Looking at the X5 35i

[ryansbmw]

Hey guys.
Brand new here but I am thinking of moving into a 2011-2013 X5 sometime this fall so I’m doing all my research now. I like to mod so I am already thinking down those lines

Stereo-
Most cars I am seeing have the standard HiFi stereo (S676) which lack the mid-range and tweeters on the D-pillar. I have come across one or two that have the Premium HiFi DSP (S system installed which has those missing speakers and I would assume, a better amp.

If I went with a car with the standard HiFi, I would certainly want to upgrade it. How does the BavSound Stage 1 ( 5 mid, 5 tweeter) sound compared to the Premium DSP system? I would probably also upgrade to the BimmerTech amp as well.

BavSound also sells a stage 1 upgrade for the DSP system as well. Would those rear speakers work when plugged in to the standard HiFi system or would I need to upgrade to the DSP amp as well?

Suspension-
EDC is the same as Adaptive Drive correct?

I will be most likely upgrading to the KW V3 coilovers so I can set the stance exactly how I want it. These are the correct ones right?

https://www.kwsuspensions.net/produc...et_Performance

Haven’t come across any X5s yet with EDC, so it would just be a matter if the car had the self-leveling suspension or not. The rear shocks come with mounts correct? The fronts would require new mounts or I could reuse the factory ones if they are in good shape?

Tuning-
I know I want to tune this car. Ive been looking at the Cobb and MHD tune, charge pipe and either catless or catted downpipes. Obviously coming from the M54 engine, tuning is completely new to me. If I went with one of the above tunes and catless downpipes, the CEL will stay off right? When it comes time to pass inspection, will I be able to pass in NJ? (Ive read conflicting things about some sensors being "not ready") If I needed catted downpipes so sensors read ready, will the high flow cats satisfy the computer and not set off the CEL?

Thanks guys.

[omgboost]

2012 and 2013 standard audio sounds way better than the 2011 standard audio. I'm not an audiophile and the 2012 standard audio sounds good to me. I don't know how much more of an upgrade they would be, but on a 2011, it would it a worthwhile upgrade.

As for tunes, Cobb will work on 2011 and some 2012 models. I don't think it will work on 2013. MHD should work on all N55 and I would go that route since they seem to have more support. You can definitely go with a catless downpipe with either tune, they will not show the CEL if you select the stage 2 tunes. As for emissions, VRSF has a fix as well as another company that sells on Amazon http://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-catless...-bmw-335i.html
I looked into this myself and I felt like it the value wasn't there in the amount of power you gain.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by omgboost

2012 and 2013 standard audio sounds way better than the 2011 standard audio. I'm not an audiophile and the 2012 standard audio sounds good to me. I don't know how much more of an upgrade they would be, but on a 2011, it would it a worthwhile upgrade.

This is correct. 2011 35i's w/o Premium Sound Package had S645 US Radio standard, which I believe had 6 speakers? Terrible, awful sound system for such an expensive vehicle.

In 2012, BMW ditched S645A for the 35i and S676 (Hi-Fi) became the standard/base system, with S677 (Premium Sound Package) still an option. I couldn't tell any difference between these 2 systems - I know S677 has the equalizer, and it sounds like 2 extra speakers in the very back?

Either way I think you're wasting your $ on BavSound upgrades. The vast majority of people who've gone this route have only reported marginal upgrades, at best, in sound quality. If you're wanting a better sound system, find a local shop and spend the $ to do it right. FWIW, I have an E90 M3 which BavSound makes packages for, and same thing, people report very marginal upgrades with their stuff.

Originally Posted by ryansbmw

Suspension-
EDC is the same as Adaptive Drive correct?

I will be most likely upgrading to the KW V3 coilovers so I can set the stance exactly how I want it. These are the correct ones right?

https://www.kwsuspensions.net/produc...et_Performance

The E70 has the standard suspension and then Adaptive Drive, no EDC. Adaptive Drive is pretty rare - included with 2011 M Sports, otherwise a very rare and expensive standalone option.

Yes on the V3's.

[ryansbmw]

awesome. thanks for the info guys

[ryansbmw]

What do people think of the BBS SV wheels? I really like the look of them and I know BBS is a good company but the fact that the wheels are cast, makes me nervous. In the E39 world, forged wheels were key. I ran a set of RS-GTS that were super light yet strong as f*ck. Anybody have problems with bending or cracking these wheels?

[ryansbmw]

Time to bump this. Got the money and the e39 is ready to go.

I've found two nice 2012 M-Sports with slightly different options. Both black on black. Both 54k miles for $24k. According to carfax, looks like they were maintained at the dealer. One of them hit a deer and did $500 worth of damage back in 2013 to one side of the car. Sounds like a headlight or something like that.

One has adaptive drive, individual leather dash, standard sport steering wheel and DSP.

The other has the regular sport suspension, regular hifi and the m-steering wheel with the paddle shifters. It also has option S1CCA Selection of COP relevant vehicles. No idea what this means.

What do you guys think? I'll be test driving them this weekend. Is adaptive drive worth it? Looks significantly more expensive to replace when it comes time. If I got the regular sport suspension I would get the KW V3 most likely, or possibly BC depending on reviews. Would these perform better than adaptive drive?

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by ryansbmw

Time to bump this. Got the money and the e39 is ready to go.

I've found two nice 2012 M-Sports with slightly different options. Both black on black. Both 54k miles for $24k. According to carfax, looks like they were maintained at the dealer. One of them hit a deer and did $500 worth of damage back in 2013 to one side of the car. Sounds like a headlight or something like that.

One has adaptive drive, individual leather dash, standard sport steering wheel and DSP.

The other has the regular sport suspension, regular hifi and the m-steering wheel with the paddle shifters. It also has option S1CCA Selection of COP relevant vehicles. No idea what this means.

What do you guys think? I'll be test driving them this weekend. Is adaptive drive worth it? Looks significantly more expensive to replace when it comes time. If I got the regular sport suspension I would get the KW V3 most likely, or possibly BC depending on reviews. Would these perform better than adaptive drive?

If both are M Sports, both should have the M Sport steering wheel. Are you sure it's a regular Sport wheel? If yes, somebody swapped it out. Something to note, the paddle shifters are only found on later 2012 models, anything with a build date of 10/11 or 11/11, or later. Earlier 2012's did not get the paddles. And paddles only came with Sport and M Sport models. Maybe the other one just looked different because it didn't have paddles?

Adaptive Drive is pretty desirable amongst the forum crowd here. Tough to find on 2012 and 2013's. Not sure how KW's would compare?

Can you post the last 7 of the VINs?

[ryansbmw]

Yea both have the M-Sport wheels, one just has paddle shifters and the other doesnt.

VIN# L755416 and L989296.

Ive run the vins thru bmwvin and I just keep going back and forth with the different options they have. Each one has features I want, just cant decide. Id like to lower the car a tad and make it more planted. Ive been reading so many mixed opinions on just using springs and it seems like coilovers is the way to go. But with coilovers, you lose adaptive drive. Maybe the factory sport suspension will be enough out of the box. Decisions decisions

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by ryansbmw

Yea both have the M-Sport wheels, one just has paddle shifters and the other doesnt.

VIN# L755416 and L989296.

Ive run the vins thru bmwvin and I just keep going back and forth with the different options they have. Each one has features I want, just cant decide. Id like to lower the car a tad and make it more planted. Ive been reading so many mixed opinions on just using springs and it seems like coilovers is the way to go. But with coilovers, you lose adaptive drive. Maybe the factory sport suspension will be enough out of the box. Decisions decisions

Hmm, yah tough decision, both have nice options that the other doesn't have.

Does the color matter to you - Carbon Black vs. Black Sapphire?

The Carbon Black was built in August 2011, prior to the paddle shift option. It also has Lane Departure Warning - this option would have eliminated the paddles anyway (couldn't have both together). The Carbon one also has the ventilated seats if that matters. Hot/muggy NJ summers?

FWIW, my 2012 didn't come w/ the paddles, but I really wanted them. I found an X5M steering wheel (very similar to the M Sport) on the forum and swapped it out. The paddles are pretty lame on this vehicle, IMO. There's no real performance advantage to using them, at least on the 50i...they just aren't fun at all on the X5, but some people like them. Now on my M3 w/ DCT, they are awesome. But that's a different tranny and power is delivered entirely different. Just my .02.

The Black Sapphire has the Cold Weather Package, so you get the rear heated seats if anyone sits back there? My kids love the butt warmers back there. This one also has the Technology Package, so you'd get the HUD if that matters.

Sound systems are pretty comparable IMO.

[JMD]

...get the 12 or 13!

[bmwx5er]

The Carfax service history for the carbon black one shows "steering & suspension checked" 3 times in the span of 3 months. As great as the build is, I'd want to find more about the steering/suspension issues..

[bmwx5er]

Also, I'm yet to read anyone needing to replace AD shocks, so the replacement cost shouldn't be a big concern. The comparison b/n AD and coil overs are akin to comparing apples & oranges. I'd stick with AD.

[ryansbmw]

Question about AD. If you have AD, you have the sport button under the shifter right? From the pics, it doesn't look like the button is there. In 2012, was it an option in the idrive menu?

Sorry for the newb questions. I've been in the e39 game forever so all this new tech can be a bit overwhelming at times.

[ryansbmw]

Originally Posted by bmwx5er

Also, I'm yet to read anyone needing to replace AD shocks, so the replacement cost shouldn't be a big concern. The comparison b/n AD and coil overs are akin to comparing apples & oranges. I'd stick with AD.

Yea I'm just trying to think down the road if I want to lower the car at all. Does AD work well with the H&R lowering springs? Seems like most people who complain about H&R use the adjustable links. Since this car doesnt have self-leveling, I would be using all 4 springs

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by ryansbmw

Question about AD. If you have AD, you have the sport button under the shifter right? From the pics, it doesn't look like the button is there. In 2012, was it an option in the idrive menu?

Sorry for the newb questions. I've been in the e39 game forever so all this new tech can be a bit overwhelming at times.

Correct, Sport button behind shifter, same for 2011, 2012, & 2013. It's not in iDrive...I don't think?

[ryansbmw]

Ahaha. Figured out my problem. The car listing that claims adaptive drive is a lie. That's why there is no button. The other car that doesn't list it in the ad is the one that actually has it according to the vin decoder. I can kinda see the button on there too. All good now. Too many listings, too many vins to keep it all straight haha.

So do adaptive drive shocks not fail like normal struts? I figured they would start leaking or give out by 100k miles like typical struts do

[ryansbmw]

Got to test drive them today. One was junk. Tons of deep scratches all over, tons of creaks and rattles inside.

The one with adaptive drive was in great shape tho. Driving them back to back like that was pretty eye opening in terms of handling. There was almost no body roll. A couple things I noticed tho. Maybe because I drove it first and not used to the size and weight, it felt slower and less zippy compared to the other. Also, I heard a weird clunk coming from the back of the car a couple times. Couldn't tell if suspension related or something else.

I also noticed his shimmy in the wheel occasionally. It didn't feel wheel/tire related but more like a computer was trying to correct for something. It would happen for like a second or two and then go away. Anyone else experience this? I'm gonna try to get the car in for a PPI next week but if I can give them any extra info that would be great.

[bmwx5er]

The Carfax shows that the car was in at the dealer for steering or suspension issues in the last few months before it was sold. I'd be really weary of buying it without knowing what it was all about.

[ryansbmw]

Originally Posted by bmwx5er

The Carfax shows that the car was in at the dealer for steering or suspension issues in the last few months before it was sold. I'd be really weary of buying it without knowing what it was all about.

Definitely. I'm assuming this is the issue they were looking at.

Edit: now that I think about it, lane departure system was on. I wonder if that was it because it was definitely that kind of shake in the wheel. I was on narrow roads and I'm thinking maybe it thought the car was drifting. I'm gonna need another test drive I think.

Edit: SoB. Car was sold. Gotta start all over