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The 525 and 530 should have the same gearing, but there are more engines offered in Germany, e.g. a 520, 535, and diesels. See the BMW interaktiv / Car Configurator at www.bmw.de for complete details.
P.S. -- Drove to the BMW store at lunch yesterday to try out a Mini Cooper. The demo car was out, but I asked a salesman if there will be a Mini ED program, and he said it should be in place by year's end. Let's see . . . the wife wants to get back to Europe . . . a no-options Mini at ED pricing, off-season airfare to Munich, Christmas week in Germany . . .
If you park outside for extended periods of time during the day, I'd recommend getting a good car cover (the BMW one, which fits well, is $200) and apply it (which will protect from both sun and the elements). Granted, it's a pain to put on and remove every time, but if the car's going to sit there for several hours every day, it's worthwhile insurance.
Personally, on a slighly related topic, I'm rather p---ed off today since I've experienced my first ding (from another car). I've been so careful about parking it as far away from other cars as reasonably possible in almost every lot I park in, but after six months of ownership the odds finally caught up with me. Man, it pains me to look at it, even though it is admittedly minor. I'll head to Dent Wizard first thing Tuesday and report on their work.
Car ------- Diff -- Top Gear -- Revs/Mile -- RPMs@100
M5 ---------- 3.15 -- 0.83 -- 807.00 -- 3516.50
525i --------- 3.15 -- 1.00 -- 806.00 -- 4231.50
530i --------- 2.93 -- 1.00 -- 806.00 -- 3935.97
540i6 ------- 2.81 -- 0.83 -- 827.00 -- 3214.69
525iA ------- 3.46 -- 0.74 -- 806.00 -- 3439.47
530iA ------- 3.38 -- 0.74 -- 806.00 -- 3359.95
540iA ------- 2.81 -- 0.80 -- 806.00 -- 3019.81
525i SP ---- 3.15 -- 1.00 -- 822.00 -- 4315.50
530i SP ---- 2.93 -- 1.00 -- 822.00 -- 4014.10
525iA SP -- 3.46 -- 0.74 -- 822.00 -- 3507.75
530iA SP -- 3.38 -- 0.74 -- 822.00 -- 3426.64
540iA SP -- 3.15 -- 0.80 -- 827.00 -- 3473.40
Best Regards,
Shipo
On to the driving; I have already put a couple of hundred miles on the clock since Thursday evening, and my impressions are interestingly different from what they were in Europe. Now that I am driving on familiar roads, it seems that I am now better able to compare the 530i with my old 328i, in terms of handling and performance. Simply put, the 530i SP blows the 328i non-SP away in the handling department. In the acceleration department, I suspect that the 530i has a slight advantage over the 328i, until 70 or so, however, once into the mid 70s, it’s all over for the 328i, the 530i just has that much more power. In fact, yesterday afternoon, I hopped on the NY Thruway for a quick trip to our local MB dealership (long story), and as there were few if any other cars around, I had little to judge my speed by. When I casually glanced at the Speedometer, I was stunned to find that I was going just a little over 100 mph! The 530i is that much quieter than the already quiet (in my opinion) 3-Series, this could become a problem, I am going to have to keep a sharp eye on the Speedo, until I get familiar with driving it around here.
Handling: Hmmm, would my 530i SP keep up with a 325i SP on a tight twisty road course? Maybe, would it keep up with a 330i on the same road course? Probably not. Having put a 325i SP through its paces, it would seem to have an advantage in the transition (L-R-L transitions), and a slight advantage once settled into the curve, however, the 530i has more power, which might make up at least some of the difference. I have never put a 330i through its paces, however, given its smaller size, lighter weight, along with all of the rest of the basic E46 goodness, I am sure that the 530i SP would be no match for the 330i SP.
Luxury: The first thing a former 3-Series driver notices when getting into a 5er with both PP and SP, is the level of luxury. This is a Luxury car first, and a sporting one second, and to that end, it really fits my “Mid-40s” sense of balance between the two. Sometimes, it is the little things that matter the most. Case in point, I have driven a 3-Series equipped with the SP on two occasions (some of y’all might remember one of them from early last December when Brave1heart and I swapped cars), and one of the little annoying things I noticed on SP equipped E46s, was that when I get in and out of the car, maneuvering my thighs between the seat bolsters and the steering wheel (which I like to set low) was a bit of a pain. This may not be a problem for most folks, however, unfortunately, after many years of some serious cycling, my thighs are uncomfortably round, and so, the 5er fits me better. Why? Simple, when you shut off the 530i, the power tilt feature of the 5-Series, automatically moves the wheel to its upper stops, and then brings it back down when you restart the car, making ingress and egress much easier for me.
A couple of other small items have made their presence pleasantly know to me as well, the first being the two-zone climate control (you E36 3-Series drivers will be shocked to discover that the E46 only has one zone for its climate control). Finally, I can set my wife’s side of the car to 74, and leave my side at 65, that puts a smile on both of our faces. ;-) The next cool thing is how the steering wheel controls work with the preset radio stations. In the 3-Series, the head unit allows for something like 12 AM preset stations and 18 FM presets. Of those, they are broken into chunks of 6 at a time, so, the buttons on the wheel that allow you to step to each of your presets only works on 6 stations at a time. The 5-Series head unit on the other hand, has the same number of presets, however, the groupings are two sets of 6 for AM (AM1 & AMA) and one set of 12 and another set of 6 for FM (FM1 and FMA), so, with the 5er, your wheel buttons can scroll through all 12 of the non-FMA presets. I really like that.
Well, it is getting late, so I will close here. I will keep y’all posted as other observations come to me. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
The problem is finding them. My local dealer has none, there are a few at a dealer 45 minutes away but all have sport packages. Pricing seems non-negotiable until we find a car. So could I please ask some quick questions:
1) Boston has terrible streets and I prefer a softer ride after selling my harsh 92 911 last year. What do people think about the necessity of the sport package on the 540? I drove a sport and it handled well and was reasonably comfortable though noticably stiffer than the non sport 530. But it adds $3800 to the price with $2500 for the option and $1300 for the gas guzzler tax, requires snows, the tires wear out faster, the wheels are subject to damage in potholes due to the lower profile and has lower ground clearance. I have not been able to test a non-sport 540 driving hard, nor do i think I could get an accurate read with a salesperson along which is how they test drive around here.
Do most 540's go with sport or non sport? The dealer here says they sell almost all of theirs with sport. But then I'm thinking that all they have left are sports so maybe they sell the non sports first? Is that paranoid or what?
Since I am having trouble finding a car, I am thinking about ordering one and since I travel to Germany regularly for work, this ED option sounds great. Someone mentioned tax savings -- could someone tell me what taxes are saved ED? Luxury? Gas? That could make a big difference.
Finally, how long will it be before the new 5 series comes out. I've heard it will be either 2003 or 2004. I'd hate to pay this kind of money for a car and wish I had waited 6 or 9 months. If it's 2004 that's ok.
Thanks for all the help! Good driving,
Current rumors are that the new 5 (E60) will be model year 2004, available Sep. 2003, but perhaps in short supply for a while.
Just a thought.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Happy Motoring.
http://www.bmw2002.co.uk/news.htm
by the way thanks all for the rpm info. you folks are cool. i am enjoying this forum.
Happy Motoring.
http://www.bmw2002.co.uk/news.htm
First, remember that all 6-speed 540i's already have the sport package "standard." If you're interested in having a stick on the 540, there's no other option. I agree there are additional up-front as well as ongoing service costs associated with the sport package, but they are well worth it IMO. I'd rather have a loaded 530i sport than a bone-stock 540iA non-sport (which is exactly what I did), although Riez would say the opposite. It depends on your priorities and "needs": the 530 will handle slightly better (not only because of the sport package, but because of the lower weight and better balance as well), whereas the 540 will have more grunt. It's your call.
As for what dealers have, I have no clue what the ratio of sport to non-sport 540i's they order. If you can afford to wait, I'd recommend ordering exactly what you want from Germany and not be settle for whatever inventory the local dealer happens to have.
As for the E60, general consensus among virtually all automotive journals says the next 5-series will be introduced at the Frankfurt show next September, with the European debut shortly thereafter. We can expect to start seeing them in the US in early 2004 (perhaps as a 2004.5 model, since I doubt they'll continue badging the E39's shipped here after next September as "2003 MY").
1. If you are price sensitive about 540i6 or 540iA w/SP, then have you considered a CPO one? Say a MY 2000? Great way to get a nice 540i6!
2. Are you looking for an automatic or manual? If the latter and all you want is the extra grunt, then a base 540iA will be more than enough. (And if you want a valuable upgrade, you could add a Quaife limited slip differential along with revised final drive. This way you won't pay any federal gas guzzler tax but get most of the benefits of the 540iA Sport Pkg.)
3. My 540i6 turns over only about 3,000 RPMs at 100 mph. And she gets about 24-25 mpg on interstate cruising at 74 mph on cruise control.
Yes, I think the base 540iA is to be preferred over a similar MSRP loaded 530iA. The engine makes a world of difference. But if you go Sport Pkg, then manual is only way to go. Again, I much prefer the more powerful 540i6. Drive one for 10,000 miles and you'll know why!
Do you any of you fine gentlemen know if there are currently any special APR's for CPO financing thru BMW ?
I posted on the "Smart Buyer" side under "financing and incentives" but haven't heard anything.
TIA,
metmdx
Best Regards,
Shipo
Are the engines the same?
Do they use regular oil or synthetic? Which type is recomended from BMW?
What are problem areas for each year?
How is the 5 speed manual transmission in 528's?
What is the high maintenance item in these cars?
How durable is the leather?
What are the improvements and added standards from one year to another that is worth considering one year over another?
Thanks,
1) I do not believe that the 1997 was available with the Sport Package.
2) Starting in 1999, the 2.8 liter engine was upgraded with "Double VANOS" (dynamic valve timing), which bumped the power a little and offered better gas mileage.
Synthetic oil: I know that from (at least) 1999, BMW requires the use of a full synthetic oil. I am unsure what the requirements were prior to then.
Problem areas: The 1997 (released in early 1996) was known to have a number of problem areas. In 1998, most (if not all) of the problems had been sorted out, and by 1999, the car became a model of reliability.
The 5-Speed transmission (same as I had in my 328i and have in my 530i) is a wonderful unit, however, never compare it to the Mazda gearbox from an old RX-7. ;-)
High maintenance: Hmmm, if you have the Sport Package, the tires.
Leather: When I turned in my 1999 328i (similar leather), it looked almost as good as new, without ever being maintained.
One year over the next: If for no other reason, I would get the 1999 for the engine.
Best Regards,
Shipo
1. Rubber Door seals need to be lubricated time to time to keep from drying out and squeaking. Use Gummi-Pflege from the dealer or Vaseline.
2. Front end shimmy - BMWs are well known for fine handling and balance, and also have low tolerance for variations on suspension components set up, including wheels/tires. Most seem to be caused by balance, and lower arm bushing wear. My 3 months old have vibration with a new set of winter tires, but it is glass-smooth with the sport tires.
There are more, but I would not say it is any more than any other car on the market now. Just make sure the car has a good maintenance record.
At any rate, I paid a visit to one of the Dent Wizard locations nearby, and discovered that their name is not all marketing gimmickry. In all of 12 minutes, they removed not only the ding itself but virtually all of the scratch at its epicenter. Their waiting room was like a Ritz Carlton compared to most auto service joints, replete with carpeting, nice leather chairs, super clean rest rooms, a big tv, phone/fax, etc. Oh, yeah, they charged Ritz prices, too: $99 for those precious 12 minutes of labor. Then again, they also politely gave me a bottled water, so that brings the service cost down to $97.50. To be fair, though, they were upfront about the costs and that price covers up to 3 moderate dings per panel (whatever punk swatted my door could have done so another couple of times and not cost me more).
"Seeing a straight body panel... Priceless" ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Shipo, Snagiel, etc. - Is there supposed to be a written warranty booklet from Michelin/Continental included in that case?
Can you list the manuals you got so we know we're not missing anything else?
Thanks.
Another thing, do you know if, in general, BMW offers special pricing on just released models through its European Delivery Program? I've seen on their website, that they don't offer it for the new 7-series. Is that just in this particular case or is it normal for every new model that comes out, considering the strong demand, they might not want to give the usual discount. Otherwise, I would strongly consider the European delivery program as I am often in Germany anyway.
Any information from your side would be greatly appreciated!
- Owner's manual (US 5-series) (worth reading, by the way)
- Service and warranty information (Z3 2.5/3.0, M roadster, M coupe and 5 series)
- Caring for your vehicle (short pamphlet)
- BMW Center Directory (US/Canada)
- Owner's Manual for Radio
- Roadside assistance card
I also got the DSP sampler CD, as well as a VHS videotape about all the features of the car (worth watching if your dealer gives you a really quick introduction).
Good question about the tire warranty; I didn't get one, so I'm not sure if one belongs there or not.
Based upon what I have read, I would not bet on seeing the new E60 before late 2003, at the earliest. That said, I am just like virtually every other non-insider in that I have no concrete data.
ek5,
I will check the list of goodies in my manual cases when I get home today. Stay tuned.
Best Regards,
Shipo
First, nobody's sure about the E60 debut, since BMW hasn't made any announcements. However, given insider leaks and the relative dearth of REAL spy shots, it's practically impossible the E60 will be introduced this fall.
Virtually all mainstream automotive media says it will be introduced in Frankfurt in September, 2003. And US introduction almost always lags behind Europe, for various legal/logistic/marketing reasons, so we can expect it to arrive on these shores no earlier than January 2004, in my estimation, perhaps as a 2004.5 model.
Good question about ED pricing. I'm not sure if the new 7 series is available with discount, but it probably is (only the M cars are not). I'm sure a good dealer can tell you.
My suggestion: Go over to www.carcareonline.com. They have great articles and good prices on a variety of cleaning materials and tools. And they give frank advice about which products are better than others. I've followed their advice and have been very pleased with the results. For what it's worth, I've gone with the following supplies: Excel file.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I hope this helps shed some light on the product.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Regards,
metmdx
How important is it for you to be driving the current model? It seems like there are many out there who are about to buy a new 5 in the full knowledge that BMW will superannuate your car in the near future. How do you factor that in?
1) So far at least, I think the images that we have seen of the new E60 are "Butt Ugly".
2) While I had very good luck with my early production E46 328i (built in December 1998), I am not so sure I want to be saddled with a first year E60 due to all of the new stuff being developed for that car.
3) I REALLY LIKE the looks of the "Lifted" 2001 and later E39 5-Series.
4) The lease was up on my 328i, and my leasing company wanted an extra $110 per month for a 13 month extension, taking it to $60 per month more than my lease payment for my 530i.
5) Let's assume that over time the new E60 "Grows on me" (as Mr. Bangle insists it will), the lease on my current 530i will be up in the spring of 2005 (only the second model year of the E60), a perfect time to get the new car.
All of that said, I am half suspecting that I will need to keep my E39 530i until the E60 replacement comes along in about 2011. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo