BMW 5-Series Sedans

nyccarguy · May 2002

the dashboard is definitely not made of leather. That is reserved for exotics such as a V12 Mercedes (S600, CL600, SL600), Ferraris, Aston Martins, Maybe the new 760Li (and previous 750iL)?

john01 · May 2002

Actually, the M5 Luxury interior comes with leather covered dash. It is optional on Boxster and 911.

vic19 · May 2002

I'll make a copy of this information. I haven't played with car wax since I was a teenager. When I was a kid, work corrolated with achievement. We used Simoniz which was practically impossible to buff off. Then we had these liquids that seemed to do little except leave your clothes covered with white flakes. Have things changed.

As for leather dashes perhaps things have changed, but BMW put them on 7's which would consistently crack. Finally, BMW said they would only replace the dash twice. Rather arbitrary.

mod62 · May 2002

Is there a difference in quality on the wheels of SPs. It looks like the clean-up would be much easier on the 525 vs. 530. I like either look. Can I get the 525 wheels ordered on a 530? If there is a quality diference, what should I get off?

Thanks,
mike

shipo · May 2002

The difference between the wheels on the 525i SP vs. the 530i SP (other than looks) is fairly simple, the 525i wheels are of a 1-piece design, the 530i SP (and 540i SP variants) has a 2-piece design. In theory, the 2-piece designs are stronger although, I have never spent too much time trying to figure out why. A 2-piece wheel is essentially a rim bolted to a spoke assembly (by many small studs), which to me, would seem to be weaker than a single part. Anyway, there is your difference.

Best Regards,
Shipo

snagiel · May 2002

I don't think there's any difference in quality, although there may be a minor difference in strength (as Shipo notes). Yes, the 530 sport's wheels (style 42) aren't the easiest to clean, but I think they look sharper. Using P21S wheel cleaner to loosen brake dust and other debris and using a simple sponge and a good wheel brush, I'm able to clean the wheels easily and relatively quickly.

As for ordering, I don't think there's any way of ordering (from the factory) the 525 sport wheels on a 530. But your dealer may be able to do a swap for you with minimal or no cost. If not, you'd probably be able to buy a set from a discount dealer (probably around $450 each) and then sell the 530 ones for close to that.

razteo · May 2002

I'm going to replace the tape player with a CD. But what about speakers? Can I replace at least the one on the rear? I'm sure I can, but what's the best? I'm not sure if I want to instal an amplifier.. and this is probably the best solution. But what if I just just replace the rear speakers and ajust more volume on the rear, will do a change in sound quality?
(I have to mention that my car has just a basic sound system).
Thank you.

jemiller · May 2002

The leather package has been available as a (pricey) option in Europe, but I don't think it's been available on most 5s in the US.

On the other hand, the 2000-2001 M5 could be had in the US with the leather package for $0.00 additional, which p*ssed off some M5 buyers elsewhere who had to pay a few thousand for it.

I'm not that into killing cows for car interiors, though I've got a bunch of cars with leather; I'd often rather have something else, but you can't easily get it in the US.

snagiel · May 2002

Your options are bound only by your budget and priorities. In general terms, to improve any sound system, the first priority should be the speakers. Then the amplifier. Then the tuner/receiver. I'm not sure why you're interested in replacing the rears; since you're sitting up front, the fronts sound much more prominent and will probably drown out any upgrades to the rears. And besides, it's generally best to keep all speakers either the same type or at least from the same manufacturer to keep the tonal balance the same (or similar). You might also consider adding subwoofers (which would also necessitate an amplifier), since that's a common complaint about even the DSP systems, let alone the standard setup.

Do a search at the bimmer.org forums, and/or look at some of the articles at bmwtips.com for ideas about possibilities. Good luck.

love2skicar · May 2002

I'm picking up my new 540 next week, first new car in 10 years. i want to keep it looking nice. any critical recommendations? i was thinking about getting sheepskin seat protectors -- maybe special mats, maybe a trunk liner -- is there a good source for these accessories for the 5 series? i've seen a wide range in prices. do people think this is a good idea or would they go without the seat protectors? i keep cars a long time and don't want to wear out the seats or the carpets.

thanks

wie_gehts · June 2002

Thank you to everyone for the information on the new 5. I guess it will indeed most likely debut in the end of 2003. I, too, very much like the current 5, and didn't like some of the spy pictures that exist on the web, this one here, however, looks quite sharp, and is also supposed to be very close to the production version:

http://www.gergin.com/images/5-Series%20May.jpg

love2skicar: Please, no sheep skin covers! I know how it feels when something is new and you want to pamper it, but over time, you will get used to it and just treat it normally, it is just a car after all. Just use good leather care so it doesn't dry out and avoid using pants with sharp parts (some jeans, for example).

vic19 · June 2002

Reminds me of my uncle years ago who would put plastic see through seat covers on his car. You can't imagine how uncomfortable they are unitl you sat on them in cold or hot weather, or anytime I guess. My dad was the opposite, he would sit on whatever the manufacture put on the car and it was much more comfortable not to mention better looking. He never made invidious comparisons with my uncle, but he always said, "Hey, I'm going to enjoy this car, not the next owner."

Sheep skin covers on those great seats, maybe on a Hundyai.

kirkd1 · June 2002

seat covers and floor mats whats the difference? why not use those things after everything is worn through and you want to dress up an old car?

somum · June 2002

I'm shopping for a new 525i with the Steptronic Auto Transmission & premium package in the Houston area. Momentum BMW is quoting me 41,070(Incl. destination charge but excl. luxury tax). Edmund's TMV is 39,804 and Invoice is 37,640. How much should I be paying??

shipo · June 2002

Momentum BMW has simply quoted you MSRP, exactly. I have read plenty of posts from Texas that indicate there are few dealers willing to negotiate on the price of a car, however, apparently there are a few. That said, I do not know which ones they are, maybe some folks from our Texas contingent can help out.

Best Regards,
Shipo

a10driver · June 2002

I had no luck finding a dealer in Texas willing to deal so I bought from a dealer in Maryland and plan to make it a second family vacation after I pick up my car ED next month. Houston won't budge, San Antonio seems clueless and Austin isn't interested. I have heard good things about Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth, but I gave up on Texas before I called them. I talked to the BMW dealer in College Station and they initially seemed interested, but did not call me back (damn Aggies!)
Does anyone not like their leatherette seats?

Also, you can buy from a dealer out of state and have it shipped to a nearby dealer when it arrives in the states for about $500. Good luck though with the car pick up, I'm sure your local BMW dealer will be thrilled to see you.

ek5 · June 2002

Since you're in my area, where do you buy your Klasse products? Thanks.

vic19 · June 2002

I'm surprised that the dealers are so difficult in Texas. In Souther California the dealers are down to about $800 over invoice or less.

Certainly not like 3 years ago when they were leasing 528's that listed for $45,000 for $500 a month before sales tax.

What has firmed up are the 7's. They couldn't give them away 3 years ago, now they want a couple of thousand over invoice.

shipo · June 2002

Ummm, well, I don't actually buy local, as with many other things, I shop online. In this case, I buy my car care goodies from: http://www.classic-accessories.com

Best Regards,

Shipo

P.S.

I did the Klasse thing on my wheels this weekend, what do y'all think?

joseph40 · June 2002

I just purchased a 5-series for European Delivery. If you don't want to leave the Houston area, try Advantage Clear Lake If you don't mind driving 1-2 hours, try Coastal BMW in Corpus Cristi (ask for Art Allen) or Garlyn Shelton in Bryan-College Station. Both were willing to give a fair price.

joseph40 · June 2002

I am looking for some input. Does anyone have an opinion re: the use of wiper blades for drying the car? I have heard many positives re: their use, but a detailing adviser at carcareonline was somewhat negative about using them. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

rlowrie · June 2002

I had planned to lease a 2002 540 earlier this year but life got in the way and I am just now getting back to looking at it. Does anyone know when the "2003" designated 5's come out. I know they will be almost exactly like the current 2002 version but don't know if a 2003 designation will impact price/lease terms. Any input would be grealt appreciated.

shipo · June 2002

If I remember correctly, the 2003 model year starts in production after the August "Holiday" that the folks at the factory take. As such, assume that October would be the earliest that the 2003s will be arriving "State Side". As for pricing, it seems to me that they are released in July or August, however, my memory is a little fuzzy on that one.

Best Regards,
Shipo

vic19 · June 2002

Three years ago when I leased a 528 in May, I had the same question. Should I wait for the new model when residuals would be up a bit. For whatever reason, BMW was subsidizing the lease for the current model in a big way. Probably, BMW would not subsidize the new model as much. I had a private buyer for my car at a good price so my decision was easy.

At least in Southern California, BMW is not subsidizing leases on the 5 series so your decision is a bit harder. If you wait the residual will be higher, but probably not by much.

The better question is should you wait a year? Remember if you lease for 3 years, you won't be driving the current model for at least half the time if you buy now.

jim52 · June 2002

Did you apply the glaze to the wheels also? I did the Klasse AIO and Glaze on the whole car this past weekend also. I only put the glaze on the paint - I used the AIO on the wheels, side/rear windows and lights also. I think it looks great. How long will it last. I don't wash by hand - i.e. I use a local car wash. Is there anything they may use that I should stay away from - i.e. sealers or waxes that are applied during the wash?

shipo · June 2002

I did the AIO and the Glaze on the wheels, and yes, as you probably found out, type 42s are a pain in the hind end to do. I figure that they are good for six months or so before needing to re-apply.

As for your local car wash, that is what I use, the only thing I stay away from are the old ones that use those nasty nylon bristles. In my experience the "Soft Cloth" washes work perfectly well. I just say, "Full Service, please", and they take a wheel brush to the wheels and tires, vacuum the interior, wash the inside of the windows, wipe down the dash and the seats, and of course, the wash and was the entire exterior of the car.

After following that pattern for the 39 months that I had my 328i, the paint still looked new when I turned the car in. In fact, my dealership considered buying it from my leasing company so they could put it on their used car lot, however, the leasing company wanted to Auction it instead.

Best Regards,
Shipo

snagiel · June 2002

Are you referring to removing your actual wiper blades and using them? I use the "original" California Water Blade (about $17) for clearing most of the water on the car after washing it (very quick and easy), and then use the P21S Drying Towel for the remaining beaded water. The CA Water Blade is a silicone material and claims to be much milder on the finish than even chamois cloths, and it doesn't seem remotely harsh to me. I'm curious to hear why the guys at CarCareOnline criticized it.

colt007 · June 2002

I had a bad expierence in one so I always wash by hand. I'm not too far from you either. What car wash do you dare go to? Is the 'Soft Cloth' similar to the 'touchless' places I hear about?

Colt.

pat · June 2002

The Town Hall is about to take on a new look in an effort to make content more easily searchable and accessible.

Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.

And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.

Pat
Sedans Host

nyccarguy · June 2002

there's a great car wash on Rte. 9W in Haverstraw, it is on the way to the DMV.

shipo · June 2002

Hmmm, I'm going out on a limb here, but I think that "Touchless" refers to just high pressure water being shot at your car, on the other hand, "Soft Cloth" refers to the places that still have the rotating brushes made out of a type of rag instead of the nylon bristles. The place that I use is on Broadway in Westwood, right across the street from the K-Mart, $9.50 gives you the full service wash, $12.00 gives you The Works.

Best Regards,
Shipo

joseph40 · June 2002

I mistakenly called these wiper blades earlier, but I actually meant the CA Water Blade. When I asked CarCarOnline why they did not sell them, they mentioned the possibly of a contaminant getting under the blade, which in essence could scratch the car.

Anyone, with any negative experiences with these blades?

colt007 · June 2002

Thanks. I'll give both a try if these water restrictions worsen.

Colt.

colt007 · June 2002

You're wheels look great. (That's a biased opinion, of course!)

Colt.

shipo · June 2002

There was a poll over on Bimmer.Org a week or two back as to which was the best looking wheel for the 5er, and the Type 42 took either first or second place, I never saw the final tally.

I had the non-Composite Type 42s on my previous 328i, and I had an extremely difficult time keeping them clean (as I am sure that you and Jim52 have found out). As such, I am starting out this time around with the full Klasse treatment in hopes of keeping them clean for a year or two, if not for the duration.

Best Regards,
Shipo

riez · June 2002

Hard to believe I've had my CPO '98 540i for 6 glorious months. Put on over 8,000 miles. The pluses are just too long to list. An absolute joy to drive. And economical, too (24-25 mpg on highway). Thankfully no speeding tickets, but I use cruise control.

However, there are some minor gripes which I can list:

1. Mediocre sound system. And I have the DSP along with 6-disc CD changer. For this kind of dough, she deserves better. Sound is too muffled, dull, lifeless.

2. Poor AM radio reception. Germans must dislike Rush Limbaugh and US conservative talk radio!

3. Terrible, horrible, worthless cupholders!

4. Poor sunvisors. They don't seem to fit the car well, as if they were designed around a different exterior shape. Forced me to buy prescription sunglasses. Plus there is no 2nd visor so you can simultaneously block out sun hitting you across front-side and side-front simultaneously.

5. Some small mechanical issues. Broken rear cupholder. Broken driver interior door handle. Both front headlights burned out within 1,000 miles of each other. Airbag warning light came on continuously.

6. A fair amount of road noise from the Yokohama AVS DB tires.

7. The manual transmission could shift just a smidgen smoother. Great compared to USA makes, but not as smooth as my old Infiniti.

8. Odd climate control system that uses the fan to be turned off and which always comes to life even when I don't want or need it. Why can't there just be a simple on/off switch???

9. My first and only black exterior. Too hard to keep clean. And I keep her in a garage. You wash her and she looks dirty two minutes later sitting still! Next time I'm going white or silver.

This is the entire list. Nine small minuses outweighed by a thousand pluses. Great brakes, handling, steering, ride, power, looks, comfort, convenience, utility, etc!!!! She is a keeper, or at least till I trade her in five years from now on a then CPO MY 2004 M5.

shipo · June 2002

Here are some updates on your list relative to my 2002 530i:

1. My DSP system sounds pretty good to me, granted, I am not an audiophile, but Dark Side of the Moon and The Sky is Crying have never sounded better in any other car I have ever ridden in.

2. My AM radio reception is by far the best I have had in any of the five cars my wife and I have had since we moved into our current house.

3. Terrible, horrible, worthless cupholders. Ummm, I didnt even know my car had any until I read your post, I had to go and check to see if they even existed. They do, and they are truly worthless, however, I think I used the cupholders in my 328i exactly twice (for cups that is), and I will be surprised if I ever use the ones in my 530i. Essentially, this is a non-issue for me.

4. Sun Visors. Hmmm, so far, I have not had a problem with them, but that does not mean that I wont.

5. Small mechanical issues: New car, 100K Xenon headlights, redesigned door handles and my car is completely devoid of rear cupholders (I had to check again).

6. My Michelin Pilot Primacy tires are nice and quiet, albeit, with only 2,000 miles on them.

7. Manual transmission shift: Yup, between 2nd and 3rd I occasionally get hung up.

8. Climate control seems to work pretty well (yes, I too need to lower the fan to turn the system off), however, it always seems to lag one start behind for its settings. Weird.

9. I have the Black Sapphire Metallic, which does not show dirt quite as readily as the non-Metallic black. That said, it still looks dirtier quicker than my Fern Green 328i.

It seems that BMW has learned a few things over the last couple of years; however, my car is not quite perfect yet. Ummm, except where it counts, when driving it. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

riez · June 2002

shipo... I would use mine all the time if I could. I use my 540i6 mainly for business trips. Drive 300 miles a day. Nice having a hot cup of coffee along for the ride first thing in the morning and later in evening. My wife's 323iA has much better cupholders. I expect the E65 to fix this one.

Sometimes I wonder if Germans know how big America is and what it means to be able to drive 1,000 miles in a day. Longest I've driven in one setting is 1,284 miles (from Omaha, NE, to a bit east of Utica, NY). Have done this 3 times on trips to in laws. You need decent cupholders. Don't think Germans can imagine doing that amount of driving in one day. Like driving from Berlin to where? Sicily? Athens? Madrid? Moscow? Don't think they were used to doing that in the Iron Curtain pre-EU days.

shipo · June 2002

Hmmm, "Nice having a hot cup of coffee along for the ride first thing in the morning..."

Well it had better be a small cup of coffee so that it can fit in those silly pop-out things. ;-)

I hear you on the long drive thing, however, they have another factor working for them; when you are trucking along at a Buck and a Quarter or better, you get where you are going quicker. That and paying attention to anything other than the rapidly changing dynamic environment around you, where you are going 50 mph faster than the slow cars and 40 mph slower than the fast cars, can be hazardous to your health.

Best Regards,
Shipo

musher2 · June 2002

It's interesting to read your critique of the nine things BMW could have handled better in your '98 540i6, some of which I can relate to as a current '3' owner and a 530 'owner-in-waiting'. But for all the postings I've read on this and the '3' board over the past few years, I've never heard anyone comment on the one thing that bugs me about my 323 (and I assume it will be the same with the new '5'), and that is the $#&% defroster!

Of all the cars I've owned in 30 years of driving, I've never had a car other than this one where I couldn't moderate the air temperature of the defroster, typically via a rotary or slider-style temp control. But on my Bimmer, regardless of where the climate control is set (75 or 59, AC on or off), whenever I engage the defrost, I'm blown away by fully heated air blasting out at full power.

Now, I live in an area where sub-zero temps are not uncommon, but even on a frigid day one can only take so much heat! And on those occasions where the defroster is needed due to high humidity, yet the ambient air is warm, the 'furnace effect' from my defroster is like a preview of hell! At least in the winter, I have the option of rolling my window down (although I must admit I get a few strange looks from other drivers when my head is hanging out of the car when it's -10 F!).

Oh well, if that's my only complaint about the design of the car (and happily, it is), I guess I can live with it. Maybe my about-to-be-built 530i (due to hit the floor in Munich next week!) will surprise me with a more flexible defrost system.

dl7265 · June 2002

i wondered if i was the only one that noticed it was mach2 or nothing,.

I do like being able to regulated the temp of the air from the center vent however.

DL

shipo · June 2002

It seems to me that there are two buttons for "Defrost". The top right button on the climate control panel gives you the "Dual turbo-charged, non-intercooled, full heat Scirocco" mode, while the top left button allows you to modulate the temperature and fan speed to the windscreen via the conventional adjustments.

Best Regards,
Shipo

indylowflyer · June 2002

Reiz-

Good observations, here are mine after 13 months of ownership:

1) I went with the $1200 upgraded stereo option and like Shipo I'm no audiophile, but it sounds great to me.

2) I agree with Shipo on am reception, it is very good.

3) Cup holders are not well designed, but do work on certain size drinks. I do keep a close eye on the beverage when accelerating and cornering. No spills yet!

4) I have rarely used the sunvisors in any vehicle that I have owned, and the 5er seems no better or worse, but I can understand the usefulness of having the extended version, especially when flipped to the side.

5) Only mechanical issues have been the engine cooling fan recall and the left front turn signal bulb failed.

6) I have Dunlops on my 540 and have been very, very happy with the wear(or lack there of) and the quietness. I plan on purchasing Dunlops when my current set is due to be replaced.

7) I love the manual, even if the throw is longer than some other vehicles. It is awesome mated to a V-8. I sometimes get sloppy and "miss" the 2nd to 3rd gear shift. It creates a great deal of personal pain.

8) I agree the climate control should be simplified by having more manual control, but it really hasn't been a big issue.

9) Mine is Titanium Silver and I love it. It hides the dirt and I feel won't fade over the long haul. I have owned several silver colored cars and feel it is the best choice for me. The only down side is there are alot of silver colored BMW's, but that didn't affect my choice. I thought I read that 30% of all BMWs sold are silver, but I'm not sure this is correct.

All in all, this is an awesome vehicle. It had always been a dream of mine to have a 5-series BMW and I finally could afford to purchase one. I would reccommend a 5er to anyone. I believe they are the finest sedan on the market. And believe it or not after comparing price to other sedans in its class, I feel it is a good value.

snagiel · June 2002

Oh, what the heck, it's a slow work day so I'll chime in as well:

1. "Audiophile" is a vague term. I've spent several thousand dollars on my home surround system, so I can appreciate and enjoy listening to quality reproduction of music (and movies). But I don't get terribly technical in analyzing a system, since there's a large subjective component to it. Nevertheless, to my ears, my DSP system sounds great under most conditions. I've found only rap and heavy metal sound muddled and disappointing.

2. AM? I don't think I've tried that since the representative at the Performance Center Delivery showed me how to switch bands. Frankly, I rarely use even FM and my CD player anymore, now that I've installed an XM satellite receiver in my car.

3. Yeah, the cupholders are lousy, but honestly I couldn't care less. I appreciate the obviously sarcastic manner in which BMW engineers put them in: Clearly, given their breadth of knowledge and expertise with all things mechanical, they could have fashioned more sturdy and larger cupholders. But, as Shipo pointed out, attention shouldn't be diverted when driving. I don't eat, drink, talk on my cell (almost never), or otherwise allow my hands to be occupied with anything other than controlling the car. I can't tell you how many times a day I see people piloting their Exursions around with one or both hands holding a book, newspaper, phone, makeup, burger, drink, whatever. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're an observant driver, but I respect BMW's stance as well. If you want better, there are several after-market alternatives.

4. The sunvisors haven't seemed to be a problem for me so far. I recently got my windows tinted, which has helped keep the interior both cooler and darker (with less glare).

5. No mechanical issues here yet (just under 6000 miles on the odometer), but I have noticed a couple of sporadic squeaks and clicks (from the seat, the dead pedal, and the suspension).

6. I've got the Continental's, and the road noise seems about average with them. Their grip is quite stronger than with my old Passat's tires, so I'm looking forward to wearing them out and seeing what Potenza S-03's can do.

7. Agreed about the transmission. The throws are actually very precise and well weighted, but the clutch actuation isn't as intuitive as the Audi/VW unit my Passat had. 1-2 shifts under heavy acceleration in particular are very difficult to nail smoothly (which is why so many people on the bimmer.org boards get their CDV drilled out, although I'm skeptical about the procedure).

8. I agree the interface for the climate control could be better, but overall it works fairly well. Turning it "on" is easy enough, but I agree I wish there was a simple "off" button instead of repeatedly pushing the fan down button.

9. I have the Toledo Blue, which isn't quite as dark but certainly a bear to keep looking clean, especially in Atlanta's pollen-swept Spring. But washing the car by hand on an early weekend morning is therapeutic.

colt007 · June 2002

My observations after 3,300 miles & 3 months '02 530ia SP:

1.I agree with others, the DSP sounds great! Earl Klugh, Notorious B.I.G., Sinatra, Sarah Brightman or whatever.

2. Depending on location, AM radio is sometimes weak, not always.

3. Will never use the cupholders. I usually push (read exceed) the speed limit & I need to be focused especially on the twisties. There is a replacement kit out there that I may install for my wife that looks/works much better than the factory holders.

4. Sunvisors haven't been an issue. I have a great pair of sunglasses though.

5. No mechanical issues.

6. I have the Continenntals; they're quiet so far.

7. OK you got me here. I have the auto. I can say in manual mode the shifts are smooth.

8. Climate controls are good. Wifey had issues with defrost. I think she figured it out.

9. Toledo Blue. Not as hard as Black to keep clean but I can be anal that way. Wife looked at me strange when after washing & polishing, we attended an affair & had to park near a construction site & I wiped the dust off (Cal Duster) before we left.

All in all, very satisfied & always look forward to driving the 5.

Colt.

colt007 · June 2002

I know you guys love your manual babies but you must admit, straight-line 70mph (or whatever the limit is)hway driving can be a little boring. Do you ever get a chance to drive on some nice twisty, lightly travelled roads & really play those gears the way they were meant to be played? Let me know, espcially you guys East of say Illinois. I'm in NY & planning road trips to Maine, the Carolinas, Michigan (although I may have to take the 300M)& Toledo OH (in celebration of Toledo Blue)& would love any excuse to divert a little (or alot) to drive on some great blacktop.

Colt.

nyccarguy · June 2002

a good stretch of road to go fast on and really test your 530iA SP's handling is the ramp from the Thruway to the Garden State Parkway.

musher2 · June 2002

At least on the E46 '3' series, there's only one defrost button (top right), which is an all-or-nothing proposition as I described earlier. The left-side buttons allow you to bypass 'auto' and direct air to the windshield (top button), vents (middle) or floor (lower). However, I'll assume from your posting that the '5' will give me the option of modulating both air flow rate and temp, which effectively eliminates the only real complaint I've come up regarding BMWs so far. Great news.

On a new subject, I've noticed a lot of comments about BMW audio systems, both standard and upgraded, and I can't resist weighing in. I AM an audiophile, having spent far more on stereo equipment over the years than I have on cars (even ponying up for a new 530i next month won't alter that equation). There's no absolute reference point that allows one to quantify the relative quality of audio systems, either in a car or in a home -- it's inherently subjective. And frankly, there are practical limits to how good an audio system can be made to sound in a vehicle, given the inherent limitations of the interior (e.g. a small, non-optimally shaped space, interior materials that are less-than-ideal acoustically, engine and miscellaneous exterior noises, etc.).

I spent some time listening to both the standard and upgraded BMW systems while selecting my 323 two years ago and more recently, while test driving 5s. I could tell the difference both times, so I've coughed up the bucks for the upgraded system. Is it worth it? Nominally, I suppose, but I can only say that for myself. 8 out of 10 other guys may well say 'no' and be absolutely correct.

That said, I try to keep my expectations for this and all car stereos reasonably low, even with the upgrades, as there's no way the audio system in my car is going to sound as good as what I can produce in my house. In fairness, the one thing I haven't done is compare BMW's systems to other high-end auto offerings such as Lexus, so it may be fair to say that the VALUE of BMW's stereos is inferior to (at least some) other manufacturers. But I doubt anyone that's inclined to buy a BMW would steer away from it based on the perception that some other car has a better audio system. But iff it's truly an issue, there's always after-market stuff.

And finally, at the risk of getting drummed out of the audiophile's union, I must admit that there are a lot of occasions where I intentionally turn the stereo off 'cause I enjoy hearing the growl of the engine, particularly when bombin' around town with frequent starts and stops. Stereo? What stereo?

snagiel · June 2002

I'm with you on that last paragraph. As satisfying and fun as good music can get, when driving around (in a driver's car, that is), the orchestra of a deep-breathing engine as it winds through the gears can be truly intoxicating. A couple of years ago I remember tooling around on a multi-lane road around town when a Ferrari F355 pulls up to my left. I snapped off the radio on my Passat and fired down the window. As the traffic ahead cleared, I just watched--and listened--in awe as that V8 raced along. I probably would have sold my spleen at that moment if it would buy me such a machine...

cdnpinhead · June 2002

In a previous life, I drove a truck (that'd be Class 8) and learned that deadheading back to wherever I needed to be next was a great opportunity to enjoy the countryside. There are many roads east of Illinois that sported the "trailers longer than X feet" prohibited sign. Those were the roads I went back to later with my 240Z or Miata or whatever.

Anywhere in West Virginia off the interstate; anywhere in the Appalachians (once again, off the interstate); much of U.S. 40 in PA, and on and on and on. It'll take longer to drive these roads, but it'll feel shorter, or at least better. Virginia, the Carolinas and, of course, New England. The fun roads are endless. Just go during the week and avoid leaf-peeping season -- you'll do just fine.

Buy the manual. Use it. Enjoy.

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