[Alex K.]

Hey everyone. Wow, what a great forum this is for the M-lovers!! So much information here.:M5thumbs:

I live in NY and have an appointment with my dealer on Friday to place the order on the 2006 M5. I'm so excited. I only gave the deposit last month and he was able to push me towards the top of the list and promised October/November delivery. I've heard rumors that some dealers were trying to get $10,000+ over sticker for first allocations, but I will be paying MSRP.

This will be my 3rd BMW (I owned a '95 540i Sport & a 2003 745i) but my first M5, which has been my favorite BMW since 1988. My other bimmers where white and I was thinking of going with white for the M5. I've seen photos of other colors, but not white - does anyone have one?

I see some of you in the US have already placed their order and many have some wonderful insight and information on the car. If any of you would care to give me advice or pointers for my order placement tomorrow, please do. It's greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[Gustav]

Welcome!

Hope you read this five page report. Answers alot of questions.

NYC is a lovely city!

 

[MEnthusiast]

Welcome! I have to tell you, I was behind a white 545 and a silver grey 545 today on the west side highway and I was surprised that not only has the rear end treatment grown on me- it looks wide, but I was surprised how much I liked the white one. I think this body style looks good in white. I am not at all a white car person. I also thought the silver grey one looked good too. The safe color would be something like silver or black.

 

[Ashok Arora]

Welcome Alex :byee55amg

 

[bernhtp]

I ended up with virtually all of the options. Most make considerable sense and the rest fall into the category of "what the hell since I'm spending a bazillion dollars anyway on one of the world's all-time best cars."

I got the Silverstone exterior because it is practical and the M5's avante-guarde lines look good in this metallic color. Black looks great when new and immaculately clean, but I am not nearly so fastidious. I picked the aluminum/sport interior (vs. wood) because it is also more consonant with the car's techno/modern look. I got the Silverstone leather because black gets too hot (Texas) and I find the light/dark contrast stunning. In fact, the Silverstone/Silverstone combination is often featured in BMW brochures (click here).

Good luck.

Tom

 

[CyberKnight]

Night picture of a white M5: http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=6273

 

[CyberKnight]

I live in NY and have an appointment with my dealer on Friday to place the order on the 2006 M5

Is this in Manhattan? I'll be there on Friday...

 

[Alex K.]

Is this in Manhattan? I'll be there on Friday...

Yes, I live in Manhattan, but my dealer is outside the city on Long Island - Rallye BMW. Manhattan BMW was the dealership where they told me they would be charging way over sticker for the M5's so I obviously went elsewhere.

 

[Spiroman]

Manhattan BMW was the dealership where they told me they would be charging way over sticker for the M5's so I obviously went elsewhere.

And that's a company-owned store - very sharp practice indeed!:nono:

Best regards,

 

[Alex K.]

And that's a company-owned store - very sharp practice indeed!:nono:

Best regards,

I was under the assumption that the company stores did not engage in this practice, but the salesman I spoke to said they do, unofficially. I didn't bother persuing the issue and went back to my old dealer - Rallye. I gave the $1000 deposit last month and got a call a couple of days ago to come a place the order for October/ealryNovember delivery. Nice job by Rallye - they are highly recommended.

 

[Alex K.]

Ok, got my initial order placed. Still have time to make up my mind on a couple of things, since I ended up getting October production instead of September.:crying:

So far I went with:

Alpine White Exterior
Silverstone Interior w/Aluminum trim (but seriously considering changing to Indy Red)
Sunshade
Head Up display
Sirius
Full Leather
M Seats

Passed on Ventilation due to not wanting perforated leather
Passed on Rear Air Bags due to child seat in back
Passed on Fold Down Seats due to possible rattle issues

Anyone have opinions on the White/Indy Red combination? I think it might look sharp? (Such a shame the Individual colors/trim are not available in the US)

 

[MRichmond]

Ok, got my initial order placed. Still have time to make up my mind on a couple of things, since I ended up getting October production instead of September.:crying:

So far I went with:

Alpine White Exterior
Silverstone Interior w/Aluminum trim (but seriously considering changing to Indy Red)
Sunshade
Head Up display
Sirius
Full Leather
M Seats

Passed on Ventilation due to not wanting perforated leather
Passed on Rear Air Bags due to child seat in back
Passed on Fold Down Seats due to possible rattle issues

Anyone have opinions on the White/Indy Red combination? I think it might look sharp? (Such a shame the Individual colors/trim are not available in the US)

Alex --

Congratulations on getting your order in. Do you know what is the generally accepted age at which kids are considered safe with side airbags? By "child seat" I assume you do not mean a booster? Did you find any good guidance on this issue? I tentatively am planning on getting rear side airbags specifically for the kids' safety, but mine are in boosters or older.

 

[Alex K.]

MRichmond,

I was always under the impression that if you have car seats near the rear doors, those air bags need to be de-activated. I don't know what the exact age when it is ok to re-activate the air bag, but my son will be 15-16 months when I get the M5, so I am pretty sure he'll still fall in the "under" category. If you find out the official recommendations, please post them.

 

[MRichmond]

MRichmond,

I was always under the impression that if you have car seats near the rear doors, those air bags need to be de-activated. I don't know what the exact age when it is ok to re-activate the air bag, but my son will be 15-16 months when I get the M5, so I am pretty sure he'll still fall in the "under" category. If you find out the official recommendations, please post them.

The following link, posted by MEnthusiast recently, offers some encouraging -- although not conclusive -- information: http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/qanda/airbags.htm

 

[MLOCO]

INFO ONLY

THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS MAINLY IN THE FRONT SEATS. YOU NEVER WANT TO PUT ANY PREETEEN CHILD UP FRONT DUE TO THE EXPLOSIVE NATURE OF HOW AND WHERE THE BAGS DEPLOY IN THE CAR. FRONT SEAT AIRBAGS BLAST IN TO THE FRONT AREA OF THE CAR 12 TO 20 INCHES AT BREAK NECK SPEEDS (NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY). CAUSING NECK INJURIES, BROKEN NOSES, BLACK EYES, AND BURNS AS WELL AS DISRUPTING THE CAR SEAT. THE REAR SEAT SIDE AIRBAGS MIGHT ONLY DEPLOY 3 TO 6 INCHES. FOR MOST CHILDREN IN THE AT RISK GROUP THE BAGS MIGHT NOT EVEN REACH THEM.
AND WITH ONLY ONE KID 15 MONTHS OLD THE SAFE PLACE FOR HIM/HER IS CENTER REAR.

The following link, posted by MEnthusiast recently, offers some encouraging -- although not conclusive -- information: http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/qanda/airbags.htm