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
Search at google.com for:
bmw european delivery payment "30 days"
and you will see a bunch of sites noting payment is due 30 days in advance.
Colt.
1) the straight automatic transmission in the 540A non sport "adapts" to your driving style. already the shift points seem higher, more like where i want them to be.
2) there appears to be a "hidden" sport mode. although not labeled as such, the owner's manual says that position "4" on the transmission is actually a "sport" setting. I tried it this morning on the way to work and there was a noticeable, positive difference throughout the speed range. There is also a noticeable negative difference in fuel mileage since the shift points are higher throughout the range and it does not go into overdrive. But for most around town driving, it suits me better. I was surprised because in most other cars, "4" would simply mean "non overdrive" mode.
After 1.5 weeks, I am very happy with the 540 non-sport, auto. The power is really great and the comfort and convenience around a city are also nice.
For those debating sport vs. non sport, both are great. However, despite not getting the sport version, I feel the day-day handling of the 540 is sufficiently better than my '92 911. Reason: because the suspension stays glued to rough roads much better and the front-rear balance is also much better. In retrospect, I wish I had traded the Porsche a couple of years ago; different missions, but this is all around a much nicer car for the money.
Colt.
Colt.
When a person finances the car through a conventional loan, you make your first payment is in fact one month prior to the ED delivery, which in my mind means that the incept date of the loan was actually 2 months before the ED delivery. Yes, no?
Colt007,
Yes, Mr. Muscles and I went to lunch together last Wednesday; he told me that he was about 345 lbs at the time. Good news, he fit just fine in the Sport Seats of my 530i, with the passengers seat all of the way back that is. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Hopefully this helps.
Make darn sure to take a sufficient test drive of one without the Sport Package. You and you alone will know what you want, expect, and need. If the Sport Pkg ride isn't for you, only a test drive will tell you if the non-Sport is right. But make sure to test both over sufficient road surfaces. A 15 minute 10 mile test is NOT sufficient. Heck, I don't think a 1 hour 65 mile trip is sufficient. Test as much as they'll let you!
Think most people at this board are enthusiasts. Enthusiasts who are looking for better acceleration, braking, and handling. Enthusiasts tend to prefer a more aggressive, harder ride. Want control and to be in control; Must know what is going on and what one is riding on. Thus most prefer the Sport Pkg. That includes me.
But while I love my 540i6's ride and handling with its standard Sport Pkg, I also thoroughly enjoy my wife's 323iA non-Sport. I just wouldn't buy her's if it was for me. If I'm buying, it has to have the Sport Pkg. But I can both tolerate and enjoy it.
So, get what really meets your wants, expectations, and needs. 'cause if you ain't happy, you'll regret it.
Despite my love, I certainly get a reminder of the SP's harshness over sharp road imperfections. I've therefore learned to slow way down for speed bumps, unavoidable potholes, etc., and have found this greatly alleviates the stiff SP setup. And my fiancee, who's about the last person in the world to appreciate a stiff ride, has never complained about it and generally enjoys riding around with me (she's irked only by my occasionally throttle-happy and let's-test-the-tires'-limits maneuvers).
I think that I had to crank my jaw back into place after that one. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
sport suspension. I have a friend two doors down from me who has a 530IA with non-sport.
I drive his car and he drives mine. It turns out that the last few times he would rather drive
mine so we alternate and that means I have to drive his. The seats in his are not as accommodating
the steering wheel is no where as nice, the look is not as good. Believe it or not the ride
is NOT better. I much prefer my car to his and he has told me he would rather drive mine.
I love the steptronic in "manual" mode. I know the real manual would be a kick but I am totally
satisfied with this one. If I lived out of CA I might have to consider getting the Non-sport
to avoid the hassle of rims and snow tires but that's another story.... ; )
530I with SP and without. It seems to me that it all comes down to the
tires, a high performance tire probably has a harder ride than a Grand
Touring design such as the Michelin Pilot Primacy. My ride is excellent.
I can not complain at all, and I do drive some pretty awful roads with
pot holes and irregularities. What do you all think out there? Also, the
tire pressure does have something to do with ride quality, eh?
The varying degree to which people enjoy (or complain about) the car's ride are mostly due, in my humble opinion, to A) personal tastes and preferences, and
well. I hadn't even thought about profile issues and sidewall construction. Thanks a lot.
I've narrowed the colors down to sterling gray and toledo blue. The options that I would like are: sp, pp, xenons, fold-down rear seats
I'm contimplating the nav system if it is dvd-based- any thoughts on this as well?
As always, thanks in advance!
BTW: The current Nav is CD based- possible upgrade to DVD for 2003?
Best Regards,
Shipo
Nav: I highly recommend you go to your dealer and ask to test one out (even sitting inside the dealership floor). Then, if you want to see how a good one operates, head over to your local Acura or Lexus dealer and try one of their systems. Much more intuitive interface, plus with touch-screen inputs instead of the annoying single BMW knob. Plus, they're DVD-based and hold a lot more information (plus they don't require swaps for different regions of the country). But, if you drive a lot in areas you're not familiar with, or get lost easily, or just love gadgets regardless of their ease-of-use, you may enjoy it.
I have tested the Lexus and Acura nav systems and they are unbelievable but I assumed the 2003 bimmer's would have a dvd-based system. I'm not going to spend $1800 on the "knob" outdated cd-based current nav system... Snagiel, what color is the interior of your toledo blue 5?
Did anyone else go to the BMWCCA meeting on 6/15 at BMW NA HQ?
nyca, I'm curious, do you remember any other changes for '03?
Cleaning supplies: Feel free to peruse my cleaning supply inventory at http://members.roadfly.com/snagiel/Cleaning.xls.
Then we tour a bit, seeing Munich, Salzburg, Fussen and southern Bavaria, Oberkirch and the Black Forest, Reims, and Paris.
Thanks for the discussion on this board. Special thanks to shipo who recommended a dealer as I was getting frustrated with one who would not negotiate on ED.
I'll let you know how my Buick^H^H^H^H^H non-sport 530 handles roads that will challenge it more than most places I'll drive back in central NJ.
-Bob D.
Colt.
do send ur experience (especially, handling) with
ur non-sport 530i. i will be interested definitely,
since i am getting mine sometime in july 2nd week,
here in bay area.
have fun.
- DVD nav
- rear head protection system
- new wheels for the 540 sport pkg (the old E38 740 sport wheels)
- a new "M look" package for the 540
- an external input interface on the head unit for an external player
- stoptech brakes (maybe, I head this will be on the 03 X5 for sure, not sure for the E39).
- sunroof standard, not part of PP
Also, I'm now seeing some stories that the E60 will be available in June 2003 as opposed to September.
Sounds like your prediction is correct and I'll be buying a new set of winter wheels.
Before I contribute to yet another great year for tirerack.com, does anyone know of a reasonable method of retrofitting these rims onto a 530i, or should I just give it up and buy new ones? Assuming the latter, does anyone have a strong opinion on the best snow tire available these days? I used Blizzak LM-22 225/50/16's on the '3' and they worked pretty well, but the last two winters have been pretty mild and we're due for some real snow in the next year or so, so I won't be skimping on this purchase.
As for my upcoming transition from a 323i to a 530i, the Owner's Circle indicated that my baby (Oxford Grn w/ Stone Gr/Blk interior, SP/PP/CWP/DSP/Xenon/shade) was "born" Wednesday last week, but it's been showing as "produced, not shipped" since. Arrghh! Let's get it on the boat, boys -- doncha know I'm going crazy here? On the other hand, I'm happy to report that I sold the 323i to a private party, who's willing to wait until the 530i shows up to consummate the transaction. No cheesy Mazda rentals for me this time! Life is good...
I did ED in May. My 5-sp non-sp 530i Toledo was a dream over old European roads. Plus, the ride was NOT Buick like AT ALL!
I stayed in the fast lane the entire 1460 mile trip and my non-sp was great. My comfort seats were awesome and I had very little if any back or muscle fatigue (Munich->Lake Como Italy->Milan->Parma->Florence->Pisa->Bologna->Venice->Munich->Frankfurt all in 7 days).
They only advantage I would have with the SP on the trip was speeds over 115 MPH. The non-sp tended to get a little "floaty"... and at the governor limited 128 MPH it was very floaty. But how often will we go that fast here in the US?
This car is still the best handling thing I've ever been in at those speeds.
I do not believe that the SP is a make or break. Much less something that turns the 530i into a Buick. Gimmie a break.
I put the $$ saved from the SP into the comfort seats. Comforts seats are amazingly sublime!!!! If anything can make or break the car's essence... it has got to be those comfort seats.
Patelli
tia,
metmdx
1) Anyone out there spend a good deal of time driving both of these cars? Considering purchasing a '00 or '01 540i when the lease runs out on my A6 2.7T. Tough to tell real differences with the teeny 1 mile loop test drive here in Central NJ. HELP!
2) My friend living overseas insists that I can pick up a pre-owned 540i from Germany for significantly less cash (even when factoring in the emmissions changes, etc.) than one would cost here. I don't believe that this is true. What up?
Have lots of fun on your trip, the ED thing makes a European trip so much more special than a hop over the pond and a rented Fiat Uno Diesel. ;-)
Musher2,
Bummer on the wheel thing. :-( You might want to talk to somebody at your local machine shop, they might well be able to enlarge the center bore to fit your new 5er.
As for your new baby, check http://www.wlna.com and see if you can check its status, you might find that it is already on a ship.
Best Regards,
Shipo
A6 2.7T: You already own one, so I'm sure you're a much better judge of what's good and not good about it, but I test drove the 2.7T (the dealer only had an automatic to test drive) against my 530 last fall. I found the turbo powerplant very powerful (although its delivery was less linear than the 530i's), and the interior detailing was incredible. But I thought the ride wasn't as composed as the 530i sport's, and the steering was more vague. Not bad, of course, but simply not as scalpel-like as the 530's. And when I saw Consumer Reports' numbers about the A6's poor reliability, I scratched it off my list.
German pre-owned 540: Unless you're talking about a US-spec car that belonged to some military or diplomat over in Germany (and you have these credentials as well), I highly doubt such a transaction is possible. If you intend to drive the car here, it has to be a US-spec car, otherwise it's legally not permitted to drive on public US roads. And, of course, you wouldn't be covered by any BMW warranty. In my opinion, this isn't possible or even desireable.