Single best upgrade on your 5?

[bimmerE36freak]

What is the single best mod/upgrade youve done on your 5er? Weather it be HIDs with angel eyes, body kit, sound system, or cold air intake, anything! Lets hear it!

[chiefwej]

CDV delete, SSK, and RP Synchormax in the trans. One afternoon's work, and very few dollars transformed the shifting.

[duckazn539]

I consider washing and waxing my car to be an upgrade, since I put in 3hrs plus in to it. And plus it looks so damn sexy after a good wax job which in my opinion is the single best exterior mod.


but other than that I would have to say my clear tails.

[bboh]

H&R sport springs

*edit* As of 01/25/08 I'm changing my mind. Speaker upgrade is, by far, the best upgrade yet!

[98M3_4]

Probably my KW Variant2 coilovers...also like the Dinan trans software

[FP5241]

So far?
Prolly my smoked headlight covers....
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/311/pic398382mt4.png

[98 528i]

Nawssssss :D





I'd have to say, the mtech bumpers probably.

[fragzem]

I'd have to go with.... the 12" L7 Kicker sub I threw in the trunk.

[Aubergine]

OEM Hella non-ae Xenons. Man, I hate driving any car with halogens. Xenons rule!:buttrock

[1BADBM]

Mtech bumpers then suspension then NAV :)

[Poolman]

Replacing Vanos seals with the new Vinton seals

[jase007]

Replacing Vanos seals with the new Vinton seals


Am anticipating ... this too will be mine.

Or,

Replacing R subframe bushings [4X and fluid filled ... originally :)]....

[SHWELL]

The one that gets the most attention is the AC Schnitz Rep Lip......

[cpatstone]

We should make this a d*mn sticky. These were among the best cars in the world when new, and 5-11 years later, the best thing that you can do for them is
a) fix what's broken
b) keep up with routine maintenance (factory specified and de-facto maintenance items)
c) clean, polish, etc.



beyond that, eh... not much you can do to improve IMHO. I'll vouch for the E46 ZHP (shorter, weighted) shift knob. OEM Xenons for those who don't yet have them. Factory nav sucks compared to what a good cell phone has these days.

[adjmcloon]

DICE ipod adapter and the BSW/Rainbow upgrade (front and rear). I gots to have my tunes, and it's got to sound good.

:redspot

[540ig5]

In my book the best mods are things that make your car go faster thru the corners, a step below that are things that make it go faster in a straight line and last thing are mods that make the car look better. But B4 you start all that make sure it's running good.

hence my top mod to date are Eibach sways front and back. Haven’t put the KONI/FSD’s on yet but I suspect I will like that too.

[Buildscharacter]

Porter Cable polish.... made my car look 1000x better.

[JBPgh]

a) fix what's broken
b) keep up with routine maintenance (factory specified and de-facto maintenance items)
c) clean, polish, etc.


I'm on a) and b) right now...mostly a) !

[thetinpusher]

I got Screwed!!!!! ESS twin screw supercharger :redspot

[OGM3]

1. short shifter / knob / synchromax / CDV delete
2. Intrax springs
3. sub in trunk and new front speakers

[gsxr]

s52 cams

[bjd1020]

VF Supercharger.

[VLee]

Koni suspension set

[jamesdc4]

Hard wired radar detector. It's already saved me thousands of $s.

[Stack24]

Going from a 540 to M5 lol. I kid...

I think the best mod is the one that is best for you and your needs really. Some like performance, some like looks, and others like a mix of both. It really comes down to the person.

[VaE39]

Replacing Vanos seals with the new Vinton seals

Ohh I'm planning on doing this project as soon as I get my car in running condition.

For looks I'd say Mtech bumpers...but the HID upgrade made it so much better driving at night

[Gumbi4u]

M-tech kit all the way. It went from bitch to beast in a few hours!

[scottycs]

Me driving!

[LuvMy328is]

I like my I.C.E. Angel eye upgrade and the Optilux yellow fogs. I also dropped in an ITG filter and debaffled the airbox too.
~Phil

[jnyost]

Routine maintenance.... Damn does it feel good.

Jared

[M3UOND]

Best SINGLE car mod: VF Stage 1 Supercharger.

Best SINGLE driver mod: 2-day M school in Spartanburg.

[Aleman]

I'd determine the best SINGLE mod based on a number of factors:
1. Cost/benefit
2. Effort to perform/install upgrade
3. Amount of happiness it provides.

For me this would be the CDV delete (free) as the #1 best upgrade, but the combo of SSK, RP Synchromax, and CDV (if taken as one upgrade) is best. Cheap ($120 total), easy to do, and brings oh so many smiles to the driver's face. :D

[brandon5069]

Best mod would have to be the M5 rear sway bar. It's amazing how that little bar changes so much....

[xxpanipuri]

my sound system...

[M3UOND]

Best mod would have to be the M5 rear sway bar. It's amazing how that little bar changes so much....

Post-M5 rear sway bar, the back end felt weird (a little too wiggly) until I also put on a shock tower brace. Did you find that to be true as well?

[brandon5069]

after the sway bar the rear end really tightened up, the car understeered less, and the car felt even flatter while cornering. I love it!

[smooth6]

Suspension makes car more fun to drive (2) 3:15 Differential w/Quaife ATB makes powering out of the twisties super nice!!!

[FP5241]

OEM Hella non-ae Xenons. Man, I hate driving any car with halogens. Xenons rule!:buttrock

BEST LIGHTS EVAR!!!!!!!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[Erkinak]

3.15 M5 LSD by far the best upgrade i think, after FI..

[///SC3]

CDV delete, SSK, and RP Synchormax in the trans. One afternoon's work, and very few dollars transformed the shifting.

+1 I did all the above except instead of the ssk I got rid of the ugly goose neck stock shift knob and installed the zhp short weighted shift knob, like chiefwej said, transformed my car! :D

[CR1777]

i would have to say my music,couse we all know what a stock system sounds like,:mad
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h284/cr1777/DSCN0003-3.jpg


Best SINGLE car mod: VF Stage 1 Supercharger.

Best SINGLE driver mod: 2-day M school in Spartanburg.i'm thinking on going with the vf.but was also looking at the dinan package.have some feed back for me..thanks

[BlackBMWs]

So far the Zionsville and total cooling system replacement. That way the car will be around to enjoy other mods... :cool

After that, would be the Bluetooth mod.

[FP5241]

My new best upgrade is my CCFL AE's...

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9809/1005538ie5.png


But i have a feeling that will change again soon...
;)

[bimmerE36freak]

LED AE's ftw

[Fiziks]

Tires or suspension will always be the biggest noticeable improvement.

[taggart]

Moving up to 17" from the stock 16s. Felt like a whole new suspension setup. Now I'm back to stockers and it handles like a pig again.

[lunker325]

Looks - Hella Euro xenon AE's. Totally transformed the look of the front of the car.

Stereo - Dension Icelink Plus, use it everyday.

Performance - M5 3.15 LSD, best bang for the buck IMO. Something you can actually feel short of FI.

[cal45fan]

:buttrockThe best mod I put in was replacing ALL the OEM injectors with the Ford/BOSCH injectors!!! What a difference in pull and gas mileage.:buttrock

[RXWLLMSS]

Headlights with the angel eyes

[wofton]

VF Supercharger.

Ditto

[Skwisgaar]

TEC cupholder

[BigM62]

Dinan S/C, Dinan suspension and BBK.

[M3UOND]

VF supercharger

[Jackcat559]

Besides the supercharger. Changing the trim from wood to titanium

[dmako]

Removing the seat clip that allows the drivers seat to go back an inch or so. Being tall this made the car very comfortable to drive.

[JackEatsEmoKids]

Michilen PS2's and my Corbeau FX1 Pro race seats......end of story.

[ctrmass]

I havent done any mods.
I just bought it. A 99 528i with the sport pkg.
Oh yea, I changed the oil after doing the oil seperator.

[Zero Cool]

The exhaust.......as of now. Once the 3.45 diff gets installed then I'm sure this will take over the top spot.

[KMFDM26]

M-tech bumpers or exhaust. Its a toss up.

[Redflea]

Only mods I have are AUX input and cupholders. They both have very high utility for me, but the cupholders win since I use them every day for cups, loose change, sunglasses, pens, etc. :D

[Stopbreakindown]

M5 rear sway
was a bonus

HID fogs
LED Ae's
Pre 01 HIDs

Next up, suspension and Z-ville or equivalent

[Madtown]

Hartge shift knob,pedals/dead pedal covers.

[Lindrins528]

v1

[MNsport528i]

Stereo: Dension Icelink+, been using it everyday for 4 years now...BSW sub a close second

Looks: Hella '01+ headlights (amber corners, amber blinkers - just a little bit different than everyone else...)

Performance: None. keeping up with the maintenance and towing bills is enough as it is, car has 130K+ miles, we have two kids under 4, it's an automatic, etc. I thought I wanted a SC, but that will wait until we get an I6 touring.

[Steve528]

+1 M5 Rear Sway, best suspension mod for a Non M E39

Best Mod for my car, M50 manifold conversion :buttrock

[bimmerfiver]

Functional: Winter rims/Snow tires FTW
Enjoyable: M5 rear sway combined with Powerflex Upper Control Arm bushings.
Electronic: Hooking up the cheesy armrest's electronics to fire up the OEM cell phone capability FTMFW.
Cosmetic: It will be front and rear bumpers

[weasel like]

CDV delete, 545i shifter with 330i ZHP knob, fresh tranny fluid.

[FP5241]

Functional: Winter rims/Snow tires FTW
Enjoyable: M5 rear sway combined with Powerflex Upper Control Arm bushings.
Electronic: Hooking up the cheesy armrest's electronics to fire up the OEM cell phone capability FTMFW.
Cosmetic: It will be front and rear bumpers


You have no signature or avatar...
I request a photo of your e39 please...
Just once.. let me... look on it.. with my own eyes....

[bimmerfiver]

You have no signature or avatar...
I request a photo of your e39 please...
Just once.. let me... look on it.. with my own eyes....

I will go out into the tundra tomorrow, shovel out the car and do a Hoth Planet pictorial. Stay tuned! In the meantime:

[gdp]

#1 vanos seals
#2 cdv delete and adjustable clutch stop
#3 Zaino wax
#4 garaging it during the winter.

[Mark540i]

The upgrade that made the most significant difference: changing the spark plugs
The upgrade that made my car look 5 years younger: Getting rid of the yellows and installing clear lights (head/rear/side markers)

[BMW 528]

1. Radar detector
2. e60 wheels
3. LPG
4. Satellite radio
5. Remote starter

[Gamite]

switched my wood trim to glossy brushed aluminum.

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=74426&stc=1&d=1205214097


sorry bad pic, but you get the idea.
http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=74425&stc=1&d=1205212698

[gjVah]

What is the single best mod/upgrade youve done on your 5er? Weather it be HIDs with angel eyes, body kit, sound system, or cold air intake, anything! Lets hear it!
Cooling system complete replacement... :rolleyes

[5mall5nail5]

Turbo

[M3UOND]

Gamite, what's with the weird yellow color of your instrument cluster?

[BimmerAddict530]

So far, Id say that mine is the ecis air intake. Hopefully rims,a drop, supersprint or remus exhaust, conforti chip, and mtech kit is next :D