While not always the most exciting of vehicles, the BMW 5-Series has always been a favorite for anyone looking for an executive mid-size sedan. It is renowned for its consistently conservative yet attractive styling and always comes with a wide variety of engine options, so you can focus on technology while keeping engine size small or go all-out on a top of the line model with the biggest engine available. Executive sedan doesn’t automatically mean boring though, in this article we’ll be showing you all the best G30 5-Series mods whether you have a 530i or a full fledged M550i xDrive.
Wheels:
Wheels are a crucial part of any build. You could have a boat load of parts on your G30 but if you’re running around on stock wheels it’s just gonna look a bit…completely wrong. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered no matter your budget.
Unfortunately for those who have wheels from a previously owned/leased BMW, not only will they likely not have the right offsets for your G30, you won’t even be able to bolt them up. BMW has decided to do away with their 5×120 bolt patterns of old and join the likes of Audi and Mercedes in using the more common 5×112. Luckily the selection of 5×112 wheels is quite respectable and there are already wheel companies making specific fitments for the g30.
Stock sizes for the G30 start at a 18×8 ET30 with an option for a staggered 19×8 ET30 / 19×9 ET44 set on standard trim levels, or a 20×8 ET30 / 20×9 ET44 option for the M-Sport package. While these are respectable sizes they suffer from the usual problem of factory wheels being a bit too thin with way too high offsets. The G30 can run wheels anywhere from 18s to 22s but looks best with 20s or 21s without losing too much comfort from low profile tires.
For ideal aftermarket wheel fitment you’re going to want to look for roughly 9″-9.5″ widths in the front with an offset that pushes the wheel out approximately 15-25mm from stock (i.e. a 9.5″ ET30 will sit 19mm out from stock). For the back 10″-11″ would be ideal with an offset that brings it 25-35mm out from stock (i.e. a 10.5″ ET35 will sit 28mm out from stock). However, be aware that the further out the wheel protrudes the more careful you will have to be about tire fitment and wheel alignment to avoid rubbing, fender rolling may be required for some more aggressive fitments. If you want to be on the safe side try to stay under 20mm out from stock in the front and 30mm in the rear. If you’re not exactly sure how to do that we highly recommend contacting our team of Mod Experts as wheel and tire fitment is a specialty of ours.
ADV.1:
ADV.1 has some of the most stunning wheel designs in the industry. Famous for their forged wheels, ADV.1 brings the same level of designs and quality to the flow formed market with their Flow Spec line.
ADV5.0
The ADV5.0 is an aggressive split 5 spoke that looks both aggressive and classy. The Flow Spec (flow formed) construction gives it both great strength and low weight so it won’t hamper performance. Available in for your G30 5-Series in 20 inch sizing, they are the perfect fit for your BMW. Standard colors include Satin Black and Platinum Black.
AVD.1 ADV5.0 – 20×9.5 et28 (front) / 20×10.5 et32 (rear)
If you’re looking for something a little more aggressive in style you should check out the ADV005. With it’s aggressive split 5 spoke design it can give your 5-series and even more aggressive look. If you have the M-Performance brake calipers these wheels will do a great job showing them off. Available in 20 inch sizing.
Forgestar:
We can’t really talk about wheels without talking about Forgestar. At Modbargains we’re huge fans of Forgestar because of their affordability and customization options. Basically what you’re getting with a set of Forgestars is strong, lightweight, rotary forged (flow formed) wheels that are tailor made for your vehicle. You decide what wheels and widths you want and then Forgestar will determine perfect offsets for you based on your suspension and fitment preferences. You also get 20+ color options to choose from so no matter your paint color or your personal preferences you can get a finish that perfectly compliments your G30.
F14
The Forgestar wheel we most often recommend is of course the F14. It is a very versatile split 7 spoke design that is very versatile and looks good on a wide variety of vehicles. This wheel just has so many options to it you can really make it your own. Diameters available range from 17″-22″ and widths up to 12″. You also get choices for concavity ranging from Semi-Concave to Super Deep Concave so you can get just the right stance for you.
CF5V
The CF5V is a striking and aggressive design that gives a very sporty look to your G30. The wide split 5 spoke design is great for showing off big brakes or just looking good in general. Available in 19″ and 20″ diameters with widths from 8.5″ to 12″. Like the F14s these wheels have three concavity options: Semi Concave, Deep Concave, and Super Deep Concave.
HRE:
In the aftermarket scene the name HRE commands a certain amount of respect, as such running a set of HRE FlowForm wheels will always earn you extra street cred at meets and just in general from other enthusiasts. Their reputation for quality and style serve only to elevate your G30’s status. HRE Wheels come with a lifetime limited warranty and a 2 year finish warranty, so you can be confident that your wheels will remain good looking and strong for years to come.
FF04
The FF04 is a Flow Form split five spoke wheel with seductive modern styling that looks amazing with the G30’s body lines. The open design is great for showing off big brakes or just looking fly as hell. Although it doesn’t come with customizable offsets it is already made in a size that will fit the G30 well (20×9 ET25 front 20×10.5 ET35 rear) so you won’t have the same wait time as with a custom set.
FF01
The split 7 spoke design of the FF01 is a classic euro design that compliments BMWs very well so it would no doubt look fantastic on the G30. Like the FF04 they come in premade offsets and sizes but they are made with the same 20×9 ET25 front 20×10.5 ET35 rear sizing and as such should be readily available for purchase.
BC Forged:
With Forgestar we touched a bit on the subject of custom wheels, but what if you were itching for more? Well say no more! BC Forged is your go-to source of affordable custom forged wheels! Yes BC Forged wheels are forged, not flow formed, giving them the kind of design freedom that only forging allows for. You can choose from 44 unique monoblock designs and 64 unique modular designs (each with their own lip and face style options). You also get about 23 wheel color options, 24 lip color options (modular only) and four hardware color options (modular only). Doing some quick maths that is approximately 1 metric tonne of styling options (.98 imperial tons). Like with Forgestar you pick the diameters and widths you want and BC Forged determines ideal offsets for you to give you perfect fitment every time. Basically, if you love making something completely unique, but also want affordable wheels that are super strong and lightweight, BC Forged is the way to go for you.
HCA382S
One great choice for the G30 is the HCA382S. This modular wheel features an attractive split five spoke design that protrudes past the lip so you your wheel face looks very large while still giving you the depth of a stepped lip. Looking for more spokes? Fewer Spokes? Thicker Spokes? Directional? No problem! BC Forged has so many designs you’re sure to find something that suits your fancy, check out their whole lineup on our website.
Sportline:
Not looking to fork over the dough for a custom set of wheels? Sportline wheels offers flow formed wheels at very affordable prices. A full set of flow formed Sportline wheels will set you back for around the cost of a normal set of cast wheels, and offers much higher strength with much lower weight. Their wheels are all backed with a 1 year structural and finish warranty. If you’re looking for a budget friendly wheel that will still look and perform as well as much more expensive wheels then Sportline would be a great choice for you.
7S
The Sportline 7S is a split seven spoke design that looks fantastic on most European designs and would compliment the body lines of the G30 greatly. The 7S comes in a 20×9 ET30 which is a moderate front fitment for the G30 with options for either a 20×10.5 ET30 in the back for a lightly aggressive look, or a 20×10.5 ET45 is also available if you want it a bit more conservative. Of course we always have spacers available if you want to fine tune the fitment more to your liking. Even with spacers a set of Sportline 7S will set you back significantly less than most other flow formed wheels will.
Avant Garde:
Avant Garde is a wheel company renowned throughout the enthusiast community for their truly stunning finish quality and fitments. Their lineup of wheels includes everything from Cast to Fully Forged so you are sure to find the right wheel at the right price point for you. They are also very specific about fitment so when they produce a fitment for a new vehicle they have thoroughly tested it to ensure ideal fitment.
M359
The AG M359 is the first of hopefully many wheels to have G30 specific fitments developed. Avant Garde went with a 20×9 ET30 front and a 20×10.5 ET42 rear so you’ll be able to fit some nice aggressive rear tires to beef up your performance. Because they were developed specifically for the G30 you don’t have to worry about fitment at all, these will look stunning from the second you put them on.
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Wheels…(page 1)
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Tires:
Tires are one of the single most important upgrades on your G30, but often times the are not prioritized as highly as they should be. This is understandable as tires wear out and need replacing more often than other parts on your vehicle, but no other part has the same direct impact on performance. When choosing tires it is important to determine what kind of wear you’ll be putting on them and if your budget allows for replacement as frequently as they’ll wear out. Max Performance Summer tires are great but if you’re buying tires for your daily driver it may be prudent to buy tires with a higher treadwear rating. Contrarily, if you’re buying tires for your weekend warrior or only for summer you may want to spring for stickier tires so you can get maximum enjoyment out of your G30 on the days you let it out to play before it goes back into hibernation.
As a quick aside let’s talk a bit about why you’d want to ditch your stock tires and get a new set. The G30, like most new cars, comes with run-flat tires from the factory. For the average driver that’s not so bad, run-flat tires give you a little buffer to get to the shop or your BMW dealership if you have a puncture. To enthusiasts though? They are the realization of all that is evil in this world and an affront to every value we uphold. They are, in a word, terrible. In several words they are: only useful in the rare scenario where you have a flat tire, more expensive to replace, give a harsher ride, and are much heavier than their normal counterparts which hampers performance significantly.
Since we care most about performance let’s focus mainly on that last bit. Now, what do we mean when we say they hamper performance? Basically, weight is the enemy. More specifically, extra rotating mass is our absolute nemesis. When you have heavy wheels and heavy tires that means that not only does your engine have to work harder to accelerate, your brakes have to work harder to stop you. This is due to a phenomenon called angular momentum. An object that is rolling will have both linear momentum and angular momentum, so to stop it or to speed it up the force exerted upon it needs to deal with both. Put more simply, the less weight you have further out on your wheels, the better. Losing a pound at the edge of the wheel can equate to a loss of anywhere from 3-5 pounds on the car itself. Given that run-flat tires on average are roughly 4-5 pounds heavier than a traditional tire, that is an approximate weight savings of anywhere from 45-100 pounds when converted to sprung weight. And that is without even mentioning the benefits you’ll feel from having a stickier tire compound!
Summer Performance Tires:
For the enthusiast who values only the best in handling performance and is willing to sacrifice a bit of durability in order to ensure a more thrilling drive. This class of tires is going to be the best performance you can get while still maintaining a reasonable amount of daily drivability (track tires will perform better but wear out quickly and can be pretty noisy). If you’ve got the cash to replace tires relatively frequently and love the thrill of taking corners at speeds that you know you shouldn’t, these are going to be your best choice.
Michelin PS4S – UTQG: 300 AA A
We can’t talk about tires without talking about the PS4S. These tires just have so much going for them. For our full rundown on the tire including third party testing against other Max Performance Summer Tires see our PS4S blog article. Put simply, these tires just straight up don’t care what weather you’re driving in short of a monsoon or a snowstorm. Their inner “wet” compound and deep grooves give them superb stability on damp roads while the outer “dry” compound gives you high grip in the corners on those beautiful days where you just want to have a bit of fun. The “wet” compound also has the added benefit of giving the PS4S very impressive treadwear because it is a harder compound. These tires even work decently well at the track if you want to occasionally run a few laps. Keep in mind that this is ultimately a street tire and you will do much better on the track if you use something along the lines of a Pilot Sport Cup 2. Furthermore these tires were designed with a little stronger focus on comfort than some would like and as a result they have a relatively soft sidewall than some other tires in their performance category. While not hugely concerning to most this can be a deal breaker for some so definitely take it into consideration when picking out tires.
Nitto NT05 – UTQG: 200 AA A
The Nitto NT05s are tires that we haven’t really discussed on our blog, but they no doubt deserve a mention. They are not quite the all-rounders that the PS4S are but they makes up for that with the insane performance and confidence they inspire. The NT05s are constantly praised by users impressed by the sheer grip that nearly rivals some dedicated track tires. The wet performance is also nothing to scoff at, the NT05s have two thick center ribs and directional treads to help channel water away. This performance does come at a cost however. The NT05s have a 200 UTQG treadwear rating, which while not unheard of in this segment it does look a bit bad compared to the PS4S’s 300 rating. Don’t worry though, the NT05 is about 25-35% cheaper than the PS4S, so it actually balances out pretty fairly. Granted most people won’t be tracking their G30s so this may be overkill for most, but sometimes you just want the overkill option and logic be damned!
Nitto iNVO – UTQG: 260 AA A
The Nitto iNVO tires are made to be a little more of a balanced tire like the PS4S, just in a lower performance category (Ultra High Performance Summer vs Max Performance Summer). They are a summer tire that maintains the smooth and quiet ride of your luxury vehicle. The tread design and compound were formulated to keep road noise to a minimum while still offering solid handling capabilities. The multi-wave sipes and wide center grooves are also designed for respectable water channeling to maintain grip in the wet. Overall if you want solid performance but want to keep things smooth and quiet most of the time these are a solid choice for you.
Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 – UTQG: 320 AA A
Now we’re getting into the slightly more budget oriented options. The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 are Max Performance Summer tires much like the Michelin PS4S and the Nitto NT05, but even within performance categories there can be a certain degree of variance. The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 are an excellent choice if you want great dry performance, good wet performance, sharp steering response, and decent tread life without breaking the bank. Sure you won’t be getting the intense grip of the NT05 or the versatility of the PS4S but you will be getting superb value for your money and for some people they’ll be more than enough. There’s a reason this is one of the most popular tires on our site.
General G-Max RS – UTQG: 360 A A
Along the same lines, we have the General G-Max RS. Like the Evo2, the G-Max RS are a budget friendly option that sill lets you have a little fun. They fall into the Ultra High Performance Summer category so you shouldn’t be looking to track on these tires, but you’ll be able to have some good fun while retaining a fair amount of tread life. The G-Max RS are a relatively new offering from General, but anyone familiar with the old fan favorite General Exclaim UHP tires should know the sort of value you can get out of General performance summer tires.
All Season Tires:
For the enthusiast who is a bit more focused on the aesthetic of their car rather than the handling capabilities. Sometimes you just don’t care about taking a corner at 60+ MPH, your priorities are more along the lines of long tread life and fuel economy. If that is the case then a nice set of All Season Tires would suit your needs much better than a set of Summer Performance Tires. Just make sure that if you live in a climate where it snows heavily during the winter that you are still getting your usual winter tires, all seasons can handle a little bit of light snow but they should not be relied upon in severe conditions.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 – UTQG: 560 AA A
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 are always our top pick for high performance all season tires. They feature truly impressive road holding capabilities and steering feedback while also providing an insane 560 treadwear rating. This means that these tires will last you a very long time by any standard. Furthermore, with these tires you get Continental’s “Total Confidence Plan” so you can be 100% confident in your purchase. Basically, what the Total Confidence Plan is a 60 day trial, 1 year of road hazard coverage, 3 years of roadside assistance, and a 6 year/50,000 mile limited warranty (25,000 on staggered setups). They’re pretty much a no-brainer to at least try if you’re in the market for some all season tires.
General G-Max AS-05 – UTQG: 500 AA A
If the ExtremeContact DWS06 is still a bit out of your budget worry not, the General G-Max AS-05 are your answer. They are significantly cheaper than the Continentals, and still pretty good in their own right. For your money you get a solid 500 treadwear rating, solid performance for the price point, and a very generous 45,000 mile warranty. If you mainly want a light improvement over OEM performance and the benefit of shedding the weight of those heavy run-flat tires, these are your best bet.
Understanding UTQG Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature Ratings
Treadwear – A standardized test of how quickly a tire wears down over 7200 miles (with tire rotations, alignment checks, and pressure checks every 400 miles). The tire is tested against a standardized “Course Monitoring Tire” and its grade is assigned based on the relative wear. 100 would indicate it would last as long as the test tire, while 200 would indicate that it would last twice as long as the Course Monitoring Tire. This still only tells us so much because we don’t know exactly how long the “Course Monitoring Tire” lasts. Also, treadwear is subject to some interpretation as the wear experienced on the tire being tested is open to interpretation by the manufacturer. In general though, the higher the number, the longer it will last.
Traction – UTQG traction tests do not evaluate traction in relation to dry braking, dry cornering, wet cornering, or high speed hydroplaning resistance. The test is simply a representation of the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as the tire skids. So this test really only applies to those without ABS in wet conditions.
Temperature – The temperature grades are a scale that indicates a tire’s ability to resist the heat buildup produced by speed. A is good enough for speeds over 115 mph, B is between 100-115 mph, and C is between 85-100 mph.
No matter what tire you decide to buy, we recommend not letting the UTQG Rating have much influence on your purchase.
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Tires…(page 2)
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Suspension:
Now that you know about wheels and tires, the next important step is some good suspension. Suspension is what keeps your G30 riding smoothly and keeps your tires in proper contact with the road. The problem is factory suspension on most vehicles is made with the average driver in mind. It has huge amounts of travel and is extremely soft, making for a very cushy and utterly boring ride. With a nice set of lowering springs or coilovers you will not only have a much more responsive ride, your G30 will look amazing with your new set of perfectly fitting wheels and tires.
Lowering Springs:
You not looking to spend much on suspension? Lowering springs are probably your best bet. They are super affordable, readily available, and they let you retain your factory electronic damper controls (if your G30 came equipped with them). They are also relatively comfortable, firming up the ride and reducing body roll while maintaining most of the factory ride quality.
H&R Sport Springs
If you’ve ever modified a car, you’ve probably heard of H&R. It’s almost guaranteed that if you have a vehicle made this century there’s probably an H&R Sport Spring Kit for it. H&R is always developing new kits for new applications so that within a few months of a new vehicle’s release there is usually a kit already available. These springs will give you a generous amount of lowering (1.3″-1.4″ front 1.2″-1.4″ rear depending on application) from stock and firm up the ride so you get a good amount of steering input and road feel.
Eibach Pro-Kit
Like H&R, Eibach is ever-present in the world of aftermarket suspension. They develop their Pro Kit Lowering Springs for nearly every vehicle out there so this is another company you can trust to know what they’re doing with lowering springs. With these you will get a similar amount of lowering to the H&R springs (1.2″ front and back), responsive handling, and a smooth sporty ride. Eibachs are in general softer and more comfortable than an H&R kit so if comfort is your priority you’d wanna go with these.
Dinan Performance Springs – M550i xDrive
If you’ve opted for the M550i xDrive and you want an extra bit of heritage behind your mods then say no more. Dinan has developed their own lowering springs specifically for the M550i xDrive, and when Dinan does something they do it right. These springs have been engineered very carefully and specifically for the M550i to improve the suspension’s ability to handle the forces of weight transfer, braking, and acceleration. It also improves the aesthetics of the vehicle immensely, giving a very even stance and minimal wheel gap. When the springs are paired with Dinan’s supplemental ride quality and handling kit you really get the full Dinan experience. These specially designed bump stops ensure optimal suspension travel and do not give a jarring feeling on big dips/bumps thanks to their progressive rate design.
Coilovers:
First off, the term “coilover” can be a bit vague, so let’s give it a solid definition and then discuss why the actual definition does not matter in day-to-day conversation. A coilover is defined as a coil spring mounted around a shock body, quite literally “coil-over-shock”. If someone wanted to get nit-picky you could technically call a MacPherson spring/strut combo a coilover. However, “coilover kit” is the accepted term for an aftermarket suspension system consisting of a coil spring and a matching damper. Most times coilover kits will have adjustable spring perches and damper settings, but those are added features not encompassed in the term. Some coilover kits are not even technically “coilovers”, they utilize a separate spring and shock because that is the vehicle’s factory configuration. So there you have it, if anyone ever tries to correct you on your use of the term “coilover” you can kindly remind them that it is the accepted colloquialism in the industry. If they persist, just remember that you are an actual functioning member of society and responding to them is not worth your time.
BC BR Coilovers – 530i, 540i
The BC BR Coilover Kit is some of the best value for money you can currently get out of a coilover kit. For under $1000 you get full height adjustability, preload adjustability, front camber adjustability, and 30 way adjustable dampening (compression + rebound). You also have the option of upgrading to swift springs with custom spring rates if you are feeling ambitious, which can give you different ride and handling characteristics. These are a great option for anyone who wants to have some precise control over their ride height and dampening without getting too complex or breaking the bank. They are currently available for the 530i and 540i, no news yet as to when the xDrive and M550i kit will be released.
KW Variant 3 Coilovers – 530i, 540i (incl. xDrive)
KW is currently one of the biggest names in aftermarket suspension. The Variant 3 kit is a bit overkill for most people but it will undoubtedly be one of the highest quality parts you can get. The kit comes with coil springs, 16 way adjustable rebound, 12 way adjustable compression, and full stainless steel shock bodies for maximum corrosion resistance. You may be thinking “now hold on a minute, that’s not as much stuff as the BR kit” and you’d be right, there are no top mounts included with the KWs, and seemingly fewer adjustments. However, true value is in the quality of the parts and the tuning of the dampers. Sure the BR kit has almost twice as many clicks of adjustment but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every click is meaningful, KW has been doing this for a long time and there’s a reason they’ve stuck with their 16/12 click adjustments. It’s a simple case of “you get what you pay for”. Unfortunately if you have an M550i xDrive there is not a KW kit available yet, but they are constantly developing for new applications so be sure to check our G30 suspension page to see any new products available. Note: it is very easy to completely ruin your ride quality and handling if you make too many adjustments to this system without knowing what you are doing, we highly recommend using the KW recommended settings and then making very minor adjustments thereafter. Certain wheel/tire combos will require you to increase or decrease dampening based upon their weight.
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Suspension…(page 3)
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Intakes:
Now we get into the fun mods, the ones that make the car sound better and give it a little more oomph. And an intake is generally what you would look into first as they are a very affordable mod that will give you a little extra power along with making your engine sound a lot more lively. The reason for this is that factory intake tubing utilizes resonators and restrictive connectors, thus robbing you of some power and totally muting the noise of the engine. And aftermarket tube and filter can counteract this by using an upgraded filter and high-flow tubing (where applicable).
Burger Motorsports Intake
The Burger Motorsports Intake for the G30 530i and 540i is a super affordable mod that will really add to the fun factor of your vehicle. It is a simple piece that is basically a small MAF housing and a high flow cone filter, but it allows your engine to breath freely for the first time. You’ll notice immediately that throttle response is improved and there’s now a ferocious growl from under the hood. Do not be alarmed, your engine is just telling you how happy it is.
This section is unfortunately a little sparse at the moment but we will be updating it when new options become available. Be sure to check out G30 Intakes page for the most up-to-date information.
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Intakes…(page 4)
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Exhaust:
Exhausts are probably one of the most widely recognizable mods out there, and not always for a good reason. Everyone knows how annoying it is to have a civic with a fart-can drive down your street at midnight. Luckily if you buy a quality exhaust from a reputable company you won’t be “that guy”. A good exhaust will give you a nice tone under acceleration but remain smooth and reserved at idle and low load, perfect for a refined vehicle like the G30. If you want to keep it as reserved as possible we recommend going with an axle-back, but if you want a more distinctive tone and better power gains you should definitely go with a cat-back for the full experience. Currently we only have exhausts available for the 540i and the M550i but we will be adding more in the future once good quality options are available for the 530i.
BMW M Performance – 540i
The G30 M Performance exhaust is specially designed by in-house by BMW to be a strict upgrade to the G30 540i. This exhaust improves upon the factory unit by offering increased flow of exhaust gases, a more aggressive tone, and stylish trapezoidal exhaust tips with “M Performance” engraved on the top. It is the perfect option if you’re looking for a very OEM+ look and sound, and it is one of the more affordable options available surprisingly.
540i Stock Exhaust
540i M Performance Exhaust
Remus Sport – 540i, M550i
Remus Exhausts and European vehicles go together like Schnitzel and Erdäpfelsalat. The Austria based manufacturer has been creating aftermarket exhausts for almost 30 years now, and in that time have built a reputation for absolutely superb quality. Their exhausts for the 540i and M550i are shining examples of Remus’s high standards of build quality and engineering. On the M550i in particular you can see some impressive power gains (max gains of 19 hp, peak gains of 11 hp) along with a general smoothing out of the whole power-band. The sound of the 540i is improved moderately, but on the M550i is where you really see the engine come alive with a deep and rich exhaust tone. Both exhausts are also valved so you get that nice aggressive tone under hard acceleration but can keep a smooth quiet tone during idle and cruising speeds. Choose between axle-back and cat-back options, as well as various stylish exhaust tips from Chrome to Carbon Fiber.
Dinan – M550i
The Dinan Free Flow Exhaust for the M550i is one of the more expensive options out there, but for good reason. Dinan has been around for almost 40 year, and their primary focus has always been on BMWs. With a Dinan product you are not only getting their expert engineering and quality control, your parts carry the name and heritage of one of the most respected names in the industry. The exhaust itself features 100% 304 Stainless Steel construction, factory valve integration, and four 4″ double-walled laser engraved exhaust tips. These exhaust tips are also the first clamp-on tip Dinan has ever fitted to one of their exhausts, traditionally using welded on single-walled tips in the past. The sound is deep and aggressive on acceleration but mellows out under low throttle thanks to the integrated valves. Dinan’s warranty is also one of their big selling points, offering to match the manufacturer warranty you currently have (so it is best to install Dinan parts when your car is fresh from the factory). If your G30 is out of warranty Dinan’s parts are warrantied for 2 years from the date of purchase.
Eisenmann – M550i
The Eisenmann Race Exhaust for the M550i is for the enthusiast who likes a bit more flash and grandeur when modifying their vehicle. Like many others in this list it is made with full 304 Stainless Steel, has a two year warranty, and is valved for those times you just want to drive in a relaxed manner. What sets this exhaust apart is the intensity of its exhaust tone under hard acceleration and its extremely stylish tip options. The tone of this exhaust is probably the most aggressive out of any of the G30 exhausts we carry, and the tip options are just outrageous. You have your normal choices like black and silver, but there are two style options to choose from, Signature and Lemans. If none of those suit your fancy you can also get carbon fiber trimmed silver tips, or if you want everyone to know you’re a Saudi prince you can opt for the carbon fiber trimmed golden exhaust tips. Just be warned, that kind of pomp and circumstance comes with a very large price tag.
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Exhausts…(page 5)
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Performance
If you want serious power gains you can’t just settle for an intake and an exhaust, those are just the start of all the fun things you can do to make your G30 faster. An easy next step for any enthusiast would be to buy a flash tuner. Flash tuners are fantastic, very easy plug and play install and huge power gains for the price. The tuner will intercept the signals coming from the car’s various sensors and alter them to change air fuel ratios, boost levels, timing, etc. This results in improved power using nothing but the components your car came with. Cars are generally detuned from the factory to help them meet emissions regulations so a flash tuner just undoes some of the factory neutering. Your power gains will be even more impressive when a flash tuner is paired with an intake and exhaust so keep that in mind while planning out your mods.
Burger Motorsports JB4 – 530i, 540i
The BMS JB4 tuner is a truly impressive piece of technology, you simply wire the plugs into your engine harness and the JB4 does the rest! It can even adjust itself to whatever parts you have installed, intake, exhaust, downpipes, intercooler, whatever it may be. With a few bolt-ons you can get upwards of 60 wheel horsepower (80 crank horsepower) out of the B58 engine (540i) with slightly smaller but still impressive gains on the B48 (530i). Technology has made tuning cars not only much easier but much safer than the days of boost controllers, piggybacks, and standalone management systems. Take advantage of that convenience. Note that this tuner is not available for sale or installation in the state of California due to emissions regulations.
Dinantronics Sport Performance Tuner – 530i, 540i
Dinan actually makes several tuning solutions depending on your application and preferences. The simplest tuner they make is the Dinantronics Sport Performance Tuner available for the 530i and 540i. This tuner is in essence a boost controller. It wires into two places to intercept and alter the boost signals being provided to the ECU. This results in the ECU upping boost pressure to compensate, and readjusting fuel trim and timing to match. It is a very simple way of doing things and very effective, resulting in some nice power gains. It can even connect to your phone so you can crank your boost settings to maximum if you’re looking to do a hard pull, or reducing them as low as they’ll go if you’re handing the keys off to a valet. This tuner comes with a 1 year product warranty which does not cover any potential damages to the vehicle or subsequent labor cost. It will however soon come with a CARB EO sticker making it legal in the state of California, currently the request is submitted and approval is pending.
Dinantronics Sport Performance Tuner – 530i, 540i, M550i
If you’re OK with spending a bit more, you should consider one of Dinan’s Stage 1 kits. If you have an M550i then it is also currently the only tuner we carry that will work for you. We know the price tag can be a bit intimidating, but you really are getting a very advanced piece of technology for your money. The stage 1 kit, like the sport tuner, plugs into the engine harness and intercepts signals from certain sensors on the engine. The difference is that the stage 1 wires up to far more connections, giving it the ability to directly affect fuel trim, ignition timing, etc., instead of just upping the boost and letting the engine try to adapt to the changes. This results in a very smooth tune that is very safe for your engine, so safe that this tuner retains Dinan’s usual manufacturer matching warranty. If you install this on a brand new car it will not void the warranty and the product itself will be warrantied as long as your G30 is. Like the sport tuner this product is pending CARB EO approval so don’t worry California residents, your time will come.
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Performance…(page 6)
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Exterior
Now we get to some of the most fun bits if you’re looking to stand out. Wheels are already a huge step towards making your G30 unique to you, but you can take it even further with a wide array of exterior mods. Everything from full bumpers to badge replacements. You can really go nuts with all the different options here and find something that fits your personality. We’re going to give some of our top recommendations here but ultimately exterior modding is all about personal preference, your car should be a reflection of your personality.
M-Sport Style Kit
If you have a base trim 540i our first recommendation has to be the M-Sport Style body kit. It is identical to the M-Sport kit that comes from the factory when you upgrade to the M-Sport package. This kit just gives the 540i so much more personality and although this goes against our whole “don’t want to look like everyone else” mantra, you really aren’t doing yourself any favors by not running this kit, it just elevates the look of the car by so much. If you have a base 530i you can also run this kit without any fitment issues, but the rear bumper has cutouts suited only for the 540i style exhaust so if you do want to purchase it make sure you’re OK with having round tips in a trapezoidal cutout, or factor the cost of getting some custom exhaust tips installed into your budget.
Painted Reflectors
One very simple but very awesome mod you can do is to replace your ugly stock reflectors with some color matched pieces. These painted reflectors are OEM BMW reflectors color matched with OEM BMW paint colors, so you just pop out the old ones and pop in these bad boys, instant improvement! The [front reflectors] will fit any G30 model, just find your paint color and you’re set. Please note that if you’ve purchased our M-Sport Style front bumper you do not need to purchase these reflectors as the bumper comes as a solid piece with no reflectors. For the rear reflectors make sure you check if you have the M-Sport bumper (either ours or the factory piece) before purchasing. The normal painted rear reflectors come in normal factory colors and fit the base bumper. the M-Sport painted rear reflectors only come in dark graphite metallic as they are installed in the diffuser section of the bumper.
Front Grilles
One of the first small improvements you can make to the front grille area is getting rid of that stupid black plastic section between the two grilles. If you haven’t noticed this because you have a darker color, or just haven’t looked closer at the front of your G30, we apologize for the rude awakening. However, now that you know it’s there, it’s very easily fixed with a painted center grille trim. Once that is taken care of we can address the horrible chrome surround on the kidney grilles. There are two ways you can go about this: a replacement kidney grille surround, or full replacement kidney grilles. If you like the OEM single slat look then one of our carbon fiber kidney grille surrounds would fit the bill nicely. If you want the “///M” style look then a set of our dual slat replacement grilles would be best for you. We have both gloss black and carbon fiber so you can get a set that matches your build whatever aesthetic you’re going for.
Badges
Yet another simple mod, blacked out badges. Chrome badges are just gross, a nice black or blacked chrome badge will do wonders for the back of your G30. We currently have them available for the 540i and M550i, as well as an xDrive badge. Very simple, affordable, easy to install, and makes the car look way better.
Various FRP/Carbon Fiber Pieces
We’ve covered most of what we believe to be the “essentials” to exterior modding, now we’re more in the territory of absolute personal preference. Some of these mods you’ll love, some you’ll hate, it’s all down to what you think looks good. Our G30 exterior mods page has a lot to offer, and we’re constantly adding new and exciting parts. We’ve got all the good stuff: lips, splitters, spoilers, diffusers, and more! Even if you’ve browsed our selection before you should check it out, you might find something you love.
The Next Step
If you’re itching to start modding your G30, why wait? No matter your budget there’s always something you can do to spice up the look of your car or its functionality. Not quite sure where you should start? That’s completely understandable, modifying cars is difficult sometimes and you’ll often find yourself unsure what to buy first. If you want help picking out parts or organizing a priority list why not give one of our Mod Experts a call? Our Mod Experts are highly trained with years of experience with wheel/tire fitment, part synergy, and will work hard to get you the best deal possible on your parts. They can be reached at (714) 582-3330 or by email at Sales@Modbargains.com. We also have live chat available at Modbargains.com during normal business hours.
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Exterior…(page 7)