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In truth, neither stereo is that great - the 5 series DSP is better than the stock system if set correctly, and the HK system in the 3 series sounds fine. However, neither system compares to the Lexus Nak system or a good aftermarket system. In other words, the HK and DSP are probably fairly close. The real use of the DSP is more power and the ability to use the equalizer to adjust for the poor stock freq settings.
My suggestion is to pick the model based on size, power, price and if needed, upgrade the stereo later if you are not pleased.
M
Thanks.
I've had some problems with a deteriorating rubber seal on the driver door jamb, cracked front wheel well liners and a worn out rear ball joint which caused me to fail inspection. I also have some serious corrosion on the chrome mouldings around the side windows. Anyone experience any of these problems?
-drivers side door handle broke off one day
-right rear window would not go up one day
-rear cup holders replaced
-i now have a rattling noise coming from thedrivers side door.
I had a rattling/crackling noise from the front passenger door. I pinned it down to the vinyl rubbing against the metal door frame where it's folded under near the armrest. It was easy to solve but that may not be your problem.
Any thoughts?
My two cents - I'd rather have a 530i 5-speed with sport package than a 540i automatic. If you like to drive, there's really only one way to go. I spent a day with a 2001 M5 and the 6-speed in it would be just fine for me on an everyday basis.
Go with a 6-speed and drop the aftermarket performance enhancements - it doesn't need them.
Good luck.
Incidentally, I got the premium package w/o sport package. The roads in DC are murderous on performance rims and tires.
Assuming the car is as it appears to be, what is a reasonable price for a no-trade purchase?
Thanks in advance to all you BMW aficionados.
BTW Euro delivery was a great experience. Paid $38,900 for a car w/ MSRP $44,300, and it was great fun driving this car on the autobahns. Highly recommended.
In answer to your question regarding "100mph" curves, I doubt that will be an everyday experience, but for average 60-80mph curves, the sport does handle "tighter".
As far as the ride goes, with the 17" wheels, you get "lower profile" tires, thereby, less rubber between you and the road. I notice I feel expansion joints, and rough road surfaces more with the sport.
The 17" rims are more prone to damage. I will admit that I have bent two rims, not from carelessness or rough driving...just hitting potholes in the night driving at highway speed.
I agree with "div2"...you SHOULD test drive both (make it a lenghthy test drive to really get the feel) to see which ride YOU prefer.
As well can anyone give me some opinions on options such as DSCIII and rear side airbags? Thanks
Can someone confirm this for me??
According to post #723, that person got more discount than just the base msrp.
Here is my example:
MSRP Euro
525i sedan 2001 $35,400 $32,920
Saleman told me we start at $32,920 and start adding options to this price w/o any discounts.
So I ending up with only $2,480 discount no matter what option I selected for the Euro delivery.
Is he right? or just BS me.
It's true that the Euro Delivery discount only applies to the base vehicle (whether you're looking at MSRP or invoice). However, the dealer margin (despite what they will tell you) is only about $100 lower for ED at MSRP than it is on domestic delivery. In other words, the invoice cost to the dealer is discounted about the same dollar amount as the MSRP, so he is NOT taking less margin just by selling to you via ED.
Secondly, there's no reason you can't pay invoice on the OPTIONS with a ED purchase. In the price I mentioned in post #723, about half my saving to MSRP were due to the ED discount, and the other half was the amount of dealer's discount to me below ED MSRP.
Some dealers really get a "smoke and mirrors" thing going with ED pricing. I tried to go to the BMW center closest to me here in Ohio, and the salesman was a caricature of himself. He actually said that they were forbidden by BMW to discount ED below MSRP, and that he wouldn't bargain even if he could because the car comes out of his allocation.
Both lies.
Anyway, there is a Web site "eurobuyers.com" that has full details on 525/530 price and cost, and for the 530 anyway, the numbers are still correct.
I didn't buy through that guy; I went to Kenosha Motorsports (a CarMax no-haggle BMW franchise, (888) 607-9898) and got this deal, no bargaining necessary. Up until a year ago I worked for CarMax corporate, so I know all the games some other dealers play.
Good luck with your purchase!
Also, does anyone know of a way to increase the performance on the 525ia if in fact this is the route I go? I bought a K&N filter for my 528i since it would increase the air intake and thus performance.
Thanks ahead of time.
"Can anyone give me a Canadian invoice price on 530? I am wondering what price to start with and what price is good to end with.
As well can anyone give me some opinions on options such as DSCIII and rear side airbags? Thanks"
I think you got a great deal for your 530.
thanks again.
I just went during this week with a friend of mine (a dentist) as a passenger to test drive both the 525 and 530. His "weekend" car is a Honda S2000 w/240HP, and his daily sedan is the older style Maxima, which he wants to replace. He has driven my 528 also. After the test drive (without me influencing his opinion) he did not feel the necessity to spend the large $$$ difference to get the 530....just one persons opinion.
"Also, does anyone know of a way to increase the performance on the 525ia?"
Being that you are looking at the auto version, you might want to think about the Dinan chip which will be available (somewhere in the neighborhood of $400/$600). For a stick, it doesn't do much, but for the auto, it reprogams the shift points, as well as the fuel delivery.
Also, an aftermarket exhaust ($600-$900) will give you 10-20HP. Exhaust hedders are another option ($800).
Or if you want to take that full $4,000 difference, you can get a supercharger for up to a 40% HP gain!!!!
I think you got a great deal for your 530.
thanks again.
In a nutshell, you go to a BMW center (dealer) in the US and negotiate a price and do all the paperwork.
You then schedule a date through the dealer with the factory for when you want to pick up your car. It has to be at least 60 days out because the car is custom-ordered as you want it, and of course there has to be a delivery appointment available. They only deliver about 10 cars per day this way, so it's good to schedule early. I scheduled an April 26th delivery back in late January, as I recall.
You pick up the car in Munich at the factory, where they have a very nice delivery center. The whole process takes about an hour. Then you're off to tear up the autobahns (following the break-in limits on your engine, of course). This is a US-spec car just as if you bought it here.
You then drop off the car at one of something like two dozen locations throughout western Europe. (We were boring and just went back to Munich.) It takes 6 weeks or so to get your car back to the USA, and it will arrive at your selling dealer.
The theory behind why the car is cheaper is that it is imported as a USED car, so BMW saves on import duties. (At least that's what I heard.)
The other beauty of the program is that you can order exactly the car/equipment that you want. It was pretty hard to be choosy about my 530 when nobody had one in stock to begin with!
Anyway, I guess I'm a little long-winded here, but I really enjoyed the whole ED process and if you're considering visiting Europe this year, I'd recommend looking into it...!
Yes, I was very happy with my price. Oh, and did I mention they got me 5.9% financing for 60 months thru BMW Financial Services...? (That offer may have expired, though.)
Good luck!
You might want to try this place, they have reasonable price on BMW wheels.
http://www.thewheelexchange.com
Hey Chesdin3, one last question for you.
You said Kenosha Motorsports is a no-haggle dealer, did you have to haggle some more or that is the price was quote up front?
thanks again.
Anyway, you decide what model you want, and what options (look in the BMW brochure or on that Web site I mentioned earlier), and they come back with a price. Jan was busy at the time so it did take a day or so for her to get back to me.
Is DSCIII and lumber support worth getting then. Those two and the airbags are my main considerations for options. I plan to keep the price down so I only want to get options that I simply shouldn't live without.
Full maintenence worth it?
Are "comfort seats" not a listed option? I have only found lumbar support to be an option.
As well is full maintence recommended?