BMW 5-Series Sedans

cmr530i · November 2001

Did you price out a lease on a new BMW 525? It may be competitive with the used car lease you were looking at and you could still get a new BMW. Just a thought.

mdstat · November 2001

Im getting that musty odor when AC is on. Anyone know what is it?

rwmii · November 2001

I recently purchased a 2002 530i-titanium silver w/black. I love it!!
I plan on keeping the car for 6-7 years. I purchased the 4 year/50000 miles full maintenance program upgrade for $750. I am also thinking about an extended warranty. The dealer offered me 6 years/100000 miles for $2700 however WarrantyDirect(highly recommended on carbuyingtips.com and other sources) quoted me $1650. Should I buy the extended?
Thanks for your input. Also thanks for all the good advice I've gathered over the past few months from all who have submitted entries.

habitat1 · November 2001

Congratulations on your new 530i. I test drove one with a 5-speed this weekend. I was impressed with it's power, and will likely be getting one with a similar color combo to yours.

As far as extended warranties, I have always been somewhat skeptical of their value. I currently own a 1995 Nissan Maxima with 116k miles and have had absolutely no repairs that would have been covered by an extended warranty over the base 3/36. Granted, the cost of repairs on a 530i would likely be higher than a Maxima, but from everything I've read, the BMW 5-series has an equally outstanding reliability rating and the inline 6 is a real workhorse.

Obviously, warranty companies are in business to make money, not lose it. If - as it appears - you plan on taking good care of your 530i, and subsequently haven't encountered any problems by the end of the standard 4/50 factory warranty, I think the likelihood of major mechanical repairs between 50k and 100k miles is relatively low. I also fully intend to keep my next car for 6-7+ years and if it ends up being a 530i, I would not consider paying $2,700, or even $1,650 for an extended warranty. I would perhaps rethink this if I end up getting a 540i or M3/M5, but not on the 530i or 330i. And, in fact, one of the factors that would lean me to a 530i over a 540i is my perception that the 6 cylinder engines have slightly better long term reliability (not to mention $10k in savings and fewer trips to the gas pumps).

Just my two cents. Enjoy your 530i!

john01 · November 2001

I ordered ours with 5spd without driving one, auto was the only one available. What was your impression of the shift feel and the clutch?

Also, if you have driven the 540 6spd, how was the power delivery compared to the 530? Reliability aside, which is one of the main reasons I am going with the 530, was the power that much more desirable?

Thanks.

cheeks · November 2001

I have also noticed the smell. I will probably call my dealer this week. PS- Have you had your Aux. fan replaced due to the recall? If so, have you noticed how loud the replacement is?

john01 · November 2001

I am surprised at how many people are actually taking their cars due to this "musty smell" from the AC. I have had the same problem with my Acura and my wife's Nissan, mostly during the warmer seasons. The first time I took my car to the dealer because of the smell, they explained how this was not a problem with the car, but mostly due to how AC works (water remaining in the system and growing "stuff"), and refused to cover it under warranty. Are your BMW dealers actually taking care of them? It is bound to come back next season or when lysol or whatever they use to clean the system goes away.

habitat1 · November 2001

I dove both on Saturday. As the roads were slightly wet, I did not test them to their limits. The 530i was a 2002 "loaner" car that only had 300 miles on the odometer and did not have the sport package. The 540i 6-speed was a used 2001 model with 17,000 miles.

I thought the 530i shifted very precisely and exhibited very good power. I "punched it" in 3rd gear at 50 mph and it had plenty of pick-up. Frankly, I didn't find the 540i to have that much more. Shifting the 530i was great. Firm but smooth clutch and nice short throws. The 540i seemed to have a little more play in the stick, but perhaps it was just "broken in". I am sure that if pushed to the limit, the 540's extra 70 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque would be evident, but in "reasonably" aggressive driving, the 530i felt very good. Certainly more powerful than a 528i 5-speed I tested a couple of years ago.

I needed to go through this exercise to satisfy myself that I wouldn't be dissapointed with the power of a 530i vs. the 540i. I don't think I will. And, in fact, I suspect that a 530i equiped with a sport package will feel even tighter in the turns than the heavier 540i.

Another thing I did was take my Stanley tape measure to get a comparison between the 330i and 530i in size. With the driver's seat positioned for me, there was roughly 5" of space in front of my knees in the back seat in the 530i (I'm 5'7"). In the 330i, there was 6". However, measuring the rear seat width between the door handles (hip room??), the 530i measured 53", the 330i 51.5". Relatively speaking, the extra 1.5" +/- of width on the 5 is more important to me than the extra 1" of leg room on the 3. But there really isn't much difference in size. What influenced you to the 5 over the 3?

john01 · November 2001

Thanks for your reply on the power comparison. It was what I had imagined, without actually test driving one.

On the day of ordering, I actually talked over with my wife about the numerical comparison of the available spaces in the 2 cars. However, as you have said, when we actually sat in them, the increase width made a world of difference. The leg room was not so evident, and was not much of an issue just you have said. Since we have to fit a baby seat into the car, and probably another one in a couple of years, more lateral space made sense for us.

shipo · November 2001

Interesting, car seats (and booster seats) were an issue for me too. My logic for getting the 3-Series over the 5-Series was that children in car seats will never use the full width of the back seat (hopefully), however, their feet dangle right at the narrowest point between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat, setting a premium on leg room and not hip room. That said, the 328i had more leg (foot) room than the 528i, even then, my son still wishes that I had kept my 1995 Passat GLX, which was positively cavernous (leg room wise) compared to either BMW.

FWIW, I was recently at my dealership to discuss my end of lease options and just happened to have my seven year old with me, so I popped him in the back of a 530i, booster seat and all, and then set the front seat for me. Oddly enough, even though the specs have not changed from the 1999 528i, he had more room in the 530i than my 328i (contrary to what I discovered in 1998). I do not know if BMW has redesigned the back of the front seats to allow for more knee room or if I just set the front seat differently, or maybe a little of both.

I am now seriously considering a 530i to replace my 328i when the lease expires in April 2002.

Best Regards,
Shipo

gerry18 · November 2001

Just got word today that our 530ia is on the boat and should be here before Thanksgiving. We also own a '96 318ti. It was our first BMW, but third foreign car ('72 128SL Fiat and '85 Merkur XR4Ti.) We purchased the extended warranty on the Merkur because of our concerns over turbo life problems at the time. Sold the car at 116,000 miles without collecting a dime from the extended warranty.

The dealer who sold us the 318ti convinced us to spring for the extended warranty, explaining that with BMWs, if anything did go wrong it would be very expensive to fix. Our gut feel was to not take the extended warranty, and we regret having gone against our instincts. At 68,000 miles the 318 has been totally trouble free, except for a fuel tank sensor replaced under warranty.

Now here we go again. The 3- and 5-series cars are among the more reliable, which is why we are going with the 530ia over the other more affordable cars we were considering. We are definitely NOT BUYING the extended warranty this time. We'll bank the difference and if we are among the unlucky few who do have problems, we'll bank the money now and worry about it then. Chances are the future value of what we are not spending on the extended warranty will cover the lions share if we are among those unlucky few.

parnola · November 2001

Thanks to all for the comparisons between the 540i and 530i. I've test driven the 6-speed 540i and love its power. After reading these posts, I think I'll go drive the 530i - if I can be happy with its power, I'll bank the difference! You may have just saved me $10k!

peanut20 · November 2001

Here is a suggestion to help alleviate that odor from the AC. I was having the same problem with my Volvo and started leaving the circulating fan on all the time. I usually keep it on low and do this even if I don't have the AC or heat on. It keeps air flowing through the system and keeps moisture from collecting and "things" growing. Because I don't have my 530i yet, I don't know if the system will allow a manual override on the fan, but if it does you might want to try it. I started this a couple of years ago and it has made a huge difference. Good luck and I hope this is doable on the 530i!

taylort · November 2001

habitat1 - I got the Sport/Premium package w/ Stepronic Trans, cold weather package, convenience pkge, in dash CD.

I have not had the opportunity to use their service department yet. I will have the first opportunity to use it Friday.

One good sign is that I called them today for an appointment and they offered me Thursday or Friday. This is good because some post say they were told by their service department that they had to wait weeks for an appointment.

rwmii · November 2001

Thanks for the advice on the extended warranty. I agree. I will invest the warranty cost and probably be ahead. Good luck and happy cruising with your 530s.

jls21 · November 2001

Regarding recent posts on buying (or leasing) a 5 vs. a 3, having determined that I was definitely buying either a 3 or a 5, I briefly considered a 330, since the difference in interior space was not significant enough to me to choose a 5 over a 3. What did it for me was my perception of the interior dash layout (I prefer the 5 to the 3), and my perception of the exterior dimensions and overall exterior appearance of the 2 cars. The 4 door 3 series looks a bit distorted to me, or somewhat out of balance, whereas the 5 has about the cleanest, most balanced look of any car on the road. For a car that I was shelling out over 40k for, that was VERY important to me. So, maybe my 530 cost a bit more than a 330, but every time I approach it, I am astonished at the appearance of my car.

habitat1 · November 2001

The 3.0 liter 6 is BMW's latest improvement upon their already great engine. The 4.4 litre in the 540i is 5+ years old. My guess is that the new 4.4 liter engine in the 7-series (more powerful and more fuel efficient) will make it into the 540 at some point, but until it does, the 530 has a bit more "refinement" engine-wise.

jls21 - I agree, the appearance of the 5 is second to none in it's catagory. (Although I did walk into a light pole admiring a slate gray Ferrari 360 the other day).

hnn · November 2001

Parnola, you have to drive it yourself to feel the diff bt 540/530. For me, 530 is a lot under power when you start to press the engine hard from 0-60 mph. I did test drive both and chose 540 because extra torque that 540 engine provided especially at around 3500 rpm. Remember that Sept. C/D magazine voted 540 the best (#2 Audi/#3 Lexus 430, etc..)

4.4 V8 in 540 is already a top notch engine according the C/D mag which very few other V8s can match. I think that this is the main reason BMW has not refined it for the last 5 years. BMW, has to refine the I6 to stay ahead/compete with others (like Lexus) but not the 4.4 V8 until 2002.

Good luck in your selection. Hnn.

pap5 · November 2001

Has anyone else experienced this? My '01 530iA has about 3,700 miles. With the Steptronic in auto mode (either normal or sport, doesn't matter), take-offs frequently are not as smooth as I would expect. Tip-in is bit abrupt, there seems to be a hole in bottom-end torque, and the transmission feels like it's hunting between 1st and 2nd. Beyond about 2,500 RPM, power delivery smoothes out nicely. Interestingly, this doesn't happen in "manual" mode - launches are consistently smooth and linear. I haven't had the car in for any servicing yet.

I'm wondering if this is something that will phase out as the drivetrain settles in -- or if I'm being overly critical.

pen101 · November 2001

How timely a sub-topic. I cannot decide between a 530i and 330i. I test drove a 2000MY 528i 5-speed, PP,SP (used with 15K miles) and then a 530i 5-speed, PP, SP (new 2001MY) and found that there was a significant difference in performance, to the point that I may no longer be interested in the 528i. But the difference in price was over $10,000. Could not decide if the added performance was worth $10,000. Then test drove a 2001MY 330i 5-speed, PP, SP (new). The 330i had stronger acceleration and felt more tossable and sporty than the 530i. I also did notice the difference in width in the interior between the 5 and the 3, but it did not feel too tight in the 3, even in the back. It looks like I can get a baby seat in both cars without any problems. The deciding factor, at least for me, may come down to money. $46k+ for a new 530i (5-speed, PP, SP), or $40K+ for a new 330i (5-speed, PP, SP, CWP) or $34+ for a low mileage 2000MY 528i (5-speed, PP, SP). Another factor is that this is the last year for the 5-series, although consumer reports tested the car and it scored higher than any car it had ever tested. Also in terms of looks, I like the looks of both the 5 and the 3. If money was not a factor, though, I'd choose the 5.

habitat1 · November 2001

...if you're willing to go European Delivery? I have priced out a 530i 5-speed with SP, Leather, Moonroof, Premium Sound, Xenon and Shades. MSRP $47,170. US Invoice $42,330. ED Invoice $39,685. I am confident that I can get the car for $1,500 over ED invoice (a New Jersey dealership will do it for $1,200 over ED invoice). That puts the total at about $41,200, plus the cost of a trip to Europe. Your car, with just the sport and premium packages, should work out to an ED invoice of about $38,400. Even at $2,000 over ED invoice , you are well under $41k.

cityscapex5 · November 2001

is there a formula to calculate ED price for the 525 and 530? Are dealers in the US willing to negotiate from ED Price?

mdstat · November 2001

To Cheeks

I havent noticed the loud Aux Fan noise. The model that I got had allready the fan replaced. I have nothing to compare with .
Let me know what your dealers does for the stupid smell, or Im gonna have to start buying pines trees.
thanks

pen101 · November 2001

Habitat1:

Good point. However the exact domestic invoice price for the specs on the black 530i I want is $42,245: Base ($35,665), Destination ($645), Sport Package ($1,955), Leather ($1,235), Moonroof ($895), Zenons ($425), Fold down rear seats ($405), premium stereo ($1,020). The European delivery price is $2,645 less, making invoice at $39,600. At an assumed $1,500 over invoice, the prices become $43,745 for domestic delivery and $41,100 for European delivery (ED).

Compared to a similarly optioned 330i, the price differencial is $5,570 for ED and $5,920 for domestic delivery. The invoice price on the 330i for domestic delivery is $36,325: base ($30,750), destination ($645), Sport package ($1,020), Premium package ($2,465), Cold weather package ($850), bi-Zenons ($595). There is a $2,300 discount for European delivery for the 330i, making the ED invoice price $34,025.

If I further try to option the cars similarly, there are items on the 330i that are extra on the 530i as equipped above, such as: Lumbar support ($340), rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirror and heated seats (estimated at $750). As you can see, the price differential of the 530i to the 330i can be as much as $7,000 or more. Then of course, there is tax, license and registration that is more on the 5 than the 3. All this assumes an equal dealer mark-up on the 5 and the 3. In my area, however, I am not sure the $1,500 mark-up is obtainable, especially on the 3. All I am saying is that as much as I would like to get the 530i, is the extra few inches of interior room worth the extra money (over the 330i) and can my budget take the extra hit (of course if I was fiscally irresponsible I'd buy an M5).

Cityscapex5:

There are a number of web sites that list ED invoice prices, including www.Eurobuyers.com. In so far as negotiating prices on ED delivery, I expect to, and a number of posts on this board suggest doing so.

habitat1 · November 2001

..and, in fact, I need to look more closely at the 330i as an alternative to the 530i myself. I did not test drive those two back to back (just 530 & 540). My sense (and comments from others) is that the 3 feels a little more sporty around town or on twisty roads, the 5 feels a little more solid/stable on the highway.

I have also noticed that the 3-series tends to hold its value somewhat better than the 5. I wouldn't mind paying a $6-7k premium for the 5 if I thought it would be worth more in the end. However, it appears the difference in resale value tends to diminish to the point where a 5 isn't worth much more than a 3 after 3-4+ years (at least if Washington Post used car asking prices are any indication). This probably is a moot issue for me, since I tend to keep cars 7+ years and 100k+ miles.

One thing I did notice was that the premium stereo in the 5 sounds quite a bit better (IMO) than the HK in the 3. Hardly enough to justify $6k more for the car, but I wish they offered that system in the 3. Also, the thigh bolster in the 5 is powered and in the 3 is manual, if you need another $30 gizmo to help justify the 5.

P.S. Careful about criticizing the M5 as fiscally irresponsible. I have a business associate who bought a 540iA sport at the exact same time his brother bought an M5. Both are 2000 models with about 18k miles. The M5 has held its value quite a bit better than the 540iA, according to my friend. He is still pee'd off at his wife for refusing to learn how to drive a manual. He pointed out to her that his $55k car is now only worth $42k+/-, whereas his brothers $72k M5 is still worth about $65k. He conveniently excludes the additional sales taxes, luxury tax and gas guzzler charges on the M5 from the equation.

merckx · November 2001

I do understand the point. I've had the chance to drive quite a few cars,but never ones like M3/M5 or Benz E55. I am conservative enough to feel I'd rather have a 740iL or S430. Those sport sedans are supposed to be hoots,and I'm sure they're like Corvette sedans.But if a 525i is about $35,000 and a M5 is $70,000,that really gives me pause.
If I was really wealthy,I'm sure I'd look upon a M5 as a great toy I'd deserve.

div2 · November 2001

Buy an E34 M5; right now they're in the mid $20s. Sock the extra $10K away for repairs and maintenance and have at it. I ended up with a 528i since my wife doesn't like to drive a stick and I already have one BMW track rat.

chesdin4 · November 2001

cityscapex5 - Dealers do negotiate on Euro Delivery (eventually!). One thing that gives you leverage on an ED purchase is that the car DOES NOT come out of their allocation.

BMW has a pretty strict allocation system. I used to work for CarMax, which sold its BMW franchise because there was simply no way to build the business. They would get 11 cars a month to sell (domestically) and that's it! But CarMax was doing several ED's per month, which annoyed BMW after a while since it got around the allocation system.

So, an ED deal is kind of like a "freebie" extra car for them to sell (except for M's, Z8's and the like).

After I had left the company, I bought an '01 530 5-speed on ED for a "no haggle" $1800 over invoice, or $38.9K for a $44.5K sticker. But I've seen posts where people do a couple hundred better than that.

Remember, it's a freebie to them! (Just a little paperwork...)

cityscapex5 · November 2001

does anyone have any ideas what dealers are really willing to take? I initially discussed the price of ordering a 525 and the response was that they would sell at full MSRP. They showed me an 01 and claimed it was a great deal at 750 below MSRP. Im in the San Francisco Bay Area.

pen101 · November 2001

As a follow up to my last post, I was just looking at the fiscal side of the equation when comparing a 530i to a 330i. There is of course much more to be said than just the few inches difference in size. The 530i has a more solid and substantial feel to it than the 330i, which may make it the more comfortable long distance commute vehicle. I also like the added feature content offered with the 530i, along with the extra elbow room and the balanced good looks of the car. And of course this month's Consumer Reports rated the 530i as receiving its highest test score ever given to any car. Yet this is for a car that is in its last year for the current body style after over 6 years and the car still looks great.

As for resale value, I looked at the kelly blue book, low wholesale price as a comparison. For 2000MY, at 15K miles, SP, PP, Premium Sound, 5-speed, the 528i came in at $34,060 while a 328i came in at $32,335. For MY1999, at 25K miles, the 528i was $29,770, while the 328i was $28,835. When you go back prior to that, you get the previous model 328i, and the prices drop.

P.S. As for my comment on the M5 as being fiscally irresponsible (for me), what may be irresponsible for me may be responsible for you.

taylort · November 2001

I took my car, 2001 530, to the dealer today and asked him to look into the musty smell. They found that the microfilter was wet and had a mildewy oder. They believe that was the cause of the smell and replaced it. Smells good for now. I will have to drive it for awhile to be 100% sure that it is gone.

I also had to have the cup holder replaced because it had broke. I asked why BMW put such a cheap, unless cup holder in the car. They said in cars sold in Europe they do not have cup holders in them so when they make them for the US it is like an after thought and they just insert it were they can and don't put much quailty in it. I guess this is why it is a great handling car but leaves something to be desired inside.

They also replaced the aux fan.

If you are looking for a BMW 525, 530,or 540 to test drive in the WMA, Passport BMW had several on the lot today.

cheeks · November 2001

Are you hearing your new Aux. fan come on and off when driving? The replacement fan that they installed in my 01'530 is loud.

taylort · November 2001

I just got the Aux Fan replaced yesterday and so far it has been quiet.

I had a problem with my fan mostly when it was a little warm outside and the AC would come on. SInce it is cold in DC now I probably won't get a real chance to see if it is still a problem until Spring.

cmr530i · November 2001

Is the noise you are hearing like a winding-down humming sound? That is what I hear coming off and on, mostly when coming to a stop. It is not loud, but if the music is not on I do hear it.

cheeks · November 2001

The noise sounds like a jet turbine when it's winding up and winding down. I seem to be the only on this board that's annoyed by the new fan. The bimmer.org board is loaded with similar complaints about the noisy replacement fans.

sb55 · November 2001

I test drove a "leftover" 525 with 5 speed and was quite impressed with the power and smoothness, but I am sure that I would like the 530 even better. Surprisingly, since there is more standard on the 2002's, the msrp is actually lower than on the 2001 the dealer had in stock, and their "discounted" price was about the same for either model year.
In checking the Edmunds prices, I expect that I would have to pay about $2500. more for the 530. Does this seem right?
Are dealers in the New York area offering deals? I have read in some posts that $1200. over invoice is about the best pricing. Is this on the 525 or 530? If anybody has any info, I would appreciate it.

vishnu11 · November 2001

re: sb55's post:

$1200 is about the best that I have seen as well, except that there are hidden numbers that would jack up your net effective price. Here's what you should ask for:

(a) Advertising fees/MACO fees/Training fees

(b) Documentation fees

(c) After all the fees that they have stated, ask them - "are there any other fees that I should know about that I will not get surprised when I arrive to make the deal?"

Good luck, I am in the market too for a 525 - which I find is quite adequate especially with the 5-speed and have been looking around.

vishnu11 · November 2001

$750 under MSRP is crap. Try Cutter Motors (I believe in Santa Barbara). If not, try from the NJ area dealers (Prestige, Wide World of Wheels and some others). Even if you pay $650 in shipping (or better - cross country break-in drive), you are better off. Just my 2c.

ruskus · November 2001

I am purchasing my own 1999 528i at the end of my lease. The car has 32500 miles. I haven't had any mechanical problems. I will keep the car for another 4 or 5 years, ending around 100,000 miles. Should I purchase an extended warranty? I have been through the internet and Edmunds, as well as the dealer and am more confused than when I began. THanks.

spyderred · November 2001

Ruskus,

You better! I contemplated for a long time and it was a no brainer as far as whether to buy or not.
The big question is from Whom?
BMW are awesome, but they have tremendous amount of electronic components that can fail and each one is $500 min for parts and labor. If you can have your current dealer CPO' it, then this is the best thing to do. Talk to BMW corporate or BMWFS if you can and you can pay for it ~$1200-$1500 for 6 years/ 100,000 miles from inservice date. If not let me know and I can share my knowledge with you about 3rd party warranties.

Spyderred,

sb55 · November 2001

I have been searcing for a 530 5 speed, and the best that I have seen so far is $1500. off on a 2002. There are some deals of about $2500. off on some "leftover" 2001's, but it doesn't seem worth it since the car is already a year old when you drive it off of the lot. Has anyone been able to work UP from invoice on a 2002 recently? At least I live in the New York metro area and there are plenty of dealers around, but they all have the same prices (Price Fixing?)

Also, does the sport package degrade the ride over the standard set up. I haven't been able to drive them back to back, and the dealer with the sport in stock only took me on smooth roads. I have a 55 mile each way commute and while I like the idea of the sport package, I just don't know if is worth it or necessary. Comments?

cmr530i · November 2001

The sport package adds tremendously to the look of the car, making it much more aggressive looking, sporty, and awesome in my opinion. The car really hugs the road in tight turns as you accelerate. I have been over some rough roads, like the kind when the city has just scraped off the old black top and has yet to pour on the new surface, and the ride was very steady, firm, and not unpleasant. I DO avoid potholes with a passion, however, due to not wanting to damage the rims. The sport package is definitely worth it in my opinion. Good luck with your decision.

chrism123 · November 2001

I recently ordered an 02 530i w/ most of the popular options. One dealer offered $1400 off of MSRP while another offered $1500. Both would not negotiate from invoice. However a third dealer did agree to $2100 discount from MSRP and subsequently has my business.

I know the dealer will turn a good profit but I had my sites set on getting a new 5-series. At least around my area, 5-series cars sell quickly. Therefore heavy discounting is not the norm. One consolation is that the the car will hold it's value.

dabimmer · November 2001

3 cheers for the comments by cmi, for anyone contemplating the sport package vs regular her comments are required reading! I ditto every comment. To enhance the
ride characteristics I have been experimenting with tire pressures for a while now
trying to find just the perfect combination, I'm almost there. I am thoroughly sold on
the sport suspension and 17 in tires and wheels that I wouldn't have my bimmer any
other way. Thanks for allowing me my 2 cents. Please re-read the comments by cmi at
post 1442.

john01 · November 2001

I test drove a 530i with sport pkg and optional 18 inch rims, which is probably as aggressive as you can get out of the box. I drove it on cobble stone streets, autobahns, and sections of Berlin streets that have not been resurfaced for a long time, but I did not think for once that the ride was harsh. It was quite comfortable and smooth, frankly I was amazed how BMW managed to make it so smooth, yet sporty.

cmr530i · November 2001

Thanks for the kind words! I'm with you. I wouldn't have my bimmer any other way too.

riez · November 2001

Spent afternoon test driving a 1998 540i 6-speed manual. Has 52,000 miles. Jaguar dealership wants $33,600 for it. Has following options: heated seats, heated steering wheel, trunk-mounted 6-disc BMW CD-changer, and fold-down rear seat. Black on black, with tinted windows.

Rode and drove like an absolute dream. Fell almost madly in love with it (would've if she were red with black interior). Now I KNOW why this is absolutely, positively the BEST all around high performance sport sedan (barring the M5) in the world!!!

Is this a good deal? What should I be looking for as regards a 4-year 50,000 mile 540i? Tires looked great. No exterior problems. Seats and carpet in great shape. Everything worked as it was supposed to. Didn't hear any odd noises. No unexpected shakes, shudders, vibrations, etc.

Seems rock solid. (Plus there is a 5-day money back guarantee and 3 month/3,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with no deductible.)

Am I a fool for not selling my soul immediately in order to buy it?

dabimmer · November 2001

I saw your previous post as cmi - so sorry , can't trust these old eyes anymore!

vanalder · November 2001

If it were I, spending a couple of hundred to get a thorough wringing
out at an independent shop might be well worth it.

riez · November 2001

vanalder... I'm trying to see if the offered price is in line with what is out there. I'm in the midwest. I was planning on having the car thoroughly inspected at local BMW dealer during the 5-day money back guarantee period. (Doubt the Jag dealer will let me have the car for the day to have inspected thoroughly. He was a bit miffed I took it on a 100 mile/2.5 hour extensive test drive.)

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