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Good luck!
You should be able to get at least 15% if not 20% for the "used" moniker.
Thanks for your help.
However the trunk mechanism on the 2004 is, well, it ain't what it is in the 528/30. Hit the remote and the lid flies open like a jack in the box. No hydraulic shocks; instead two 1 inch tubes that intrude on the available space when you close it. Then they deleted one of the memory positions for the drivers seat; spiffy if your single! And no more full service spare! And all this for an additional $3000 to $4000 to replace the one I have now. I don't think so Tim.
I don't know if I want to look any closer for fear of what else I may find.
The hinges DO NOT go into the cargo area. And, the trunk space is increased.
Anyone familiar with both of the models can persude me $1000 off sticker for 330 2004 is a good or bad deal?
I had one of THE best car buying experiences of my life at Irvine BMW. Very low pressure through the entire process. I spent a few days driving various models at the dealership and some competitive alternatives elsewhere. Finally came to the conclusion that I had to have the 530i. Called the salesman I had been dealing with and made an offer (based on info from Edmunds and this forum). I spent some time back and forth with him on the phone over the course of an hour and we reached a deal. I also ended up getting a 4.5% 60 month loan through the dealership (they beat my credit union).
All-in all, the deal was good for the dealership and good for me. I probably could have worked the deal longer and saved a bit more. However, the 2003 530i's were selling pretty fast and I wanted the car optioned exactly as a bought it. A few weeks later, most of these cars were gone. As they say, timing is everything!
This car is awesome. I can't believe how fast I can go around corners now -- yeah I know, I'm easy to please after driving SUV's for so long ;-). The only problem I have now is that this is my wife's car...........
You'll continue to be amazed how the E39 does everything so well, compared to every other car you owned. It's one of the few cars you'll probably like better the longer you own it. I'll bet you either swap cars with your wife or buy another for yourself.
I still think the E39 5 is probably the best overall car in the world for the money. The E60 driving engineering probably is too, underneath the sometimes brainless styling and technogeek choices they're making lately (and the absurd $5K increase model-for-model). You got a decent price on a great car. Good luck--
I paid 1500 over invoice for my 2004 330i. Fortunately, I bought it in a town in Illinois where there is no MACO (I almost bought in Houston, where the MACA is over $500).
Thanks.
part two / buying: she wants to buy another 5 series BMW. we don't like the newer 2004 model but we are interested in the models from 2000 to 2003. the question is: what year / model is the best one out there?
5 series.
Thanks
Also, since this is supposed to be focused on prices paid and actual buying experience, that is the best place for any further general questions on the vehicle that you might have.
Good luck - I'm sure you'll find lots of great information in that discussion - see you there.
As a practical example, on Dec. 31, 1998, I left Northern Ohio in a fierce snow storm headed for South Carolina. Roads had heavy snow covering a layer of ice. I was driving my '97 RWD (2WD) Toyota 4Runner. I passed everything on the road. I honestly don't know how AWD or 4WD would have made much of a difference. There is no substitute for knowing how to drive.
Now, my real rub with AWD is the extra weight, and as you know, weight is the enemy of handling. Not to mention the additional upfront and maintenance costs.
But, we have chocolate, vanilla, and a zillion other flavors. To each their own. I'm not going to try to convince you to come over to my side. This is just one old guy's humble opinion. And, thanks for asking.
FULL DISCLOSURE: My wife drives a BMW X5. Yep, AWD.
Happy Motoring,
Jack
Amen to the above. There is a mentality out there that thinks driving in snow with AWD means "I can drive as I do on a dry summer day" Accordingly, there are lots of winter accidents involving SUVs.
Your post piqued my interest because I am a fan of Audi's committment to AWD. I am also disappointed in BMW's lack thereof. I drove an S4 wagon several days ago and absolutely loved it. It's a one-of-a-kind vehicle as is the RS6. Lofty prices though.
I have no issue with the added weight since it is low. Aside from stability in snow and rain, acceleration in hairpins, especially twisting upgrades is where AWD shines. Too bad it can't be an option on all vehicles, this way everyone could be happy. Would like to see it offered on E55 and M5.
Jack, thanks for the full disclosure. You are a man of integrity!
;-)
PS - apologies for straying off topic. It happens!
I've lamented on several occasions that I think BMW should offer either:
1) a 5 series with a 3.5 or 3.6 liter making around 260 - 280 HP. It would cure BangleFever for me. (A Honda Accord makes that on their v-6.)
2) a supercharge dor turbocharged 3.0 liter, or even the above wished for 3.5 or 3.6 liter. You can aftermarket supercharge the 3.0 for about $7 - $8k installed, adding about 90 HP. But, there goes the warranty. Seems like BMW could put a charge into these things for less money and offer a warranty. I'd take a 3.0 with supercharger over the 540/545 and have similar performance, but 200 to 250 lbs. less weight.
But, hey, if BMW lets me down, I'll certainly look at Audi.
Host, sorry for the off topic post, but, these concerns may stop me from having another BMW buying experience at any price.
Jack
There are also several discussions on the subject of AWD, RWD, FWD etc. - the keyword search on the left side of the page will get you a wealth of information!
;-)
I'm currently at $1.8 K over invoice ($2.4 K under MSRP) on a 525 E60 with some typical options. Haven't tried very hard to negotiate yet, as I'm on the fence on the 5-series. Of course in the NY-NJ area you have a very large advantage over other areas of the country in that there's *lots* of BMW dealers around here to haggle with. Dealers say the E60 is selling (not sure how much to believe it, yet), but I've seen every indication that an experienced, educated buyer can get a very solid discount on MSRP.
BTW, with all respect to the folks at Edmunds with their TMV viewpoint on the 5 series, I think their current estimate is very high compared to what can be acheived with some data, a few phone calls and the self-confidence to negotiate. Had a BMW rep try to use TMV to set a relatively high price on the car. I laughed about the idea and he backed off in an instant -- he didn't give it a lot of credibility either. Edmunds might want to update their data sources on this one.
Cheers--
While walking past a well-stocked lot of new 5s, flanked by copious amounts of Z4s, the salesman shook his head in despair and said “Do you believe this?” Raising my eyebrows with curiosity he continued “These cars are disasters. BMW had better straighten themselves out and fire the man who designed them.”
I told him, wow, given your position, you appear to be incredibly candid about this. Aren’t they selling? “Do they look like they’re selling. Do you see anyone here looking to test drive them. Plus there are problems with them.” he said.
At this point I was anxious to pick his brains in some detail but he got paged. Since I was done with my business there (I will not disclose what this was in order to protect him.) I didn’t get the chance to hear his specifics.
Now, knowing very well the BS salespeople have up their sleeves to make a sale, he could have had an ulterior motive as I my interest there had nothing to do with the 5. However, given the fact that prices on E60 are already starting to crack, Z4s and 7s are being discounted fairly well, there wasn’t much customer traffic at the dealer on a beautiful sunny Saturday (the shoppers there were testing 3s, Zs and 7s), and I still haven’t seen a new 5 on the road (I’m talking about driving 60 miles a day on heavily traveled roads.) I tend to believe him.
It is understandable that many want a new bimmer, it’s still the best ride around, better than the much-worshiped E39. But if you are a price hawk, have patience, and wait for the definitive scoops on E60 bugs, you may be rewarded.
LOL. That would be blasphemous for "bmwseller" or "bmwife".
I never figured out if they're the same person.
Now reports are coming in regarding failures of the active steering mechanism and on-board electronics. Dearlerships know precious little about this car let alone how to fix it. Expect to have your own chair at the local BMW service shop.
And to think, you get this all for more than $60,000.00 . What has happened to BMW ? This is inexcusable. Stay away from this car. If I could dump mine without taking a big financial hit, I would do so in a second.
Think BMW realized the price of 530i too close to 525i. Making it farther apart like with 330i and 325i price difference.
Vee vill increase sah price unt you vill pay!
Vee are superior UNT VEE VILL VIN!!!!!!!!
Vee vill increase sah price unt you vill pay!
Vee are superior UNT VEE VILL VIN!!!!!!!!"
ROFLMAO!
This is the capitalist system. If BMW can charge more for the car and still sell every car they make, they should.
BTW designman, where's the followup to your conversation with the BMW salesman?
http://finance.yahoo.com/m5?s=EUR&t=USD&a=1&c=3
I don't remember BMW cutting its prices when the euro lost 40% of its value from 1996 to 2000. (The Euro wasn't in existence then, its value above is a calculated composite.) But then again, many other factors come to play in the pricing of import cars.
I appreciate your apparent thirst for black and white facts, but this is a casual chat forum that does not require journalistic acumen. Sometimes we are presented with facts, other times it's just hearsay. Sometimes the hearsay has veracity, other times not. In the end it's not that important.
What IS important is that anyone who is interested in E60 or any car does his legwork to get to the bottom of any potential issues, then spends his hard-earned bucks as he sees fit. It took me a year to make a buying decision on my E39. I've said this before... patience. The truth about E60 is almost at hand and will come out in the wash. For those who wish to buy it now, well, that's there business and I do indeed respect their prerogative. Hopefully they will not be disappointed. As a matter of fact, this place will be turned over to lots of E60 buyers in the upcoming months and I'm looking forward to reading their comments, both positive and negative.
Enjoy the ride, and have a laugh along the way. Saugatak... you VILL laugh!
;-)
with regard to herr schnell, i don't know all his circumstances but if i were to make a post trashing the car, i'd provide some more detail or backup so that it didn't look like a rant.
if schnell did spend $60k of his hard earned money and got a lemon, i feel truly sorry for him.
When the Euro fell after its introduction, BMW made more money in USA. They could've held line on dollar prices or actually lowered them, if they had wanted to gain market share. But BMW needed to recover after the $B-Rover debacle as well as to fund all the new generation vehicles.