Ask the Car People.SM


BMW 5-Series Sedans

12737 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1181 of 1274

#11798 of 12737 Re: Which BMW to have? [andys120] by joyrider147

May 15, 2007 (4:49 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (May 14, 2007 5:42 pm)
Has ANYONE PROPERLY READ MY FORUM???? I SAID "Next, the 1994 530i. It has a 3.0 V8 which is a peppy, fuel efficient v8, it is a 4 door sedan with a pretty roomy trunk, and is reminiscent of an M5." I've had my license since I was 18, but driving since I was 15 (I'm now 24.) And, why do you think I'm posting this message; I'm LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH THESE SPECIFIC TYPE OF BMWs!
 
I'd take a 325is and still enjoy it as an M3 derivative, no problem at all. I'm just considering the advantages or disadvantages from having a dependable, well-developed 2.5 inline 6 as opposed to an efficient 3.0 V8 which might produce a bit more horsepower with less stress on the engine.
 
Why do you think I was looking at 530i or 540i? I KNOW 525i and 535i and M5 ALL HAVE Inline 6s!!!
 
What I mean for "well suited for city driving" is peppy in low gears and doesn't burn alot of gas, resulting in a lot of carbon buildup which kills the car in a short amount of time.
 
As for "highway driving", has a nice amount of punch to accelerate from 40 to 60 MPH in a small amount of time to merge with traffic, and can easily have an overall speed of 75 to 80 without high RPMs or stress to the engine to maintain that speed.
 
And what I meant for "Motorsport" driving- Capable of traveling at speeds of 100 plus MPH in high gear with a moderate amount of efficiency and has tight grip to the road for extra traction, but yet feels comfortable on a long, smooth road.
 
With my budget, I'm looking for a car in an okay condition and alright mileage with a good price that will last for several months until I chop it apart for a project car and replace various engine and transmission parts. I'm estimating $2,500 to $3,000 for the car, plus $5,000 or $6,500 in parts. Sure, I can get an M3 for that price tag, but either it will have high mileage, need lots of repair, and it doesn't give me the hands on experience with BMW engine and transmission rebuilds, vehicle modifications.

#11799 of 12737 sport suspension on 5 by richardga73

May 28, 2007 (7:04 pm)

ok joyrider, I think you scared everyone off the discussion for 2 weeks! Thats got to be a record. Anyway I have a serious question for only those who have drive 5's enough to answer and please no parroting from articles! Ive had a 3 sport,and I'm going to buy a 550 auto. Thought the 3 sport drove just a little rough while I thought the stock 3 was sporty enough but dont like seats. Now I am told that the 5 sport doesnt ride as rough due to the increased weight(inertia and all being harder to bounce around)Dont want stock seats love sport seats with big bolsters. Do you think it is possible 5sport will possibly ride like 3 non sport?

#11800 of 12737 Re: sport suspension on 5 [richardga73] by bruceomega

May 28, 2007 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: richardga73 (May 28, 2007 7:04 pm)
richardqa73,
 
I can't comment on the ride question, but according to the BMW 2008 5 series brochure, the optional seats are called multi-contour seats, with 20 way adjustment. They're not referred to as sport seats.
 
You can order the multi-contour seats separately, without the sport package. Or, they're included if you order the sport package.
 
I just ordered a 535Xi, and opted for the multi-contour seats after a "test sitting" on the showroom floor where the salesman ran through all the adjustments available. I liked them much better than the sport seats in my '06 3 series.
 
Bruce

#11801 of 12737 535 Sport Question by ping2

May 29, 2007 (5:35 am)

I am looking at a '08 535 with sport package. Love the look and feel of this car (Steering ,head rests - seats, rims etc.). I am new to BMW's and have heard of horror stories of the run flats, especially on the low profiles ( mostly concerning the 330's). I have read that they are running into problems under 10k. Is this a general issue or specific to some of the 3 series?

#11802 of 12737 550 vs 535 by topspin628

May 29, 2007 (5:37 pm)

I am contemplating a 5 series as my next ride.
My last bmw was a 330i sport package which I loved but now I'm coming off of a Lexus LS and want to go back to the sportier BMW but I still want some luxury and elegance. I will cross shop with MB and others but I wanted to understand the difference between the 550 and 535. It seems to me that the 0-60 times would be very close and the mileage is better on the 6 cylinder vs the 8. What are the advantages to the higher priced 550. Luxury and comfort are important to me.
Thank you for any and all input.

#11803 of 12737 Re: 550 vs 535 [topspin628] by sdg380

May 30, 2007 (7:07 am)

Replying to: topspin628 (May 29, 2007 5:37 pm)
Topspin, I think this is an interesting comparison, perhaps you will report back if you take some test drives. Having owned an E34 and E39 with I-6's (both very smooth), I've thought my next 5-series would have a V-8, looking for that muscular feel. Having said that, I've often felt that the 5-series chassis is better balanced with a I-6 up front.
 
As you note, the new 535 offers performance numbers similar to the 550, but to be honest, I've always thought of turbo's as something of a "crutch", maybe just that old-school "no replacement for displacement" mentality. So I'd be interested in how the driving experiences compare. The 535 is roughly 250+ lighter, always a virtue for enhancing performance, but I dare say that the 550 will exhibit that torquey V-8 feel that is tough to replicate, and can be oh-so-alluring. But will agility suffer in comparison? An extra 250 pounds out front doesn't help.
 
Guess I'm not helping much, just ruminating on the question I've also been considering. Luxury-wise, I'm pretty sure the models can be comparably equipped, but typically some 535 options may be standard on a 550 (I didn't specifically check), so that can tighten the price differential.
 
So luxury aside, can a turbo-charged 6 offer enough oomph to satisfy that V-8 lust, while offering the added bonus of less weight and a super-smooth I-6? And can I overlook my general aversion to turbo's? Sounds like you're in the market, how about posting a comparison test report? Heck, you got me thinking, maybe I should head to the dealer myself!
 
(As an aside, I would also consider an E-series MB, but while they are very fine cars, I don't think they have quite the sporty edge of a BMW. Perhaps more troubling, recent reliability ratings for MB's have not been all that great.)

#11804 of 12737 Re: sport suspension on 5 [bruceomega] by richardga73

May 30, 2007 (8:11 am)

Replying to: bruceomega (May 28, 2007 7:58 pm)
Thanks for your reply bruceomega. In looking at the multi contour seats how did the bolsters compare to the sport seats? I currently have a 2006 e500 mercedes and the bolsters sorta suck. I liked the 3 sport seats in going into a hard turn they "grabbed" you and kept you solid. In the mercedes in sport mode I almost slide off the seat. Do the multi contoured seats have as large a bolstering and do they have great lumbar support? By the way the 535xi sounds interesting, however, the xi has to add most of that lost weight back with the 4 wheel drive. Its true that weight is more important in cornering and the sequential turbos shouldnt feel like the typical (see volvo) turbo car.

#11805 of 12737 e 500 to sdg380 by richardga73

May 30, 2007 (8:42 am)

I have an e 500 and while the bolsters arent great,overall, it is a very fine car. The interesting thing that the 5 doesnt have that the e has is the 3 part suspension. Somedays you just dont feel like being in a sports car and just want a hassle free smooth ride on the way home from hectic work. On the way to work( I go at 5am with no traffic), however, early in the morning I put it in the stiffest sport mode and drive it hard! It is like 2 cars in one. If it had those damn bolsters it would be almost the perfect car. By the way, no problems reliability wise.

#11806 of 12737 Re: 550 vs 535 [sdg380] by tayl0rd

May 30, 2007 (10:22 am)

Replying to: sdg380 (May 30, 2007 7:07 am)
... An extra 250 pounds out front doesn't help. ...
 
The V8 isn't 250 pounds heavier than the I-6. That weight differential is for the whole car. The 550i comes with more standard equipment than the 535i. That's what accounts for most, if not all, of the extra weight. I'd bet the weight difference between the V8 and the twin turbo I-6 is very little. Heck, the V8 might be slightly lighter than the twin turbo I-6. But anyway, a comparably equipped 535i won't be much, if at all, lighter than a 550i. Then again, I think I read somewhere that the 550i has some more beefy structural components versus the I-6 equipped 5s.

#11807 of 12737 Re: e 500 to sdg380 [richardga73] by sdg380

May 30, 2007 (10:27 am)

Replying to: richardga73 (May 30, 2007 8:42 am)
Richard, thanks for the input. Checking the MB site, I don't seem to see an adjustable suspension feature--is that part of the Sport Suspension? I know lots of people like the 5-series with the Sport Package, but for our crummy midwest roads, I've always found the standard suspension to be plenty firm. Something that is adjustable sounds appealing. And isn't Active Suspension now available on a 5?
 
Have you had your E500 very long? Do you have the 7-speed? Did you happen to compare prices to a 550? (not that a few thousand matters when you're blowing $65K!) Any particular likes/dislikes? I'd say insufficient bolsters seems pretty minor if that's your only gripe.
 
You're certainly punching the buttons on my short list, I'm sort of biding my time since my E39 has very low miles (I now commute by train, so it just sits in the garage and depreciates), and I wouldn't mind buying either a 5-series or E-series when the body styles change in a couple of years. I was thinking V-8 since I really wouldn't drive it all that much, so mileage not a huge issue.

Messages Page 1181 of 1274

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement