into Infinity BassLink. Prices are all over the place, so shop around. I installed one myself in the trunk of my e39 528i. It made a significant improvement. You would need a wiring diagram which may be hard to come by for an e60. Pro installation may not be too expensive. There may be an installation kit for the e60 now though. Search the web.

phester

Great, thanks for the replies!!

Man, this is some car. I came from a '99 328i, manual tranny, sport package. That was an amazing car - my first BMW and I have never turned back. Then I got a 2002 X5 3.0 with a manual tranny also. That was some automobile. I loved it with a passion, but the gearing was so short that driving stick in it gave me road rage. So my lease was up and I thought that the E60 would be out of my price range.... but it was not - I ended up with a 530i, sport, premium and (sorry to say) an auto tranny. But what an auto it is. The tranny holds the gears so well around the curvies... This 530 is the perfect combo of the 328 and the X5 - sporty, classy. I love it.

I wish I could have afforded the 545i, but this car is everything I have ever wanted out of an automobile.

Great forum for some great cars!!!!

gwf545

Yeah, the e60 is a great car in any form. The Steptronic practically reads your mind. I almost got SMG, but I think in the end getting the Step was right for me. The 45 is almost too fast for me, wanna trade? Just kidding..... Enjoy!

phester

I would love to trade

I have never driven in a 545, is it amazing? I notice that the 3.0 engine (in the X5 too) is a little slow on the low revs, but really heats up nicely once going about 4k rpm. Is the 545 like night and day? Does it have the power down low where the 3.0 does not? Do those with the 545 think "I would never get this car if I could have only had a 530"? Just curious. I have always thought that the M5 was the perfect car - sport with style and room.... the current 545 must me a rocket. But the only real difference is the engine, right? All handling is basically the same, right?

amigo525

I had the infinity bass link on my e39 but no luck to install it on the e60. I called bavauto and in plain english they told me "forget about it". They dont want to monk around with the e60 audio system. They think that is wacko.