2014 Competition Package M5 vs. 2014 M5 Base - layman's review

[Djokodallas]

Dude awesome review.

I was wondering the same for some time.

The problem here is Dallas is that almost all m5 that are siting on the lot have competition package.

I found only one m5 without it.

[M5 RAG]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

No they are not sorry they are CAST ask BMW.

+1, he's got this the wrong way round.

Oddly enough the CP wheels are cast, the 343 are forged and therefore as a "scientific fact" the better wheels.

[Blackraven]

In terms of looks (and weight), it looks like:

343M > 601M and 345M

Personally, those matt black 343M wheels look bad-a$$ (i.e. the ones featured in the BMW M5 2014 International Brochure)

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by M5 RAG

+1, he's got this the wrong way round.

Oddly enough the CP wheels are cast, the 343 are forged and therefore as a "scientific fact" the better wheels.

I have rolled over on the CP on my order for the M6GC CP, BUT stuck to the 343M forged wheels, they look so good on Alpine white.

[Careful Driver]

Just so you know the forged standard wheels cost almost twice as much as the competition wheels (750 vs 1400), competition wheels are definitely cheaper, which is great, because if you bend them, it's cheaper to replace I also honestly think competition wheels look much nicer.

[soooma]

Grinning mischievously -
I was able to get this thread resurrected
hahahahah

[Desertdweller]

OK. Here is where I am with the competition pack vs no comp pack. I had a 2013 M5. Sold it. Originally intended to buy the 2014 M5 with comp pack but when I found a really good deal on a 2013 911 C4S I bought it. Kinda missed the space, practicality and comfort of the M5 so I am back on track to order a 2015. I felt my '13 M5 was a little loose in turns. My 911(with PDCC but not SPASM) is kinda harsh but I got used to it. I'm thinking after coming from 911 comp pack on the M5 might be happy compromise and won't seem too harsh?

[shahano]

Great review. The review does make me want the competition package more. An akra exhaust is worth 8k, so the competition pacakge is like an exhaust and the rest of the mods for free. Most important is the better steering for me..
Also 343 wheels are the best.. Love em and will never change them on this car.

[variable229]

Originally Posted by shahano

Great review. The review does make me want the competition package more. An akra exhaust is worth 8k, so the competition pacakge is like an exhaust and the rest of the mods for free. Most important is the better steering for me..
Also 343 wheels are the best.. Love em and will never change them on this car.

Don't think you get the Akra exhaust with competition package. That's the difference between M Performance Exhaust (Akrapovic) vs Sport Exhaust (Comp Pkg).

[M5essex]

Originally Posted by variable229

Don't think you get the Akra exhaust with competition package. That's the difference between M Performance Exhaust (Akrapovic) vs Sport Exhaust (Comp Pkg).

that's true, but I believe he was comparing sound of CP exhaust to MPE/Akra...

I simply love the 601 wheels. when they are freshly cleaned, they look amazing and go so well with my Singapore Grey.. they have a petrol blue tinge to them like the SG paint. they two were made for each other

[jimmy9980]

I totally agree very good review!

[PhilT3]

I HAVE to imagine the Comp Pack is a HUGE profit for BMW.

That being said... I would be interested in seeing the sales numbers: how many sold with CP vs without CP.

I'd be willing to bet that BMW would sell A LOT more CP M5's if they dropped the price to $4900.

At $4900 they'd still be profitable on the package and I would bet be way ahead in overall top and bottom line revenue when looking at just the M5.

Same thing for the Carbon brakes. I don't know the cost on those kinds of parts like I do on what's in the CP... but I would bet the same principal COULD apply.

For myself, using the M5 for DD purposes only and having another ride for track use... the $7300 and $9900 on the CP and CCB's was not worth it. BUT... IF, the CP was $4,900 I would have went for it just for the wheels, slightly lower ride height and the steering enhancement. As for the CCB's...the same price would apply... they'd need to be around $5k for me to go for them.

Just my .02.

[Careful Driver]

Originally Posted by PhilT3

I HAVE to imagine the Comp Pack is a HUGE profit for BMW.

That being said... I would be interested in seeing the sales numbers: how many sold with CP vs without CP.

I'd be willing to bet that BMW would sell A LOT more CP M5's if they dropped the price to $4900.

At $4900 they'd still be profitable on the package and I would bet be way ahead in overall top and bottom line revenue when looking at just the M5.

Same thing for the Carbon brakes. I don't know the cost on those kinds of parts like I do on what's in the CP... but I would bet the same principal COULD apply.

For myself, using the M5 for DD purposes only and having another ride for track use... the $7300 and $9900 on the CP and CCB's was not worth it. BUT... IF, the CP was $4,900 I would have went for it just for the wheels, slightly lower ride height and the steering enhancement. As for the CCB's...the same price would apply... they'd need to be around $5k for me to go for them.

Just my .02.

The CP's steering and exhaust is good enough. Steering is vastly different between CP and base cars. The ride is also too soft in the base car (I'm coming from an M3). To me if it were 10k, I'd still buy it.

[PhilT3]

Originally Posted by Careful Driver

The CP's steering and exhaust is good enough. Steering is vastly different between CP and base cars. The ride is also too soft in the base car (I'm coming from an M3). To me if it were 10k, I'd still buy it.

But you'd love it even more if it was LESS!! lol

Enjoy bud!

[ranmandaman]

Great review (old thread I know). I just picked up a non comp 2013 M5. The comp M5s in the UK were just too much.

The review made me feel a bit better about having the base M5 but I wanted to understand more the issues people are describing about the steering and suspension. It seems that in terms of the steering the 2013 M5 < 2014 M5 < Comp M5. The steering on mine seems to be perfectly fine!! I haven't got the chance to drive a comp M5 but I want to know why people say 2013 is poor? My previous car was a E46 M3 and I don't think the M5 steering is worse than that.

The second was suspension, I usually drive in Comfort (London roads are awful), but changing it to Sport seems to firm it up nicely. I don't get the comments that the base M5 suspension is too soft, you just need to kick it up to Sport and it's firm again.

[TrevorM3]

cp package is waste of money. and i have it. no discernible difference in driving feel from non cp.

[jairomvp182]

in person the comp exhaust is way louder than stock, you can hear the turbos.

[carrera2RSL]

Originally Posted by Careful Driver

The CP's steering and exhaust is good enough. Steering is vastly different between CP and base cars. The ride is also too soft in the base car (I'm coming from an M3). To me if it were 10k, I'd still buy it.

I wish they did a Comp+ to tighten and stiffen further

[SpiderM5]

When I was shopping for an M5, I really wanted the 343s. But as my search went on, most M5s had 343 and I found myself excited when seeing a car with 601s. It also says 'competition' for those in the know. Now I love the open and clean look of the 601.

[MnMnM]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

No they are not sorry they are CAST ask BMW.

My understanding is that the 343's are forged.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Cooeyman

My understanding is that the 343's are forged.

Yes they are it's the CP one's that are not.
That's why I did not put them on my M6 GC CP here.

[MnMnM]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Yes they are it's the CP one's that are not.
That's why I did not put them on my M6 GC CP here.

Very nice!