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Will active steering be an option with the sport package on the new 3-series? If it isn’t there will many torqued-off 3-series buyers. If it is there will be many torqued-off 5-series buyers.
This has nothing to do with buying the biggest baddest car or where we drive. Everyone has to make turns at low speeds. Let me put it to you this way at low speeds I find AS to be like a Windows PC mouse set to its fastest speed—it’s extreme.
Kdshapiro do you work for BMW?
Why do you ask?
At first, the new 5 seemed hideous, but now kind of grows on me. Not sure though if its an enduring design...no one knows yet, of course. NO QUESTION, the handling is unmatched in this category after my test drives. Unbelieveable stability in sharp turns.
My thoughts thus far after several drives:
1) the 545 doesn't seem (significantly) more powerful than the 530. Just can't get over the relatively anemic hp ratings for the 530, though. But yes, the 530 still seemed EVEN STRONGER than the 05 RL which I've also driven, rated at 300hp.
2) Sport package seems like a two-edged sword. Clearly, IMO it "enhances" the driving experience, after the initial adjustment period. Yes, a little weird at first, but the hand-eyes adjust and ultimately translates to better responsiveness. BUT, when you go back to a "regular" car, the feeling and result is kind of dangerous. I found myself almost on the curbs...yes, you quickly re-adjust, but makes you think.
3) Still kind of apprehensive about quality/reliability, compared to acura or lexus, for example.
Totally unbiased here, just some observations and looking for some comments/responses.
As for power in the 545 (which is what I ultimately bought), I finally test drove enough 530s and 545s to convince myself I really wanted the extra power and that it was more powerful than I first thought.
The 5er is so smooth and the 545 accelerates so quietly that it was easy to underestimate how powerful it was. My wife finally convinced me. We had a 530 out for a long test drive and after about 30 minutes, I asked her what she thought. "Absolutely great car", she answered, "but it's not fast enough". Man, that's like having your wife tell you you don't drink enough beer!
I picked up my 05 545 six-speed (NAV, HUD, CWP, SP, Sat Radio) in October in Munich (think European Delivery to save five grand or so and have a ball) and my frau now says it's the most perfect car she's ever ridden in...and she is not easy to please.
Active steering: I banged a few curbs when I first started using it but it quickly becomes intuitive and I like it. Analyze your driving. If, like me, you park in a condo garage at home and a covered garage at work and live in a built up area in which you have to parallel park often than AS is a good bet. If you don't, then maybe it's not for you.
Quality/reliability: Maybe it's not up to Lexus or Acura standards but it's pretty damn good. Lexus may be perfect but, IMHO, they're also perfectly boring. Driving the 5er is exciting; not so the Lexus. I've got 3000 on mine already and can't find a thing wrong with it.
I was a little put off by the new 5er's looks but no more. I get lots of compliments. I'm getting used to total strangers coming up to me to ask about my ride.
Bottom line: I agonized over this decision for a long time (an eternity' to hear my wife hoot about it) but believe I made the absolute right choice. If I had it to do over again, the only thing I would have done differently is drink more beer in Munich.
-Paul
Actually, the last figures I saw for the 5-series revealed a drop in the US of about 2,300 cars sold. 2003 figure through november was 42,739 and figure for 2004 is 40,468. New style not as well liked as some would like to think.
Disclaimer: I own a 2001 530i.
Disclaimer: 2001 530i owner
Some of you dislike the looks of the E60 so much, you'd never buy it.. but, I would say the number of people in that subset is pretty small..
It still is the only BMW mid-size sedan, and by all accounts is a great drive.. That will sell a lot of cars, right there... I predict they will be just as popular as the E39, eventually...
regards,
kyfdx
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I've been using this quote since I got out of high school, not quite 40 years ago.
It was true in his day, it was true in mine (or at least in my salad days), and it's true now.
We all can agree that these cars are great, most people on this board drive one.
There is no doubt that the E39 is a classic automobile, the E60 is the natural evolution of the model and in due time this model will take it's place in the classic ranks.
We are all very fortunate that we have the time to debate about our very expensive toys.
Everyone have a blessed holiday season!!!
Don't look at the 530i's hp ratings on paper. BMW has been known to quote very conservative hp numbers. The Inline 6 is inherently balanced and turbine smooth. It also produces healthy amounts of torque. So when you felt the 530i quicker than the RL, you're right it probably is. But if you really want numbers, then wait until the late '05s come out with the 3.0L valvetronic I6 rated at close to 260hp.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
BMW decided to chase volume 25-30 years ago.
Each "advancement" has been resisted by the fan.
Sales increase, but each generation is less a "BMW" to the fan.
Eventually BMW will be bought out, but they will not be making "BMW"s any more.
The old geezers still driving their 2002s don't have the numbers to support a thriving car company.. so, I'm kind of glad that BMW has moved onward and upward and isn't marketing to them anymore.
Really... the majority of people griping about the E60 are E39 owners.. Most people really like the new styling..
That doesn't mean that it is attractive.. that is a personal decision.. but, all of this claptrap about it being the end of the company.. please..
regards,
kyfdx
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