Took Delivery - Alpine Whirte 550i LCI Sport SAT
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Members
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 68
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From: So. Cal
Dealer delivered the car to my door on Saturday at 3:00 in the afternoon, which was just a few hours after they received it from the VPC. I have to say Valencia BMW (Lynn and Michael in Fleet) did a great job in banging the phone and making sure the car got through the VPC and to me as fast a possible.
I hardwired my Valentine 1 in a few minutes and installed the rear 12mm spacers thanks to the knowledge and insight shared in this forum. I also installed M5 mirrors that I ordered from a random guy in Germany. The mirrors came with absolutely perfect factory paint, electro-chromatic glass, and are full function (heat, auto-fold, auto-dimming, down in reverse, puddle lamps, etc.). I think the glass might be the European version because there is no message on the passenger mirror regarding "Objects appear closer.... yadda yadda yadda" and there is a dashed line toward the corner of the mirrors which indicates a change in the convexity of the glass to increase the viewing angle. The mirrors and glass are flat out beautiful and I love the way they bring the lines of the car together.
For a little background:
I am coming from an e46 330i that has every engine mod short of a SC and every suspension mode including coilovers. My 330 has served me well... on and off the track... it is powerful and handles perfectly. My father has an E39 M5 which I have driven on occasion... so that's my reference
Now to this car...
General observations:
The car is strikingly attractive (I love the all black interior), the seats are great, and the steering wheel, although not as thick as the M3 SMG wheel in my 330 is still very nice. The paddles are excellent and have a great Teutonic feel to them. Comfort access is both fun and very useful. Logic 7 sounds great and I love the HD Radio, there is a ton of HD broadcasting here in So Cal. Hearing Vinny and the Dodgers in HD is a real treat.
POWER
The car has GOBS OF POWER. I haven't pushed it totally yet, but based on what I have experienced, it hints that this car is exceptionally powerful.... dare I say, e39 M5 like.
HANDLING
Car feels nice and taut, and there is little to no body roll when driven through a tight turn at speed. Surprisingly, the car doesn?t feel that much bigger than my e46 and my worries of missing the handling of my car have been allayed. Steering is a little light in the standard D mode, but tightens up nicely when you push the Sport button. I do not have Active Steering.
SPORT AUTOMATIC TRANS
Shifts much faster than my step with Dinan transmission software?. Like 4x as fast. In D mode the car is a very smooth. In Sport mode the car acts a little excited, and does a lot of work shifting back and forth when you are just driving around town. Manual mode does exactly like it should? shifts only when I want to.
Overall, the car has exceeded my expectations and I feel privileged to drive what surely must be? The Ultimate Driving Machine.
I hardwired my Valentine 1 in a few minutes and installed the rear 12mm spacers thanks to the knowledge and insight shared in this forum. I also installed M5 mirrors that I ordered from a random guy in Germany. The mirrors came with absolutely perfect factory paint, electro-chromatic glass, and are full function (heat, auto-fold, auto-dimming, down in reverse, puddle lamps, etc.). I think the glass might be the European version because there is no message on the passenger mirror regarding "Objects appear closer.... yadda yadda yadda" and there is a dashed line toward the corner of the mirrors which indicates a change in the convexity of the glass to increase the viewing angle. The mirrors and glass are flat out beautiful and I love the way they bring the lines of the car together.
For a little background:
I am coming from an e46 330i that has every engine mod short of a SC and every suspension mode including coilovers. My 330 has served me well... on and off the track... it is powerful and handles perfectly. My father has an E39 M5 which I have driven on occasion... so that's my reference
Now to this car...
General observations:
The car is strikingly attractive (I love the all black interior), the seats are great, and the steering wheel, although not as thick as the M3 SMG wheel in my 330 is still very nice. The paddles are excellent and have a great Teutonic feel to them. Comfort access is both fun and very useful. Logic 7 sounds great and I love the HD Radio, there is a ton of HD broadcasting here in So Cal. Hearing Vinny and the Dodgers in HD is a real treat.
POWER
The car has GOBS OF POWER. I haven't pushed it totally yet, but based on what I have experienced, it hints that this car is exceptionally powerful.... dare I say, e39 M5 like.
HANDLING
Car feels nice and taut, and there is little to no body roll when driven through a tight turn at speed. Surprisingly, the car doesn?t feel that much bigger than my e46 and my worries of missing the handling of my car have been allayed. Steering is a little light in the standard D mode, but tightens up nicely when you push the Sport button. I do not have Active Steering.
SPORT AUTOMATIC TRANS
Shifts much faster than my step with Dinan transmission software?. Like 4x as fast. In D mode the car is a very smooth. In Sport mode the car acts a little excited, and does a lot of work shifting back and forth when you are just driving around town. Manual mode does exactly like it should? shifts only when I want to.
Overall, the car has exceeded my expectations and I feel privileged to drive what surely must be? The Ultimate Driving Machine.
Contributors
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,533
Likes: 0
From: HK (N.T), UK (Surrey)
My Ride: BMW E60 530i , Silver with leather Air Con iDrive 17" Breyton Rims with Dunlop Sp Sport tyres (M-Tech Bodykit and rims WANTED)
Alfa Romeo 147 TS1.6 , Black with Air Con 17" Multi Spoke alloys with Bridgestone RE040 tyres
Toyota MR-S 1.8 VVTI , Lagoon Blue with Red leather Air Con 15" standard alloys with Toyo tyres
Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTI, Lagoon Blue, Air Con, 16" Standard alloys with Kuhmo KU31, EBC Green Stuff
Congrats!!
Looks stunning mate!!!
Keith
Looks stunning mate!!!
Keith
Contributors
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,363
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
My Ride: 2007 E63 AMG | Obsidian Black | Schwarzes Nappa | Black BirdEye Maple | Premium II Package | Electronic Trunk Closer | Parktronic
Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Love the M5 mirrors. 
So, any plans for more mods?
So, any plans for more mods?
