Easier Choice Now! 550i!

[Ågent99]

As some of you may or may not have read, I was kind of on the fence about getting a 530i or 550i. As my sig indicates, I am planning an ED 550i in September.

Well, now that the price sheet is posted, I quickly added everything up and all options equal between the two cars, the V8 is only commanding $4,935.00 premium (not including dealer profit).

That isn't as much as I expected so it certainly makes taking the V8 a tad easier. If it was like 8-10k, it would be easier to convince myself to take the 530i.

Anyway, the option list I'm looking at:

Steptronic (stupid GGT! :mad: ), Rear Door Airbags, Power Rear Sunshade, Fold Down, NAV, HUD, HD Radio, Logic7, Spt Pkg, Prem Pkg, Cold Pkg.

Still on the fence about the Ventilated Seating option as that is only available in black and beige interior. Since my wife picks the colors in our household, I still don't know what we are getting. She really liked the Auburn...just need to figure out what exterior color to go with it I guess. :dunno: what we'll end up with but it looks like a V8 for us! :bigpimp:

[stream]

Here's my view on the ventilated seats. I had them on my E55 (bought car from dealer inventory) and wouldn't order them again. First, in the bay area, not many days when you'll need them. Second, I didn't like the way the perforated leather looked (it's also on the back seats, even though they aren't ventilated).

[Ågent99]

They are awesome on long trips, though! However, I took a very long trip (4500 miles) in the 545i last September and was fine without it. Odds are good I'll forego it (kinda expensive).

[wagonman]

As some of you may or may not have read, I was kind of on the fence about getting a 530i or 550i. As my sig indicates, I am planning an ED 550i in September.

Well, now that the price sheet is posted, I quickly added everything up and all options equal between the two cars, the V8 is only commanding $4,935.00 premium (not including dealer profit).

That isn't as much as I expected so it certainly makes taking the V8 a tad easier. If it was like 8-10k, it would be easier to convince myself to take the 530i.

Anyway, the option list I'm looking at:

Steptronic (stupid GGT! :mad: ), Rear Door Airbags, Power Rear Sunshade, Fold Down, NAV, HUD, HD Radio, Logic7, Spt Pkg, Prem Pkg, Cold Pkg.

Still on the fence about the Ventilated Seating option as that is only available in black and beige interior. Since my wife picks the colors in our household, I still don't know what we are getting. She really liked the Auburn...just need to figure out what exterior color to go with it I guess. :dunno: what we'll end up with but it looks like a V8 for us! :bigpimp:
why are you getting rear side air bags? i got them and promptly figured i wasted $385. they are NOT safe for children under age 14 and one dealer told me that BMW considers them redundant with the way the car is configured for side impact. just curious. whay not get titanium grey again? black is too hard to keep looking good. i like the monaco blue but you may as well be getting black from an upkeep standpoint. titanium silver is nice but boring. silver grey is also nice but tatan grey is more interesting. the other colors can be ruled out imho. good luck with it!

[krispykreme]

Still on the fence about the Ventilated Seating option as that is only available in black and beige interior. Since my wife picks the colors in our household, I still don't know what we are getting. She really liked the Auburn...just need to figure out what exterior color to go with it I guess. :dunno: what we'll end up with but it looks like a V8 for us! :bigpimp:

hey 99,

i have the ventilated seat on the E55 and did not order it with M5. It depends on which color interior. The black seats in my E55 gets very hot in the summer if i left it out. The ventilated seat does a good job in cooling my back really quickly. I rarely left the car out under the sun, so i may have used it 2 or 3 times in last 2 years. If you order dark color and park the car out under the sun (which i believe all cxxxx parking lot are uncovered), you may want to look into this.

Didn't order it on the M5 because i rarely used it on the E55 and my interior is almost white. I don't think it will get as hot as the black seat in the E.

Personally, i will probably skip this. But evil wife unit loves this option in her CLK as well. I am not sold on this. But your wife may be interested in this.

Also, I really would recommend the M aero pkg. Personally speaking, the M aero pkg really improves the E60 front dramatically. The rear i am not sold on. But the front looks much more agressive with the M aero pkg.

[jjclyde]

No offense - but I would *never* give up a manual transmission just because of the gas guzzler tax. $1300 GGT to get a manual transmission is far better money spent than on HUD, L7 and Radio. IMHO. :)

[the_maxx_guy]

They are awesome on long trips, though! However, I took a very long trip (4500 miles) in the 545i last September and was fine without it. Odds are good I'll forego it (kinda expensive).

4500 miles?? Wow, where'd you go? Canada? Mexico? or just made a trip to central staes and came back? I hope you are not leasing... :)

[Veight]

This price sheet was posted about 2 weeks ago. Its attached in another thread too.

Thanks though...

[Me530]

You are going to have to change your name from Ågent99 to Ågent550! :D

[Ågent99]

This price sheet was posted about 2 weeks ago. Its attached in another thread too.

Thanks though...

Yes, but the latest price sheet is 100% legible! :)

[Ågent99]

No offense - but I would *never* give up a manual transmission just because of the gas guzzler tax. $1300 GGT to get a manual transmission is far better money spent than on HUD, L7 and Radio. IMHO. :)

No offense taken...each to his own!

[Ågent99]

4500 miles?? Wow, where'd you go? Canada? Mexico? or just made a trip to central staes and came back? I hope you are not leasing... :)

Nice trip to BC and Alberta...3 weeks of fun in Canada drivng a new BMW.

Yes, I leased...but flipped it already...hafta make room for the new V8! :bigpimp:

[Ågent99]

why are you getting rear side air bags? i got them and promptly figured i wasted $385. they are NOT safe for children under age 14 and one dealer told me that BMW considers them redundant with the way the car is configured for side impact. just curious. whay not get titanium grey again? black is too hard to keep looking good. i like the monaco blue but you may as well be getting black from an upkeep standpoint. titanium silver is nice but boring. silver grey is also nice but tatan grey is more interesting. the other colors can be ruled out imho. good luck with it!

You are correct...I have them on my 530i and 100% agree with you...dunno why I added them on again! :ouch:

[Ågent99]

Also, I really would recommend the M aero pkg. Personally speaking, the M aero pkg really improves the E60 front dramatically. The rear i am not sold on. But the front looks much more agressive with the M aero pkg.

KK! Nice to hear from you. Yeah, the color limiting that goes with the Ventilation will probably kill it but we'll see.

The annoying thing with the M aero pkg for people leasing (like me), is that the price of this falls outside the leasing...you have to pay this up front. Then when (if) you turn the car back in, how do you get your bumpers back--especially when you probably won't have the originals. Otherwise, I would seriously consider it but I think I'll skip this one.

[doug_999]

I probably would have spent the extra cash for the ventilated seats but the loss of the heated steering wheel was not an option. I LOVE THAT FEATURE!

[Ågent99]

I probably would have spent the extra cash for the ventilated seats but the loss of the heated steering wheel was not an option. I LOVE THAT FEATURE!

Anyone know why the two can't co-exist?

[Bob Clevenger]

Anyone know why the two can't co-exist? Uh, for the same reason we can't get the 550iT here in the US? For the same reason a 550i 6MT gets a GGT but a 550i Steptronic doesn't? :dunno:

[Ågent99]

Uh, for the same reason we can't get the 550iT here in the US? For the same reason a 550i 6MT gets a GGT but a 550i Steptronic doesn't? :dunno:

Well, the answer to the second question is due to the way US EPA calculate MPGs on cars and I guess that automatics do better than manuals nowadays? :dunno:

[chuck92103]

Excellent choice.

I had a 98 540i way back when with a 6 speed. I really enjoyed the manual tranny in this car for about the first couple months and then it get old quick.

It is not like driving a Miata, or Z4, the 550 is a luxury sport sedan and the step seems to go best with it IMHO.

Enjoy.:thumbup:

[Bart001]

I think they price the 530i vs. the 550i like that on purpose -- to sway us fence-sitters! I know that I'd be "satisfied" and even "quite happy" with a 6-cylinder next time, but when the price differential is that close, I'll be back in the 8!

I've not looked, but I assume that in addition to the bigger motor, there are other features standard on the 550i that are optional on the 530i, all of which go into the 'value' equation.

[Ågent99]

I think they price the 530i vs. the 550i like that on purpose -- to sway us fence-sitters! I know that I'd be "satisfied" and even "quite happy" with a 6-cylinder next time, but when the price differential is that close, I'll be back in the 8!

Clever pricing games BMW marketing is playing! :mad: :p


I've not looked, but I assume that in addition to the bigger motor, there are other features standard on the 550i that are optional on the 530i, all of which go into the 'value' equation.

Yes, the slushbox, PDC, Xenon, are all extras you need to purchase for the 530i to match the 550i. Also, the 550i doesn't have the Prem. Pkg available because I assume it is already included.

I matched everything up between the two to find my price difference.

One thing to keep in mind, I would have skipped the slushy on the 530i and gotten the 6-speed manual and that would have saved me 1210--that pushes the difference wider. A manual on the 550i costs me an extra 1300 (GGT) and thus pushes the gap even further--$7500 now! :tsk:

[krispykreme]

KK! Nice to hear from you. Yeah, the color limiting that goes with the Ventilation will probably kill it but we'll see.

The annoying thing with the M aero pkg for people leasing (like me), is that the price of this falls outside the leasing...you have to pay this up front. Then when (if) you turn the car back in, how do you get your bumpers back--especially when you probably won't have the originals. Otherwise, I would seriously consider it but I think I'll skip this one.

i see. did not know you are leasing, i also did not know that the kit falls outside of leasing numbers.

GGT does blow. but since you are leasing, it shouldn't be that bad, right?

go with 6 speed. you probably will not like the SMG on the 550i. Slushbox? that's not you.

since you are not going to flip this car, you really should get what you wanted.

[Ågent99]

i see. did not know you are leasing, i also did not know that the kit falls outside of leasing numbers.

GGT does blow. but since you are leasing, it shouldn't be that bad, right?

go with 6 speed. you probably will not like the SMG on the 550i. Slushbox? that's not you.

since you are not going to flip this car, you really should get what you wanted.

True, but this car will mostly be the wife's car and she would like the slushy for a change. I had SMG on my 545i and it was a blast.

[quackbury]

I have the Step in my 2003 540iA SP, and it is REALLY not that bad. In "Manual" mode it took me about a week to learn how to time the shifts "just right" - almost like dealing with Turbo lag 20 years ago. Probably spend 50% of my time shifting on my own, and in full auto (Sport mode) the rest.

On the Southeast Expressway (Boston) you cannot beat the auto! Plus I don't have to worry about wifey frying the clutch....

I am definitely going with another Step on my 550i.

[stevepow]

Anyone know why the two can't co-exist?

Who is telling you they cannot? I just called my dealer again and he looked up my order, production imminent, and it shows both options ZCW and 453 unless it gets kicked back when it goes into production - I'll keep checking - no detais yet in the Owner Circle site.

[stevepow]

I have to agree that I couldn't let $1300 GGT affect my order - not at these prices - if you don't really care about trans options, then sure, but otherwise...get the car tthe way you want it.

As for the M Aero package, I'm still barely on the fence about it - I spent an evening looking at every picture in the e60.net gallery ( http://forums.e60.net/index.php?automodule=gallery&cmd=sc&cat=1 ) and my take away was that Wheels are really the make it/break it option and the M-Aero kit without 19in wheels looked really out of place. In some of those cars, they just replaced the factory wheels with M5 style 18s or other 18s - not a great look IMO.

I wonder if just adding 19in wheels would make for a better overall look. But adding both really puts the price so close to an M5, that is just makes no sense - may as well go for an M5.

That and it is a sunk cost I believe, even if you don't lease, I don't think M-Aero will add to the value of the car.

Of course, if you want that look, it was the best looking front areo mod I have seen posted.

[Ågent99]

Who is telling you they cannot? I just called my dealer again and he looked up my order, production imminent, and it shows both options ZCW and 453 unless it gets kicked back when it goes into production - I'll keep checking - no detais yet in the Owner Circle site.

Read the stickied thread regarding the ventilated seats...they state that you lose the heated steering wheel with this option.

[X550-ED]

the V8 is only commanding $4,935.00 premium ...

That's what I said. Then again I thought, the 750i is about $10K more and it's much nicer than the E60 (in terms of comfort and gadgets, not driving pleasure)... BMW just knows how to play number games :tsk:

[Ågent99]

That's what I said. Then again I thought, the 750i is about $10K more and it's much nicer than the E60 (in terms of comfort and gadgets, not driving pleasure)... BMW just knows how to play number games :tsk:

After some further thought, that 5k price adder isn't really true. In order to compare apples to apples, the transmission really made a big differene in the comparison.

To compare an auto I6 to an auto V8, it is 5k.

To compare a manual I6 to a manual V8, it is 7.5k!

Ordinarily, if I were getting an I6 (which I probably *should* do! :rofl: ), it would be a manual. You gotta pony up an extra 1200 to get an auto I6 and while the tranny on the 550i is a "no charge" item, that isn't quite true since you have to pay a 1300 GGT on either the SMG or Manual. There is your 2.5k swing right there!

:(

[X550-ED]

Very Good point, but I think you should stick with the 550i since there definately is a difference between the 530 and 545 you used to have.

Btw, on the transfer deal :bow:

[Ågent99]

Very Good point, but I think you should stick with the 550i since there definately is a difference between the 530 and 545 you used to have.

My heart wants 8 cylinders but my sense says 6 is plenty! :confused:



Btw, on the transfer deal :bow:

:D www.swapalease.com (http://www.swapalease.com) :D

[X550-ED]

Cool site :thumbup: I'll check it out

[MahuaC]

You are correct...I have them on my 530i and 100% agree with you...dunno why I added them on again! :ouch:

Can someone explain why rear side airbags are redundant for 5 series? I am planning to buy a 530 and was considering getting them.

At the same time I wonder why is it not standard in a car of this class?

[beewang]

Because you can't sit kids back there with the rear airbag activated. It will snapped the neck off the lil' guys back there. Think about it!!

BMW makes you sign all kinds of waivers before you rear airbags are activated. They will NOT be liable if the kid(s) die due to deployemnt of rear side airbags.

Now you know;)

[X550-ED]

Because you can't sit kids back there with the rear airbag activated. It will snapped the neck off the lil' guys back there. Think about it!!

BMW makes you sign all kinds of waivers before you rear airbags are activated. They will NOT be liable if the kid(s) die due to deployemnt of rear side airbags.

Now you know;)

If "Knowledge = Power" then "beewang = Powerful"

:thumbup:

[MahuaC]

There is a $6k difference between 530i and 550i with similar options. Is there a huge difference between the two in terms of performance to justify the upgrade? I have driven 530i (and not 550i) and it did feel fast and exciting to drive. 550i though has 0-60 which is 1 second less than 530i and 550i does have the specs that make it stand out from competition.

I mostly do city driving with occasional long road trips in the summer. I do not go to race tracks or other places where I can push the car to its limit. Perhaps, it indicates that I am not a true performance user but I do appreciate performance and excellence.

Also, 530i has good gas mileage, about 25% better than 550i - atleast with auto transmission.

Given all this, should I upgrade to a 550i? What other questions should I ask myself to help make a decision?

[Ågent99]

All great questions and ones that I am trying to figure out for myself.

Also, the 550i, for me, costs me $200/yr more in insurance over the 530i.

Just when I thought to myself, "Screw it, I'm getting the V8!! :mad: !!" I end up rethinking it again later and every time I calm down and think a bit, I always come back to the I6 being the better car for my situation. :(

[BIG _AL]

All great questions and ones that I am trying to figure out for myself.

Also, the 550i, for me, costs me $200/yr more in insurance over the 530i.

Just when I thought to myself, "Screw it, I'm getting the V8!! :mad: !!" I end up rethinking it again later and every time I calm down and think a bit, I always come back to the I6 being the better car for my situation. :(

If you think $200 is bad, try having two new young male drivers added into the mix and see how you fair. It made me rethink the 550i and go for the 530i.

[Ågent99]

If you think $200 is bad, try having two new young male drivers added into the mix and see how you fair. It made me rethink the 550i and go for the 530i.

Actually, I don't think $200 is bad at all! It is almost a non-issue but the darn I6 still seems to be the best choice no matter how I slice it.