By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
After many months of reading these boards, I went ahead and splurged on a titanium silver 01 530i stick w sport-premium pkg plus other goodies. Awesome car! Really enjoy pushing this car, super handling, still haven't been able to make the tires squeal around curves!
I do have 2 "minor" gripes -
could use a bit more power in the low end, car seems to have plenty of reserve power at highway speeds (here is No gal thats 80+ mph).
Also the DSC system seems to interfere with smooth launches from a standing start, car sometimes will lurch. Has anyone else experienced this?
Also have a question re oil changes, what's the oil change interval? Do I wait until the computer says oil change is required?
Thanks
I got the 530 Vs the 525 because this is my mid life crisis car.
Congrats on your new car (as well to taylort).
The oil is supposed to be changed by the service lights as part of the free scheduled maintenance. With the 5 series, the lights may not go our until 10-17K miles based on the driving style (this is also debated). According to BMW, this is fine because of the synthetic oil used, however many choose to supplement the free changes with paid ones.
Way to go!
I have had my Cosmos black 530i for just a very short while and have suddenly turned possessive about it. I have never enjoyed a car as much as this. I love the Xenon's. They literally light things up.
Waiting for it to come in seemed like an endless eternity. I wasn't able to log on to the BMW owner's club web site (I use 5.5 ms explorer and the web site didn't like that)so I would call BMW of NA with the production number only to get inaccurate info. My salesman always got it right and the dealer was best experience I've had buying a car. Again congratulations to you.
read all about it
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/e/2001/0406/e32nco_si0406_01.html
Toyota will supply 200,000 units in 2001, 800,000 units by 2003
Will mercedes be next?
I need the help of you present owners. Hope you can shed some light on the whole matter.
After saving many, (Many!) shekels, I am at the point in my life to move up in the car world. I ran across a certified '98 5 sp.manual 528I with all of the options except an integrated phone.
I am torn between it and a brand new (still untitled) 2000 Lincoln LS. I like the styling of the LS a little better, but am worried about the interior space, resale value, and driving an automatic 8 vs. a manual inline 6. To top that off, BMW has a 3.9% gig working till the end of the month. I know I could work the Lincoln dealer way down, but, still have some doubts if that is the car I want.
Anyone interested in pushing me to one side of the fence or the other?
Read the long term road test of the 2000 Lincoln LS.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/44682/article.html
All of the problems they've had with their car would be enough to turn me off of the Lincoln. And resale value on the Lincoln is going to be much worse that the BMW. Look at the used prices for the 2000 you're looking at and see what you can expect to drop off value wise immediately.
To answer your questions... the DSC will take away some of your "fun factor" when launching from a standstill...that's the computer taking over. Also note...depending on where you live, if you get stuck in snow...TURN THE DSC OFF...otherwise you will stay stuck!!!
As far as the oil change goes...I have had mine for 14 months and 11,000 miles...the computer FINALLY requested an oil change. I check the oil regularly however, just to be safe!!!
There is one other issue that I will post later in depth as a sperate topic to watch out for.
bogvly
BMW's arrive at Newark, NJ and Charleston, SC.
But, you didn't read the article, it's not toyota supplying the part, it's toyota's supplier. Maybe BMW is outsourcing their early valvetronic production.
dave
It sounds like you do not understand leasing or have been burned by a bad lease deal in the past. Leasing may not have the same tax advantages as in the past, but for many it does make sense. It also may not have anything to do with affording the car (in fact lease approval is generally more stringent).
If you change cars in less than three years, drive under the mileage limits agreed to and have good credit, leasing can be better than a five or six year loan that you will not complete. This is especially true when the leases are subsidized by the manufacturer.
One question, even with the synthetic oil now being used, does anyone recommend changing the oil at an initial 500-1000 miles to get rid of gasket cement and metal shavings that are part of the engine build?
Some manufacturers now actually recommend against this. I don't pick up the car until next week, but I'd like to be ready.
Thanks for all the good info.
Pricing - I would recommend using Auto Vantage New Car Buying Service. When I place the order for my car I was looking at both the 525 and 530. The dealer told me that the 525 would be $1700 over invoice and the 530 was $2200 over invoice. In the end I got the 530 for $2000 over invoice.
In some of the past post on this board several people have gotten the 530 for around $2000 over invoice.
If you can get the ship name (it is on the dealer order status sheet) you can go to www.wlna.com and track the ships progress. If you can't get the ship name, get the shipping date and check the schedules leaving Germany. I believe the trip is around 10 days or so to the east coast, depending on what port you car is delivered to.
** Just checked your profile and you are on west coast. Count on around 25 days transit time from Bremerhaven to the US west coast. Add another 10 days to two weeks at port and then to the delivering dealer if all goes well.
Has anyone had similar problems or hopefully a fix?
Let me know if you are interested!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
A journalist from one of the country's largest newspapers has asked us for help finding consumers who recently purchased a Lexus L430, Mercedes C class or BMW 3 series after considering a more expensive vehicle, or anyone who recently considered purchasing a luxury vehicle, but decided not to because of the economy.
If you fit this description and care to share your story, please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com and/or rpopely@tribune.com with your e-mail, phone number, city and state of residence, and a brief description of your experience. The journalist promises to keep you identity hidden at your request.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jeannine Fallon
Director of Public Relations
PLEASE NOTE: Respond by clicking on the email addresses above. Responses posted here will NOT be seen by the folks who want to hear from you. Thanks!
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
My question is, what is "Shadowline Exterior Trim"? The photos in the 2001 brochure are all inaccurrate, for example the color photos show a 528 which is not even available in 2001. Any help is appreciated!
Does anybody know of any other CD Changer, (besides BMW), that can be installed and will interface with BMW Radio/CD?
I like the speed, Nak stereo, low maintenance and comfort of the GS, but I'm hesitant to buy because the appeal of the exterior styling has worn off, the vehicle doesn't hold its value as much as the 540i (notice how both vehicles were about the same price new, but the GS is way cheaper on the used market) and I'm afraid of making the wrong decision.
I like the handling of the 540, the exterior body shape, and the steptronic shifter, but I'm hesitant to buy because the interior features are not on par with the Lexus, I'm VERY AFRAID the 540 will break down often and become a mechanical liability (in comparison to the GS), and I'm afraid of making a mistake.
It seems the 540i is hard to find used, while the GS seems to have flooded the market.
The following questions are for those of you who purchased the GS 400 or 540i after deciding between the two:
1. What was the deciding factore for you?
2. (GS Owners) do you use the E-shift? Do you think the GS' handling is too soft? Do you feel it is just a pumped up Toyota?
3. (540 owners) Did you get the steptronic? If so, how is it? Do you use it often? Is it better than the GS E-shift? Do you think the 540 is too firm? Is the ride/drive as good as everyone wants us to believe?
4. Do you think you made the right purchase?
5. Do you think your purchase was worth the price?
6. Would you buy the same car again? Would you now buy the other car? Something else?
I am so confused, but I'm happy to say I decided not to buy a SUV (not needed, but highly popular) or the Acura 3.2 TL S type (speed is there, but so is noise and cheap feel).
Thank you in advance for your replies.
I got my BMW trunk CD changer from them.. it is the same unit.. but only $369, vs dealer price of $595...
Also dealer will charge you $$$ for installation...
It is the easiest thing in the world to install yourself (basically plug and play).. just 10 minutes.. and I am also in the Bay Area, so I feel your pain about the MSRP...
Good luck and enjoy!
I purchased the changer and install kit for $400. (385+15)
The instructions weren't perfect, but I installed it in less than 55 minutes. If I had to install again I could do it in less than 15.
Works great!!!
Yup... better to get the BMW one... good guarantee to work with the existing head unit... and it's all factory equipment... again installation is REAL easy... let me know if you have questions...
Enjoy!
please mail me at bill_vellios@ibi.com
I am in a real car buying tussle as I have been partial to BMWs for years (since my parents owned a couple back in the lat 80s)and now could own one myself. However I have a relative who works for GM and therefore can get a good deal on a Saab, but the top of the line Aero model is still gonna be more than I want to pay each month. The BMW handles better but the Saab 9-5 Aero is WAY more powerful (230hp, 258 ft-lb. of torque and a huge turbocharger). Anyone else out there compare a 528 to an Aero recently? I am sure the new 530 would be a better comparison, but a new BMW is too pricy with all of the options I would need to add to it to make it comparable to the Saab.
I know BMWs hold their value well and Saabs do not but I plan to hold onto whichever car I buy for quite a while so don't much care. The Saab just comes with so many more standard features for a lot less (including the world's coolest cupholder and double sunvisors that really look cool) but a '98 5 series handles so much better at 90+mph, although the Aero gets to that speed much more quickly. The BMW has better looking interior materials I think, but they are very common here in CA whereas Saabs are not at all.
I am stressing over trying to make this decision and will basically go for the Aero if I can get lease payments to be reasonable (without a ridiculous down payment) or the BMW I found online if that aubergine color isn't too ugly.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
I live in Baltimore and sold my 528 i and bought a 540 i w/ 6 sp sports package. It is the greatest car i have ever driven. I've owned Infiniti's, a lexus and now I am on my second BMW.
Nothing in the world handles like these cars. I cannot afford to have a sedan and a Porsche, and I need a sedan for work so I feel i have thew best of both worlds. The Lexus will ride soft,
and be comfortable but it will not make you feel alive inside like the BMW. I suggest getting the 6sp, yeah itis a pain in traffic but the enjoyment derived from driving it far exceeds the headaches. I know of several 540 i for sale in Maryland.
timmartin
Furthermore, not to sound like an a-hole but I am not a fan of American cars and I will NOT pay money for a car with an automatic transmission. So an American car that only comes with auto doesn't appear on my radar. Incidentally I do realize that the Lincoln LS is getting rave reviews for handling and can be ordered with a manual, but good luck finding one of the very few manuals on any Lincoln lot. That aside I strongly prefer the European models. And only feel passionate about the BMW or Saab 9-5 Aero. The Passat is a very good car, and the redesigned 2001.5 model with the chrome and transparent headlight lenses looks very sharp. However, I have a Jetta now, had another one before it and want to step up to something a bit more grandiose. However, if neither of the cars I really want pans out I might settle for a Passat if I found a V6 version mated to a stick. Do you really think the Passat feels roomier in back than the 5 series? I never heard that before.
Right now I am just weighing the new Saab 9-5 Aero versus a used BMW 528i. Bimmer handles much better but I don't like the feel of the dog-leg shifter (throw is too long, so feels like throwing a truck stickshift). Saab is much faster and loaded with more standard features but I'm not getting the lease deal I want. Maybe I'll just put off the purchase for a while and see if Mr. Greenspan makes an unprecedented decision to lower interest rates yet again!
Anyway, thanks for the pointer. My mom really does love her Catera. And when it's clean it certainly does turn some heads.
Do you know of any "plug-in" replacement for these woofers? I want to keep the rest of the speakers and amp. Have anybody done this before? Which speaker manufacturer do you recommend. Can I replace these woofers with MB Quarts or a/d/s speakers without making any modification? Which model do you recommend?
I have limited knowledge of sound systems. The most I can do is take out the old one and replace it with a new one.
I appreciate any input. Thanks!