It's hard to put a $ value on it. It does work as advertised and is very useful for parallel parking as well as when backing out of head-in parking places when there isn't a lot of space behind you. I would get it again next time.
I have a 2000 540i SP and although it is virtually fully optioned, the car did not have PDC and I often wish I had PDC. I initially felt it was a frivolous option but not so now.
I agree; Overall, I'm glad I opted for the system. Its only annoyance is the fact that it turns on automatically when you start the car (in addition to turning on automatically when you engage reverse, which is almost always a good thing). While this may be appropriate if you usually park in tight spots, more often than not it'll start to beep as soon as the engine starts because of a bush or the curb is within a couple feet of the front bumper. Again, overall I find it helpful, but I'm just being frank about its tendencies.
Hey guys, I have been a long time fan of BMW's but after I got married I assumed that it would remain a dream. My wife was such a big spender that I was never able to build up enough savings to buy the car of my dreams. Well, in 2001 I got divorced. Well, one year later after fighting becoming one of the 70% or men who file for bankruptcy after divorce, I have paid off all my debt and starting building my cushion again. Well I started looking at cars on Ebay, thinking maybe I could get a great deal. I need your help to tell me if this is a good deal.
1998 BMW 528i 5sp, black with black leather, CWP and PP. It has everything except CD changer, which I really would have liked but can't complain. The car is a previous CPO from 2000, it has 80,000, it still has the 6 yr/100,000 mile warranty which I was told is transferable. I ended up paying $16,500.00, do you guys think that is a good deal. Also, what should I be looking for, he had some chips on the front of the hood from highway driving and he got that professionally fixed at the dealership body shop. I looked it over and compared it from previous pictures and it looks really good. The exterior is immaculate and the interious is immaculate except for a minor scuff in the middle of the front passenger seat.
From the info you've posted it would seem that you got a great deal ! 16.5 K is way below Edmund's TMV of 23.5 K. Not knowing anymore info than what you posted there might be unknown issues , but at the price you paid I think you are way ahead of the game. These cars are so good that they just last and last. The mileage does seem a little high to me but that's OK too. Good luck. Enjoy !
I drove a 1973 Bavaria 3.0 over 150,000 miles; ditto for a 1987 535is. Last I heard the 5er had gone over 300,000 miles and needed a head gasket and a valve job. I plan to run both my 1995 318ti as well as my wife's 528i to 150,000 at least.
What other factors are there that I might be leaving out? I want to make sure that I covered all the bases. Also, I still need to make sure that the warranty is transferable. Yeah, the mileage is high, but he told me that when he bought the car in 2000 it had 25000 miles on it. He put 50,000 miles on it in two years. The reason is that he lives in the Detroit metro area, but he was working in the Lansing area. For all of you who aren't up on Michigan geography, that is about 1 hour away if you are doing 65 or so. That means that he was putting on almost 130 miles or more a day. I hope to have this car for some time, definitely a year or two after it is paid off. I hope it holds out that long.
I have driven BMW's since 1975. The first being the Bavaria 3.0 - loved it but had to sell after 2 years as I was going overseas. My most recent two BMW's are the e34 525iA with over 155k miles with no work done on the engine or transmission (A/C is another matter) and it still runs strong and burns no oil between services. I drove about 50 miles daily while commuting. This is presently my daughter's car. My current e39 540i has very few miles on it and I plan on keeping it for a VERY LONG time.
My wife's 86 528e has 190k. It's been very reliable. It's failed to go only 3 times in 16 years. Once, the thermostat stuck and caused overheating. Two times, the battery failed, although in both cases, warning signs were there.
Advice: establish a relationship with the dealer or a "good" BMW mechanic and get it properly serviced. It costs more that way, but you won't be trading cars every two or three years, so you can save in the long run.
Hey guys, thanks for the advice. I am not too worried about the mileage. It is at 80,000 right now, but 50,000 of those were highway miles and the car has always been serviced at the local dealership so all the service records are there. The best thing so far is that it is still under the CPO warranty for another 2 years or 20,000 miles. That has given me peace of mind because eventhough the exterior and interior are immaculate and the car drives and runs perfect now, there are a lot of mechanical and electrical parts that could go bad. I haven't driven a BMW since I was a valet back in 95 so I have never driven the car I am about to buy until Friday. Man I was totally impressed with how quiet it was and how smooth and solid the car felt.
i have a 1994 540i with only a cassette/radio. but it is wired for the factory cd changer in the trunk. optimally, i would like a cd player/radio up in the front. but i'm worried about the potential rewiring costs and dangers of putting in a decent aftermarket cd player/radio up front. what do you think my best option is? should i just go with the factory cd changer in the trunk or go with a new aftermarket receiver up in the front? thanks a lot.
I'm sure a factory CD changer mounted in the rear would be much easier (and cheaper) than either a factory CD-player head unit (if one exists) or a 3rd-party CD-equipped head unit, which might sound good but would almost certainly look tacky in your dash. I'd suggest posting up at http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e34/, as they have a large number of E34 owners who've done custom audio work. Good luck.
plasticmd... Just stick with the recommended octane as per the owner's manual. If it says use 91 octane, then use 91 octane (or higher but not lower). Your engine is tuned for optimum output at that octane. Using lower than recommended octane can lead to reduce output and lower fuel economy. (But using higher than recommended octane is unlikely to do much good. That is why you buy what BMW recommends.) Anyone who can afford to drive a BMW, can afford to buy the proper gasoline. Would you buy cheap tires? Oil? Ride with low air pressure? Worn shocks? Don't get cheap with your gasoline.
I agree completely with Riez. Advanced anti-knock sensors in the engine will prevent knocks/pings (which can be very harmful, especially over the long run). But they will retard valve timing and sparkplug detonation to protect the engine, which effectively will reduce the engine power by 5-10 percent (or even more under extreme circumstances).
As for steptronic, it's purely up to you. In my 10-minute test-drive of both a 530iA and a 540iA, I tinkered with the "manual" control but quickly found it no more satisfying than just letting the computer decide (since it maintains its "trust me, I know what I'm doing" attitude even in the manual mode).
Hi all, Was checking about the possibility of a set of winter tires in tirerack.com. My 530i (non-sport) has the stock 225/55R16 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 on it.
On tirerack, I found these Pirrelli "winter 210 snowsport" ones. And then when I saw the ratings of each tire for various traction, I got confused!
What I found is, even through, the pirrelli is a "winter" tire, in every aspect (including the dry traction, cornering stability, steering response, ride comfort, noise comfort and thread wear) it is rated better than my "Grand Touring All season" michelins. Of course, not to mention about the wet and snow traction, which is far far better in pirrelli (true to its catagory).
Now, my question is, if I put these pirrellis, will it give me better performance even in dry condition (in summer)? And hence, can I keep these ones always?
Also, wanted to know putting these winter tires without any steel wheels - is it enough to drive on occasional snow? I live in SFO bay area (where we don't get snow). But, I expect to have few trips to the mountains for skiing etc.
I live in Atlanta, so I don't have the joy of toggling winter tires every year. But I grew up (and started driving) in Boston and am well aware of the difference a good set of winter tires can make. I'm not familiar with the Pirellis you mention, but in general I respect the surveys and road test write-ups which TireRack.com provides.
Now, about the survey numbers. Here's two somewhat contradictory things to keep in mind: First, it's most helpful and appropriate to compare survey results between tire models within the same category. If a winter tire scores an 8 for dry handling, and a summer tire scores a 7.5, I'd bet good money the summer tire will easily outhandle the winter one (on a dry road). People tend to give rankings relative to their expectations and the tire's intended category. Summer and winter tires easily fall into opposite categories, but the ubiquitous "all-seasons" are by nature vaguely-defined, so expectations are broader.
Now, for the second point: Don't read too much into the categories. It's not unheard of for, say, a "High Performance" tire to outperform an "Ultra High Performance" tire. These categories reflect not only the tire's intended category, but the marketing positioning, its pricing, and some other variables as well.
I'd suggest reading the surveys, but not placing all your faith there. Try finding as much information as you can, and solicit feedback here (which you've already done) and on other message boards as well.
I'm sure some read and dismiss all this work as overkill, but realize that tires are the only thing between you, your passengers, an expensive two-ton machine, and all sorts of roads, road conditions, and road speeds. It's hard to overstate their importance.
I usually drive my 530iA in S mode. That way, it's at the ready to shift "manually" when conditions warrant, e.g. to get a quicker downshift for acceleration than kickdown provides. The M mode in the Step or any other manumatic is no substitute for a true stick shift, though, which is why I seldom use it.
I know, the 530 is awesome and I love it too......but today I drove the X5 and really really liked it. Liked sitting high, and the slight advantage AWD will have for me in the snow. Any of you 5ers ever drive the X5, and if so, what did you think of it compared to the 530, 525, 528? Thanks
I hear favorable comments about the high sitting position all the time when people justify buying SUV's (or SAV's, excuse me), and honestly I don't get it. Sure, the greater visibility when making turns between other tall trucks comes in handy, but most of the time it feels like I'm riding in a bus. Or, more precisely, I feel like I'm riding on top of a car, instead of inside one.
But I digress. I recently drove both the X5 3.0 and 4.4 for the Susan G. Komen "Drive for a Cure" event. Good part: they handled better than every other SUV I've driven (far better than my brother-in-law's Explorer). Bad part: They're heavy, tall, slow, and less voluminous than you might think or hope. Against the 530i 5-speed, only the X5 4.6is (nearly $70k) is faster, and that's one confused vehicle. The X5 4.4 I drove was reasonably quick; even the 3.0 was acceptable for gradual acceleration, but when flooring it for a quick lane change, the truck's 4500 pounds become painfully evident. And quick turns also expose the weight penalty over the much thinner 5-series. The cargo bed of the X5 (69 cu ft) is barely bigger than the 5-series sportwagon's (64 cu ft). (The 540iT I drove was much more fun than the X5 4.4.)
So, the only real virtues I'll grant to the X5 are 4x4 prowess and significantly greater towing capabilities. To those strengths, respectively, I say: Invest in good winter tires for a 5-series, and you'll be fine in anything but blizzard conditions. And, if I needed a vehicle to tow a trailer around on anywhere near a regular basis, I'd probably choose a beater Ford truck for the job.
I also drove X5 during Susan G. Komen event. I only drove 4.4. X5 is too heavy for 3.0-liter engine. All I can say I liked it very, very much and if I could afford another car it would be X5 4.4 (better 4.6). It is very comfortable, handles well for a truck and is pretty fast. It will beat any 6 cyl 5-series to 60 mph and is decently fast to 90 mph. At higher speeds the large frontal area hurts the acceleration somewhat but a midrange response is very good. I had a nice run with 2002 Maxima SE and he could not lose me. So I would peak X5 4.4 over 6-cyl 5-er any day of week, especially when it is snowing. It is only about 5-7K more than a loaded 530.
While the 4.4 packs a lot of torque (and is certainly "decently fast"), the numbers speak for themselves. (A respectably driven manual Maxima can hustle to 60 in about six seconds flat, so either he wasn't trying, or didn't know how to shift.) And that's just acceleration; the X5 4.4 weighs over 4,800 pounds, essentially a half-ton heavier than a 540i, and 1,300 pounds(!) heavier than a 530i. Either one will easily outhandle the X5 and with better precision and balance to boot. Oh, and let's not forget an additional penalty of all that weight: fuel economy is 15/20 (cty/hwy) for the X5 3.0, and a rather dismal 13/17 for the 4.4. And I wouldn't treat "5-7K" difference so trivially; that's a good chunk of change.
If I were to get the X5 -it would be the 3.0. Guess I have to disagree as I thought it had plenty of power. Sure - more power like the 4.4 would be great, but do I need it and is it worth the extra 4-7K?
I have a 530iA which I just absolutely am crazy about. A few weeks ago I "sat" a 3.0 X 5 for 3 weeks and just enjoyed it so much. I still prefer my car to it but can easily see why you would be taken by it. Riding up high is pretty awesome and the ride is very good, a little "trucky " for my tastes but all in all the best of all the SUV (SAV's) out there. If it appeals to you, I say GO for IT. The 3.0 is power enough, I agree.
I check out Tire Rack quite a bit for information and find the tire surveys extremely interesting and informative. I don't believe you can compare tires,though, from one classification to another,especially summer and winter tires ! Snagiels comments are pretty salient in this matter. Thanks again to all who post here, generally enjoy the info and input and really learn a lot. Thanks again.
We considered replacing our SUV with a X5 4.4 last year. We didn't and here's why:
Make no mistake, the X5 is not an all weather, all terrain SUV. The 19"/20" wheels and low profile tires might look great, but this vehicle is very squirrely on the snow and ice, and even heavy rain. BMW has made an excellent handling fair weather vehicle. That's it.
Size/seating is limited. This is a "compact" SUV at best. The amount of stuff it can carry is limited, as is it's 5 person seating capacity.
Performance is good for an SUV, but I have an M5. So, I don't need to win any races with a "truck". But, for anyone considering a 530i with a 5-speed and sport, there is no comparison relative to handling, acceleration and overall driving enjoyment. The 530i wins hands down.
Our verdict was to keep our current SUV (Range Rover 4.6 HSE) another year or two. I would actually consider an E320 Wagon with 4-matic over the X5 (that's painful for me to admit). The E320 can carry 2 more people (albeit, kids) and stuff. It doesn't match a 530i in any performance category, but it matches or beats the X5 4.4 in all. Including about double the gas milage and lower depreciation.
Thanks for the reassurance. I have been racking my brain to figure out why this guy is no only letting this car go at a good price, but why is he helping expidite things as well. He is paying for the Fed Ex of the payoff check to BMW and the Fed Ex of the release of lien back to my bank so that I can register the car ASAP. He didn't have to do that if he didn't want to. He could have just gotten his check and handed the keys over and said see ya. Have fun registering the car in 14 days according to BMW. I am so glad that this car still has the extended warranty for 6yr/100k miles because every time I ask myself if I checked something I just say that it will be covered under the warranty. I didn't get much sleep last night because I am so excited to pick up my first BMW tonight, even if it is a used one. One day I will buy a new one, or atleast a CPO that is more recent. I am cheap so I can't really talk myself into taking the depreciation hit on a new car again. I am very luck with my Honda, I hope to get at least 10,500 for my 2000 Honda Civic Si. I ended up buying that car new, but I am anxious to sell it now.
... get an SUV", in my opinion. We have a 530 5-speed and a Ford Expedition. One's for commuting (and fun), the other for hauling ridiculously large loads from Home Depot...!
You are most likely correct, and today I am fighting the internal battle of X5 vs 530, X5 3.0 vs. 4.4, and then 530 Auto vs. Manual and to go Sport or not! I will be driving this vehicle for work (Outside Sales) 30K miles per year, and I live near Chicago (snow). Do I want a manual when I am on the phone constantly? Wow - now I have a headache!
If I were you, I'd get a 530i 5-speed sport with a voice activated hands free phone system (BMW or aftermarket). I'd also get a set of steel rims and snow tires for worst of the winter.
I drive about 20k miles a year in an M5. I would never trade the 6-speed for an automatic or the exceptionally comfortable sport seats for the standard 5-series seats. I would also never trade the hunkered down feel of a performance sedan for a somewhat top heavy SUV. Maybe I'm getting old, but I get worn out driving an SUV for more than 2-3 hours at a time. Granted, I don't have to contend with Chicago winters, but even if I did, the X5 would not be my vehicle of choice for nasty weather.
Snagiel, Dabimmer, Thanks for the info. It definitely makes sense.
I am pretty sure that I am going for a set of winter tires. I don't get snow in my area (SF bay area). But it rains pretty regularly during the winter. And also I plan to make few trips to the mountains for skiing. Again, most of the time, the roads there will be cleared.
So, in such a circumstance, which one do you guys think is best?
Also, planning to get a set of summer perf tires towards April. I think, I can do better than my current all-season (michelin pilot mxm4)
Looks like your numbers are coming from BMWUSA WEB site. From my experience BMW is pretty conservative when they talk about their faster car and overly optimistic with numbers for their slower cars. Remember 740ia Sport with 6.8 0-60mph on the BMW site and 5.9-6.1 in most magazines? Same for X5 4.4. Most magazines got between 6.6-6.9 0-60mph. On the other hand I have yet to see 6.8 0-60mph for 530. What counts though is how the car feels in real life driving situations. X5 4.4 feels like a rather fast car, 530 auto or manual does not. 530 does not have what I call "a punch". If you step on the gas it moves smoothly and quickly but there is no feel of big urgency or big power. The Maxima I was playing with was most probably an auto. 99% of cars in NYC are automatics. And we were just playing nothing more. BTW on the move X5 resembles 740ia I almost bought 2 years ago. Not a bad feeling at all.
Well, I am a little frustrated with BMW Financial. I am in the process of buy a used 1998 BMW 528i from a second owner. The car is in mint condition and it a CPO from 2000. The problem is that he had a lien on the title with BMW Financial. Well, he paid for the certified check and paperwork to be Fed Ex'd to BMW financial in Ohio and to be Fed Ex'd back to Michigan, where I live. He called them yesterday and they said that it would still take 5-7 business days. That is crazy if you ask me, to stamp a check and print out a release of lien and stuff it in an envelope. It isn't that hard. My bank released my motorcycle title while I stood there after I handed then a certified check. I just think that they should be able to get a two day turnaround for stuff like this. I want my car NOW, I am too impatient, I can't wait for my first BMW. I guess I have waited 30 years, I can wait another few days
Being that 2001 was the first yr of this model - does anyone know if there was a lot of tweaking done when the 2002 came out. Are 2001 owners complaining of anything that was fixed in the 02 model?
Contrary to expectations, summer tires are usually better with rain than winter tires. The reason is, their tread design features long thin grooves which effectively channels through water much better than winter tires' more studded tread pattern, which tends to hydroplane (yet is much better for slick and loose road surfaces).
It's up to you, but if I lived in SF, I wouldn't bother with winter tires, even if going to hit the slopes a few times every year.
The 4.4 engine is torque-rich, which effectively gives a greater impression of power. Not that it's not powerful, but that its power delivery is different from the inline-6's, which is more linear and extended across a broader engine speed range. It takes more "winding up" than the V8, but a competent 5-speed 530 driver will beat out an X5 4.4, without a doubt.
The 530i (5-sp or automatic) haven't been tested by any auto magazines (US at least), so that's why I use the website's numbers. But since a 330i will consistently do 0-60 in 6 seconds flat (or even slightly quicker), a 200-pound-disadvantaged 530i should manage it in 6.5 easily. And the best Car and Driver managed with the 4.6is was 6.5 seconds, so it would suggest they're a little optimistic with the X5 performance numbers (the website claims 6.2).
The only chronic problem among the '01 model year is the infamous auxiliary fan. A certain range of cars had a potentially malfunctional unit that could catch fire. Several recalls have since been issued, and the '02 model incorporated a new fan unit that hasn't had any of the same problems. But, I wouldn't hesitate to buy an '01; just pay the dealer a visit to ensure it's gone through the latest recall campaign.
All in all the Michelin Pilot MXM4 tires will do just fine for you at the slopes. They are pretty good tires - not the best in that classification but good enough. You mention that you are going to get summer performance tires in April, I would hold off and not get the winters. I live in the SF Bay Area in San Mateo County and go to the slopes and have no problems.
I live in NYC and last year we only had snow for like 2 days. Do I still need to get winter tires for my 2002 540? Are Dunlops absolutely un-drivable in snow? I know people that drive junk cars with bold tires and somehow get through Winter months. Will 540 Sport with all the electronics less drivable in snow that a 15-year old Lincoln Town Car/Crown Vic with no TC and bad tires?
Well, considering most NYers get along fine without any car, I don't think the occasional threat of snow would scare me into getting winter tires. If you must drive your car after a fresh snowfall, I'd stay away from any hills (not that NYC has any), and generally drive extra carefully. You'll be fine.
That turnaround time seems reasonable. Actually it's good compared to my experiences. I purchased my own lease vehicle last year. It took 2 weeks to get the title after FedXing a cashier's check to the leasing company. The title came back with my name misspelled. (My name was spelled correctly everywhere it didn't matter.) It took almost 2 months to get a letter explaining the misspelling for DMV. When I finally went to register with DMV, I had to pay a penalty because of the late registration. Yes, 5 to 7 days sounds routine/good to me.
But, I do sense your excitement. You'll love your 528.
Comments
1998 BMW 528i 5sp, black with black leather, CWP and PP. It has everything except CD changer, which I really would have liked but can't complain. The car is a previous CPO from 2000, it has 80,000, it still has the 6 yr/100,000 mile warranty which I was told is transferable. I ended up paying $16,500.00, do you guys think that is a good deal. Also, what should I be looking for, he had some chips on the front of the hood from highway driving and he got that professionally fixed at the dealership body shop. I looked it over and compared it from previous pictures and it looks really good. The exterior is immaculate and the interious is immaculate except for a minor scuff in the middle of the front passenger seat.
is way below Edmund's TMV of 23.5 K. Not knowing anymore info than what you
posted there might be unknown issues , but at the price you paid I think you are
way ahead of the game. These cars are so good that they just last and last. The
mileage does seem a little high to me but that's OK too. Good luck. Enjoy !
If so, year and model please!
-nobee
Advice: establish a relationship with the dealer or a "good" BMW mechanic and get it properly serviced. It costs more that way, but you won't be trading cars every two or three years, so you can save in the long run.
Happy motoring,
Jack
I asked almost exactly the same question on the A6 board months ago and have yet to read more than a couple of valid replies.
If so when?....Also I lease my car..would you use the SUPER unleaded gasoline or just save money and use regular unleaded??
Thanks for your replies.
As for steptronic, it's purely up to you. In my 10-minute test-drive of both a 530iA and a 540iA, I tinkered with the "manual" control but quickly found it no more satisfying than just letting the computer decide (since it maintains its "trust me, I know what I'm doing" attitude even in the manual mode).
Was checking about the possibility of a set of winter tires in tirerack.com. My 530i (non-sport) has the stock 225/55R16 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 on it.
On tirerack, I found these Pirrelli "winter 210 snowsport" ones. And then when I saw the ratings of each tire for various traction, I got confused!
What I found is, even through, the pirrelli is a "winter" tire, in every aspect (including the dry traction, cornering stability, steering response, ride comfort, noise comfort and thread wear) it is rated better than my "Grand Touring All season" michelins. Of course, not to mention about the wet and snow traction, which is far far better in pirrelli (true to its catagory).
Now, my question is, if I put these pirrellis, will it give me better performance even in dry condition (in summer)? And hence, can I keep these ones always?
Also, wanted to know putting these winter tires without any steel wheels - is it enough to drive on occasional snow? I live in SFO bay area (where we don't get snow). But, I expect to have few trips to the mountains for skiing etc.
Now, about the survey numbers. Here's two somewhat contradictory things to keep in mind: First, it's most helpful and appropriate to compare survey results between tire models within the same category. If a winter tire scores an 8 for dry handling, and a summer tire scores a 7.5, I'd bet good money the summer tire will easily outhandle the winter one (on a dry road). People tend to give rankings relative to their expectations and the tire's intended category. Summer and winter tires easily fall into opposite categories, but the ubiquitous "all-seasons" are by nature vaguely-defined, so expectations are broader.
Now, for the second point: Don't read too much into the categories. It's not unheard of for, say, a "High Performance" tire to outperform an "Ultra High Performance" tire. These categories reflect not only the tire's intended category, but the marketing positioning, its pricing, and some other variables as well.
I'd suggest reading the surveys, but not placing all your faith there. Try finding as much information as you can, and solicit feedback here (which you've already done) and on other message boards as well.
I'm sure some read and dismiss all this work as overkill, but realize that tires are the only thing between you, your passengers, an expensive two-ton machine, and all sorts of roads, road conditions, and road speeds. It's hard to overstate their importance.
What is the proper octane? I have always used at least 91 and 93 when I can find it.
What rack systems work best with the wagons?
But I digress. I recently drove both the X5 3.0 and 4.4 for the Susan G. Komen "Drive for a Cure" event. Good part: they handled better than every other SUV I've driven (far better than my brother-in-law's Explorer). Bad part: They're heavy, tall, slow, and less voluminous than you might think or hope. Against the 530i 5-speed, only the X5 4.6is (nearly $70k) is faster, and that's one confused vehicle. The X5 4.4 I drove was reasonably quick; even the 3.0 was acceptable for gradual acceleration, but when flooring it for a quick lane change, the truck's 4500 pounds become painfully evident. And quick turns also expose the weight penalty over the much thinner 5-series. The cargo bed of the X5 (69 cu ft) is barely bigger than the 5-series sportwagon's (64 cu ft). (The 540iT I drove was much more fun than the X5 4.4.)
So, the only real virtues I'll grant to the X5 are 4x4 prowess and significantly greater towing capabilities. To those strengths, respectively, I say: Invest in good winter tires for a 5-series, and you'll be fine in anything but blizzard conditions. And, if I needed a vehicle to tow a trailer around on anywhere near a regular basis, I'd probably choose a beater Ford truck for the job.
530i: 6.8/7.0 (manual/auto)
X5 3.0i: 8.1/8.6 (manual/auto)
X5 4.4i: 7.5
X5 4.6is: 6.2
While the 4.4 packs a lot of torque (and is certainly "decently fast"), the numbers speak for themselves. (A respectably driven manual Maxima can hustle to 60 in about six seconds flat, so either he wasn't trying, or didn't know how to shift.) And that's just acceleration; the X5 4.4 weighs over 4,800 pounds, essentially a half-ton heavier than a 540i, and 1,300 pounds(!) heavier than a 530i. Either one will easily outhandle the X5 and with better precision and balance to boot. Oh, and let's not forget an additional penalty of all that weight: fuel economy is 15/20 (cty/hwy) for the X5 3.0, and a rather dismal 13/17 for the 4.4. And I wouldn't treat "5-7K" difference so trivially; that's a good chunk of change.
3.0 X 5 for 3 weeks and just enjoyed it so much. I still prefer my car to it but can easily
see why you would be taken by it. Riding up high is pretty awesome and the ride is very
good, a little "trucky " for my tastes but all in all the best of all the SUV (SAV's) out there.
If it appeals to you, I say GO for IT. The 3.0 is power enough, I agree.
you can go wrong.
interesting and informative. I don't believe you can compare tires,though, from one
classification to another,especially summer and winter tires ! Snagiels comments are
pretty salient in this matter. Thanks again to all who post here, generally enjoy the info
and input and really learn a lot. Thanks again.
Make no mistake, the X5 is not an all weather, all terrain SUV. The 19"/20" wheels and low profile tires might look great, but this vehicle is very squirrely on the snow and ice, and even heavy rain. BMW has made an excellent handling fair weather vehicle. That's it.
Size/seating is limited. This is a "compact" SUV at best. The amount of stuff it can carry is limited, as is it's 5 person seating capacity.
Performance is good for an SUV, but I have an M5. So, I don't need to win any races with a "truck". But, for anyone considering a 530i with a 5-speed and sport, there is no comparison relative to handling, acceleration and overall driving enjoyment. The 530i wins hands down.
Our verdict was to keep our current SUV (Range Rover 4.6 HSE) another year or two. I would actually consider an E320 Wagon with 4-matic over the X5 (that's painful for me to admit). The E320 can carry 2 more people (albeit, kids) and stuff. It doesn't match a 530i in any performance category, but it matches or beats the X5 4.4 in all. Including about double the gas milage and lower depreciation.
Good luck.
I drive about 20k miles a year in an M5. I would never trade the 6-speed for an automatic or the exceptionally comfortable sport seats for the standard 5-series seats. I would also never trade the hunkered down feel of a performance sedan for a somewhat top heavy SUV. Maybe I'm getting old, but I get worn out driving an SUV for more than 2-3 hours at a time. Granted, I don't have to contend with Chicago winters, but even if I did, the X5 would not be my vehicle of choice for nasty weather.
Thanks for the info. It definitely makes sense.
I am pretty sure that I am going for a set of winter tires. I don't get snow in my area (SF bay area). But it rains pretty regularly during the winter. And also I plan to make few trips to the mountains for skiing. Again, most of the time, the roads there will be cleared.
So, in such a circumstance, which one do you guys think is best?
Also, planning to get a set of summer perf tires towards April. I think, I can do better than my current all-season (michelin pilot mxm4)
It's up to you, but if I lived in SF, I wouldn't bother with winter tires, even if going to hit the slopes a few times every year.
The 530i (5-sp or automatic) haven't been tested by any auto magazines (US at least), so that's why I use the website's numbers. But since a 330i will consistently do 0-60 in 6 seconds flat (or even slightly quicker), a 200-pound-disadvantaged 530i should manage it in 6.5 easily. And the best Car and Driver managed with the 4.6is was 6.5 seconds, so it would suggest they're a little optimistic with the X5 performance numbers (the website claims 6.2).
They are pretty good tires - not the best in that classification but good enough.
You mention that you are going to get summer performance tires in April, I
would hold off and not get the winters. I live in the SF Bay Area in San Mateo
County and go to the slopes and have no problems.
That turnaround time seems reasonable. Actually it's good compared to my experiences. I purchased my own lease vehicle last year. It took 2 weeks to get the title after FedXing a cashier's check to the leasing company. The title came back with my name misspelled. (My name was spelled correctly everywhere it didn't matter.) It took almost 2 months to get a letter explaining the misspelling for DMV. When I finally went to register with DMV, I had to pay a penalty because of the late registration. Yes, 5 to 7 days sounds routine/good to me.
But, I do sense your excitement. You'll love your 528.
Happy motoring,
Jack