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I purchased the warranty at the BMW dealership when I bought my car. it is a 125,000 mile/5 year (whichever comes first) warranty. That is the best warranty they could give me..there really isn't any type of warranty that goes beyond those terms AFAIK... I almost didn't want it, but for the peace of mind, I bought it... you may want to ask the dealer you purchased the car from if they have an extended warranty.
ps. Just place an order for the 530's. and I am getting the steptronic gear shifter, does anyone have any experience using that? if so, how did you like it? My cousin took delivery of a 330 last month, with the whole works but kept the manual transie. Man, that thing can fly! I couldn't believer how much torque it gave you on 3rd gear! when that thing was in 3rd, you would think you just shifted from 1st to 2nd because there were so much more power still waiting to be unleashed.
I truly appreciate your advice. I just checked the responses on another board and they were indentical - ie go for the 530 or settle for invoice on the 528.
For those wishing to check these responses go to http://www.bimmer.org/5series/messages/messages/96004.html
My problem remains that where I live there is only 1 dealer and the same is true from each of the nearest cities (each 4 hours from us). Any advice on how to reach other BMW dealers efficiently ? (Most online bidding services lock you to YOUR areas kingpin)
Thank you.
Thanks for taking a look at my 80mph noise problem. I did have my 00'528iA (with sp-prem. pkg) taken to the dealer couple of days ago. Rode with a technician to demonstrate the noise I've been hearing. They told me their technicians are not allowed to take the car up over the speed limit. "Luckily" he heard it too and after checking, they found out there is a bulletin listed on their board with same problem and do have a way to fix it - they need to order a "bushing?" and replace the old one on the rear aixle of the car. Seems like BMWNA experienced some complains from customers on 3-er's and 5-er's regarding the same problem, and they do have a way to fix it. They placed the order on the part already and are waiting for the part to arrive as we speak, then they'll call me to bring in the car and fix it. HOPE that works....The car has "NO" problem going up to 80mph+!! I have been enjoying the 2800 miles that I logged for the last 2 1/2 months!!
Thanks,
Jess
I'd go with the 540, assuming you can afford it. What makes it worth the extra $$$? Everything - performance, smoothness, space, amenities, prestige, etc. It's really an amazing car. It weighs 2 tons and has a very comfortable back seat, but is quite fast and handles incredibly well (at least with the sport package, which I'd strongly recommend). The 3ers just don't impress me all that much. They're certainly nice cars, but something about them just doesn't sit that well with me (you may feel differently). As far as the 525/530, the 525 is just too weak (184hp pulling 2 tons of car isn't a good combination), and the 530, while nice enough, can't match either the performance or smoothness of the 540. Put another way, the 530 is a great luxury family car, but the 540 is a true sports sedan. I'd go with the 540 in a heartbeat.
Also, does BMW have any plans to provide All Wheel Drive on the 5 Series any time soon? Since they now provide it on the 3 Series and Mercedes Benz offers it on the E430 (the comparable to the 540), I would think that BMW might be thinking about this.
Has anybody out there added a short-throw for the shifter (got the 5-speed), the throw is a bit long, but it's smooth and solid.
Got to go tint the windows and that's about all it needs.
More feedback after some mileage....
Thanks
Can you hear the 2.5 liter whine versus the V8? I mean really, 1.1 seconds (525 vs 540) isn't worth that much money, is it?
Well, I own a 530iA. I absolutely love it. I began wanting a Lexus GS300 for years! Finally went to the BMW after my friend and wife talked me into the BMW and I test drove one as you did. I would have been completely satisfied with a 528 but they screwed up my order so I got a 530 at a good price. Would I get a 525? Not sure. Haven't driven one. Obviously, the 530 has more pep and power. Certainly more than I will ever need. The 525 does not come with a auto dimming rear view mirror. Obviously not a $4k option but it IS nice to have. If I were you, and you are seriously tight on $$'s, I would consider a 99' or 00' 528 on the market. If you are going to order a sport package and want the true performance form a sport package, I would not get the 525. Only my opinion. I absolutely LOVE my 530 w/o sports package!! Here is a link to pics if you are interested. http://home.earthlink.net/~valhalla6/
Good luck on your decision. You may also want to consider the wait. I am hearing all kinds of stories where dealers are not getting THEIR allocations until Dec/Jan.
I'm also going to test an Audi A6 2.7T Quattro. Although I don't know if there's any more bargaining room with Audi's, I've read great things about them.
Thanks for the input. In fact, the 530iA w/o sport pkg. is exactly what I'm looking at(indeed, I think the sport wheels detract from the elegance of the car). Dollars aren't the issue, but if you don't keep the incrementalism in check, before you know it, you're entertaining an M5. As for the wait, remember I said I've been driving an '86 Jetta for almost fifteen years - I'm a patient man. Any thoughts on my pricing issues? Thanks.
Gary
I'm currently in a 1995 M-B C280 (195 hp) and everything about it is putting me to sleep. From the "stately" (read "numbing") handling to the absolute dog of a standard Bose stereo (previous owner probably Armor-All'ed the speakers) to the leatherette surfaces I have to peel myself out of in the Washington, DC summers. Sure, the C280 is solid, tight and heavy feeling, and more responsive than most other U.S. cars, but it's not a real "performer" by any means. e.g. If I take a long, somewhat sharp turn, (such as a 180 degree exit ramp) at more than 40 mph it feels like a TaeBo workout. Somebody check my spelling on that.
Anyway, I'm trying to store away a couple extra bucks to get a new car. One that is exciting to drive. I'm too poor for the E320, I don't want another C class and I'm not so enamored by M-B in general. So I'm thinking BMW 5 series. The price is still high, but with some financial discipline I should be alright to hit the show room next spring. Now here are the questions:
1. 525iA or 530iA ($4K difference) is it absolutely worth it? 184 vs. 225 horses, is that the only difference? It seems like a lot of difference in power.
Now let's talk options!
2. Is the 10 speaker basic audio $1K better than the 10 speaker premium audio? I'm sure anything is better than the wax paper filtered system I'm listening to currently - but I want to get a real spacious sounding, responsive system.
3. Is the Montana leather $1K better than the leather-ette? I hate that word... why don't they just say RUBBER?
4. Is the moonroof worth the extra bucks?
5. In dash CD for $170 or the very expensive six pack in the trunk?
Social status questions (optional to answer)
a. Do 530 and 540 owners think 525 owners are weanies?
b. Do BMW owners give a "knowing wave" or do the "two fingers off the top of the steering wheel" thing when they pass eachother? (You know, like the Corvette guys do.)
c. When a 540 and 525 come in visual contact of eachother, does the 525 have to initiate the "knowing wave" because he is lower in social status?
Okay, I'm done. Can you tell I'm not a BMW owner yet?
A quick response would be GREATLY appreciated, in
fact, if you could e-mail me at andy.woo@clubz.org,
it would be even better.
I have been shopping for a 525 for years 1993-1995
or so. I've taken a few out.. and I never noticed until the last two I tried ('93 and '95),
that when I have the heater on FULL FAN and FULL HEAT on the front, the rear passenger vents, still only give cool air. Is the rear passenger vents SUPPOSED to give hot air when the front is hot, or just fresh air? When I looked through the owner's manual. It was not very clear. I think it said the back vents flowed 'fresh' air, but it never mentioned about the temperature.
Also... even with the fan on FULL (level 4. These were all manual dialed climate controls that I saw), the fan was not super strong. Is this normal ?
Thanks a bunch for all your help, in advance!!!
Andy.woo@clubz.org
Otherwise, do you need a V8???
Would anyone know if $43,500 is a good price for the 528iT with premium pkg, steptronics, heated seats. The MSRP is $47,800.
Gary
1) The GM autobox in the 528 is far superior to the unfortunate ZF unit in the 540. The former is manufactured by GM in France and is similar to the excellent 4 speed unit used in the Opel Omega / Cadillac Catera / Vauxhall Omega. The ZF has been famously subject to recall; friends with that unit in their 740s know the trans service techs at the local Bimmer store by first name. Stick with the manual boxes in the v-engined cars; in contrast, the GM autobox is a delight to use, whether in its 5 speed BMW-application form or in its 4 speed Opel Omega form.
2) BMW's inline six cylinder engines sold in the US have superior materials applications as compared to the V configured engines. Unlike the inline sixes, BMW saved manufacturing costs on the v engines by deleting the steel liners from the cylinder bores in favor of various metalographic band-aids applied to mask the basis softness of aluminum v. steel. These band aids came in various forms (alumisil, nikasil, this-a-sil, that-a-sil,...) but none have proven to be satisfactory in long term usage, particularly if the vehicle is driven in conditions of high heat and mechanical stress for extended periods of time. In addition, the v engines other failing is their being quite subject to various interal corrosions when higher sulphur level fuel is used (as is often found in the SE part of the US). BWM has been suffering from manifold warranty disputes on that last point. Finally, on the topic of 530 v 540, I find the sixes to have more than adequate power for urban and highway use, and their silky feel and sonorous sounds are wonderful.
On a related note, have any readers of this thread discovered whether there is any truth to the unfortuneate rumor that BMW may be about to follow DaimlerChrysler's move a few years ago to dump the in line sixes in favor of V-6s? Hopefully that is not the case.
I just leased a 530iA for $355 over invoice. Here's the breakdown:
Invoice: $41,315
Adv. Fee: $ 200
Lease Fee: $ 525
Delivery: $ 570
Total was $42,965.
It has sport/premium, steptronic, xenon, and fold down rear seats. Sticker is $46,520.
It's a 3yr/12k lease, 62% depreciation. $651 payment w/o sales tax.
I had to bid among 35 dealers to get it. I highly recommend www.fightingchance.com. I wouldn't have had a clue without it, and the guy who runs it is very cool. You can talk to him on the phone and he'll help you get the best deal.
Anyway, happy shopping/driving.
My understading of the ZF tranny is that, besdies a much higher torque handling capacity than the GM, it has a stronger cae, better quality materials (especially wiring/electronics) and tighter tolerances. One of the primary benefits of the GM tranny is that it is less expensive to fix when it fails but the GM unit fails at
a higher rate (almost 3x the rate of the ZF).
As far as the engine, my understanding is that BMW has abandoned the nikasil it used in its V-8 in favor of alusil (also used in V-12s), and has not had the problems resurface.
Just my $.02, would like to get others' thoughts.
George
Also, does anyone have any strong opinions on the 525 vs the 530? Is it worth the price difference?
Thanks!
What color combo did you order? I was considering the white ext. / beige int. prior to deciding to purchase a competing / slightly larger vehicle.
Aluminum is metallographicaly less dense that steel; its relative softness is the reason most engine manufactures take the expensive step of engineering and installing steel liners into aluminum engine blocks, no matter of they're made of nikasil, alusil, this-a-sil, or that-a-sil. Alloys and spraying surface treatments provides a band-aid, but not a solution to the basic physical characteritics of the two materials. The use of those band-aids typically postpones significant engine problems until beyond most mechanical warranty tenors if highest-stress useage (i.e. trailer towing) is prohibited or restricted to light loads, as is the case with BMW. A senior colleague of my firm currently has his 750il for sale with 35k miles, its second engine, third zf transmission, and fourth set of brake rotors all replaced under warranty. He's tired of the hassle. He's likely to purchase a Mercedes 500S, Cadillac Seville STS, or Audi 8 with the W12 engine as a replacement, since the 530 (which I favor)is too small for his requirements. I've recommended avoiding the Audi for now.
Here in So. Cal, we're fortunate to not have experienced the internal engine corrosion problems (that have been the basis for other recalls) as have S.E. U.S owners since the pollution regulations have long forced the gas companies to market lower sulphur fuel in this area. Various manufacturers, Including DaimlerChrysler, have tried this engine construction method ever since Alcoa and GM foisted liner-less engines on Vega owners almost 3 decades ago. Both firms had negative warranty experience and, both have switched back to installing steel cylinder liners.
Regarding the transmission, your observations are the opposite experience of the NHSTA and BMW, as noted by the recall activity on the ZFs and not on the GM units (whether installed in 3 or 5 series BMWs or in the Opel Omegas (europe) Chevrolet Omegas (Brazil), Holden Omegas (Austrailia), Cadillac Cateras (U.S.), or Vauxhall Omegas (England). Car magazine in the U.K ran an interesting comparison a couple of years ago of various used (3yrs) "Luxury Executive Saloons" (Volvo, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E Class, Vauxhall Omega, Audi A6, as I recall) that provided useful comment on this topic.
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