Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
You said "If you have the sport package, the front tires are fairly wide (235's), and will pull into road grooves and dips especially as you slow down and the car's forward momentum vanishes". Please explain in more detail for me so I can understand it better. No, it has nothing to do with your writing, my brain lost a few screws at the moment.
But, these are usually sharp and distinct monentary pulls, not a gradual fade to one side as you brake.
But more likely, you've just become accustomed to the system and have grown dissatisfied with it. Audio quality has a large subjective component to it, and can vary widely on the type of music you listen to (e.g. treble-laden vocals sound much better on the system than earth-shaking rap songs). If you want to keep things "OEM," you can spring for the upgraded subs from the M5 audio option (see bmwtips.com), but if you really want to recreate symphony hall in your cabin, be prepared to spend some money and head over to an experienced mobile audio shop in your town.
Colt.
Colt.
Love driving on the autobahn, and the car, too. I will have to go drive some more.
PlasticMD
I'm thinking if I buy a car for EuroDelivery
through a dealer in ANOTHER state, and do all
paperwork thru them.
1) Since it is shipped to US, can I get it shipped to my LOCAL dealer or other place
OR it HAS TO GO to the delaer who ordered it?
2) Else I guess cross-country shipping will cost
at least $1000 isn't it? Anyone done
something like shipping or the Euro Delivery to anotehr delaer type deal?
thanks.
" We do NOT have ANY info on specs. We do NOT
have any prices from Germany. we do NOT know
when we will get. It can be late December!"
One of the local dealer says:
" Earliest we will know is September and that's when he can place order! So car can be ready in Nov-Dec timeframe! He can NOT take orders
right now bcoz they will START building the cars ONLY in Sept."
I am so surprised that everyone's info is
different and why they make such a big deal about
info being available!!!
I fully enjoyed nearly all aspects of the 5-speed, non-SP 530. The one surprise was how the steering felt. It seemed precise and responsive, but it did not have the "feel" I expected. After getting back in my Subaru, I realized that I am used to feeling every small bump in the steering wheel. I did not get this feedback in the 530.
Any comments? Would the SP make a difference? Am I just too used to an economy car feel?
My 530 should hit port July 23 or 24, so I hope to see it early August. More later.
Why would you need to ship it cross country? I looked at getting a ED car through a dealer about 350 miles away who would do it at $1,200 over ED invoice. I would have driven it back myself. But cross country???
I can speak to this because this is what I did a year ago. I was living in Texas and ordered a ED car from a dealer in NJ. I gave my salesperson a list of 4-6 dealers that were within a couple hours drive from my place where I would be willing to pick up the car. He contacted them, and one of them agreed to do the courtesy delivery for $250. This was well worth it given the savings I gained from buying from the NJ dealer.
You'll have to evaluate if it makes sense in your case.
Good luck, let us know what happens.
Best Regards,
Shipo
The only Subaru I've ever driven was a Legacy Outback, which had good steering but nowhere near as telepathic as my 530's. What model do you have?
In general, a lighter car with a rack-and-pinion layout with minimal (or no) power assistance will offer the greatest road feel (or "feedback"). Anyone who's driven a go-cart will know what I mean. On the other extreme, a heavy vehicle with a huge power-boosted recirculating ball steering setup will offer minimal road feel (e.g. a Kenworth tractor trailer).
In addition, the 5-series' refinement, noise and vibration dampening, and well-controlled ride conspire to make the car at first feel more detached from the driver than it really is. But over the past 7 months since I've had my 530, I've grown increasingly impressed with the car's capabilities, and it seems to me the steering wheel communicates surface imperfections and traction conditions perfectly.
http://www.bmwnation.com/news/2002/020719_a.html
Maybe I'm missing something, but why would a dealer do an ED courtesy delivery for a distant dealer? Wouldn't they rather sell the car itself? (Presumably the buyer would have given them the chance, since they're close by.) It doesn't come out of their allocation, so why not cut a deal and get the sale?
I guess this is a rhetorical question... my local dealer (Kelly BMW in Columbus, OH) wouldn't BUDGE on ED price. Maybe they don't see the bigger picture, here...!
Anyway, then I contacted my local dealers, and asked them what they could do for me. Checked with three different dealers. Each of them said that buying through ED was great since I could save about 7% off MSRP. Told them I already knew that, and asked them what they could do for me that was better than the published ED MSRP. That's when I got a bunch of ifs, ands, buts, and general sales BS. Told them that they would lose my business if they wouldn't give me a straight-up deal up-front. Since none of them could deliver, and were insistent on talk and playing games, I simply decided to go elsewhere.
Funny thing is that when I went to pick up the car, the saleswoman asked me why I didn't do the deal with them. Wake up darlin! Ya had yer chance and blew it!
chesdin4, platypus, and others:
I've been thinking of doing what you've done, doing ED through a non-local dealer. Can you comment on your experiences when you needed service from your local dealers? Do they treat you poorly because you didn't buy from them? This is the only thing that concerns me about doing ED through a non-local dealer.
Thanks.
When I bought my 330 through ED last year, the local TX dealers were using the service argument as a reason to buy from them, "hinting" that I would receive preferential treatment. I knew I was moving back to CA at the time, and told them that their argument carried no weight with me.
Since I've been back in CA, my local dealer has treated me just like any other customer. I can get a loaner car, but I have to make the appointment early.
I would give your local dealer a chance to make the sale. There is probably some premium worth paying to them, but only you can decide what that premium is. In the end, don't be afraid to go elsewhere!
slaes person : What do you think.
Myself: Love it.
SP: What can we do for you
M: This what I wann't to pay (basically 1500 over European invoice).
SP: Let me talk to my manager two minutes go by, SP comes back and says it's yours.
Had a great experience at both my dealership here and taking the ED on 7/3/02. Also, I payed only 2 and a half weeks in advance.
Musafir
Another factor could be that German roads have fewer bumps to feel than American ones. I will have a better comparison when I drive the same roads I drive every day.
I certainly enjoyed the car while I had it. With more experience, I will no doubt become more used to a larger, refined sedan than something closer to the go-cart scale.
I can think of at least two things that will keep them honest: a) the mfr's service surveys that go out to the customer asking how things went, and b) service business is quite the profit center for any dealer, for warranty work as well as customer-pay.
Finally, I think all the dealer can see in the system is where the car was purchased. Who's to say you didn't actually LIVE elsewhere when you bought the car...!
Just wanted to share my experience so far with my
new 530i 5-speed (non-sport). I have had the car for about two weeks now and driven close to 900 miles. The very first impression (I had written earlier) was a solid, sturdy much bigger (than my integra) car. Also, little demanding manyal tranny with a pretty long clutch.
Then, in the meantime, I have gotten used to these and have taken it to some really nice, hilly, winding roads in bay area (posted speed limits ranging from 25 mph to 55 mph). I wouldn't say, I have driven the car "hard" yet!
But, yes, now I am starting to see the real "bmw" :
- As much big and heavy as the car feels normally, that much nimble and agile it feels, on those winding roads. It is really unbelievable, unless you experience it yourself
- Enough passing power in practically ANY rpm
- I find the steering extremely precise - (with just enough assist)
- And of course, cruising at 80/90 is only the most natural thing that can happen to the car - without a bit of shakeing or vibration.
And, then not to mention about the comfort of the seats (I have lumbar) - I never feel the journey, I only enjoy it!
Even though I had lot of second thoughts about having the SP (after I had put the order without it), I have not really missed it yet. May be once I cross the break-in and drive much more harder, I will feel the need for the SP.
Nevertheless, it's a great experience to drive this car - Wanted to share it in this forum. I really enjoy reading the viewpoints expressed here.
thanks
After posting all the great things about my experience so far, here are couple of things which I feel were not as "fully refined" as everything else in the car:
- The transmission shift from 2nd-to-3rd does NOT feel as smooth and refined as that from let's say 3rd-to-4th. Now, is this what everybody feels? I showed it to the dealer. The service person took for a test drive and said it is absolutely normal and smooth!
- Very occasionally, while pressing the clutch, I hear a minute clicking noise, about half way through. When I went to the dealer this morning, (as murphy's law suggests), it wasn't there!
Do let me know if you have similar view / experiences.
Thanks.
Thanks for the response. I think, the clutch clicking noise comes only when I happen to press it, such that there is slightly "sidewise" pressure (instead of being fully vertical).
Otherwise, yes, I am getting used to the transmission. It's fun!
Even, I would not like to make any changes to the factory setting of the clutch...
The story on the Euro-spec cars shows the 9 engine choices for Euro-spec 5 Series. Too bad USA has so few choices!
2.2L I-6 (520i)
2.0L I-6 diesel (520d)
2.5L I-6 (525i)
2.5L I-6 diesel (525d)
3.0L I-6 (530i)
3.0L I-6 diesel (530d)
3.5L (535i)
4.4L V-8 (540i)
4.9L V-8 (M5)
My first car was a 1972 MBZ 220D (auto tranny) that was a hand-me down from the folks. It had 220k miles and was on its second engine. Built like a tank, it accelerated like a turtle. Although I never timed it, I would guess that 0-60 was somewhere in the 12-14 second range.
We used to call it the "downhill car." You'd have to be going downhill for it to reach speed.
One thing I loved about it though - its rigidity. Once I was rear-ended by a Toyota 4x4. I had a slight indentation on the trunk and no visible damage to the rear bumper. The Toyota's front bumper, OTOH, was severly bent and was left dangling from the truck.
I can only imgaine what it would be like with a 300 diesel. 1.9 TDI in Golf and Passat, and A4 are the ones flying down on the autobahn.
While 520d will go 0-62 mph in 10.6 seconds, it gets 39 mpg on Euro-cycle. 128 mph top speed. If fuel was $4-6/gallon as it can be in Europe, the 520d makes a lot of sense. The 530d gets only 32.6 mpg and the 525d gets 34.1 mpg.
The 520d is also the "greenest engine". Chart shows the 520d engine as having the lowest C02 emissions (grams/km) of all 9 engines
I was surprised at how long the throws were on the shift. IMHO, It takes away from the tight feel of the car
I first drove a 530i sport/auto. It was very nice. Much more powerful than my car especially at lower RPM's. Handling was a bit less crisp, especially at turn in, but still very impressive. Nice fat steering wheel felt nice in my hands. Seat bolsters were tighter on the ribs but softer on the thighs compared to the 3's sport seats. More headroom, even with a sunroof. My first hard driving experience with the step. In sport mode it held the gears nicely when letting off at 5 - 6,000 rpm. I'm still a manual transmission guy, but the step was very nice for an auto.
Then I drove the X5 4.4i. In the first big set of turns I kind of forgot I was in an SUV and had all of the electronic gizmos kicking in. It wasn't a 530 or even a 323, but it did handle nicely once I slowed down a bit. The all-season Michelins certainly were not the Z rated rubber I'm used to. I expected more raw power from the 4.4L V8, but I'm sure the SUV is geared differently than a sedan and it's certainly much heavier. For near the same money, I'd take a 330ci and a Toyota RAV 4 for the snow days.
Great fun, great cars - thanks BMW!
Other choice (for now) is '95 530i with 90K on it. I have heard something about how the 8-cyl. engines in this model year (or was it '94?) were having problems with cracking cylinder sleeves or something. True? Wrong model/year? Urban myth?
I'm not an enthusiast or anything; is the gas mileage/performance tradeoff worth it for the 530i? Anything else I should know about these models for this year that you know of? Thanks!
I am a little confused about the tire pressures on my 530i. There are two columns in the owner's manual page - one with four passengers and one with 5 passengers (and cargo).
For the 225/55R16 tires on my (non-sport) 530i,
the first column (with 4 passengers) is empty. Does that mean that I need to follow the second column's number always (33 psi on front and 41 psi on the rear).
Would appreciate any clarifications.
thanks.
www.530i.org has detailed information on how to tell whether the car has the replacement block or not, and etc.
Yes, it is a quiet car, compared with, say, the 330i. It's very welcome on long drives, believe me. But if you want a louder reminder of what you're driving, just take a handy screwdriver and spear it through your muffler.
As for the throws, many have installed the Rogue Engineering short shifter kit, sometimes along with the weighted selector rod.
I was not able to get any explanation why BMW recommends this only for outside of US.