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It's kinda like my son asking me to quickly explain how the universe works in 30 seconds.
The 3 and 5 are the same only in that they both have 4 doors in sedan form. They have a common engine, but other than that, they are quite unique. You need to look at YOUR financial situation, your needs, your wants, etc to determine which is best for you.
They are both incredible vehicles. You can't go wrong with either, but what you choose is entirely up to you.
-Paul
The 3xi is fun and quick, but a bit noisy. The 5i is quicker, and quieter. Both handle better than anything in their class. If I could choose only one, I'd get the 5. But its nice to have both.
Maybe the upcoming 535 with the new TT engine and upgraded interior will get my attention
I picked up brochures for the new 5 series and the 3 series. According to the data published in those, the 0 - 60 time for the 535i auto is 5.7 seconds, while 0 - 60 for the 535Xi auto is 5.6 seconds. I was surprised the AWD is faster to 60 than the RWD considering it weighs 243 pounds more.
As an aside, 0 - 60 for the 335i auto is 5.6 while for the 335Xi auto it's 5.4.
Bruce
http://editorial.carsales.com.au/car-review/2358840.aspx
If so, wanted to ask people who know the 5 series what they thought of the comments on the 550i?
I am toying with the idea of upgrading from an 06 330Xi to a new 535Xi. One of the reasons would be a little smoother, quieter ride while hopefully not sacrificing much in the way of handling. Because of my experience with RFTs on my 330Xi, if I get the 535Xi, I will stay with the standard GFTs.
I have not been following the M-B E series, so was surprised at their comments on its ride and handling vis a vis the 550i.
Thanks
Bruce
As for the E60, it came out in 03 or 04 and BMW generally has a 7 year cycle. The changes for the 08 5 Series are quite nice and actually with the minor exterior and rather subtle changes in the interior (like the doors), it is my favorite incarnation of the E60 yet. If you like the E60's styling, go for it. I have not seen any shots of the next 5 Series (the one the replaces the E60), so it may be hideous or may be totally radical.
-Paul
Plus, the new model in 2009? I think that is Fall, 2009 as a 2010 model..
So, if you wait for the new model, it may be awhile..
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http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/country/gcf/spyphotoID/6061011.002/bmw- /spy-photos-next-gen-2009-bmw-5-series
Best Regards,
Shipo
Bruce
To be honest, I can hardly think of the last flat I've had, and much as I always thought the "full service" spare in a BMW was so "non-compromising", guess I could live just fine with a limited-service spare for an emergency--but I wouldn't want run flats, which you'd drive on (and suffer through?) every single day, in case of the rare eventuality of a flat.
Ahhh, here's the link to an Aussie site ("bloody run-flats"), they're none too wild about Active Steering either...
http://editorial.carsales.com.au/car-review/2358840.aspx
But you have to get the active roll stabilization. That's what transforms the car.
-Paul
Yes, I posted the same link to the Aussie road test wondering what people with 5 series experience thought of their comments, but no feedback so far.
Yes, I was referring to run flat tires for RFTs. I like the safety and convenience advantages they are claimed to offer, but my experience with all season RFTs on an 06 330Xi has not been great. I switched brands (Bridgestone to Continental) and that helped, but I believe the RFTs are the reason the car's ride reaches a compliance limit sooner than I would like.
From what I have read, the change in the suspension design in the new X5 was made to mitigate the ride issues of RFTs. One road test said it works very well, and I don't recall seeing owners of the new X5 mentioning RFTs as an issue.
I also got the impression the summer performance run flat tires on the 3 series sedans do not have the same issues, or the same degree of issues, as my all-season RFTs.
Thanks
Bruce
Guess I'm just not sure what to make of the whole run-flat debate, I can see the safety argument, ie, they help to maintain control in the event of a blow-out, but since I understand that they work by providing extra stiff sidewalls, it would seem that compliance would inevitably be compromised. BTW, haven't I heard about another form of run-flat with an inner support "donut", that supports the tread in the event of failure? Seems like that might permit configuring sidewalls for the desired level of comfort and control.
As I noted, seems like my "full service" spares on my E34 and E39 have seen very "limited service" (yuk, yuk), so maybe RFT's are where the industry is headed, thus gaining reduced vehicle weight (very important in my book), and improved space efficiency (there is something to be said for decent-sized trunk.) But at this juncture, I think I'd still opt for conventional tires, and some sort of spare.
Let us know what you decide if you effect procurement of a new 535, Steve G in Chi
I haven't been following RFTs per se except for how they relate to my current car, or a car I may buy in the future.
"at this juncture, I think I'd still opt for conventional tires, and some sort of spare" -- this is my thought as well.
Is the other RFT with inner donut by any chance the Michelin offered on the Acura RL? I think that tire requires a unique wheel, which would not be of interest to me.
Thanks
Bruce
I was glancing through the June 07 issue of Bimmer magazine, and in an article on the 3 series coupes, they said the 328i gets the GM AT while the 335i comes with a ZF AT. Does BMW have to use the ZF to handle the higher power output of the twin turbo engine? According to that article, the ZF has quicker shifts than the GM.
I was wondering if the pattern in the 3 series coupe carries over to the 5 series; i.e., do the 528 cars get the GM AT while the 535 cars get a ZF?
Or, is the ZF the optional, special AT offered on the 535i and 550i, but not on the 535Xi? If so, does that mean the 535Xi gets the GM AT?
Thanks
Bruce
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The BMW web site now features the new 5 series at log on, or on periodic log ons. But the 5 series section of their site per se has not been updated- still shows the 525 and 530 cars.
Bruce
Properly equipped (snows and TC) E 39s are great snow cars and I should know, I've lived in New Hampshire for 22 years.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I was looking at several cars available; a 1993 325is Stick Shift Coupe, a 1995 740i or a 1990 750iL witha v12 and low mileage, and a nice 1994 530i or 540i with an automatic.
First, I was looking for a BMW with good condition and at a low price but runs great because soo I'm looking to strip the car and rebuild it with some high performance parts. As for my driving needs, I need a car which might have a manual transmission that would react better in a city environment as opposed to an automatic. Don't get me wrong, I can take an automatic as well, but it must shift nicely in stop and go traffic. Also, I need a car which has nice horsepower and get up and go, like a v8 or v12. But, since the car's being used in city driving, I need overall fuel efficiency in a car.
Let's look at the 325is. It is stick shift, which I might like since I don't like automatics. But overall, what would be good for city and highway driving, as well as Motorsport driving? Auto or stick? Stick has 5 gears which can be selected rapidly at lower RPMs for increased acceleration where as autos have 4 and are slower at shifting with power reduction. The problem is this car has a inline 6 which might have nice power, but may have struggling against cars with 8s or 12s and it might not catch up to an M3. Also, the car is small and agile, which is great for cornering and grip and reduced weight for faster acceleration, but it is only a small 2 door car. And, it weighs just as much as a 5 series or a 7 series and is only limited to a 6.
Next, the 1994 530i. It has a 3.0 V8 which is a peppy, fuel efficient v8, it is a 4 door sedan with a pretty roomy trunk, and is reminiscent of an M5. The downside is it is an automatic, it is a bit heavier than a 3 series which may reduce acceleration, grip, and cornering. Also, I don't know how good a mini-v8 performs it Motorsporting.
A 540i stick shift is a M5 knock off, but is very rare, pretty high in price, and are more available in auto than it is in manual.
Third car is a 1995 740i. Newer model car, but may cost more in parts and probably spend more in replacement parts than high performance upgrades. Heavier car, bigger car for even more reduced acceleration, grip, and cornering. And its an automatic.
Lastly, a 1990 750iL. Again, v12 excellent for high speed, acceleration is no problem for a v12, extremely roomy interior and trunk, but it is an automatic and a v12 will cost astoundingly more than its 740 counterpart and may still need more parts even after repairs.
I'm leaning towards the 530i since it has less drawbacks, but should I go for it since 530i stick shifts are rare? Or should I do a tranny swap out and end up with all advantages and no drawbacks? Or should I enjoy it as is?
Or should I go for a newer model beemer like a '97 528i or a different model e36? I appreciate your response.
You need to examine and explain to us what your priorities are.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
either you get a nice cruiser with good gas mileage OR something with a bigger engine with less eficient gas mileage.
i could go on and on but i'll start at the beginning with the first example.....the 325. you comoplain of it not being able to "catch" an M3??? why would it and why would you expect it to?? and no, this car does not weigh as much as a 5 or 7 series...i'm giving up, nevermind
The '94 530i and 540i both had the infamous Nikasil engines... Lots of problems with internal engine failure.. Though, one could argue that any car that old would have failed by now, if it had a problem..
The 750IL is no car for someone on a budget..
The '93 325is is the only one of those that I'd consider, and even the early E36 models were known to be problematic.
What is your budget? You should really try to get into '96 and later models.. All of those that you mentioned come with big issues.
regards,
kyfdx
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Sorry dude, but I have to say this, maybe you should be the one to do the homework. ;-) During the mid 1990s, BMW's 530i WAS a V8 and not an I6. To the best of my knowlsdge, the first I6 530i was produced in 2001.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'd take a 325is and still enjoy it as an M3 derivative, no problem at all. I'm just considering the advantages or disadvantages from having a dependable, well-developed 2.5 inline 6 as opposed to an efficient 3.0 V8 which might produce a bit more horsepower with less stress on the engine.
Why do you think I was looking at 530i or 540i? I KNOW 525i and 535i and M5 ALL HAVE Inline 6s!!!
What I mean for "well suited for city driving" is peppy in low gears and doesn't burn alot of gas, resulting in a lot of carbon buildup which kills the car in a short amount of time.
As for "highway driving", has a nice amount of punch to accelerate from 40 to 60 MPH in a small amount of time to merge with traffic, and can easily have an overall speed of 75 to 80 without high RPMs or stress to the engine to maintain that speed.
And what I meant for "Motorsport" driving- Capable of traveling at speeds of 100 plus MPH in high gear with a moderate amount of efficiency and has tight grip to the road for extra traction, but yet feels comfortable on a long, smooth road.
With my budget, I'm looking for a car in an okay condition and alright mileage with a good price that will last for several months until I chop it apart for a project car and replace various engine and transmission parts. I'm estimating $2,500 to $3,000 for the car, plus $5,000 or $6,500 in parts. Sure, I can get an M3 for that price tag, but either it will have high mileage, need lots of repair, and it doesn't give me the hands on experience with BMW engine and transmission rebuilds, vehicle modifications.
I can't comment on the ride question, but according to the BMW 2008 5 series brochure, the optional seats are called multi-contour seats, with 20 way adjustment. They're not referred to as sport seats.
You can order the multi-contour seats separately, without the sport package. Or, they're included if you order the sport package.
I just ordered a 535Xi, and opted for the multi-contour seats after a "test sitting" on the showroom floor where the salesman ran through all the adjustments available. I liked them much better than the sport seats in my '06 3 series.
Bruce
My last bmw was a 330i sport package which I loved but now I'm coming off of a Lexus LS and want to go back to the sportier BMW but I still want some luxury and elegance. I will cross shop with MB and others but I wanted to understand the difference between the 550 and 535. It seems to me that the 0-60 times would be very close and the mileage is better on the 6 cylinder vs the 8. What are the advantages to the higher priced 550. Luxury and comfort are important to me.
Thank you for any and all input.
As you note, the new 535 offers performance numbers similar to the 550, but to be honest, I've always thought of turbo's as something of a "crutch", maybe just that old-school "no replacement for displacement" mentality. So I'd be interested in how the driving experiences compare. The 535 is roughly 250+ lighter, always a virtue for enhancing performance, but I dare say that the 550 will exhibit that torquey V-8 feel that is tough to replicate, and can be oh-so-alluring. But will agility suffer in comparison? An extra 250 pounds out front doesn't help.
Guess I'm not helping much, just ruminating on the question I've also been considering. Luxury-wise, I'm pretty sure the models can be comparably equipped, but typically some 535 options may be standard on a 550 (I didn't specifically check), so that can tighten the price differential.
So luxury aside, can a turbo-charged 6 offer enough oomph to satisfy that V-8 lust, while offering the added bonus of less weight and a super-smooth I-6? And can I overlook my general aversion to turbo's? Sounds like you're in the market, how about posting a comparison test report? Heck, you got me thinking, maybe I should head to the dealer myself!
(As an aside, I would also consider an E-series MB, but while they are very fine cars, I don't think they have quite the sporty edge of a BMW. Perhaps more troubling, recent reliability ratings for MB's have not been all that great.)
The V8 isn't 250 pounds heavier than the I-6. That weight differential is for the whole car. The 550i comes with more standard equipment than the 535i. That's what accounts for most, if not all, of the extra weight. I'd bet the weight difference between the V8 and the twin turbo I-6 is very little. Heck, the V8 might be slightly lighter than the twin turbo I-6. But anyway, a comparably equipped 535i won't be much, if at all, lighter than a 550i. Then again, I think I read somewhere that the 550i has some more beefy structural components versus the I-6 equipped 5s. :confuse:
Have you had your E500 very long? Do you have the 7-speed? Did you happen to compare prices to a 550? (not that a few thousand matters when you're blowing $65K!) Any particular likes/dislikes? I'd say insufficient bolsters seems pretty minor if that's your only gripe.
You're certainly punching the buttons on my short list, I'm sort of biding my time since my E39 has very low miles (I now commute by train, so it just sits in the garage and depreciates), and I wouldn't mind buying either a 5-series or E-series when the body styles change in a couple of years. I was thinking V-8 since I really wouldn't drive it all that much, so mileage not a huge issue.
And after all, that's an extra 250+ pounds that is hauled around all the time. I know that's just like merely having a beefy person always riding with you in the car (ie, not really noticeable), but I am pretty big on keeping a sedan this size as much below 2 tons as possible--all in the interest of responsiveness in all respects.
Hey, I'm not saying I'm not conflicted about it! And considering all the SUV's and such driving around at well over 5000#, I guess these 5-ers are lightweights!
When I was shopping for my 3 series there was a poster named "shipo" who was an expert in BMW. Is he still around?
The 535xi I test drove had the standard seats while a 535xiT on the showroom floor had the multi-contour seats.
I honestly did not pay much attention to the standard seats, as I was concentrating on the driving, but they were comfortable. I am coming from a 3 series, and even the standard seats in the 5 series are wider and (I think) deeper, which is more comfortable for me.
The MC seats have adjustable side bolsters, but we didn't experiment much with them. I felt them getting snug as the salesman adjusted them, but don't know if they can be made as close hugging as those in my 3 series sport seats (which are narrower, and can be very snug fitting).
The MC seats have a whole host of adjustments. I especially noticed the support they could be adjusted to provide for my shoulders, neck, and head.
I did not notice turbo lag. If it's there, I did not detect it in my casual driving in low speed traffic, or when I stepped on the gas on the highway. I am only interested in AWD, so I did not factor in the extra weight in my purchase decision.
Bruce
I didn't run the pricing, but I don't think you're missing anything, you'd save a pretty good chunk of dough, and get all-wheel drive, with the ix. Even though I'm in the midwest, I'm one of about 3 people in the entire area who's not sold on all-wheel drive, I'm just not nuts about hauling around the extra weight for what?, maybe 10 really crummy snow days--but as I say, I'm in a very small minority (this is ignoring any possible diminished steering feel in an all wheel drive v. a rear drive.)
And I'm not even sure about a V-8 being "smoother", I'6's are inherently the smoother engines. Sounds like back-to-back test drives are in order, although go with the 535ix if all-wheel is what you'd like. I've also read good reviews of the twin-turbo (in a 335i, I think.)
And yes, I still do see Shipo posting, put out an APB on the "maintenance" forum, maybe he'll weigh in.