Disappointed with Competition Package

[stealth.pilot]

I test drove the 14 Competition Package today as well as a regular 14 LCI without CP. On the whole I was disappointed and couldn't sense much benefit beyond the cosmetic. Some quick notes relating to CP:

Positives of CP:
1) Ride height looks great. I saw the CP parked next to the non-CP 14 model and the non CP car has too much gap on the front wheel arch. I think they both looked fine on the rear wheel arch.
2) The steering ratio is better but progressively better. This means that off the center you can't tell the difference between a CP car and a normal 14, however when doing a sharp corner you turn the wheel less. I did like this, but at the same time I was disappointed because I expected the steering to feel more responsive when doing lane changes and it does not. BTW this ratio improvement is something I did not notice at first when driving the CP car - I only discovered it because I measured how much I turned the wheel going round a corner, and then did the same when doing the same corner in the non-CP LCI car. So the difference is there, but it isn't appreciable while driving.

Negatives of CP:
1) Suspension may be a little too firm for our roads. I can't see myself using sport plus ever. Prefer the range on the normal model. On highway ramp, the CP package is too firm and loses traction because the car jumps a little over an expansion joint. You have to run it in comfort with CP on our roads.
2) Epsilon steering improvement over standard 14. In normal driving you can't tell. When taking tight corners on a city street is when you get the ratio benefit.
3) Differential tuning is not noticeable at all
4) Exhaust sounds the same as stock and pathetic compared with my Eisenmann Sport. Basically if you buy a CP, expect to also buy a separate exhaust.
5) Probably not a negative since you don't have to get them, but I don't like the 601M wheels. I do like the black accents. What I don't like is that they are too 2-dimensional. While they are concave, they are linearly concave. The 343M wheels seem more sculpted and aggressive when you look at off axis. 601M wheels look best straight on.

Things not covered
1) I couldn't test the 15hp at the high end of the RPM range because I didn't want to exceed 4k rpm with an unbroken in engine. Up to 4k rpm the powertrain feels identical to the standard M5.

Opinion on other 14 updates:
1) I LOVE the LED lights
2) I actually found the touch iDrive to be very good and quick. It's faster and safer than the wheel IMO. As a former palm user it's quite intuitive to me.
3) Armrest compartment is same as before
4) iDrive display is same as before
5) New grille is awesome and well suited to LI placement.
6) B&O lighting brightness issue persists.
7) Other updates are trivial.

Conclusion:
1) skip the CP and if you just have more performance get the CCB instead.
2) get the LED lights
3) all LCI steering including base model have better feel however it's not enough to warrant early upgrade IMO. In fact a less sensitive driver like my girl wouldn't notice.
4) not much reason to buy an LCI IMO. In fact if you can get a much better deal on a 13 then you should do it.

BTW I ordered my 14 (only because I always change my car every year, not because LCI is a big improvement). Waiting on ED date confirmation.

[Vic55]

Thats it LOL

Not even the steering or the stiffer suspension made you feel good?

I need to drive this so called package now.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Vic55

Thats it LOL

Not even the steering or the stiffer suspension made you feel good?

I need to drive this so called package now.

Sorry app screen went black so I had to post and then edit.

[EdM5]

Thanks. What are your thoughts on positives/negatives compared to the 2013 (pre-LCI) M5?

[Vic55]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Sorry app screen went black so I had to post and then edit.

Thanks, for a second I thought you were messing with us by only listing the "1)" and then listing "2)" but leaving it blank afterwards....

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Positives:
1) Ride height looks great. I saw the CP parked next to the non-CP 14 model and the non CP car has too much gap on the front wheel arch. I think they both looked fine on the rear wheel arch.
2) The steering ratio is better but progressively better. This means that off the center you can't tell the difference between a CP car and a normal 14, however when doing a sharp corner you turn the wheel less. I did like this, but at the same time I was disappointed because I expected the steering to feel more responsive when doing lane changes and it does not.

1) I LOVE the LED lights
2) I actually found the touch iDrive to be very good and quick. It's faster and safer than the wheel IMO. As a former palm user it's quite intuitive to me.
5) new grille is awesome and well suited to LI placement.


BTW I ordered my 14 (only because I always change my car every year, not because LCI is a big improvement). Waiting on ED date confirmation.

These comments made me more excited for a LCI w/CP than anything else... some 13's may be cheaper and if you can get a spring 13 or later build you may be right that they are a great deal.. but ED was first priority for me, so out of the question.

And Stealth, are you going to reveal for final color config or make us all wait to see what it is?

[wisesoul]

These are pretty much the sentiments of non ZCP M3 owners. Not a night and day difference between the two cars, but the differences are at least appreciable at the track or at higher speeds (neither of which you were able to be at). Thanks for the input

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

Thanks. What are your thoughts on positives/negatives compared to the 2013 (pre-LCI) M5?

My opinion of LCI non-CP vs 2013:

Positives:
1) LED lights. These look cleaner, and they look fantastic when lit up at night or (as I saw it) in parking garage
2) Steering feel on center (although post March 2013s have this too).
3) Steering wheel design is more sporty
4) Grille looks much better (although same grille can be fitted to 2013 for $150)
5) iDrive touch (its cool, although you don't need it if you use the concierge)
6) Concierge service included in price
7) Adjustable bolsters if you are thin (I wear a size 44 jacket so not an issue for me)

Negatives:
1) Price increase combined with lack of incentives which are available on 2013
2) LED halos look better on the pre-LCI car during the daytime. I find them to be bigger and more mean looking.

Bottom line, I think LCI improvements are not that much, and the CP is weak sauce.

[EdM5]

Thanks Stealth!

[RPiM5]

Stealth thanks for the assessment and review. I will try to test one out this weekend myself.

It will be interesting to see the difference in steering, but like I have said before I have no problem with my 2013's steering feel or ability. I love the way it feels, so not a big deal to me. Right now the only reason why I would buy a 2014 is to change my color. I really wish sometimes I had Monte Carlo Blue. Just sometimes. Other times, I look at my Black Sapphire Metallic and it looks so badass. I have problems. Lol!

[mwlmd]

What is your 2014 M5 spec?

Same as your 2013 with lighting pkg?

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

These comments made me more excited for a LCI w/CP than anything else... some 13's may be cheaper and if you can get a spring 13 or later build you may be right that they are a great deal.. but ED was first priority for me, so out of the question.

And Stealth, are you going to reveal for final color config or make us all wait to see what it is?

Glad his was helpful. Re: my config: I'm going to make you wait.

[mwlmd]

Just out of curiosity. Why get a 2014 that is essentially the same car? Why not keep it another year? You are going to have to redo radar laser and exhaust...and tint and...

[Un Gato Malodoro]

Awesome, thanks for the comparo, Stealth. I was curious what your opinion of the new grill would be as relates to LI placement; from the pictures I'd seen it didn't look like a good fit. However, now that I know otherwise, I'd consider getting the new grill for my 2013. From where did you get the $150 retrofit figure? Thanks!

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

Just out of curiosity. Why get a 2014 that is essentially the same car? Why not keep it another year? You are going to have to redo radar laser and exhaust...

I pay ED invoice and no sales tax. For me TCO is lowest at 12 months. I've done this before.

[singularity]

Very helpful and insightful writeup stealth, thanks very much man. You actually covered some of the 'inside' questions that many of us had that car review magazines wouldn't have covered. Again thanks and I'll reread it again

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Un Gato Malodoro

Awesome, thanks for the comparo, Stealth. I was curious what your opinion of the new grill would be as relates to LI placement; from the pictures I'd seen it didn't look like a good fit. However, now that I know otherwise, I'd consider getting the new grill for my 2013. From where did you get the $150 retrofit figure? Thanks!

I did a comparison of the M5 grille and 535i grille (essentially same structure as ours with more chrome). The current grille also is slightly recessed so they are similar in terms of placement. The grille vanes are kinked. I found a placement on the 2014 grille which is far enough forward that it would not be obstructed for any off-axis shot. I think it may be even better than the 2013 placement. Happy to show you sometime.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by wisesoul

These are pretty much the sentiments of non ZCP M3 owners. Not a night and day difference between the two cars, but the differences are at least appreciable at the track or at higher speeds (neither of which you were able to be at). Thanks for the input

Yes that's a far point, but I did do some fast cornering and take it as high as 80mph.

[singularity]

About aftermarket exhaust, I have 2 M5s, AW and MCB. First one has Eisenmann Sport-Race, while the sound is indeed more pleasant and flows more freely (you can't get the throttle release bang fart in a tunnel anymore) it's still not this car's strongest point. I love the sound of M5, but having raced a friend's CLS63 yesterday, I couldn't hear my own exhaust because of HIS exhaust when he was 1 car length behind. AMG's exhaust is louder and arguably better, its only downside I'd consider that it gets tiresome and very quickly. On an everyday basis M5's stock exhaust seems to be a good overall solution.

From this review I understand that CP's ///M Performance exhaust is something between stock and Eisenmann in sound quality and inevitably included in CP's cost.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by singularity

About aftermarket exhaust, I have 2 M5s, AW and MCB. First one has Eisenmann Sport-Race, while the sound is indeed more pleasant and flows more freely (you can't get the throttle release bang fart in a tunnel anymore) it's still not this car's strongest point. I love the sound of M5, but having raced a friend's CLS63 yesterday, I couldn't hear my own exhaust because of HIS exhaust when he was 1 car length behind. AMG's exhaust is louder and arguably better, its only downside I'd consider that it gets tiresome and very quickly. On an everyday basis M5's stock exhaust seems to be a good overall solution.

From this review I understand that CP's ///M Performance exhaust is something between stock and Eisenmann in sound quality and inevitably included in CP's cost.

FWIW AMGs exhaust is made by Eisenmann.

The CP exhaust was more like the stock exhaust, not in between the stock and Eisenmann. It sounded same as stock to me. I didn't exceed 4k rpm, but between 1k-4krpm and on startup they sound the same.

[bimmer-boy]

Originally Posted by singularity

About aftermarket exhaust, I have 2 M5s, AW and MCB. First one has Eisenmann Sport-Race, while the sound is indeed more pleasant and flows more freely (you can't get the throttle release bang fart in a tunnel anymore) it's still not this car's strongest point. I love the sound of M5, but having raced a friend's CLS63 yesterday, I couldn't hear my own exhaust because of HIS exhaust when he was 1 car length behind. AMG's exhaust is louder and arguably better, its only downside I'd consider that it gets tiresome and very quickly. On an everyday basis M5's stock exhaust seems to be a good overall solution.

From this review I understand that CP's ///M Performance exhaust is something between stock and Eisenmann in sound quality and inevitably included in CP's cost.

I recall the bmw video in Las Vegas, as stating the comp pack exhaust was between the stock and the M performance exhaust

[singularity]

Originally Posted by bimmer-boy

I recall the bmw video in Las Vegas, as stating the comp pack exhaust was between the stock and the M performance exhaust

My bad, then I guess we need to wait a ///M Performance vs Eisenmann Sport/Race, then again RpiM5's exhaust wins them all