I went by the local BMW dealership this past Sunday. I didn't expect the dealership to be open but they were and the salesman was nice I told him I was looking and he asked what car I was interested I told him the 5 series. He said they had some good deals going on if I was interested. Plus he wanted me to test drive one.

To make a long story short I was too scared I might like the car so I didn't test drive the car now I can't get the 5 series out of my head.

I have been researching the 530i sport/prem what do yall think of this car in comparison to the Maxima?

 

Nice car. Too small in the backseat area though. My clients would be kneeing me in the back constantly.

 

i think the backseat of maxima are pretty small too

 

I love the 5-series. But they will be redesigning it soon to look more like the 7-series. Yuk.

If I had tons and tons of disposible income, I'd get a 540i for my girlfriend and a G35 Coupe for myself...then I wake up from my dream. Oh well, maybe one day.

 

I don't care for the new 5 series coming out. To me the 5 series is the next step up from the maxima in the sports sedan world. I have been looking into some used 525, 530i. I like the aftermarket support the 5 series has as well. Are there any former BMW owners?

 

My mom got a 2000 528i, and it is so fun to drive. It handles like it is on rails . My max is faster though!!

 

the 530i sport package is a very tight ride IMO. I've driven my uncle's 99' 528i w/sport package and first of all it's ten times better as far as handling goes but in the power department is where the 528i lacked. Now with the 530i you get a more powerful six (225 horsepower vs. 193 from the 528i). To compare the Maxima though would be unfair because they are not in the same class as far as overall car. But if I had about 45 grand to spend I would definitely not hesitate at all in buying the 530i. I think I read somwhere this car has won the most awards and accolades out of any car.

 

i would not purchase a 5 series unless its the 540. i can never see myself driving a slower car than the maxima unless its an suv on 22's.

 

Agreed it has to be a 540 otherwise I pass.

 

My $.02. I never understood why car magazines compare the Maxima with a 3-series. The 5-series are more in line based on dimensions. What the 5-series (excluding a 540 or Mt) lack in power, they make up for in handling, quality, and craftsmanship. Don't get me wrong, I feel the Maxima is very well made, just not as well made as a 5-series. The Maxima doesn't have the handling characteristics of a 5-series either (RWD vs FWD is not the only difference). You can't simply ignore $$$$ otherwise we'd all be driving a Modena or Carrera. The Maxima is, and has always been, an exceptional value.

 

 

plain and simple: GET IT

man, BMW's are THE BEST! best car I've ever had, it handles really, really, really, really really well, gets lots of stares, sounds awesome, quality built (you fell it is way more solid than the max).

Was it you that considered a 5 before? I remember someone on here was considering a 5 too

 

% series is one of my favorites...But for the money....the engine and power is not up to par. G35 is a much better value.

My buddy was just home last weekend and he brought his new 325i with him..It is a very nice car..but....my God was it a pig. Never in a million years would I buy one of those..unless they put a VQ in it

 

Same here... Only 5 series I would drive is a 540 or M5

 

That's only because you got an M3 buddy!!

Anyway, like someone said before. They redesigned it and it looks really bad. Well, all cars that are first redesigned look bad when they come out...we should know that.

 

once again...this is all well and good if you chose to lease the bimmer....choose to buy it and u'll kick urself in a couple years once you see the reliability degrade and then the cost of a simple tune-up will set you back to japanese territory..

 

Agreed. I know some people who have bought BMWs and actually have a seperate savings account to cover the cost of dealer-performed maintenance and repairs for their cars. For example...

Oil & Oil Filter Change:
Most non-luxury cars - $20 to $30 at the dealer
BMW - $190 and up at the dealer

That is just crazy. Some will say that if you have the money to begin with to afford something like a 5-series or 7-series then it shouldn't matter, and that's probably true for those people. But for the average joe like many of us, that kind of cost of ownership will tend to turn us away.

 

"IMO" - The outgoing 5 series looks much better than the max and also its a BMW. The new redesigned 5 series is uglier than the max though. What the hell were they thinking with that new design!!!

 

One could say the same for the new Max!!

 

$190 for an oil change that is rediculious are you sure about that? BMW covers 3/36,000 regular schedule maintence for the 5 series according to the brochure and you can extend that at an extra cost. I like the car but there is no way I will be paying that kind of money for an oil change. I like the G35 but I think the German car has a little bit more personality when compared to it's japanese competition this includes the Lexus GS300 as well...

 

I agree german cars do have a distinct personality compared to the Japanese cars. However the price difference between a fully loaded G35 vs 540i ($38,205 vs $58,970) the price difference is HUGE!

I think you could buy a nicely equipped G35 and a base Alti 3.5SE for that much not that you would, but you could!

 

G35 isn't really in the 540i's class. the GS430 is the 540i's japanese competitor. 3.5L V6 v. 4.4L v8? i guess acceleration is roughly the same, but that isn't what makes BMWs special.

 

Yep. I read from a Car and Driver article that when they took one of their test BMWs to a dealer for an oil change it was $190. A girlfriend of one of my buddies at work has a '99 325 and her oil and filter change cost her about $200. Insane!

 

The 540 is being replaced by the 545. THAT will be an awesome machine. And, as it seems with all new car designs these days, it appears ugly at first, but I think it will grow on a lot of people.

http://www.bmw545.com/

 

they can go 7500 or 15000 (depending on what BMW) between oil changes, however. when you require 7 quarts of synthetic oil, it can be pricey!

 

So do fungal infections...doesn't make them any more attractive either.

 

Could be, but not so far. The old 7 series looked great - the new 745 looks like an overgrown Volvo...

 

540 =
M5 =

 

with some level of knowledge since I had me one -an 1999 540 six-speed, which I sold when I relocated to Oregon, bought the Max, etc

Its good parts: it's deathly quiet inside, even with the Sports package (standard with the 6-speed 540) the ride is excellent...firm but not harsh at all, it goes like a bat outa hell, looks-wise, it's probably one of the most sedately gorgeous cars ever built, etc etc.

The downsides: back seat MUCH smaller (particularly in leg room) than a Max, no way to do anything to upgrade the factory radio(s) because they're sort of wired into the car's computers...it can be done, but it's hideously expensive, and the damn car is a rolling computer -which means that after a year or two all sorts of wierd things start happening all of a sudden....LEDs go bad, seats move on their own, wierd stuff. Nothing life-threatening but...you know...trip to the dealer, etc.

On this last: any trip to the dealer will SUCK YOU DRY money-wise...at least with the 02s and 03s they offer normal maintenance for 4 yrs/50k miles free. On my 540 (EIGHT quarts of oil) I always did the work myself...also because the dealer was one hour away...

Bottom line..if Ihad the money again I would certainly buy another Fiver -a 530 though, not a 540....the 530 is plenty fast for me (0-60 in about 6.7 secs) and cheaper to own, etc.

My old Bimmer:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/5series/me...show&id=000165

 

Agreed I dont think that this car will grow on me either.

 

5 series with the sport package is tight...handles soooooooooooooooooooo good...not that quick but it handles

 

i think the 540i is real nice, but for the money why not get a 330xi!! not only is it all wheel drive, but its faster than the 540i, it runs low 14's, and although its not as big its cheaper, and handles just as well, maybe better due to lightness.

so you can get a faster, all wheel drive, beautiful looking 330xi for 20k less than the 540i, in my opinion its a no brainer if room is not absoluty crutial.

 

I'm not too expierienced w/ BMW's (drove my first this morning), but this is my thinking.....

The 3 series (not the 330...the lesser one) isn't too bad. Good ride, but for the money i'd rather have a fully loaded maxima with better seats. The H/K system didn't do much for me either. Handled alright...didn't impress me.

Now the 540i Wagon w/ the Sport package. if I had the money I might have to get one of these. Handles like a dream, seats engulf you. only downsides are the high steering wheel and odd sounding stereo. I liked wagons before, but this totally sold me. Oh yeah, and the 17" 235/45's were a total plus too. Gotta have one.

 

I guess it depends on the tranny. I don't mean to be a mag racer, but

330xi manual - 14.4 @ 96
540i Manual - 14.0 @ 103
540i auto - 14.5 @ 95

 

Actually, they are in the same class. The Max is faster and has a little more room, is much more reliable, and handles about the same on American roads. Weight and overall dimensions are similar. If you don't load it with options, is the 530 really luxurious?

When you get to the 540 and above, you get to the AWESOME vehicle class. The 530 is waaaay over rated, overpriced. Unless you absolutely have to have the BMW badge in your driveway.

 

With slicks the auto 540 runs 13.8 Pretty good for that heavy a$$ car...

 

the mail for a 3854 lb car....

The 530 has lot more aluminum suspension pieces and weighs around 290 pounds less...

 

so how does that make 530 less costly to maintain? IMO 530 is not worth getting at all, it is just a few grand less than 540. If you're buying 5-series, go for 540 6-spd...but indeed, the maintenance is $$$. Therefore, consider GS400/430 and Q45.

 

i would consider a G35 over all those Bimmemrs.

cost less, handles really good too, fast and can keep up with that monster 540's V8.
looks good, comes with lots of goodies too and the maintance is cheap and the reliablity is great. infiniti has a much better service then Nissan so you wont have a problem with that. basicly, that's the way to go if you want to spend money on a nice car. G35!

 

I agree 100%!!!
If I had a boatload of disposable income, the only cars I would consider buying are the M5 and the 540i 6spd (I left the M3 out of the list only because I like four doors). Since I don't have that kind of money, I did the next best thing--- I got a 6spd, HLSD, Maxima (the original four door sports car)!