Shopping for a 5-Series Wagon

[KingDavidsCourt]

No pics yet - it looks like a standard E61 535. Will send the pics after I get some decent wheels and the new bumper.

What wheels do you have on it now? I have the style 277 wheels and I dont like them much.. so I stuck some 20" MAAS wheels I had laying around on it. Better, but not perfect...

[pbonsalb]

I'd try Apex ARC8 wheels. Cheap, light, and you can buy more if you bend one. Have had them on my 99M3 and 08M3 for years. Never bent one. Our 08 535xit runs stock sport 18s in spring/summer/fall and stock 17s in winter since it is my wife's car. The stock sport 18s are heavy.

[KingDavidsCourt]

I'd try Apex ARC8 wheels. Cheap, light, and you can buy more if you bend one. Have had them on my 99M3 and 08M3 for years. Never bent one. Our 08 535xit runs stock sport 18s in spring/summer/fall and stock 17s in winter since it is my wife's car. The stock sport 18s are heavy.

What do the stock 18s look lile?

[jomama]

What wheels do you have on it now? I have the style 277 wheels and I dont like them much.. so I stuck some 20" MAAS wheels I had laying around on it. Better, but not perfect...

Ya, it's got 227's now, I was looking at either the Miro 111's or Apex EC-7's but the ARC-9's look nice too. Definitely going 19's as most on here agree they look the best. Not really considering lowering it.

[Norskie]

Yeah the charge pipe will crack after a while.. I dont believe it's necessary right away. I think there's only one option built for the 535... for whatever reason there are several for the 335 and they dont direct fit.

I've heard that ECS Tuning's CP fits. I picked up an FTP pipe out of Taiwan for $185 that worked fine with the stock DV's. My understanding is that if you're going to aftermarket BOV and willing to move the PS reservoir, you might be able to a 335i pipe. But I don't know that from experience.

I'm surprised the stock CP will crack. That's a mighty hefty piece of plastic.

[SCRSUVS]

Interesting read...what is the main difference between the MT and regular 535xi? Are the Ms all badged?, seats? etc? Thanks much in advance I also just started looking myself...

[pbonsalb]

MT is manual transmission. Very rare in the 535xi wagon. No M Sport 535xi that I know of. The Sport package on the 535xi is just 18 inch wheels and black window trim and sport seats. No performance suspension or raised boost.

[jomama]

What wheels do you have on it now? I have the style 277 wheels and I dont like them much.. so I stuck some 20" MAAS wheels I had laying around on it. Better, but not perfect...

OK - finally some pics. Stock 17" 156's which I am replacing with 19" Miro 111's - 8.5 front; 9.5 rear. And then replacing this bumper for the M-style soon...

20171106_111624.jpg20171106_111630.jpg20171106_111655.jpg20171106_111701.jpg

[pbonsalb]

18 inch stock wheels on our Sport package 08 535xit.

[SCRSUVS]

MT is the manual transmission. Very rare in the 535xi wagon. No M Sport 535xi that I know of. The Sport package on the 535xi is just 18 inch wheels and black window trim and sport seats. No performance suspension or raised boost.

Thanks for the info literally just started looking at these 535s a few days ago. Missed a 2003M E39 Sport, blk, blk, Craigs List 114K, super clean, offered at $12999, thought a good price but sold before had the chance. Wagon guy from a long time ago, and these 2008s - 2010s have my attention. Any idea how rare the MTs are, any production #s? Saw one in 2013 for sale but wasn't my radar at the time. Seen a few nice 2010s no MT...prices have dropped a lot in a few yrs, good time to buy.

[pbonsalb]

If you want a sedan, E60M5 are fast. Just beware of rod bearings and a few other things. I nearly bought one in 2011 instead of my E90M3.

[Yother]

Now that you have the wagon how's it compare to your V70R? I have an 850 T-5R and just sold my 06 V70R. Picking up an 08 535i tomorrow.

Are the 5 series wagons all AWD? or are RWD available?

[jomama]

With the new wheels!

]20171116_133707.jpg20171116_133715.jpg20171116_133733.jpg20171116_133806.jpg

[jomama]

Now that you have the wagon how's it compare to your V70R? I have an 850 T-5R and just sold my 06 V70R. Picking up an 08 535i tomorrow.

Are the 5 series wagons all AWD? or are RWD available?

Well the VR70 I had was quite a bit older than the E61 so aside from the technology enhancements, the cars seem eerily similar. Body roll; high end torque (the E61 seems quicker off the line - I bet thats the twin turbos); top end; etc - all seem similar. So far I like the handling of the E61 better and the turn radius (the VR had a TERRIBLE turn radius, akin to a Mack truck) and the overall look. This is my first Bimmer so still getting used to it! Love the car with the 19's though, now onto an M-bumper. And as far as I know, only the M5 Touring (which is sadly not available here) came in RWD, all other wagons were AWD.

[KingDavidsCourt]

With the new wheels!

]20171116_133707.jpg20171116_133715.jpg20171116_133733.jpg20171116_133806.jpg

Looks great! That was fast!

[Yother]

What size wheels are those? 18's? Are they the Verde or Axis? I'm thinking of upgrading the wheels on my 535, but don't want to sacrifice the ride. Still running 50 series tires?

[pbonsalb]

18s ride fine and are stock sport package. Our wagon has 18x8.5 with 245/40/18. The tires you chose can affect ride. Old ones often ride hard. Quality new ones like Conti Extreme Sport or Michelin PSS ride well and there may be some others in this category of good ride and decent handling.

I would not run 19s unless your area has great roads, but that is my personal preference. I don’t run 19s on my E90M3 — I run 18s for better ride, lighter wheels, cheaper tires and it handles great.

Stock BMW 18s are very heavy. Our winter BMW 17s are light in comparison. I recommend a quality aftermarket wheel that is light like the Apex ARC8. I run them on my E90M3. The E61 535xi is on the BMW 18s since my wife drives it and does not care about performance (she does not know I installed a JB4 to make it a little more entertaining when I drive it).

[jomama]

What size wheels are those? 18's? Are they the Verde or Axis? I'm thinking of upgrading the wheels on my 535, but don't want to sacrifice the ride. Still running 50 series tires?

19' MiRO 111's with the Conti DWS. As my daily driver, the ride is great!

[pbonsalb]

19 x 9.5 Miro 111 are about 24.4 lbs each. Same size ARC8 weighs 20.5 lbs. If looks are the primary concern, weight does not matter. If performance is a goal, unsprung weight does matter.

Among popular tires, Conti EC Sport and Michelin PSS are lighter than most. By choosing the right wheels and tires, you can save 6-7 lbs per corner.

[daka]

18's ride fine, then again this is South FL....no potholes or bumps...

[Yother]

18's ride fine, then again this is South FL....no potholes or bumps...

I found a new set of M5 wheels and opted to go with them for now. Staggered 19's. The ride is a bit harsher, but bearable. The guy also tossed in a set of OEM M5 springs. Still debating on whether or not to install those.

[daka]

I don't think the x's can use staggered wheels...they look great...

[Norskie]

I don't think the x's can use staggered wheels...they look great...

They can but the difference in circumference needs to be less than 1%

[Yother]

Yeah, the Volvos are the same way. The AWD doesn't do well with different sized wheels. The early Volvo AWD '98-'00 would kill the AWD if the tires weren't rotated frequently enough, or if you damaged 1 tire you had to replace all 4. The newer ones are better, but still an issue.

[sodakbmw]

I own a 08 E61 MT. Dinan Tuned