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Although you haven't told us anything about yourself: how long will you keep the car, is the "extended warrranty" a BMW CPO or an aftermarket one, do you have the cash on hand to pay for $900 emergency brake work, or cash for the $600 set of tires for the car that needs them? Finally and most importantly, do you have any other opportunities for the 8K (with sales tax) difference, such as a down payment on a house (might not be a winning idea in the Northeast) or a gold or commodity fund (the latter two are hot right now)?
Thanks for your help. Let us know how your lease buy out goes and good luck.
It is more up to you, if you think it is a much better value... In the used car market, BMWs get pounded for higher miles... That doesn't make them bad cars, just worth a lot less.
regards,
kyfdx
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http://www.edmunds.com/used/2001/bmw/5series/100000543/roadtestar- - - ticle.html?articleId=102443&editorialpage=page002
There is a link to the introduction on the left side of the page, but all three installments can be accessed from any of the three pages.
Enjoy!
I know that there is a turn signal light in the side body of the car, but the side mirror from a safety point is probably better ‘cause it’s higher and catches the other driver’s eye more (maybe ‘cause it’s in a different location).
Other cars like Mercedes, Volvo (S40), and the Ford jeep series are coming with the turn signal light in side mirror.
Lately, I’ve been seeing other cars ranging from Toyota to Nissan, to Hyundai with after-market turn signal light in side mirror.
Does anybody know where this type of after-market turn signal light in side mirror can be purchased for the BMW 5 series?
Thanks
Now, XM lists on their website the ability to wire XM through the BMW's primary audio system as long as it is "pre-wired" for satellite. Anyone with more knowledge or experience here?
Thanks.
Anyway, next techno question- is Bluetooth standard on the 540i yet? Have read several posts about the possibility of this option post September build dates- any experience or knowledge out there on BT?
Thanks again, everyone. This forum has been extremely helpful as I attempt to decide my next vehicle!
On a related note, I am always struck by the many used BMWs up for sale with relatively few miles on them. And not just those in the CPO proram. Given the widespread propensity to lease a BMW and the big penalty for excess miles at turn in time, I'm wondering if the odometer is flippable? If so, having a number of used BMWs with artificially low miles on them would create a disproportionate penalty for a high mileage vehicle.
I'm sure the sound quality isn't a nice as an XM or satellite radio is, but it is clear and beats ANYTHING on the open air today. Pics of it are at: community.webshots.com/user/skimblz_
-Paul
And here is a quote from Autoweek's report on an M5:
"The steering is about the best we’ve felt in a BMW, but it’s not of the active variety found in lesser 5s. BMW decided the extra gear required of the active system would diminish road feel."
Having a lot of low-mile lease returns available will definitely hurt the value of higher mileage used cars.
Most of the really low mile, current model BMWs for sale are BMWNA employee lease cars and or dealer demo/loaners...
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I hope you don't write software selection RFP's in your company ;-)
Hope this little bit of humor at someone else's expense won't be taken personally... it's been a long day!
AS makes maneuvering around a parking lot or garage a lot easier. It also make parallel parking a lot less of a chore than it otherwise would be. I've also been delighted to discover that, after a few awkward weeks adjusting to the change in steering ratio that occurs around 40mph, AS becomes instinctive. I no longer consiously think about it but just expect it. Consequently, I've stopped gracelessly banging curbs all over Metro DC.
So, if you're contemplating a new 5er, here's how you should decide the AS option. Analyze your typically daily driving. If you're blessed with lots of open roads and don't have to use garages or parking lots all the time then AS is probably not for you. But, if you live in a metropolitan area like I do and parking is tight and you often find yourself maneuvering into a parallel spot, you'll find AS pretty bloody useful.
Or, if your 5er won't be your commuter car and you have the option of only taking it out when you want to, then AS is probably unecessary.
You probably do get less road feel with AS but it seems a worthwhile trade-off if, like me, you use a tight condo garage space, a parking garage at work and spend a good part of your daily commute on the hated DC Beltway which encircles the city like some sort of preverse concrete noose.
Was told by salesperson that when I was ready, all I had to was "activate" the Sirius radio service.
When I called dealer to inquire about activating this service, was told that BMW has to install a "receiver" that costs another $600+.
Without this receiver, receiving satellite radio is not possible.
I felt "dupped" by sales rep on this satellite radio deal.
Designman, I cropped the quote about the M5 from Autoweek because I didn't want to appear caustic, but in total it read:
"The steering is about the best we’ve felt in a BMW, but it’s not of the active variety found in lesser 5s. BMW decided the extra gear required of the active system would diminish road feel. We’re not sure what that says about all the 5 and 6 Series cars on the road, or BMW’s respect for their drivers."
As I specifically noted, I have not tried AS personally, and would even doubt whether I'm capable of discerning any supposed difference in road feel. And for all I know, AS will eventually be in all cars, just as ABS is now. Nevertheless, it is a distinctly different mechanism for steering, and I am unclear why it is not offered in the flagship 7-series.
Live in NJ. Some winters are harsh, some almost non-existent- can get 60" one year and 5" the next. Anyway.....
I assume that there will be 4-5 days each year where I will need to commute through the white stuff. If it's more than 6", I'm not going anyway until it calms down, so for purposes of my needs the typical concern is a rather ordinary storm of 2-6", or shortly after a major storm where the roads are packed down with the white stuff.
I'm obviously going to put snows on, but coming off Quattro for 4 years how am I going to feel? I know it's not going to be the same (I am willing to give up a half dozen days to the 360 other days of the year when I will prefer the BMW), but am I going to be sliding all over the road? I live in a not-so-flat area. Minor hills, but you can't go out without at least climbing or descending a little.
My wife has offered to trade her AWD SUV with me on the snowy days (kids school is 4 miles away, and she won't be driving more than that- and if the snow is real high, they won't be going anyway!). Can I feel safe with my wife and 2 kids in the backseat in 4" of snow?
I know I'm asking biased owners for the most part, but would appreciate a little insight/advice.
Thanks!
regards,
kyfdx
(who doesn't have a 5-series, but has winter tires)
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The Blue Shark got it's baptism of ice and snow yesterday evening as we completed 290 miles from
Lawn Guyland to New Hamster in conditions ranging
from drizzle to heavy sleet and moderate snow in 4 and a half hours (64.4 mph avg.). Traction was never once a problem (Blizzaks all around) although the DSC light flickered when accelerating away from toll booths. The traction and stability controls act in an almost transparent way.
Visibility during heavy sleet was a problem due to the lack of any winter wiper blades available for E39 BMWs. I hit on the trick of cranking up the defroster which does an excellent job of heating the windshield enough to melt the ice the wipers drag across it.
The insight I would offer you from experience is that there's no magic to any drive train configuration. My first fwd car ('79 Accord) was a pig in snow compared to it's predecessor, a very capable 124 Spider.
The most important component in safe winter driving is those four tire patches and that nut behind the wheel. These have more to do with getting there safely than which wheels are driven.
Good luck with your 530i.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Anyway, that experience has me a bit spooked with RWD. I know, absolutely different vehicles, different and updated technology, no snow tires, etc. My point is that I know how bad it can be.
Considering, as mentioned above, that we also own an AWD SUV- and that most "family" driving in the winter will be done with that vehicle, I guess I have been comforted enough to move forward with the 530. Splurge for the winters, and I should be fine. And unless I can fit two little ones with a lab retriever in the back seat (with all of our gear in the trunk), we're not heading to our ski trips with the 5'er. I guess it's more about getting stuck from an idle position or accelerating out of a toll booth where the AWD would really shine over a well equipped RWD with the proper snows.
Thanks.
But, for us city dwelling, Beltway commuting commoners, AS is a damn handy feature. And, IMHO, a reasonable tradeoff
BTW, I feel the same way about the damn cupholders and the legions who complain about them as you do about AS and its fans. You buy the BMW for the glory of its handling, acceleration, braking and silky smooth six-speed and not for drinking latte.
Almost 3 years ago, my Mom rejected the idea of repalcing her 1998 MB CLK 320 with an '02 E39 530iA due to the fact that AWD was not available (we had a few bad winters and she like many other suburban NYers felt they HAD to have AWD) and the recently introduced E46 330xi was in short supply, high demand, and was selling at MSRP. She ended up with an '02 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro. What a mistake. Her Audi has had various recalls and a transmission problem that was always diagnosed with "they all do that" along with the fact that it ate brakes (paid fopr by Audi) and the 3 week to 1 month wait at the dealership for a service appointment (kinda tells makes you think). She's been unhappy to say the least with the car since about the third week.
SO the fact that my Dad LOVES his '04 X5 3.0iA w/ SP convinced my Mom she should look at BMW this time around. She thought the 330xi was a little too tight for her (many of her friends don't drive on parkways and such so she ends up driving all over) and she didn't particularly like the X3's styling. SO she saw an '05 E60 530i sitting on the showrrom floor and she absolutely said she loved the way it looked (should have seen the look of bewilderness and confusion on my face). So despite the fact that it doesn't have AWD, we took it for a ride. That sold her, even without BMW's famed sport suspension the car handled well, has ample power, a luxurious & spacious interior.
SO today after a few back and forth phone calls, we pulled the trigger and she'll be the proud new driver of an '05 E60 530iA with Premium Package, Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, & Cold weather package.
We got a pretty decent deal too:
MSRP: $50,720
Invoice: $46,435
Selling Price: $47,662 (bit more than $1200 over invoice)
Lease for 36 months with 15,000 miles per year and 8.125% Sales Tax rolled into the lease
$0 Cap Cost Reduction
60% residual
.0015mf
$651/month
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Cassidym I criticize cars not the people who buy them. Because there are two sides to a fence there is often contention, but please don't confuse the two :-)
That being said.....these are different animals. I saw Audi as a cross between a Lexus and BMW- with AWD. More plush interior than BMW, and a ride smack dab in the middle between the smooth and bland Lexus feel and the excellence of BMW's road manners. BMW's interiors, to me, always seemed understated and classy. Not too much going on, no crazy gauges or lighting, etc. I feel that I am in a substantial and luxury vehicle that is made for driving.
We were swept up in the AWD craze as well. NEEDED to have it. Then when we realized that even with a rough metropolitan winter we only really have 7-8 days where there's appreciable snow, it was folly to make that a decision based on 1/52 of the year.
Anyway, I'm at the point where we have an SUV for family travel and I would like something that is enjoyable to drive. I travel frequently along the east coast in the spring and summer, and can't think of a better vehicle to do so in than the 5'er. Also, I hated the new look of BMW when it first appeared.....but strangely I have grown to like the distinct lines. No idea why...
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
While in a search, I came across your mention a few months back of the XM direct install. As I am looking at a 530i, it is a feature I've been unable to garner any info about, yet is quite important to me.
Does this work directly through the I-drive and screen features, i.e., does the XM display and info appear in that form?
Thanks.
Thanks
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
This is not to say that a sales guy couldn't intimate this in a sales pitch with with a customer: "Our costs are lower because we are company owned."
E39 M5 in dark grey... Suddenly, I felt like I was in a Geo Metro.. I've started thinking that the E39 is looking a little dated.. but, all dressed up with the M5 stuff, and with those massive tires? Yeeehaaaahhh
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I'm not sure the Bangle-era designs will age as well as past styles.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Has anyone experienced this ?
For the last 2 weeks we enjoyed an X-3 2.5 which was nice but a complete gas hog at less than 16 mpg's.
When braking into a tight corner I don’t want to have to anticipate a variable rate of turn. Sport features should allow us to drive and brake faster, harder, easier, safer. AS makes the car less predictable, more skittish, darty when driving hard from high-to-low-to-high speeds through tight turns. A steering ratio should be constant and optimal, neither too fast or too slow. As such, active steering is anti-sport and not innovative.
If someone says they find it beneficial in slow-moving city traffic and parking situations, fine. But I doubt that anyone who is not bothered by the labor required with manual transmissions in these scenarios would see any benefit with AS. I mean, is turning a steering wheel really a chore? I would say it is about as much of a chore as putting fork to mouth. What I am hearing from people who have the sport package is that AS is tolerated, not necessarily desired.
In my opinion AS has rendered the sport package unbuyable. I think BMW chose to make it a profit center by foisting it on buyers of the sport package. They are also foisting the sport package on people who subscribe to the notion that AS is a user-friendly feature that gives credence to the new-and-improved bimmer. If anything it should have been a stand-alone option. I don’t believe this was well-calculated on their part and is yet another reason why they are losing many of us.
Furthermore I’d be really annoyed if I bought the sport package only to find out that AS will not be included in the M5. It’s an indictment. Previously the sport package brought the lesser BMW models one step closer to the M5. Now it seems they will be distanced from it.
Finally, if BMW wants to be innovative with steering ratio, maybe they should consider making it constant but adjustable. Perhaps this is a nobler pursuit that would get some worthwhile attention.
Rich545 I hope you are happy with your car, this is the way it should be. But I believe BMW needs to be made aware of dissatisfaction with their products and insufficiencies in their decisions. They are clearly off-mission as voiced by many in the press and by long-time enthusiasts.
Sport Package: $2,050
Active Steering: $1,250
Since I have my sights set on a new E90 in another year or so, the above is more educational for me than anything else. Lifting a line from the BMW-USA press release for the E90, "The new 3 Series becomes the first car in its class to offer anything approaching the benefits of BMW’s unique Active Steering. This stand-alone option provides..." I have reason to believe that the SP can be ordered without being blessed with AS as part of the deal. Will I then exercise my right to order the AS as well? Probably not, however, I will test drive it first.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I somewhere along the line read a review of the new $500K Ferrari where the reviewer just about said the same thing about Ferraris' version of AS.
Do I think these reviews hold any weight? No, because I believe these cars are tested by professional drivers, where road performance has to be as impeccable as can be given these are street cars. While some people may not appreciate the AS, that doesn't mean it makes the car any less of a BMW.