BMW 5-Series Sedans

crete

I'm also in the bay area and I'm looking to purchase a 2003 540ia soon. Could you recommend a good honest BMW dealer in the bay area. I've been to Allison in Mountain View so far.

mseals

Thanks for the input. Do you know of anything about the car that I should be looking into or look out for. I am so excited that it is a stick. That is one of the things that I hate about American cars, some are pretty cool cars and they are reasonably price but don't come with a stick on the larger engines. Two that come to mind are the Pontiac Grand Am GT and Grand Prix GTP. Both good cars for the money, solid, quiet and economical. But you must let the car shift for you. My girlfriend is looking at a particular 2000 Grand Am GT with 21k miles on it. I test drove it last night and it was solid, extremely quiet and needless to say, I was very impressed. Now will it feel that way in about 3 to 4 years who is to say, but for $12,500 it was a really nice car. Oh, by the way, she is getting it with every option except leather which she really didn't want anyway. I guess a week to wait isn't bad, it just seems like a long time since I got the loan on Monday and I probably won't get the car until the middle of next week. I would mind if I had the car in my garage and I could just look at it and go over the owners manual.

mseals

Oh, I forgot to mention, that they guy I am buying the car from paid for to overnight Fed Ex the certified check to them, and for them to overnight Fed Ex the release of lien back to my bank. Then he talked to them and they told him 5 buisiness days at the least. That means next Wednesday and they better not miss spell my name. Fortunately, I think all they have to do now that I think of it is produce a release of lien paperwork.

snagiel

I don't live in that area, but I've heard some horror stories about BMW of San Francisco (at least with respect to their service department; sales may be OK).

chrism124

I drive 20-25k miles/year for business and last year decided to lease a 02 530iA. I did look at the X5 but felt the sedan was the better choice. One benefit with the X5 is the All Wheel Drive system. Nice to have but with a good set of snow tires the 530 will be fine for winter driving.

I ordered my car w/o the Sport Pkg and with the Steptronic. My mistake was that I didn't conduct enough research before ordering. dzuba, do yourself a favor and test drive as many variations as possible before making a decision. If I buy another BMW it will have the Sport Pkg and manual transmission. I will also recommend that you order the Xenon headlights.

Chris

dzuba

Thanks Chris, - I am most likely going with a CPO or possibly new 530, Premium, Cold, Xenon, and Yes the Sport package - with a Manual!! If you don't mind - did you get a good deal on the lease and what are your payments like? Especially at 20K miles per year?

dabimmer

Sorry, I'm only familiar with BMW of San Francisco and Peter Pan BMW in San Mateo.
I don't have much first hand knowledge of either, even though I've dealt with both
of them I have been treated very well and they did what they were supposed to do.
Nothing negative about either. I'm sure there are good ones south of us in Palo Alto and Mountain View. If I hear anything I will post here.

habitat1

SergeyM - I would use the BMW performance numbers as a very accurate estimate of the relative difference between various models. The various auto magazines are all over the place in how they test their cars and under what conditions. A 0-60 time in one may be significantly different than another magazine. I seriously doubt that a 740i could ever match a 540iA in acceleration as your magazine numbers suggest.

dzuba: I think you are heading towards a very good choice. I have driven virtually every BMW out there, with a few exceptions. The 530i 5-speed gets my vote for most impressive improvement. It split the difference between the 540i and former 528i. As a former 540i 6-speed owner, I would have been very tempted to go with a 530i 5-speed, had it been available in 2000. I like its lighter weight and slightly better balance and steering. The 528i was a bit underpowered, but the 530i is not, IMO.

If you want another bit of advice, find a BMW dealer willing to discount a European Delivery car. A friend has ordered a 2003 530i 5-speed with premium, sport, xenon, HK stereo, etc.. I believe his price, based upon $1,400 over ED invoice, is right around $42k. I can get the exact figure, if you are interested. He's taking his wife and kids to Germany in January and estimates the trip will cost him under $2k, thanks to the airfare discounts being offered now.

joatmon

Mark,

Find a good BMW dealer and/or mechanic. I think you'll be amazed at how long these vehicles will stay tight, quiet, and enjoyable. However, they are designed to have routine maintenance, which is expensive compared to other brands. But, if you drive it 4, 6, 8, or 10 years instead of trading every year or two because you're "tired" of it, a BMW is a good value. There's always a good market for well maintained and cared for older BMWs.

You also have the newer body style which many believe is a looker, destined to become a classic.

Remember: Maintain, Wash, Drive, and Enjoy,

Jack

mseals

Thanks for the insight, I will check out Erhard BMW for maintenance first. They are the closest to me at (15 miles) and they are close to my job (5 miles). I am glad you brought up washing. I am not sure where you live, but in Michigan during the winter months I try not to go more than a week with out a car wash when they start to through salt down on the roads. You get that salty white crud on your car and it can build up and cause premature rusting if not taken car of. I am sure it will also start to eat away at a cars finish as well. I currently have a 2000 Honda Civic Si and I got it washed at least once a week. From afar the car looks immaculate and even up clost when it is clean it still looks like new, but upon real close inspection you can see swirl marks from the car washes that I have gone to. I only went to a gas station one once and that was an emergency but I will never to that again. That is the one that caused the most swirl marks, but I feel that even the soft cloth washes that are $2-5 aren't doing the greatest job, but after two years I felt that damage was done so I just got the car detailed each year and kept getting the $5 wash, wax and polish once a week. I guess after all of that, my question is, what should I do about washing the car? Should I go to the really expensive $7-10 car washes, are they really worth it, Washing it myself is fine in the summer, but not really possible in the winter since I couldn't dry it before stuff started to freeze. Please help me out with any possible advice. Anyoen who lives in the colder climates can chime in with their advice too, all would be appreciated.

dzuba

When the 528 came out, I am betting it had all the glory and praise (or at least close) that the current 530 has. That being said, do people really only say it is underpowered because they think it is, or because it seems underpowered in comparison to the 530. Back in 1998, did reviews say the 528 was underpowered? I would bet a 528 Sport/Manual driven by someone that knows a clutch could keep pace with a 530 Auto!

I am having a bit of trouble finding my ideal CPO 530, and want to buy from the dealer up the street for support (the next closest is 45 miles away), and I am in no hurry either so I will find the one I want - just considering a 2000 528 as they are easier to find, and do cost less!

mseals

I am in the middle of purchasing a 1998 528i with a 5sp. According to most mags tests I have read, the 0-60 ranges from 7.0 - 7.3 sec. That I think is faster than the 530iA by a little bit if I am correct. I have heard 530i 5sp can do 0-60 in the upper 6's so that would make me believe that the 528i 5sp is faster than the 530iA.

snagiel

I've driven a 528, and I found its power much closer to a 530 than to a 525 (which, in its own right, wasn't far behind). Since the torque on the 528 is close to the 530's, its lower HP rating is less perceptible. In real terms, it's probably the difference of carrying around a 200-pound passenger.

multiplechoice

As much as I like to look at acceleration stats, my feeling is that the real world acceleration is more important on a daily driver. I used to have a '97 528ia. It was the wife's daily driver. While she liked the car, she felt it was a bit "weak". (Her previous car was a '94 Volvo 850 turbo.) Now that she has driven my '02 540ia a few times, she has no complaints about the power. My point is that the "mid-range" response/accelation is more important to me than the standing start acceleration. The 0-60 times does corelate to some degree to the mid-range response. But the available torque seems to be a better measure of this. Just my 2 cents:). By the way, if you want to look at the owner's manual for the 5 series. Go to the BMW website. You may be able to register as an owner and have access to the on-line owner manual for the 5.

mseals

multiplechioice, I totally agree with you about real driving is different from the 0-60 times you see in car mags. One of the better times in mags are the 30-50 and 50-70 times although most people don't have a base line to tell what are good times and what are not. I for one would relish a slightly slower car off the line. I hope this will help me from getting in trouble with the law. My 98 528i 5sp seems to be a lot different from my other car, a 00 Civic Si. The Civic jumps off the line if revved hard and the acceleration is like a very steep curve, 0-60 times are in the 7.2-5 range. The 528i is in the same ball park, the difference is really at speed. My Civic requires a downshift if you really want to do anything 30-50 and is marginally better 50-70. The 528i is good 30-50 but very fast 50-70 with no downshifting. It is also deceptively fast since you are so isolated from road and engine noise. My Civic on the other hand is deceptively quick because of the lack of torque that is pushed down to the wheels. It is really weird to watch the spedometer while accelerating hard, you see the needle sweeping up, but you don't really feel like your are getting pushed back in you seat. The next thing you know, you are doing 70-80 and you need to tone it down. The main indicator of speed is that the engine is very loud due to the close ratio gears. At 80 mph the engine in my Civic is running around 4200 rpms. I hope my 528 is nowhere near that high.

snagiel

This is a very good discussion. I agree that 0-60 shouldn't be the only indicative metric of a car's power and/or accelerative performance. But, for better or for worse, it's the most often used benchmark.

You know, this reminds me of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has become the most looked-at market indicator. Of course, there's little logic in it, since the S&P 500--or better yet the Wilshire 5000--are far better indicators of the whole market. But the DJIA has historically been a leading indicator, and has just become more so over the years. In an ironic twist of self-fulfilling prophecy, the 30 companies which comprise the DJIA have been shuffled around through the years to more closely mirror the market. Intel? Microsoft? Wal-Mart? AMEX? These are "industrial" companies?

In similar fashion, cognizant of the 0-60 importance (not that this is a new thing), auto makers often tune gearing and power output bands to trim the 0-60 figure. Notice how many manuals (and probably automatics as well) redline in second gear soon after 60 MPH?

While I agree 30-50 and 50-70 times are valuable in painting a more thorough picture of a car's capabilities, these times also measure flexibility and are therefore nowhere near as comparable as 0-60 times. First, manuals and automatics cannot be compared at all, since manuals must stay in the top gear, and autos immediately downshift when floored. Second, even among manuals, top-end gear ratios vary quite a bit, so a powerful car geared highly for better fuel economy at cruising speed may suffer a slower 50-70 top-gear time than a less-powerful equivalent car with shorter gearing. It gets complicated to take all these factors into account, so they are often neglected by those seeking a quick metric for the age-old question, "what'll she do?"

ab60190

I have purchased cars from both Allison BMW in Mountain View and Steven's Creek BMW in San Jose. They are both competent and willing to provide a decent deal if pushed hard enough. The two cars I have purchased were at $1500 and $500 over invoice. Neither is a great dealer in terms of responsiveness and general customer care, but they are adequate. If you go to Allison, ask for Lonnie - he is the internet sales manager.

mseals

You are right about so many variables being present in the testing of 30-50 and 50-70 among autos and manuals. The only really way to know in my opinion is to drive the car for myself and see if it is acceptible to me. In the end, that is all that matters. Before I bought my 2000 Honda Civic Si, many people told me that the torque was too low and that it would hurt the driving characteristics of the car. They said that the engine had to rev too high at 70+ so there must be a lot of engine noise.

I tested the car for myself, it is plenty quick enough (0-60 in about 7.2) and since it only comes in a stick, my 30-50 times and my 50-70 times are good because I just downshift, no big deal. To things that I hope happen with my new car (528i) is that I don't have to shift as much, and that at highway speeds the engine isn't as loud or revving as high.

hssahu

snagiel and dabimmer,
Thanks for the info. I have never used snow tires before (in my integra). But then also, I never had driven a RWD car. So, I am most concerned about that.

So, dabimmer, you are saying that you go to Tahoe with the all-season tires? Do you have the exact Pilot MXM4 (the stock that comes with non-sp 530i).

The other thing is can I use snow-chains on my 530i? Or can I avoid that I put the snow-tires?

Please do share you experiences.

hssahu

I bought my car from Claridge's in Fremont. I wouldn't say that the expience with the sales dept is too great. But, it's OK. I got 1600 off MSRP. (I feel I didn't push too hard). I have been to the service dept a couple of times (to top off the oil level etc.). I found them to be OK again!

I have heard from couple of my friends about Eastbay bmw in pleasanton is good!

mseals

I didn't even think about it, but my car doesn't have the maintenance included so if my oil gets low, I can't just got take it in to have it topped off. Can I purchase the BMW oil from their service department? Please let me know, I just found out that there is another Erhard BMW closer to my job that the original one which makes is very easy for me to go there on lunch or whenever. It is about 3 miles away.

dabimmer

You can put snow chains on your non-sport BMW. But, even if you have Snow Tires on
the car when you venture up if you are caught in a "white out" you may still be required
to put on CHAINS !!! in addition to the snow tires. Last snow season my son was required to
put on chains to go about 4 miles even though he was in the X5 with the all wheel drive and
the big knobby tires ( not snow tires).
I have the sport suspension with the low profile 17 inch Michelin Pilot Primacy tires which
are not of any use in deep snow. If you are caught in a snowstorm and this is the tire you
have, extra care is required to negotiate but it can be done. Since you can't put chains on
these tires you take a big chance going to the mountains, so far it hasn't been a problem but
I would never go up if a lot of snow was expected.
Hope these comments help.

snagiel

Aside from the Castrol synthetic blend made special for BMW, BMW also considers Valvoline SynPower, Mobil 1, and off-the-shelf Castrol Syntec, all in 5W-30 weight, to be acceptible substitutes. But, yes, dealers will sell you the proprietary Castrol stuff, and in fact it's cheaper (around $4.50 a quart with an BMWCCA card at most places) than the other brands.

habitat1

I have (still) a 1995 Nissan Maxima SE 5-speed. I considered trading in 2000 for a 528i 5-speed and again last fall for a 530i sport 5-speed. I test drove both cars extensively on more than one occassion.

Using the Nissan Maxima as a benchmark, the 528i was a notch or two slower and the 530i a notch quicker in acceleration. That's a big difference in my book. Although I am sure I would have been happy with the 528i even though it would have been a bit slower than my Maxima, the 530i requires no such compromise.

Even though I kept my Maxima last fall and got a Honda S2000 instead, I know that the 5-series is in my future. If it were today, a 530i 5-speed sport would be just about perfect. Back in 2000, I might have felt the need to spend the extra for the 540i 6-speed.

dzuba

Interesting that you should bring that up, as I currently drive a 98 Maxima GLE at 190HP! I know the 530 will be quite a bit quicker, but need to test drive a 528 Manual/Sport to guage that! If the 528 is slower than my current Maxima, I will most likely not get it!

mseals

Dzuba, I am in the process of buying a 528i with 5sp and I can tell you right now, it is slower than a 98 Maxima. That being said, once on the freeway all bets are off. The Maxima is quicker off the line because of weight and weight alone. Once moving the BMW is geared better for freeway. The 530 is a different story, it is much quicker, almost a second, than the 528, but you have to consider that it is really gaining more HP advantage than torque advantage. HP jumped considerably (35hp) while torque only went up a little (8 ft/lb) and you know what they say, torque may sell cars but hp makes you go faster.

mseals

Snagiel, thanks for the info on oils. Also is it possible to go get the oil change at someplace other than the dealership? I am not talking about a quicky lube, but I have taken all my cars for the past 6 years to precision tune near my house. They are family owned and all the mechanics are ASE certified. I don't expect them to do anything but oil changes, any really work I take to the dealership since the last 5 years I have always driven leased or new cars. I want to really take car of this car since it has only been serviced at the dealership up to this point. They showed all the service records and the car is immaculately maintained. I want to continue that so that the car will last for a minimum of 5 years. I think at that point I will sell it or trade it in for a new BMW.

dabimmer

Interesting that you should mention the owner's manual available on the BMWUSA
site. When I purchased my bimmer early in 2001 I went to the site and downloaded
to my computer the PDF version of the entire manual. This way if I have a question
concerning the car I could easily reference it on my computer. It saves a lot of time
and of course it is invaluable when the car is new and you have so many,many questions.
Now that I am an old hand at this ownership I don't go there as often but I like to keep it
on the computer for quick reference. Thanks for the reminder. I used it recently to
change the clock back one hour.

dzuba

What is it, and on a used BMW (Private seller so not CPO) - why would I want it? Curious!

multiplechoice

If you are looking for the best prices for a 540i and you are not in a hurry to get the car, ED(european delivery) can save you quite a bit of money. Seems like most dealers only give $1000 off of MSRP on the 540i.

srfast

reduces the "throw distance" between gears in a manual trans. Most factory shifters including BMW require your move the shifter a long distance to select the next gear. Using a SSK reduces this distance enabling you to change gears quicker. I currently own a 1993 325i with Sport Package, Dinan chip & exhaust system, etc. and installed a SSK in 1994 and that is one of the first mods I am going to do on my 2003 530i. I could not live with a factory shifter for more than a few weeks after my 325i and racing sports cars for the past eight years. BTW, UUC is just one of many companies that make SSKs. There are many opinions of which is best, but it comes down to personal preference.

Hope this helps....JL

dzuba

Buying a car with the SSK already installed - does that void any warranty that you know of? If I do not like the SSK (for whatever reason) can I take it off and restore the factory one? Thanks!

habitat1

If you are considering a 528i 5-speed, I think it will be quicker than an automatic 1998 Maxima GLE. If I'm not mistaken, the automatic (4-speed) Maxima is at least 1+ second slower in 0-60 than the 5-speed manual. I even think an automatic 528i would be close to an automatic 1995-2001 Maxima, since the BMW automatic is a 5-speed and the performance penalty of the automatic over a manual isn't as great in the BMW as it is in the Maxima.

But please test drive them yourself. I agree with mseals that once up to speed, the difference is negligable. And there is no doubt that any 5-series will be much better handling and steering than any Maxima, SE included. Especially a 528 or 530 sport. When it comes right down to it, acceleration is less important to me than handling. That even holds for my S2000.

P.S. Don't drive an M5! I drove a brand new 2001 model for an afternoon two years ago and for six months thereafter, my Maxima felt like an underpowered Buick.

mseals

I did notice that the throws were longer than than usual. I don't think that I would be interested in a SSK though because one of the things that I like about the 528i is how smooth it is driving. There is no choppy feeling to it even though it is a manual. After having it for a while I might change my mind, but for now I will wait and see.

mseals

Man, that is the funniest thing I have heard, but I keep hearing if from everyone who has driven them. The M5 must be totally incredible and it must cause people to lose their license at an alarming rate. I saw a guy yesterday behind me in a 5 series, he kept coming up on my bumper right after we left the light. Well due to the rush hour traffic, there was nothing that I could do to get out of his way. When I finally made some distance enough in front of him to see his entire front end, I notice the big gaping lower scoop and realized that is was an M5. It was almost as if he had a hard time not taking a whole shot ahead of everyone.

jb_shin

The darn thing is a 4-door sedan and accelerates harder than a 911, it is ridiculous. I think I might have to go see my sales guy before the production ends.

srfast

The SSK does not void the warranty because it does not modify the actual drivetrain (engine/gearbox). The SSK replaces several "bolt on" shifter linkage components and can be removed at anytime and the OEM parts reinstalled. I am accustomed to short throw shifters, but it might not make a difference to others.

Hope this helps....JL

fasr

i'm planning on installing the dinan software chip modifications for the engine and trans on my 1994 540i, as well as the cold air intake. for those that have done similar modifications, what kind of performance difference have you noticed? in retrospect, did you think it was worth it? i also want to be very safe in doing this, so as to not compromise the longevity of my engine or trans. any thoughts on this? thanks.

srfast

fasr: I think this site offers great information regarding car ownership & purchasing, but for mods & tweaks, I think the www.bmw.tips.com site is more useful.

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/

Hope this helps....JL

dzuba

Can you add them aftermarket somehow? Through the dealer I presume?

Anyone out there drive a 530 Manual Non-Sport? As I will be driving so much, am wondering if I should lean the non-sport route?

srfast

dzuba: I recommend you find a reputable BMW shop/mechanic in your area and begin picking his/her brain if you are not mechanically inclined. This person is going to be your best friend if you start to modify your 530i. I don't recommend you use the dealer for anything other than warranty/covered maintenance.

Xenons can be added later, but if you can, order them with the car. Regardless of the amount of driving you are doing, I recommend you get the Sport Package. Besides the tighter suspension, you get sport seats, three spoke "M" steering wheel, 17" wheels/tires, etc. You won't regret it.

Hope this helps...JL

shecky53

Just picked up (Friday) '00 528i 5spd w/ 11k miles. Could not be happier!! The car is flawless!! Under orig. factory warranty until 02/03 and then CPO'd until '06 or 100k. I have been craving a 5 series since I was a teenager and finally got it done. Choice was between Acura CL, Infiniti G35 (both new) or used 5 series. I drove the the others first and then the 528 last - that was it - I knew it was the one. With two young kids and a third on the way it was even a pretty easy sell to the wife. It is impossible to convey to anyone who hasn't driven one how effortlessly the car drives, how natural the clutch and shifter feel, how reponsive the throttle is. I know it is a cliche at this point but it really is a drivers car. OK. Done gushing for now - I actually do have a question for the folks here - I live in CT and with winter rapidly approaching I am certain that I will need snow tires as I commute about 35 minutes each way everyday over a mix of back roads and highways. Which tires should I consider? This has probably been asked before so forgive me if I am covering a topic that has been beaten to death already.

dzuba

Newbie - nice job, I will soon be with you!

Ok folks here it is: Remember I will be driving 30K miles per year in this car (mostly highway) - and not sure if this matters at all!

I was convinced I wanted a 2001/2002 CPO 530, Sport/Premium/Cold Weather/Manual and research says I can get one for 40-43K.

My local dealer has a brand new 2002 530/Manual (non-Sport), Moonroof and Cold Weather - 42,500 MSRP: It does not have the Premium Package so I guess I lose the Leather (Leatherette Instead) and wood trim. However it does have the Premium Stereo. Being that it is the only manual on the lot - I am wondering what I can get off of MSRP - as I am sure they want to move it to make room for a 2003!! Any thoughts?

And here is the real question! Laurelbmw.com has a beautiful CPO 2001 540 (yes a 540) with Sport Package and Manual, 21k miles on it for $44,500.
Please check it out and let me know!

Option 1: New 530 CWP/Moonroof/Prem Stereo/Manual for 42,500 MSRP (non Sport)

Option 2: CPO 2001/2002 530 (20-30,000 miles)Sport/Premium/Manual/CWP/Xenon for 40-43K

Option 3: CPO 2001 540 Sport/Premium/Manual 21,000 miles asking $44,500!

Gas mileage between a 540 and 530 is relatively close in my opinion on the hghway!

Thanks - I appreciate any and all feedback on this one!

chrism124

My 02 530iA has the following options; Premium Pkg, Steptronic, Cold Weather, Xenon's, DSP Sound & Heated Wheel. My lease payment is $630/month. This is based on a 3yr/60k lease. I was able to lock-in a very attractive lease rate (m.f.) in Dec 01. Remember the (lease) rate can be negotiated with the dealer.

Before I decided on the 530i, I test drove a 528iA. Yes the Automatic version. This version felt a little underpowered. I suspect the auto was the culprit. My reference cars were former vehicles being a 96 Maxima SE w/ the 5-speed and a 2k Accord EX V6. However the 530i felt just right, even better with the 5-speed.

dzuba, even with 20-25k miles/year, I would still opt for the Sport Pkg. But test-drive both models before choosing.

With winter fast approaching I am looking at buying a set of snow tires. The Tire Rack suggests going with Blizzak WS-50's. Does anybody have any history with these tires? I live in New Hampshire and feel the OEM Michelin's would not be sufficient. Looking for some feedback.

Thanks,
Chris

shecky53

A buddy of mine suggested the Blizzaks to me, he has used them for a 3-4 years on his 540. He says he still has to careful (may be a product of his chronic lead foot) but that they are good tires. Are you thinking about getting new wheels for the snow tires or would you just swap them with your existing rims? Anybody else have an opinion on wheels? Will the salt and sand used on the roads in the Northeast tear up the alloy wheels or is it much ado about nothing? In other words - Is it worth the extra expense for steel wheels?

dzuba

That sounds like a pretty good lease - 3 yr/60,000 miles for $630 a month! Did you have to put much down? I guess I would have to figure it on 3 yr/30k miles per year!

dzuba

That sounds like a pretty good lease - 3 yr/60,000 miles for $630 a month! Did you have to put much down? I guess I would have to figure it on 3 yr/30k miles per year!

Chris - why did you not add the Sport Package to your deal?

mseals

I purchased a 98 528i CPO with PP,CWP,Moonroof and 5sp. The car has 80,000 miles on it so there is still 2 yrs and 20,000 miles left on the warranty. I will be picking it up this week once BMW mails the release of lien to my bank. This should happen tomorrow or Tuesday since the owner is paying to have it Fed Ex'd up to my bank. This is going to be a big jump for me, I will be going from a 2000 Civic Si to the 528i. I wanted to go with the 323Ci back in 2000 but I was in the process of starting my divorce and I didn't know how much it would cost me at the time, or for the next 8 yrs. I adopted my stepdaughter and she nailed me for child support. Now that I have my finances under control, I decided to see what kind of deal I could get. When I found this car local on Ebay I had to jump on it. I went and test drove it and immediately fell in love with the car. I have always thought they were one of the most beautiful cars on the road, but after driving it I was totaly shocked at the vault like feeling and smoothness of the engine and tranny. I have wanted a BMW since I was in high school in the late 80s, I am so excited to get this car that I think that it has caused me to have trouble sleeping. I have found myself waking up at 5 am and thinking about when I will get the car.

shecky53

mseals, it is so funny that you mentioned your inability to sleep. I was exactly the same way for the two days from making the decision to buy the car and and picking it up - couldn't sleep a wink. Don't worry though, you are nearly there, I slept like a baby once it was in my garage.

dzuba, I would probably choose between the new 530 and the 01' 540. With the new 530 pricing and used 530 pricing being very similar I would choose the new over the used despite the differences in options.
If the 540 is CPO (which it looks like it is) I would probably opt for that as it seems to have everything you are looking for (Sport/Premium). It looks like a decent price too, although I never really researched pricing on the 8cyl. Good luck - given those three stellar choices, you must be having trouble sleeping too!

chrism124

Out of three dealers, I could only find one that had a Sport model on the lot. That particular one had already been sold. Therefore I didn't have the opportunity to compare standard vs. sport. Rather than taking a chance I went with the known, being the standard setup. Again test drive both if you can.

dzuba, you mentioned the 540i vs. 530i vs. the 528i. Since you drive 25-30k miles/year, gas could be a factor with the 540i. In addition I believe the 540i carries a higher insurance premium. You might want to check with your insurance company.

shecky53, I would swap tires and use the existing rims. I don't like the idea of steel wheels and don't feel like paying $1200 for a tire/alloy wheel pkg. However my opinion would change if I had the 17" rims that are part of the Sport Pkg. In the scenario I would pay the $1200.

Regards,
Chris