BMW 5-Series Sedans

nyccarguy · March 2002

While I've never driven a 5 series with a Steptronic Transmission (come to think of it, I've never even driven a 5 series), I have driven a 2001 325Ci with Steptronic and a 2000 740i Sport with Steptronic (WOW...a truly amazing car). I found the Auto/manual mode to be somewhat of a gimmick. I even got kinda sick of it during my short (1hour) drives in cars of friends of mine. The full automatic mode was great for cruising, but the sport mode (with its higher RPM shift points) was by far my favorite.

What puzzled me the most was how it worked. Shift the car into D for regular driving. Nudge it to the left for SPORT mode. From there nudge it up and down for AutoManual mode. But if you want to go from AUtomanual mode to Sport Mode, you have to go back (Right) to D (regular), and then nudge it back to the left to get SPORT mode again.

jwilson1 · March 2002

A Ferrari driving friend of mine tells me that "Enzo" requires purchasers of some of the models (not his) to sign a pledge to: 1) drive a certain amount of miles/yr. 2) drive at competition speeds occasionally. The idea is that the engine was designed for performance, not for a museum or for cruising.

In addition, Ferrari shops are able to read the use of the machine when they work on it. And in the contract is a clause that allows the company to buy back the car if you haven't been using it hard enough!!!

I don't know if that is myth or not, but even if Ferraris weren't so very beautiful, that is the sort of thing that makes me want one.

"Hon, I've gotta go to the track again this weekend or we're gonna lose the car. See ya!"

Take care.
Joe W.

john01 · March 2002

Well, they are known as the the race team that sells cars to fund their races.

Porsche 911s actually are the worst cars to be sitting in a garage for long time, as the flat six engine collect moisture more than V or I engines.

snagiel · March 2002

It sounds wacky (especially considering the legal ramifications: "Officer, I know I was going 150, but my manufacturer obligates me to do so or I lose my car!"), but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari did impose certain restrictions, especially on their very exclusive models (e.g. upcoming F60). That whole company is like a private club; when they introduce special models, they don't even bother advertising. The media does that for them. And they invite only current owners of multiple Ferraris to buy the models first, which they normally do (we're talking about Prancing Horse fanatics with way too much money).

shipo · March 2002

Hmmm, well, I am certainly not an expert on driving an AutoManual (or any other automated gearbox for that matter), however, I have over 25 years of experience driving a real manual with a clutch pedal. To that end, I can offer this advice regarding manually shifting a gearbox (bear in mind, some of this stuff might be Fuzzy:

Upshifts:

If you are just tooling around with no serious intent, shift when crossing over the 2000 rpm boundary.

If you are in traffic, keep the car 1 gear lower than you might otherwise do for the previous example, or shift at more like 2700 rpms (this will give you more ability to squirt into a hole in traffic).

If you are being fairly aggressive with you acceleration, shift anywhere below redline that keeps you within the accelerative area you desire.

If you are trying to hit Mach 2 as quick as possible (preferably with your hair on fire), wind that sucker out to the redline. ;-)

Downshifts:

Slowing down, keep the revs above 2700if you might have to accelerate again at any given moment, keep them below 2700 if you are intending to come to a full stop.

Approaching a corner, prior to entering the turn, downshift to a gear that will give you the type of acceleration you desire through the turn (1st, 2nd or 3rd typically).

Passing, drop a gear or two (or even three if conditions warrant), nail it, and then return to your normally scheduled program.

Downhill, downshift to keep the car at the speed that you desire, however, I would also use the brakes if the hill is steep enough to rev the engine above 4500 rpms.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Shipo

530bmw · March 2002

Thanks everyone who was trying to make me more knowledgable about the gearbox.

Shipo...I will print your instruction and put it in my glove compartment just in case I have to refer to it from time to time. I don't have to worry about reaching Mach2 because I am not sure if I will be able to handle it. I want to take a few small steps first and then I may try to pull a quick one. If I get stopped by a cop I will show him your instruction and say that I am taking a driving ed test conducted by prof. Shipo, you think he will let me get away with that? Fix your brake warning light yet?

sergeym · March 2002

I am going to get a 2002 540ia next week. It is my first BMW and I am somewhat concerned about reliability issues. I am trading my Acura TL-S and I can keep or trade my old 1993 Camry. So I would like to ask current 5-series owners if your cars proved to be reliable enough to serve as a daily driver (20 miles one way to work). I am prepared to have minor issues but it should always be able to get me to work. I also would like to here from current owners if passengers like the ride of the sport package. I am getting it anyway since I like the ride myself but I am not sure others will too. Any info is greatly appreciated.

habitat1 · March 2002

I have a 2000 540i 6-speed that has just under 40k miles and has been my faithful daily driver for over two years. No problems at all, although much of my milage is easy highway driving during non rush hours.

As for passengers complaining about the sport package, it's never happened to me. I am two weeks +/ from delivery of a 2002 M5 that I decided to trade up to. I still expect to put 16-20k+ miles per year on it. It may offer passengers a somewhat rougher ride than the 540i, but if they don't like it, they can walk!

cmr530i · March 2002

You can get some good reliability information from the 2002 annual auto issue of Consumer Reports. I too had concerns about reliability until I did the research. Now I am comfident in the 530.
I have had two adults and two children( not including me as driver) on 1-2 hour trips and everyone loves the ride...smooth...solid.(Only complaint was the slightly cramped quarters with three in the backseat.)
I have owned my 530 since last May and it has driven me to work (17 miles one way) reliably each day. Hope this helps.

shipo · March 2002

bmw530i,

Oh yeah! Every cop in North America knows of Dr. Shipo, they will have no problem letting you off on any ticket when driving per my instructions. Ummmm, NOT! ;-)

As for my brake warning light, its still on, I took off the right rear wheel (the one with the rear sensor) the other day and the pads back there still seem to have some meat on them, so that is not the problem.

I have been more than a little busy this week, so, I will call my dealership early next week and find out if a "Reset" is required by a tech. I will post when I find out.

SergeyM,

I am just finishing up on a lease of a 1999 328i, which has been my daily driver since Jan-1999. So far, I have had to replace the wiper blades a couple of times, the front brakes (just a couple of weeks ago) and a single brake light on each side. In my book, that adds up to a very reliable car for daily transport.

Best Regards,
Shipo

dl7265 · March 2002

I better not start getting crumpled up notes from yall's glovebox signed by Shipo lol .Not that i dont get enough comic relief anyways hah

Take care, '
DL

habitat1 · March 2002

I initially thought you already bought a 540ia and were wondering if you should use it as your daily driver. My previous post stands relative to the "yes" answer I gave.

If, however, you are still deciding between 5-series, I do believe the 530i 5-speed is an excellent choice. The BMW inline 6 will not be quite as expensive to maintain and the 5-speed manual transmission is exceptionally durable. So, if you were asking the question a different way - say, which 5-series would you recommend for someone who wants to keep it fo 8-10 years to the tune of 150-200k miles, I would personally pick a 530i 5-speesd over a 540ia. I would get as much driving enjoyment out of rowing my own on a 530i as I would from the extra horsepower of the 540ia. I even think that the 530ia is an excellent choice, since the 3.0 litre engine remedies the underpowered feel of the 528i quite adequately. And I actually believe that with the sport package, the lighter 530i handles slightly better than the 540i. But that's my subjective assessment; I've never seen an objective side by side test.

In other words, you can't go too wrong with any 5-series, just decide what's right for you. If you've already decided on the 540ia, be assured you can drive it daily without guilt.

Dasto · March 2002

I have a 2002 525i leased. Although I purchased 15K miles a year, I am finding after just three months that 12K a year would be enough. Is there any way to change the lease now and reduce the monthly expense of the extra miles I purchased?

jerry333 · March 2002

A belated "Thank you" for the feedback on wax/cleaners

riez · March 2002

dasto... Interesting question. I'd like to know the answer. I'd do two things. First, pore over your lease contract to see what, if anything it says directly on the subject. Second, contact the leasor directly. Since the lease is a contract, you are bound by its terms. If the terms won't allow you to, then you'd have to get the other party to the contract to agree to change the terms.

I'm guessing you likely are out of luck. This is one of the breaks of leasing. (I'm not a fan of leasing.) If you don't use up the miles, then you are using up less of the vehicle and it will be worth more to its owner (the leasor) when it retakes its car at the end of your agreed to lease period. But, also guessing there is some clause in your lease that lets you buy the car from the leasor at a pre-established already agreed to price. By keeping the miles down, you are raising the value of the car and getting "more" for your money if you decide to buy it outright from the leasor.

Please let us know what you find out.

shipo · March 2002

I am in the last 5 weeks of a lease on a 1999 328i, and I am finding myself in a situation similar to you, I currently have just less than 38,000 on a lease calculated to end with 47,500 miles. I called my leasing company (BancOne), and they could care less, either I re-lease (extra $120 per month for a minimum 13 months extension), buy the car, or give it back to them with no credit for the unused miles. :-(

Given that I must lease for tax reasons (I am a partner in a couple of small businesses), I decided to go with BMW-FS this time around, and to buy only 12,000 miles per year. I was told that if I alert BMW-FS six months before the end of the lease that I would be over mileage, they will charge me $0.16 per estimated mile over the 36,000 mile limit, and then pro-rate the charge over the last six payments. If I wait to the end of the lease, the charge would be $0.20 per mile. The 530i that I have on order will be the fifth car in the last 14 years that I have leased, and the way BMW-FS deals with over mileage is easily the best deal I have encountered to date.

In your case, assuming that BMW-FS is your leaseholder, I would call them and see what their policy is regarding under-mileage cars. I heard a rumor in 1998, when I was shopping for my 328i, that BMW-FS would buyback unused miles at lease end, however, I have never confirmed that statement. The other option, plan a few cross country trips over the next few years, and enjoy the miles that you are paying for. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

zuba · March 2002

As I am still doing my homework on the 530 and some other rides out there - I keep hearing the same thing over and over with the 530 - reliability and dealer service is not that good. Granted reliability is a relative term - but it still sounds like the 530 is The Ultimate Driving Machine - but be prepared for it to be in the shop often. For a 40K plus vehicle I would expect more! Am I wrong, or what!

Any reliability stats out there on the BMW that can help me out, or does anyone else out there agree with me. I will be driving my 530 500-700 miles per week - so reliability is huge to me!!
My 98 Maxima GLE runs every day, no squeeks, clinks, weird sounds, etc.......

If there is one thing Lexus owners praise their cars for it is the reliability of them, and the way they are treated by their dealers!!

Opinions and experiences please!!!

mschukar · March 2002

Any reliability stats out there on the BMW that can help me out

Check out: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=3671

The 5 series ranked 10th out of 194 vehicles in initial quality based on number of reported problems out of 100 vehicles. Granted, a lot of these problems are probably jammed coin holders, but it is a measure of quality.

One comment on quality I've read that sticks in my mind: How many 20-30 year old Japanese sedans (vs. BMW's, Volvo's, etc.) do you see on the road?

-Murray

zuba · March 2002

That is a good start! I don't just mean initial quality - I mean quirks over the first 15-20,000 miles!!

Others - please respond! Especially multiple BMW owners!!

john01 · March 2002

Sorry, it got a bit longer than I wanted.

I have a 95 Integra which was the first new car I bought on my own after college, and still drive it. I have 130,000 miles and the engine is doing quite well, despite my occasional jaunt on the autobahn around 4500 rpm for 2~3 hours. Still, it did have its share of problems and had I not purchased an extended warranty, it would have cost me at least $2,000 more than I spent so far. I took it into dealer for maintenance every 15,000 miles, and each time it cost at least 30% to 40% more than the listed price for the service. There was always something that needed attention and it definitely was not the bullet proof Japanese reliability. This was our family's 4th Honda and the other cars also did cost somewhat.

So, now that I have 530, what do I expect? I expect I will take it in for all scheduled maintenance, plus a bit more frequent fluid change than BMW suggest. I do expect to pay a bit more on each occasion (once out of 40k coverage), but in DC area, the labor rate b/w BMW and Japanese seem to be right up there. If anything, many do comment on how simple it is to work on BMWs.

You must have heard that 530 received highest score ever from the Consumer Report. While I take it with a grain of salt, I think it does say quite a bit about the potential reliability.

You will have to pay attention to thrust arm bushings, door seals, and electrical items. I don't expect to give us major problems, but BMW sacrifice longevity of certain parts for performance and I accept that. Brake pads are soft but work great, it has the perfect (to me anyway) balance b/w handling and comfort but the said bushings WILL go out (you will notice shimmy when it does), and radiator neck is made of plastic (there is a good reason for this but I forgot) and may need replacement sooner or later.

I do not mean to scare you off, but I am giving you what I found through almost 1 year of research. I think these are acceptable maintenance items which usually do not cost much to replace. Also, I feel that these are more than acceptable trade offs for the enjoyment I get from the car.

Conclusion? If you prefer the piece of mind that your car will never let you down or inconvenience you whatsoever, go with Lexus. BMW is like a high maintenance girl friend. You need to give the attention, otherwise......

Dasto · March 2002

Thanks for the responses! Yes, I am leasing with BMW-FS. First ever lease for me. I have always been against them, but my employer just gave me a new perk (auto allowance) so I leased. Shipo, it seems like your idea of calling BMW-FS would be worth a try. You also have a good idea just to enjoy a couple more long range trips. Probably made some first time lease mistakes, but hope to do better next time. I like the option that has mentioned on this board to pay extra down to reduce the money factor. I might try that. Also, I want in a new car every 2 years so I leased for 24 months, but that may not be the best financial strategy.

riez · March 2002

zuba... Check out Intellichoice's data. They used to publish comprehensive 5-year ownership cost data. Looks at big things like depreciation, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Can't remember if they estimate repair costs. I used to read it at the library. Guessing they likely have a web site. Any know?

kdshapiro · March 2002

My own advice is to watch out for the anecdotal stories. For the longest time I wouldn't even look at BMW because I knew one or two people who had problems with theirs, out of the thousands/hundreds of thousands that have sold world-wide. However that being said, you could end up with a lemon with the best of car manufacturers. I myself don't distrust any source like CR or the car mags but I don't trust 'em either and use my best judgement, not those of statistics when making a car purchase.

hefeweizen · March 2002

Pretty good board, a lot of information. I'm looking at buying a 540i with the Steptronic, Sport package, and 36,000 miles. Price is $35,000. From what I can tell on Edmund's this is a good price. Any opinions? The car looks fantastic by the way.

I am buying through a non-bmw dealer, so I am going to purchase a 3rd party warranty to supplement the factory warranty which will expire in December. Suggestions on 3rd party warranties are appreciated.

riez · March 2002

hefeweizen... Not sure there is such a thing as a great 3rd party warranty. You need to do a lot of research. On the company, first & foremost. Then on the contract. Pore over the details to see what is covered and what is not, deductibles, where you can get it serviced, how they reimburse, etc. Then check out their prices. Make sure to then compare to BMW CPO warranty.

Did you consider BMW CPO? Did you try BMW USA's CPO locator? Any price shown for a dealer's car is negotiable. Is a soft market for luxury used RWD cars right now.

How are you paying? Cash? Financing? If financing, what kind of financing deal are you getting? BMW FS offering 3.9 percent on CPO cars. Leasing? You can lease CPOs thru BMW FS.

snagiel · March 2002

I think you and others concerned about reliability get an unrealistic picture just reading the boards here. People by nature complain when things go wrong. They may praise a product that truly excels at something (although studies show they'll do this only 25% as often as complain), but reliability isn't about excelling at something. It's about stuff just not breaking, which doesn't encourage people to publish posts about. So obviously you'll see more comments about stuff breaking than stuff not breaking.

The only "statistic" about reliability that I ever look at--and find meaningful--is from Consumer Reports, which judges the 530i's reliability as "above avergage," which is compiled from many thousands of owners' replies. Take it for what its worth, and don't base your opinions on a handful of individuals' comments.

riez · March 2002

zuba... Have you checked out your local BMW's Service Dept? Have you spoken with any people who get their cars serviced there? Does the dealer seem to treat people decently? Do they provide loaner cars? Guess I don't mind having to have something worked on now and then as long as I'm treated well.

Just last Monday morning I was looking my 540i6 over before going to work when I noticed somehow I had gotten a big screw into my front right tire. I had taken her out on Sunday. Very slow leak. And one of the front headlights had burned out that weekend. I immediately called my local BMW dealer. Asked if they could get me in right away. I had a business trip at 1 PM. They said bring her right over. They fixed the tire (needed only repair and not replacement) and the headlight. They even washed & vac'd her. I was in and out in under an hour. The repair ticket had the word "WAITING" about a half-dozen times all over it. I left a happy camper.

boxster · March 2002

2001 BMW 540iA, 9600 mils, sports package, electric red color, in-dash CD. not CPOed. excellent conditions.
dealer offered $46988 plus tax and documents, is it good?
Thanks a lot!

shipo · March 2002

According to TMV, that is a pretty good price from a non-BMW dealer. Were I in your shoes, I would want to see the service history for the car, and, assuming no major squawks, it sounds like a good deal.

Best Regards,
Shipo

boxster · March 2002

I checked its history, leased in NC in early 2001, sold to CA 1 year later.
I called its local BMW centers both in CA and NC, only serviced light bulb and cup holder.
clean on carfax report.
compared to another offer from a BMW dealer, $37000 for 99 540iA, blue, 43000 miles, CPOed,
I would pay $10K more for this 2001 model.

is there any other way to check the history? the BMW service center said its first servce won;t come until 12000 miles.

Thanks again!!

shipo · March 2002

It sounds like a clean car, given that there is still a considerable amount of life left in the factory warranty, I might be inclined to jump on this car, it sounds like a very nice deal.

As for checking its history, it sounds like you have already found out all there is to discover.

Good Luck.

Best Regards,
Shipo

nyccarguy · March 2002

I don't want to start a new vs. used car debate, but is there any reason you're going to plunk down $47,000 on a used car? I mean granted, it is a good buy (and you're smart to buy after that first year initial depreciation hit) and the car isn't a CPO car, but is still covered under BMW factory warranty up until 4 years/50,000 miles & includes free maintenance up to 3 years/36,000 miles. But for your hard earned money, wouldn't you rather have a brand new, fully loaded 530iA? I'm just curious.

boxster · March 2002

sometime I'm asking the question to myself, too.

first of all, I like 540, and it's almost the only car I'd like to buy for BMW.
secondly, for a brand new 540ia w/ sports, the total cost is at least $10K more.
also, I like that color, which is not offered on brand new anymore.

Here is my story, at the beginnng, I planed to buy a used 540ia under $30K. but after shopping for a while, I found I can only end up w/ a 97-98 model w/ at least 60k miles, no warrant no CPO. then I moved up a bit, and I really liked the sports packge on 99 model, the M wheel and steptronic. so the price is going up to $40K if the mileage in under 40k and if CPOed.
finally I found this car, almost new condition, loaded w/ everything except nav, and I really like the color. it's rare.
I know it sounds stupid to pay $50K for a used car, but I just can't help it.

nyccarguy · March 2002

Just curious, what color? And it is your money, so do whatever the $#&% you want with it! Enjoy the car. Sounds like a good deal to me!

boxster · March 2002

Thank you.

nyccarguy · March 2002

On a 540 huh? Sounds alright to me. Electric Red is the color I plan on getting my 325Ci in when I'm in the market for a new car this fall!

habitat1 · March 2002

Not to pick up where nyccarguy left off, but a new 540iA w/sport package can be had for roughly $50k, including the $1,300 gas guzzler tax if you go ED. That assumes you can get roughly $1,500 over ED invoice, which is what I was quoted last fall on a 2002 530i.

Just wanted to add this "for the record" but the choice is clearly yours and I know ED is not for everybody.

snagiel · March 2002

It sounds like a fair deal, but I'm suspicious as to why it's not CPO'd. CPO is a good sales tool for dealers, and if such a new car wasn't CPO'd it MAY be because it was in a serious accident and is therefore ineligible for the program. Look into it. CarFax may be able to help.

bocata · March 2002

I am booking hotels for a 16-night European trip, starting with 3 nights in Munich. Any recommendations on a hotel? A reasonably priced 3* would do. I get my 530 in late June, the start of the summer high season, so I want start working on this.

BTW, there is a surprisingly high ratio of "signal to noise" (good info to dribble) on this board. Maybe I can contribute more after delivery.

-Bob D.

chesdin4 · March 2002

Bocata, I can't recall the name of the hotel we stayed at, but that's OK because it was only so-so. However, I would strongly advise you to stay somewhere within an easy walk to the "pedestrian zone" that's roughly in the center of the city.

I don't know if you'll have picked up your car yet, but there is so much to do and you won't miss the car. It's kind of a "ball and chain" as in any big city. (We stayed in Munich at the end of our trip and had already dropped the car off.)

BTW, you can work directly with the Munich location of EF Harms to drop your car off on a weekend if that suits you.

Have fun!

boxster · March 2002

That's really tempting.
Here is the invoice price I got from KBB:
2002 BMW 540 iA
invoice: 46750.00
Destination Charge (I can skip that by ED, right?) 645.00
Gas Guzzler  540i 1300.00
ZSP Sport Pkg.  540i w/Auto Trans., 2550.00

car + gas +ZSP, that would be around 50500 already, plus the $1500 over inovice according to you've said, so I can get it around $52000 before tax by ED?
what extra do I have to pay for the ED? any imports fee or sth? I still have to pay local tax, don't I?

also, I have to arrange the trip or they help me. last year I went there for a 2 weeks trip, which was great. But I'm sure what kind of trip I should have for ED.

Thanks

riez · March 2002

boxster... Are you talking about buying it from a BMW dealer or not? If a BMW, then why isn't it CPO? You should ask them about making it CPO. I would only buy CPO from a BMW dealer. And I would be leery about buying any used BMW non-CPO if I planned to keep it for a long time and put a lot of miles on it. Some problems don't show up until after 4 years or 50,000 miles (e.g., some BMW automatics have a propensity to fail in the 80,000-120,000 mile range).

On 12/1/01 my wife bought her '00 323iA from a BMW dealer. Initially they didn't mention CPO issue nor do I think they were going to. It was only after I specifically brought it up and said she'd only buy a used BMW from a BMW dealer that was CPO did the issue come up. They they agreed to make it CPO. I had them write it into the contract. Car had 18,000 miles on it. I clearly remember the salesperson and later the finance person (the real closer) ask why was that important. Told 'em I wanted the car under warranty for the additional 2 years and 50,000 miles of CPO coverage that was in addition to the original 4 year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. No CPO, no deal! They worked the deal.

boxster · March 2002

this 2001 540 is not from BMW dealers. it's from another dealer which sells a lot of import cars.
They can't CPO the car. I checked the dealership, they are quite big one. I also checked the car carfax report, it's clean.
actually I think I can only get this price for this car in non-BMW dealers w/o CPO, otherwise this car could cost same as new one.(trust me, I know the price of CPOed BMW in my area, they are quite expensive, and the BMW dealers are arrogant).
It;s not CPOed, and still has 3 years on warranty. I don;t know how long I will keep it, maybe I will sell it then.
CPO or not, BMW dealer or not, this is the most intriguing problem for me buying this car.
sigh, nothing can be perfect

riez · March 2002

boxster... You won't know the real price of a CPO BMW unless you slog it out in some dealers' salesrooms! When I went looking for my CPO 540i6 I found about 8 within 600 mile radius. I contacted multiple dealers. I made them all offers. The dealer I ended up buying mine from dropped almost $1,000 off the BMW USA CPO locate website price in response to my first offer. Then we got down to brass tacks and my trade in. What do you have to lose, some time? Negotiate hard. Now is a soft market for used RWD luxury-performance cars!!!

Are you paying cash? Financing thru the dealer? If you go BMW CPO, you can finance thru BMW FS. Buy or lease. Right now BMW FS offering 3.9 percent. Can you get that from your bank or credit union? Or thru the dealer?

bocata · March 2002

From page 2 at http://www.eurobuyers.com/pricing/pricing20025.pdf you have:

$43,330 540iA (ED Invoice)

$02,550 ZSP

$01,300 gas guzzler

$00,xxx luxury tax (not sure how to get this)

$00,645 destination (yes, it's required)

$00,200 advertising (depends on area)

$01,500 dealer markup (or whatever you negotiate)

Total and add local taxes. Shipping, insurance in Europe, etc. are included.

-Bob D.

shipo · March 2002

For 2002, the Luxury Tax is calculated as follows:

(NegotiatedPrice - 38000) * .03

In the case of the above car, it would be: $306.75 (assuming I keyed in the numbers correctly) ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

boxster · March 2002

wow, their invoice is really low.

boxster · March 2002

Hi, riez.

I tried. I have been sitting in BMW sales office twice. one in Santa Clara, one in Berkerley.
They don't give up much. they asked $43000 for a 99 540iA sports w/ 28K miles, and they just sticked on it. I can't believe that. Another one in Berkerley as I mentioned, $38000 for a 99 540iA sports w/ 43K.. I offered $37000, but they didn't accept it. both are CPOed
sigh...
I will pay cash, but that 3.9% for 48 months offer is really attractive.

boxster · March 2002

I'm not citizen yet, and I have to apply schengen visa.
I applied last time I went there, not a big deal, but still a hassle.
also, I'm kind of person who don't like to mix car purchase with a vacation trip. I feel like I have to think about the car pretty much while I can't fully enjoy the vacation. plus my family are a little concerned about flying over there under the current situation :0
anyway, we'll consider ED, too. I'll try to bargin more for the red 540i in the mean time.
driving a brand new bimmer on autobann is fun. last time I tried 200+ kmph in a Saab 9-5 there, but I still got my [non-permissible content removed] kicked by numerous Audi(IMO, they are the most aggressive cars on Autobann, over BMW and Porsche)

cdnpinhead · March 2002

1) Leases -- It's interesting that those who rent (lease) cars care about a rebate if they don't drive the contracted miles. It's a business deal, much like a medical savings plan in today's IRS world. If you guess wrong, you lose. Another option: you could actually buy the car.

2) Reliability -- This is a huge one for me. I've learned to really enjoy European cars (especially Audi . . . sorry), but I haven't found anyone who will praise European reliability. What many do is denegrate vehicles that actually demonstrate reliability by referring to them as "appliances." Here's my put: reliability falls into three categories: a) Infant Mortality -- anything that packs up in the first year. In this price range, you'd like to think there won't be anything here -- I'm stunned by the number of owners of cars in this class who are pleased that their vehicle has managed to get through the first 8500 (or 1200, or 835) miles -- they seem to feel that a month without a visit to the dealer is a blessing. b) Warranty Range -- the folks who rent (lease) their cars survive here, and even those who buy are still pretty happy here (hey, the manufacturer pays). Help me understand how one values the time it takes to get the car to the dealer and put up with all that then ensues. Being one of the unwashed, I'm extremely intolerant of this. I just want my car to work -- the fact that the manufacturer pays is interesting, but doesn't help with the loaner and lost time. c) Exceeds Customer Expectations -- Here's where what I consider true reliability comes into being. If the car you bought (or rented) takes you to the dealer less often, costs you less over the long term, or just pleases you beyond what you thought it would, you're going to fall into this category. These are the Toyota or Datsun weenies who brag about a vehicle that's still running after 200K (or 400K) miles. I recognize that I'm one in 12,313 (always use prime numbers) visitors to this board who even understands (let alone appreciates) this concept. When my 1993 240Z ran happily to 225K miles (this was well before Toyota & Honda taught the unwashed masses to expect this), I was ready to write a testimonial (didn't, because I was lazy then, as now). The bar is higher these days (or maybe not, for cars "in this class"), but what if someone posted in praise of a RWD sports sedan with 250+ hp and a standard transmission that ran to 200K miles with only shock/tire/filer/oil-type of replacements? Think it'd compete? Maybe we'll get a chance to find out.

3) Consumer Reports -- I bought a Lincoln LS partly because CS (isin't that an apropos acronym?) rated it highly. Moments (well, months, actually) later, they considered the LS unworthy (based on reliability. . .go figure). This stuff seems to happen regularly. I bought a Chrysler product in 1995 based on a similar CS recommendation. Anyone buying a $25 - 60K car based on CR recommendations is, to put it kindly, a naive individual. Buying trash bags based on CR data is possibly a good idea. Otherwise. . . Yeah, I'm a moron for listening to CS twice in a row. Please don't follow my example. . .even once.

4) Colours -- The BMW "Electric Red" rocks. I've jabbed the Lincoln board to no end regarding the metalflake (easier to hide defects) colours. I may end up having my LS repainted with the BMW (or similar solid) colour. On another board, someone was asking what orange-peel was. Ignorance is bliss

I mean no offense. Those on this board are aware (or should be) that the BMW is the standard. Others tilt at your windmill. Many of us choose to spend less. Bear with us.

Your car rules.

BMW 5-Series Sedans

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