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But when you go into four mode the impala catches up with you. So what good is it? :P
"The Bentley Manual has instructions with pictures and arrows, and walks you thru the disassembly process - including the other stuff that needs to be removed before getting to the thing needing replacement. I think the manual is a must if you're going the DIY route..."
I am trying to find out exactly what options this vehicle does or doesn't have. Is there a way to search using the Vin number to find out exactly what this car came equipped with??
Thanks in advance!!
Thanks
I'd only consider a Turbo R.
So BMW comes to mind. Now I'll tall 6' 2" all legs. I got to sit in a 3 series, and hand enough leg room so I'm guessing as much or more in a 5 series?
Also like the previous post any thing to look for in a late model 5 series? VANOS issues etc?
Does the 5 really offer more passenger room than a 3? Comments from tall persons?
My '06 525i is very roomy with significant headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front, and acceptable in the back. The newer 3 series and the old 5 series are not too cramped, but not quite as roomy. The old 3 series feels cramped to me.
Hope this helps...JL
Definitely more legroom in my 2005 545 than in my 2002 325-not a lot-maybe 2 inches but it helps. Still far from ideal.
The only BMW that totally satisfied my legroom requirements was the X5 which I had the pleasure of driving about 6 months ago.
Also try to get the comfort seats. Much better than the standard seats.
Are the DRL's not working and they used to? Or are you just wanting to turn them on?
-Paul
-Paul
To elaborate, here's a link to the Bentley he's referring to: Bentley Publishers
I'm moving from Maryland to California, and the relocation people want to ship my 03 530i on an open truck.
Is there a better way?
Good luck...JL
When it got here, it was just fine, albeit a little dirty. Other than that, it was completely fine.
If you can swing it, enclosed would be the way to go, but open isn't so bad if you can keep it on top.
-Paul
"See the YOU ESS A, in your Bimmer-a" -- woo woo!
Driving across America would be (or could be) fun if you had the time to make it a bit of a sightseeing trip.
All those times I've flown over the US, I have wondered "what would it be like" to actually see the country at ground level.
Otherswise get it shipped covered and insured out the wazoo, where-ever the wazoo is!
This company looks promising: http://www.intercitylines.com/
The trucks are enclosed and the bays are level and shock-absorbed.
Has anyone used them?
I went through the AM Stereo phase some time back.
I am now convinced that Sat Radio (my wife and I both have Sirius in our cars and XM at home) beats FM and for "local" talk and stuff, plain ol AM mono is fine.
If you ripped out my AM and FM, but not my Sirius, I would probably go for a long time without missing them.
HD radio seems to be "better fidelity" radio -- but the programming and content limitation continue and the range is hardly universal as it is with Sirius and XM.
Anyway, like so many other things, you can probably (eventually if not immediately) get an adaptor for your car, but one of two things will happen: it will be way way way too expensive or it will be frequency limited due to circumstances and economic incentives to the producer of the hardware.
Even the aftermarket Sat Radio is both Frequency Response and Dynamic Range limited (which is pretty much the story for Sat Radio overall, with several exceptions.)
Try Googling or DogPiling and see what you see.
Good luck.
Also I had Sirius radio put in and love it. However, I have to say that since I have sirius I NEVER use my ipod in the car. I think they cancel each other out, except for times when you absolutely need to listen to something you put on your IPOD.
Sirius is fantastic... whatever kind of music or talk I'm in the mood for its there. I have not listened to either AM,FM, or the IPOD, since I got the installation.
That being said it was freaking pricey... around 1100 for both the IPod jack and the Sirius radio, I hear the price is different wherever you go so you might be able to get a better deal at different dealerships. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with any extra antenna's or wires and the signal is crystal clear.
Hope that helps...
I think that the 17" base wheels (5 star) on the 530i are not that attractive.
Does anyone know where I can go to find some good replacement wheels? I saw a place that had 17 x 8 BMW wheels that looked like the sport package version (I think that the wheels were for an older 3 series), but the 530i is 17 x 7.5. I don't want to have to pay for new tires.
Does anyone have any ideas here?
Best regards,
R
BTW, mine 07 530 will be here in 6 weeks with SP, PP, Nav, Rear sun shades, park distance control, Auto. Can't wait!
Opinions greatly appreciated.
Having driven each of the six cylinder models (all with a 5-Speed manual), I would personally rank them in order of engine size, the larger the engine, the more desirable. Said another way, each of the three models has the following characteristics:
530i -- Most powerful engine with decent low end torque. This car has a beefier manual transmission than the 525i, and brakes from the 540i (i.e. larger diameter/more capable).
528i -- Power and low end torque are not the equal of the 530i but not far from it either. This car has the same manual transmission as the 530i but smaller brakes.
525i -- To me at least, this car feels rather anemic, enough so that I wouldn't be happy driving this car on a daily basis. Mechanically it has the smaller transmission from the 325i and the smaller brakes of the 528i.
As far as what you should look for, I'd drive each of the three and determine for yourself what you can live with on a price/performance basis.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
There are BMW "exact" replicas -- even down to the center caps.
I would upsize to 18" were I you and go with a UHP A/S tire if you live where it ever gets cold (below 40F for days on end.) They are OK for light snow too.
If you don't care about a factory looking wheel your choices are way way way off the scale, limited only by your time and money.
I would, however, pay the "premium" to have the dealership mount and balance and install the "system" (tires+wheels), this way the dealer will "for free" provide BMW maintenance on them which is part of the 50K program that comes with these cars. (N.B.: the wheel itself will NOT be covered, but the balancing will be -- our dealer also offers an extra cost wheel warranty which, in OHIO, is worth it since we seem to be a magnet for potholes.)
The BMW replicas (German or Italian made) should specify they are "German" spec wheels which is worth something vs an otherwise good looking wheel that is NOT German spec.
18" wheels and tires of course can be purchased through the dealer but the price is -- well, OVER priced.
Google, ASK or DOGPILE the wheels or go to a BMW blog site (perhaps here too) and "ask around."
My only regret with my current Audi A6 is in NOT getting the sport suspension -- I see that seems to apply to the cars from Munich as well (My wife DID get the sport suspension package on her 2005 X3.) :shades:
From a mechanical perspective, I believe the only real significant differences between those two cars is engine size and brake size (although there might also be some slight differences in the base (i.e. non-SP) suspension).
That having been said, BMW performed a very mild but visually obvious cosmetic "Face Lift" between the 2000 and the 2001 model years that, to my eyes at least, took the E39 from "Nice" to "Wow".
Best Regards,
Shipo
Come to think of it though, the comparable Merc and Audi models were pretty weak accelerators. The Audi middle child, which was priced a bit below the Bimmer, was a 2.7T (turbocharged) model -- which was quite the spirited performer and if you can find one of them as a 2003 or 2004, it will probably be certified to 100K and it will be very strong in terms of power.
On the other hand, the BMW is exquisitely balanced and will handle better at the extremes since it will understeer less and later than the other Germans.
The BMW's seemed to come with stark black interiors frequently, too -- but if you like black, they are hardly cheap interiors, but they lack the "jewel-like" qualities of some other models and brands.
If you want the Bimmer, you will not be disappointed if you go with the stick shift version (and you may find one that is better equipped and will sell for a lot less money since for some reason sticks are not in favor much here on this side of the Atlantic.) Go with the biggest numbers after the 5 you can find though if you want power and refinement. The engines improved (and did again last year) with each iteration.
:surprise:
I was considering Audi as well but haven't spent the time researching them yet. What models do you like as a comparison to the Bimmer?
Thanks much.
-Paul