Competition package or no?

[Dr.Jeff]

I have the comp package...It is definitely worth the $$$. The exhaust note is much better than the standard car. The suspension rides very nice and not too stiff in my opinion... I had 2 other comp package M's and this model rides the best.... Go for it!!! You'll be kicking yourself if you don't, cause if someone pulls up to you at a light with it, you will be wishing you did!!

[Dionysus]

To OP, my take on your 'is it worth it question':

My sales manager and I got our CPs 1st Sept this year. I know of at least two previous pre-lci M5s he has had this year alone. He is very knowledgable about M cars and his view was that CP is a must have option on the lci and also everyone will be looking out for this option on the used car market in a few years time. To put this into context, I usually add more than the average options to my cars, at least for the UK (although my M5 is relatively light on options). In the past I have been discouraged to order uncommon options to the UK, such as climate comfort seats (wouldn't order them again in the UK), adaptive drive on the E70, etc. So my relationship with my dealership is such that they will give me their honest opinion on what they believe is/is not worth having in terms of options. We did discuss a current M3 as an alternative (lower weight, better handling, etc), however was advised to go for M5 lci (halo car, newer tech, comfort, interior ambience, etc).

When placing my order (pre-lci launch), I was also worried that CP would be either ride too harshly or not provide a significant difference in feel of the car to be worth the money over non CP, however, I was advised to order with. For me, if I was limited to one option on the M5, inc CCB, individual options, etc, I would pick CP.

In like-for-like driving , compared with non pre-lci, I am noticing slightly firmer ride, in some respects bad - feel small imperfections more than non CP, however, non CP is only slightly better and neither can be anywhere as smooth on rougher surfaces as say an adaptive drive equipped std F10 (itself not perfect), in some respects good - improved body control, i.e. less roll & pitch (gone is the slightly underdamped feeling pre-lci displayed at times).

The steering is noticeable more direct (what most of us are looking for in a 'sports car') and less assisted in all modes. It is also more consistent within a particular setting (gone is the awful abrupt loss of weight in comfort that you occasionally got in pre-lci when slowing down to very low speeds). You rarely notice the assistance varying, say when changing from hardish driving on twisty roads to same speed on straight motorways/highways, and the amount of change is minimal.

Traction in day-to-day driving is improved and tendency to understeer is reduced (still occurs, but less often and to lesser degree) over non-CP. Driving through S-bends (whilst not breaking traction), and although roll is reduced, you can still feel some inertia, so there are inherent limits to what CP can provide.

The exhaust is an improvement on non-CP; improved range of sounds and can be louder, but can still be quiet. Stating the obvious perhaps, but it's probably best described as somewhere between std exhaust and M performance/non- OEM. I was underwhelmed by std exhaust, but am happy with CP exhaust 90% of the time.

To echo comments for others, you need to arrange extensive back to back drive, preferably on the roads you are most likely to be driving on as we can only provide subjective opinions.

HTH and good luck with your choice.

[JUPJAI]

Absolutely YES! Get the CP and the CCB.

[Sejzilla]

Yea i am thinking that with my driving skills I am never going to get to a point where I can fully exploit the power and the handling capabilities of a base M5 let alone a CP. and the price difference is really big id rather get myself a nice exhaust + rim combo with the extra money left over. and corect me if im wrong but I was told that the CP rims are cast and the standard ones are forged which makes no sense to me but living in NYC, having a forged rim is definitely required. So i think i will be picking up the base M5 as oppose to the CP

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by Ftc120

Ultimately you have to make the decision.

Agreed.

My comments above are based on on-road driving, not track driving, I am quite sensitive to little nuances in ride/handling; strange, but I could feel the difference a 1 psi adjustment in tyre pressure made to E70 & non-M F10 and can in the CP, but to a much lesser extent. Other cars, e.g. Mercedes C-Class, and I can't feel any difference 1 psi adjustment makes. Seems as through my brain is wired to be hypersensitive to BMW ride/handling

So I don't doubt those of us who have driven both and concluded that they couldn't feel any difference.

Perhaps your question should be "is the CP worth the money to me", so rhetorical question really...

[EdM5]

The answer is yes.
The ride is still comfortable enough in comfort setting. But a much better package when driven hard. Even the the CP exhaust is major improvement.

[Sejzilla]

Thank you all for the advice I ended up picking up the competition pkg

[Lual]

My advice is, get it!

Sound is great (probably not as good as any non stock, but i love it), handling is perfect, and wheels are beautiful
What else do you need, other than the extra check?

[NlckyBlack]

Def get it.

[bobafettt]

Originally Posted by Sejzilla

Thank you all for the advice I ended up picking up the competition pkg

You chose wisely.

[Neil McRae]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Personally I had ride quality concerns rather than budgetary restrictions.

Not convinvced CP is an obvious trump card like Bang and Olufsen. If Bang and Olufsen was free, if everyone would take it. If CP were free, I would not take it.

its not exactly a good comparison.