It feels good. It's no muscle car, but it scoots pretty well. Runs 85mph all day with the cruise set, handles like a dream.
On my list of things to do are:
-BillyBoat exhaust (already purchased)
-Chip (already purchased)
-3.15 LSD (already purchased)
I'm also thinking of a set of headers. All the above should wake it up quite nicely, I would think. Or, who knows... maybe an LS swap is in the future?
I think I could pull it off and still be in the $20K-$25K range when all is said and done.
The 540i/6 comes with the sport seats and the "slightly lower and stiffer" suspension (M5 without "SLS" hydraulic load level in the rear). I purposefully avoided a traction control car as well--too much to worry about breaking, I figured.
So far, I have a total of maybe $15K in the car, including the original purchase, flying to Texas, and driving it back to Tennessee.
The car was $7K, and the rest has been stuff to upgrade and/or make it "all I want it to be." M-Tech front bumper, 3.15 LSD, Chip, front brake upgrade, rear rotors, pads, and calipers, braided brake lines, wheels, tires, exhaust, leather M-tech steering wheel, stereo upgrade, front suspension upgrades, new front door weather stripping, and a few more bits and pieces.
The only repair I've had to make was a new MAF and O2 sensors. Next winter I'll probably do the timing chains and guides. I'll do them myself, over a weekend.
If you have any more questions, feel free to hit me up, or PM me and I'll give you my phone number.