E61 6spd Winter Wagon
#41
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
What wheel and tire size are you running with those style 95s? Are they staggered? There's a local seller with a set of 19" but they have the original 7-series tires on them, which will be too big? I'm just wondering if the 10" rears will be too wide for our xi?
Love the build updates.
I just picked up a 550i front bumper and side skirts that I'll have to put on. I should have grabbed the brake carriers and rotors too. That's all you need to upgrade the brakes right, if I'm reading your experience correctly?
Love the build updates.
I just picked up a 550i front bumper and side skirts that I'll have to put on. I should have grabbed the brake carriers and rotors too. That's all you need to upgrade the brakes right, if I'm reading your experience correctly?
The front brakes from the 550 will bolt straight on; the rears need a few more parts swapped(the hub flange)
#42
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
I took a risk on the CIC unit and it kind of paid off. Cheap but whoever removed it from the car ripped the connector for the faceplate off the board. Seeing if it can be repaired or ill have to source a new one. I got a refund so now im ~$20 into my cic retrofit.
Otherwise, its in the car and it much better than the CIC. I'm on an early firmware (C0A) so ill have to get that updated to the newest (C1A) to get the FSC patcher and navigation. Ran the vin of it and the CIC doesn't have HD radio but it did have 620 voice input so I'll get the fsc code for that too.
Combox I do have, but ill need the firmware updated and figure out the cic files to make it work(E60 never had combox option), then I can plus the 6FL usb in and code for bluetooth streaming
Otherwise, its in the car and it much better than the CIC. I'm on an early firmware (C0A) so ill have to get that updated to the newest (C1A) to get the FSC patcher and navigation. Ran the vin of it and the CIC doesn't have HD radio but it did have 620 voice input so I'll get the fsc code for that too.
Combox I do have, but ill need the firmware updated and figure out the cic files to make it work(E60 never had combox option), then I can plus the 6FL usb in and code for bluetooth streaming
#43
New Members
Ah yes, I was very fortunate to receive a CIC that was at C1A already. If you don't want to update the firmware you could get an emulator that should do the trick, but it's a bit more money. I considered a combox once but once I got a CarPlay solution a Combox would be nothing but old tech to me. CarPlay is the bees knees as far as I'm concerned; always up to date maps, receives software updates, turns the car's infotainment system into a commodity. I'm contemplating a HUD retrofit later this year but it really won't give me anything other than speed on the windshield... Sure I could hook it up with an optical cable to get nav on it, but I don't use the CIC's built in nav, it's so slow to enter in addresses and such. I don't have an automatic, so it won't show me the gears, and I don't have cruise with stop and go, so it won't show me any of that on screen.
#44
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Ah yes, I was very fortunate to receive a CIC that was at C1A already. If you don't want to update the firmware you could get an emulator that should do the trick, but it's a bit more money. I considered a combox once but once I got a CarPlay solution a Combox would be nothing but old tech to me. CarPlay is the bees knees as far as I'm concerned; always up to date maps, receives software updates, turns the car's infotainment system into a commodity. I'm contemplating a HUD retrofit later this year but it really won't give me anything other than speed on the windshield... Sure I could hook it up with an optical cable to get nav on it, but I don't use the CIC's built in nav, it's so slow to enter in addresses and such. I don't have an automatic, so it won't show me the gears, and I don't have cruise with stop and go, so it won't show me any of that on screen.
I have a free combox so why not; Its oem too which I like. I'm the opposite direction of you:minimal tech is what I prefer and the only reason I'm doing this is E60 weren't available without I'drive. I dont use carplay or the android one so going aftermarket makes no sense to me. My fathers 335 has a cic retrofit+combox and it would be perfect for what I need(bluetooth music playback)
#45
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
So I screwed around more with the servotronic settings. I've managed to get a setting that I'm pretty happy with for now; close enough to what the standard E90 is. This is good for anyone looking to make their car drive more like a sports sedan (3 series like), not for anyone who prefers a comfy boat (7 series like).
I kept the speed interval settings the same:
GESCHWIN_WERTE_KOMFORT_KGM
Wert_02
But I modified the actual setting values (effectively taking 25% assist from Wert 2 values; Wert 7 is stock and is different)
STROMWERTE_KOMFORT_KGM
I used NCSdummy to add in a new wert parameter and used these values:
161,141,127,112,107,101,96,90,85,79,73,56,24,8,0,0
Not perfect but damn the car actually drives like a BMW instead of like a Prius; some confidence in the corners.
I kept the speed interval settings the same:
GESCHWIN_WERTE_KOMFORT_KGM
Wert_02
But I modified the actual setting values (effectively taking 25% assist from Wert 2 values; Wert 7 is stock and is different)
STROMWERTE_KOMFORT_KGM
I used NCSdummy to add in a new wert parameter and used these values:
161,141,127,112,107,101,96,90,85,79,73,56,24,8,0,0
Not perfect but damn the car actually drives like a BMW instead of like a Prius; some confidence in the corners.
The following 2 users liked this post by neilv:
JoshMcMadMac (02-08-2021),
kd7iwp (02-08-2021)
#46
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Here's my (incomplete) cic retrofit so far: got the 6FL retrofit in the LCI leather console. Cic controller with the LCI trim and the LCI ebrake handle. CIC installed w/ gps antenna and the LCI climate control w/pin 21 mod. Still waiting on a few parts: LCI shift boot, E60 cic faceplate(the one I received had some bad pins) and I'm still looking into the LCI center console button swap.
I also ended up trading the tan Weathertechs for black ones.
Also got the LCI Tail lights installed and re-pinned.
I also ended up trading the tan Weathertechs for black ones.
Also got the LCI Tail lights installed and re-pinned.
The following users liked this post:
Drifter2090 (07-03-2023)
#47
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Installed the M5/6series gauge rings. It really does look nicer and its better than the way to high M5 cluster tach/redline. Would love the euro 630 cluster that has the oil temp vs the useless mpg gauge but thats later
Also gave it a full wash as snow/salt are finally done for good here
Also gave it a full wash as snow/salt are finally done for good here
The following users liked this post:
Drifter2090 (07-03-2023)
#48
New Members
I converted my mpg gauge to oil temp using the Perfektoolbox app. Let me know if you need more info. A Russian guy built it and he has a fantastic, very long and in-depth article about bmw programming.
I shared some links here on Bimmerfest.
Those are gorgeous rims by the way.
I shared some links here on Bimmerfest.
Those are gorgeous rims by the way.
Last edited by kd7iwp; 04-24-2021 at 03:24 PM.
#49
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Burlington, ON, CA
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes
on
52 Posts
My Ride: E61 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
So the wagon has been doing its duty and getting me through winter; here it is a bit dirty
Found some H&R springs and some Bilstein b4 shocks(separately) at the local pick n pull yards so i pulled them both, added some 098 strut mounts and cut bumpstops for the front and tossed em on. Lowered less than the advertised 25mm vs the 35mm which is likely due to it being N/A but no complaints there. Dropped the back by inpa; it also drives very well.
Also got the CIC up and going. Got another unit with C1A, did all the fsc codes plus added a combox. Found another car at the local pic n pull yard with individual audio so i swapped it all in.
Found some H&R springs and some Bilstein b4 shocks(separately) at the local pick n pull yards so i pulled them both, added some 098 strut mounts and cut bumpstops for the front and tossed em on. Lowered less than the advertised 25mm vs the 35mm which is likely due to it being N/A but no complaints there. Dropped the back by inpa; it also drives very well.
Also got the CIC up and going. Got another unit with C1A, did all the fsc codes plus added a combox. Found another car at the local pic n pull yard with individual audio so i swapped it all in.
Last edited by neilv; 01-12-2023 at 10:18 AM.
The following 3 users liked this post by neilv:
#50
New Members
So the wagon has been doing its duty and getting me through winter; here it is a bit dirty
Found some H&R springs and some Bilstein b4 shocks(separately) at the local pick n pull yards so i pulled them both, added some 098 strut mounts and cut bumpstops for the front and tossed em on. Lowered less than the advertised 25mm vs the 35mm which is likely due to it being N/A but no complaints there. Dropped the back by inpa; it also drives very well.
Also got the CIC up and going. Got another unit with C1A, did all the fsc codes plus added a combox. Found another car at the local pic n pull yard with individual audio so i swapped it all in.
Found some H&R springs and some Bilstein b4 shocks(separately) at the local pick n pull yards so i pulled them both, added some 098 strut mounts and cut bumpstops for the front and tossed em on. Lowered less than the advertised 25mm vs the 35mm which is likely due to it being N/A but no complaints there. Dropped the back by inpa; it also drives very well.
Also got the CIC up and going. Got another unit with C1A, did all the fsc codes plus added a combox. Found another car at the local pic n pull yard with individual audio so i swapped it all in.
Cars looking great! Just picked up a 10 535xi and been loving it (I'm in the GTA too). I have a set of 640m sitting around and didn't even think of putting them on the wagon till I read your thread haha.
Regarding the springs, were they the wagon specific H&R front springs? Do you have a full p/n for the top hats too?