BMW Opinions

[65535]

Hey Gang

I have an opportunity to sell my V6 Charger for about 20K.

I've been scouring the net for a replacement. Until I get the cash stability to buy a v8 6spd Challenger, I need something in the 8-12K range that will fill the gap.

Been looking at the BMW 5 series.
RWD, V8, great handling, and a low price, but awful (worse than SRT8) gas mileage

Has anyone driven one?

[OLJustice]

If you've got the money for the maintenance I'd go with the Bimmer. Though $300+ for an oil change is a bit too rich for my blood.

[markus]

you can get an current style 525 which is a v6 for under 20k. thats gonna be my DD

[JarZ]

you can get an current style 525 which is a v6 for under 20k. thats gonna be my DD

inline 6 but don't get the 525. For the same money, you can get a 545. Seriously. 184 HP in the pre 06 525 and 325 HP in the 04-05 545i. The V8 gets 26 mpg highway, the inline 6 gets 28. Not a big difference for almost double the power - especially since the pricing is nearly identical.

[JarZ]

Hey Gang

I have an opportunity to sell my V6 Charger for about 20K.

I've been scouring the net for a replacement. Until I get the cash stability to buy a v8 6spd Challenger, I need something in the 8-12K range that will fill the gap.

Been looking at the BMW 5 series.
RWD, V8, great handling, and a low price, but awful (worse than SRT8) gas mileage

Has anyone driven one?

The current 530i with the 3.0L with 255 HP and automatic transmission gets 30 mpg highway. The 535i (TT inline 6) gets slightly less and is rated at 300 HP but probably has around 325 or so. Quick car.

The V8 which would be the 550i has 360 HP and is a really nice car. Not sure on the mpg on that one.

[65535]

At my price range we're talking pre-03, which means 21mpg on a good day. It's a 4.4L V8

I've driven an automatic 7 series with the same motor and it drove nice. A lot better than my charger thats for sure. Boat anchor brakes and very tight handling

[SRTpete]

I owned a 1997 E-39 540i Sport 6 speed for a few years. It was a great car, without a doubt. Smooth at any speed, and phenomenal handling.

Areas to look out for:

1) Radiator: expect to replace at about 100k miles ($200 or so DIY)
2) Oil change: I used 15W40 oil; I believe it took 7 quarts. Filter is on top cartridge style. Total cost DIY about $50.

Great info here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=895713


And MPG? I commute 80 miles round trip every day, and could average 23-25 mpg at 65 mph from Gig Harbor to Seattle. My MSRT gets about 19.5

Have fun!

[JarZ]

At my price range we're talking pre-03, which means 21mpg on a good day. It's a 4.4L V6.

I've driven an automatic 7 series with the same motor and it drove nice. A lot better than my charger thats for sure. Boat anchor brakes and very tight handling

The 545 with the 4.4L V8 only came out MY 2004. The 7 series E65 with the same engine was 02-05 and in 06 they went to the 4.8L 750i.

Do you mean the 540i with the 4.4L which was pre 04? E39?

[65535]

The 545 with the 4.4L V8 only came out MY 2004. The 7 series E65 with the same engine was 02-05 and in 06 they went to the 4.8L 750i.

Do you mean the 540i with the 4.4L which was pre 04?

Yes exactly the 540i before they changed the exterior style.

Good to know the awful epa ratings are not 100% accurate

I have heard about the radiator going to crap.. good to know it's a cheap fix. Also heard the engine has a clutch fan that likes to grenade but thats something that should be easy to change.

[S. Artee]

The 535i (TT inline 6) gets slightly less and is rated at 300 HP but probably has around 325 or so. Quick car.

Slap a Vishnu in that with a (bigger) front mount and cat delete and you can expect at least 13s with decent economy to boot. 2wd-version, of course.

[JarZ]

Slap a Vishnu in that with a (bigger) front mount and cat delete and you can expect at least 13s with decent economy to boot. 2wd-version, of course.

Unfortunately, the 07-08 335i and 535i cars have had huge problems with the HPFP system (High Performance Fuel Pump I think it is) and BMW has extended the warranty on that system to 10 years after the in-service date on all those cars. The 09s seem to have it sorted out but that's something to consider if looking for a used 07-08 car with that engine. Now that I think about it, some 02 745i and 04 545i cars had some sort of coolant pipe leak and since the pipe is INSIDE the engine itself, it's a 35 hour repair job at a BMW dealer and costs a fortune to repair. Another shop can probably do it faster and a lot cheaper but still.... not a smart way to construct that.

I've been reading up on BMWs for six months so numbers and info is piling up lol

[SRTpete]

Yes exactly the 540i before they changed the exterior style.

Good to know the awful epa ratings are not 100% accurate

I have heard about the radiator going to crap.. good to know it's a cheap fix. Also heard the engine has a clutch fan that likes to grenade but thats something that should be easy to change.

Performance Radiator had my rad in stock for $199. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, and it was a very easy swap.

With the 6 speed, I could drop from 6th at 60 mph to 3rd and be right in the power band. MPG is factored by the weight of the right foot of the driver.........

It's a super simple car to go 3 digits in....almost too easily. And quiet inside.

[JarZ]

Yes exactly the 540i before they changed the exterior style.

Good to know the awful epa ratings are not 100% accurate

I have heard about the radiator going to crap.. good to know it's a cheap fix. Also heard the engine has a clutch fan that likes to grenade but thats something that should be easy to change.

Aaaahhhh the E39. One of the best cars ever.

[SRTpete]

Yup!

[65535]

Aaaahhhh the E39. One of the best cars ever.

Wow seriously?

are they really *that* good?