Sport Package vs. just 18inch Wheels...
03-22-2006, 05:59 AM
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How important is the sport package and how much of a difference does it make? Also, has anyone just put on 18inch wheels and what does that do to the ride? I'm thinking of foregoing the sport package and buying a set of BMW 18inch wheels on eBay.
03-22-2006, 08:18 AM
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My Ride: E61 525i SE Touring Automatic - Titanium Grey II, Auburn-Dakota Leather, 17" Light Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Styling 138, Anthracite Headlining, Maple Wood, Electric Front Seats, Front Seat Heating, Automatic Air Conditioning Advanced, Navigation System Professional, Bluetooth phone prep, Professional radio, Hi-Fi Loudspeaker system, Park Distance Control, Rear Side Airbags, Side Blinds
The sports package gives you a more aggressively looking car and a much firmer (I would call it harsh) ride on the E61 with RFTs.
Difference between 17 and 18 wheels in terms of feel is more marginal.
Like 18' wheels you can also get the sports suspension without having to order the whole sports package. Combined you get the ride of the sports package without its looks for less money.
All depends on what you are looking for.
Difference between 17 and 18 wheels in terms of feel is more marginal.
Like 18' wheels you can also get the sports suspension without having to order the whole sports package. Combined you get the ride of the sports package without its looks for less money.
All depends on what you are looking for.
03-22-2006, 10:39 AM
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My Ride: MY 2004 545i Touring, High Executive Line, Comfort Line II, Vision Line II (Dutch specced Packages), Color: Oxford Green. Interior: Black/Black leather. Trim: Dark Popular wood. Gear: Steptronic 6-speed
Other options not incuded in above packages: M-Sport aero kit, sports suspension, heated steering wheel, rear side-airbags, front screen with green upper part, panorama roof, electric foldable and dimmed mirrors, dimmed interior mirror, cupholders, styling 123 18" wheels with Dunlop RFT's, HiFi Pro/LOGIC7, alarm class 3, heated seats rear and voice recognition.
Waiting for february delivery of 325i Touring and 130i
I do not know about any specs of a specific sports package but....
I had my 545iT both with 18" AND sportsuspension; IMO It definitely had the looks but ride was bad. In combination with RFT it was too bouncy and hard. Next time I would opt for 17" with sportsuspension as with our current 325i Touring and 130i.
I had my 545iT both with 18" AND sportsuspension; IMO It definitely had the looks but ride was bad. In combination with RFT it was too bouncy and hard. Next time I would opt for 17" with sportsuspension as with our current 325i Touring and 130i.
03-22-2006, 01:29 PM
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My Ride: E61 525i SE Touring Automatic - Titanium Grey II, Auburn-Dakota Leather, 17" Light Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Styling 138, Anthracite Headlining, Maple Wood, Electric Front Seats, Front Seat Heating, Automatic Air Conditioning Advanced, Navigation System Professional, Bluetooth phone prep, Professional radio, Hi-Fi Loudspeaker system, Park Distance Control, Rear Side Airbags, Side Blinds
Originally Posted by mhoutman' post='258515' date='Mar 22 2006, 07:39 PM
I do not know about any specs of a specific sports package but....
I had my 545iT both with 18" AND sportsuspension; IMO It definitely had the looks but ride was bad. In combination with RFT it was too bouncy and hard. Next time I would opt for 17" with sportsuspension as with our current 325i Touring and 130i.
I had my 545iT both with 18" AND sportsuspension; IMO It definitely had the looks but ride was bad. In combination with RFT it was too bouncy and hard. Next time I would opt for 17" with sportsuspension as with our current 325i Touring and 130i.
Interesting - I would describe my 525iT with 17'' and RFT as being a bit too bouncy and hard as well (albeit at a different level to yours).
So 17'' with NON RFT (less hard) and sports suspension (less bouncy) is the solution
03-22-2006, 02:50 PM
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In the US, E61 Sports Package is purely cosmetic. There is no sport suspension offered due to AWD and rear self-leveling air suspension. The ride is firmer due to RFT's. Do non-US models offer sport suspension?
03-22-2006, 10:35 PM
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My Ride: Due May 2006:
530d SE Touring, Automatic, Titanium Grey, beige leather comfort seats, light poplar wood trim, sports steering wheel, graduated tinted windscreen, panoramic sunroof, pro radio, logic 7, 6CD, visibility pack, storage compartment pack, adv aircon
Here in the UK we aren't offered "X" 4wd in any 5 series.
So we can have sports suspension on the E61 and it is of course a standard part of the M-Sport package.
Not going for it myself though.
So we can have sports suspension on the E61 and it is of course a standard part of the M-Sport package.
Not going for it myself though.
03-22-2006, 11:56 PM
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In Canada you can get "sport suspension" or "M Sport Suspension" on the E60, but neither is available on the E61 or any of the 4wds. I have the M sport Suspension with 19" RFTs. On a patch of rough road it can be quite jarring, but more than acceptable on decent roads, and when you push it on some good pavement the handling is incredible, well worth the stiffness. There is virtually no body roll and the car goes exactly where you point it.
Depends what you're into but I would go for the sport suspension (since I don't think M sport is available in US). Just my opinion
Depends what you're into but I would go for the sport suspension (since I don't think M sport is available in US). Just my opinion
03-23-2006, 05:17 AM
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My Ride: E61 520d M sport Touring
Titanium Silver
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Originally Posted by Westcoast 550' post='258783' date='Mar 23 2006, 08:56 AM
In Canada you can get "sport suspension" or "M Sport Suspension" on the E60, but neither is available on the E61 or any of the 4wds. I have the M sport Suspension with 19" RFTs. On a patch of rough road it can be quite jarring, but more than acceptable on decent roads, and when you push it on some good pavement the handling is incredible, well worth the stiffness. There is virtually no body roll and the car goes exactly where you point it.
Depends what you're into but I would go for the sport suspension (since I don't think M sport is available in US). Just my opinion
Depends what you're into but I would go for the sport suspension (since I don't think M sport is available in US). Just my opinion
03-23-2006, 05:33 AM
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My Ride: 2006 550 SMG
Sport suspension is a must on BMWs, I bet you if the designers had to pick one or the other, they would surely pick the sport suspension, I have driven both and it makes a BIG difference, it just doesnt feel like a BMW without. In the U.S. when you get the sport package it includes the active suspension, this is amazing, there is NO body sway around turns, its shocking. 
03-23-2006, 05:46 AM
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My Ride: MY 2004 545i Touring, High Executive Line, Comfort Line II, Vision Line II (Dutch specced Packages), Color: Oxford Green. Interior: Black/Black leather. Trim: Dark Popular wood. Gear: Steptronic 6-speed
Other options not incuded in above packages: M-Sport aero kit, sports suspension, heated steering wheel, rear side-airbags, front screen with green upper part, panorama roof, electric foldable and dimmed mirrors, dimmed interior mirror, cupholders, styling 123 18" wheels with Dunlop RFT's, HiFi Pro/LOGIC7, alarm class 3, heated seats rear and voice recognition.
Waiting for february delivery of 325i Touring and 130i
Originally Posted by The Hollies' post='258594' date='Mar 22 2006, 11:29 PM
Interesting - I would describe my 525iT with 17'' and RFT as being a bit too bouncy and hard as well (albeit at a different level to yours).
So 17'' with NON RFT (less hard) and sports suspension (less bouncy) is the solution
So 17'' with NON RFT (less hard) and sports suspension (less bouncy) is the solution