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http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&nod- e=&contentId=A35223-2003May9¬Found=true
Bentley buyers have on average networth of 15M.
Btw, on the Bay Area freeways, I see M5s daily, but only once have I seen a young woman behind the wheel. 99% of the times the driver was a middle aged guy (30 - 60), alone in the car.
In the price/power continuum, I believe the 530i is probably the best trade off within the 5 series line up. Here's how I would rate them (all with manual transmissions):
525i: 0-60 in roughly 7.8 seconds. Solid and adequate for the average driver.
530i: for a nominal $3-4k price increase, a noticable jump in power (0-60 in 6.5 +/- seconds) with no penalty in gas milage or insurance premiums.
540i: for $8-10k more than the 530i (including gas guzzler), more power, but not that much more performance at "legal" speeds (0-60 in 5.9+/- seconds). You have to be a torque addict or drive at 80 mph+ to take full advantiage of the 540i over 530i power. And you will pay a significant premium in insurance and gas for that privaledge.
M5: for a mere $16k more than the 540i, the ultimate performance sedan (0-60 in 4.8 seconds and handling that belies its 4,000 lb curb weight). Gas and insurance - who cares?
If you can live with the smaller 330i, its a bit more sporting than the 530i. But a small bit in my book. I'd take the added luxury, room and comfort of the 530i, equip it with a sport package, and be happy to have the best handling mid size sedan this side of the $75k M5.
I don't notice any steering superiority. Both are fantastic.
My 540i6 gets over 26 mpg cruising at 74 mph. Her's gets about 28 mpg.
Both engines are silky smooth.
No gas guzzler tax on CPO units.
Using MY2003 data...
Weight differential and distribution not that different. For manual models:
525i= 3450 lbs and 50.2/49.8
530i= 3494 lbs and 50.5/49.5
540i6= 3748 lbs and 52.1/47.9
So 540i6 weighs only 254 pounds (or 7.2 percent) more than the 530i. Front weight distribution only 1.6 percent heavier.
Then compare power (hp/torque):
525i= 184/175
530i= 224/214
540i6= 290/324
The 540i6 produces 110 lb-ft more torque than 530i!
540i6 has top speed limited to 155 mph. 525i and 530i limited to 128 mph.
540i6 comes standard with Sport Package!
Seriously, the 540i 6-speed is a phenominal car and no one I know wouldn't be proud to have it as a daily driver. But the 530i 5-speed is a big improvement in actual performance over the old 528i and significantly closes the gap for those of us who can live with a 128 mph top speed. Using my 1995 Nissan Maxima 5-speed as the benchmark, the 528i was noticably slower off the line and in the midrange. The 530i is a bit quicker all around. Of course any RWD 5-series is a superior handler than the FWD Maxima. Interestingly the Maxima SE has a 140 mph top speed but I haven't used the last 40+ mph of that range (nor on my S2000, for that matter).
My slight fear of the 540i is long term maintenance and repairs. My Maxima has 142k trouble free miles. My Nissan dealer is also a BMW dealer (VOB, Rockville Maryland). The service manager claims the BMW I6 is as dependable and durable as the Maxima's highly acclaimed V6. He also speaks well of the BMW 4.4 liter V8, but is quick to acknowledge that it is likely to require "quite a bit more" maintenance and repairs after 75-100k miles than the others. I haven't probed him on what that equates to in $ and cents, but he drives a 530i himself. Since my history has been to buy new, pay cash and keep a car for 7-9+ years, the $42k 530i seems like pretty safe bet. I know you are a CPO fan and that equation may produce different results.
As you note from weight distribution, I think we know where that extra 254 lbs. is (ie, over the front axle)-thus reduced polar moment of inertia for 530 when cornering. Also, at less than 3500 lbs., my 530 was about the same weight as my old 525, and I just think closer to 3000 than 4000 is better for a car with sporting pretensions (that's why those new Porsche SUV's are such a joke, tested weight is like 5700 lbs.!) And while the difference in mileage probably only amounts to a few hundred bucks difference in gas per year, I like the idea of a car engineered to provide performance and efficiency, contributed to by slightly higher compression ratio of 530 (10.2:1 v. 10:1).
To be sure, I have lusted after a 6-spd. box, but as I've said, I think any BMW is sporty enough without the sport package (with stiffer suspension, and those firm-riding, pothole-vulnerable low profile tires and wheels), and the 540 stick was take it or leave it with the sport package.
No doubt the eight is a torquer, although the Vanos on the 530 gives it bottom end my 525 never had. And no doubt 540 has lots more top end, but what's the fastest you've had it? Guess I'm getting old and chicken (and afraid of getting arrested!), not too many places around here to do 128 mph, much less 155. But hey, this is Golden Delicious v. Red Delicious, all very tasty!
The 4.4L engine really packs a torque punch. Across a vast RPM spread. And the HP is quite good. Plus it used a 6-speed manual with different gearing than the 530i.
The new 7 series was the first to use the revised styling cues and a recent magazine (maybe Road & Track) noted that resale values of the previous generation 7 series are actually going UP due to the poor reception of the new design. Something similar might happen with the 5 series.
The current 5 series design is arguably a classic that will look good 10 yrs from now, not sure that the same will hold for the new design.
Good/bad/indifferent design is all in the eye of the beholder but you sure seem to have snagged a nice deal......
And thanks to all who have shared their info/knowledge on the board. Going to sign on the dotted line this afternoon.
In general, the styling of the 5-series has aged well, going back to the E-12 model of the late 70s. Karmikan is right -- the current 5-series should continue to look good for a long time. Judging from your handle, it seems you know something about classic automotive design -- the big Healey 100/3000 is one of the Immortals.
Hope this helps....JL
Found some of their comments disturbing:
"Unfortunately, BMW engineers have decided that they need to be more sophisticated, and the result is less than satisfying for those who enjoy driving."
"The fussy details in the car's styling, the awkwardness of some of its controls and the imprecision in the driving experience seem to point to an unwelcome direction in BMW's evolution."
"No way could I do this in an E39: The previous 5 was simply too soft, too imprecise an instrument. The E60, on the other hand, represents a leap forward akin to the one BMW made in going from the E36 to E46 3 Series. Performance has been improved in almost every respect, sharpening and invigorating the driving experience along the way."
"Even with such a [non-Sport Pkg] setup, the E60 felt inherently sportier than the E39, thanks mainly to the lack of body roll courtesy of BMW's Active Roll Stabilization."
"[In the Sport Pkg car] body roll is reduced even further in this version, and the car's suspension provides what our notes say is 'perfect control' over all road surfaces."
"a car is still defined by the basics in the end: vehicle dynamics, comfort and quality. On those counts, the new 5 is every inch a classic BMW."
She had some issues with Active Front Steering, but came to the conclusion that "the trick is to forget that [AFS] is even there and simply drive. And although I never re-create the state of bliss that marked my first half-mile in the new E60 530i, I later manage to come to terms with [AFS], and even to miss it when it isn't there."
She appreciated larger rear seat and trunk.
Will be interesting to see how the rest of the reviews are.
brake fluid-every two years unless you track the car, in which case you should flush it at least every six month. ATE Super Blue is my brake fluid of choice.
ATF/filter- the proprietary ATF your ZF autobox uses is very expensive, so I'd change it about every 40-50 thousand miles.
Coolant- Every three years is fine, but use BMW Coolant only.
Final Drive- I change mine about every Inspection II, using a good synthetic gear oil such as Redline or Mobil 1.
Will my BMW dealer have ATE Super Blue? I assume not. If not, will the stuff they use be acceptable.
Just curious- how often do you change your oil? What oil do you use? Thanks.
As for oil, I change it at @8000 mile intervals. I have been using Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40, but I'm going to switch to Mobil 1 0W-40 at the next change as I believe that it is a better oil. Frankly, the BMW Synthetic is also a fine product. It is NOT-as some claim-re-labeled Castrol Syntec. I bought an oil extractor from Griots- http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10122 and perform the oil services myself. Let me know if I can help with any further questions.
Best regards!
I used my passport 8500 radar detector for protection. It probably saved me a speeding ticket. But I am curious. I noticed that the Ka band warning would go off whenever a CHP cruiser was in the area, even when they were not using radar. Why? (this is not a bad thing, but what was triggering the Ka warning) I usually had about a mile or so of notice. Also, there were long stretches in the desert where the x-band would go off for no reason. Why? In fact even the K-band went off (correctly) a mile or more before we passed a stationary unmanned radar speed detection sign.
I've even seen operators at EAFB using radar to target cars on highway 58 to test sensitivity...
Just look up every once in a while.
-Paul
Peak torque: occurs at 3500 rpms and the torque curve is essentially flat from 3,500 rpms all the way to 4,900 rpms.
Peak horsepower: occurs at 5900 rpms
These figures are identical to the '03 E39 530i. According to BMW NA's '03 5 Series brochure:
Peak torque: 214 lb-ft at 3500 rpms
Peak HP: 225 hp at 5900 rpms
There was only so much money for 5 Series development. The current 2.5L and 3.0L I6s are both fantastic engines. And don't forget that the 525i and 530i get both new automatic and manual transmissions. Improvements to I6s will come. Who knows, maybe there will be a 535i V8? And maybe a diesel or two in next few years?
BTW with regard to message #7007, I've noticed the same.
I thought that was extreme as well....u r not the only one here... that 18-21 mpg stinks... its almost as bad as my old nissan pathfinder.
designman -- Your avg. MPG for mixed driving is in line with what I get in my 530ia. I'm sure the main cause is losses through the slushbox on acceleration, which aren't a factor when it is locked up in top gear on the highway. I believe some of the 530i 5-sp. owners have reported better numbers in mixed driving.
I am in the middle of a lease negotiation on a 330i. I am being told that as of July 7th, BMW increased it's lease acquisition fee from $500 to $1,000. Ouch! Is this valid? For what it's worth, I am in New York State.
If anyone here knows the answer, I would greatly appreciate your help.
Best regards!
I didn't say anything about the torque curve before 3500 rpms or after 4900 rpms. But according to the printed output graph, torque is essentially flat from 3500-4900 rpms. So you get peak torque for a good portion of the total power curve.
You should look at the chart in the latest issue of Roundel. Plethora of great tech specs on the new E60!