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BMW 5-Series Sedans

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

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1187 of 1274

#11857 of 12737 My Test Drive of the 535Xi by topspin628

Jun 08, 2007 (6:56 pm)

So I took one out of for a spin yesterday and it was a very impressive machine. It drove sportier than I had anticipated with very quick acceleration and fantastic brakes. The interior has been upgraded for 08 and I particularly liked the bamboo wood trim which looked grey to my eye. The car handled very well and felt very solid. The I drive can be a bit frustrating (it took me a few minutes to turn on the radio) but I think after a short while it would be easy to master.
It will be on my short list.
Afterward, I jumped into the E Class to compare. The 550E was a bit more on the lux side of ride and didn't handle as well but offered a very plush ride with lots of power. The E350 felt underpowered and lacked a bit in the engine for my tastes of a 50K car. I think the 535 and the E550 are direct competitors and in that case the BMW seems like a better deal providing you want a sporty ride.
As an aside, I checked the Edmunds review of the 2000 M5 and compared it to the 08 535. Back in 2000 they called the M5 the best car in the world and said you could spend 100-300K and not get as good a car. I think it listed for around 75K at the time. The 0-60 time was 5.3 vs 5.5 for the 535. The brake distance was 116 ft compared to the 535 at 113 ft. It pulled .90 g vs the 535 at .89 and it's gas mileage was 13/21 vs 17/26 for the 535. The M5 beat it on the slalom by 4 mph. And all for about 15-20 K less. Just shows you how much better cars have gotten in a few years.

#11858 of 12737 Re: My Test Drive of the 535Xi [topspin628] by roadburner

Jun 08, 2007 (8:19 pm)

Replying to: topspin628 (Jun 08, 2007 6:56 pm)
Just shows you how much better cars have gotten in a few years.
 
I'd still take the E39 M5 over an E60 535i. Now an E60 M5... that's a tougher call to make. I think I'd go for door #3 and take a new M6.

#11859 of 12737 Re: 2002 530i Maintenance Costs [shipo] by 530ir1150r

Jun 10, 2007 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 06, 2007 5:36 am)
I added columns to my spreadsheet. The costs are:
 
Scheduled; $2139.42, all fluid changes,filters, tire rotations, etc.
 
Recurring; $2606.07, mostly tires and alignments
 
Damage; $621.00, wheel and wheel repair
 
Unscheduled; 1393.06, everything else.
 
I'll repost periodically.

#11860 of 12737 cig lighter/phone charger by zoelman

Jun 07, 2007 (3:32 pm)

okay, i'm a new bmw owner, just bought a 2004 cpo 545i.
 
my wife had a 1995 318i. to charge my cell phone in that car you had to buy a bmw adapter to plug into the cigarette lighter socket, you couldn't just plug in the universal charger like you can on american cars.
 
question: is that still the case? do i have to buy a special bmw adapter in order to charge my cell phone with the cigarette lighter in the 2004 model? or can i just plug it into the lighter like i can on my jeep? just wondering.
 
thanks.

#11861 of 12737 Re: cig lighter/phone charger [zoelman] by roadburner

Jun 11, 2007 (6:53 am)

Replying to: zoelman (Jun 07, 2007 3:32 pm)
do i have to buy a special bmw adapter in order to charge my cell phone with the cigarette lighter in the 2004 model? or can i just plug it into the lighter like i can on my jeep? just wondering.
 
 
Just give it a try; if you don't have to use a hammer to fully insert it you should be OK...

#11862 of 12737 Re: cig lighter/phone charger [roadburner] by zoelman

Jun 11, 2007 (10:52 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Jun 11, 2007 6:53 am)
the guy at BMW i talked with a few days ago said i still need to get an adapter that plugs into the glove box where the flashlight goes - otherwise i could possibly blow fuses and/or cause damage because it's only a 4 amp lighter? so not sure whatz up with this.

#11863 of 12737 Re: cig lighter/phone charger [zoelman] by kyfdx HOST

Jun 11, 2007 (10:54 am)

Replying to: zoelman (Jun 11, 2007 10:52 am)
I don't need an adapter for my '05 330.. Just plug it right in... Motorola..

#11864 of 12737 gas guage by zoelman

Jun 11, 2007 (4:56 pm)

well, i guess i'll give it a try. i do have the warranty.
 
on another note, how accurate is the gas guage and when you run out of gas? when it says i have xx miles left before running out of gas - is there any grace miles in there? just wondering how exacting it is, or if it says 2 miles left, then, it's just 2 miles left and that's it.
 
on my jeep, i could run for maybe a dozen or more miles AFTER it said i had zero miles left.
 
new owner...
thanks.

#11865 of 12737 Re: gas guage [zoelman] by shipo

Jun 11, 2007 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: zoelman (Jun 11, 2007 4:56 pm)
I believe that there are two gallons of fuel left in the tank when the count-down mileage goes to zero. On my 530i I once had occasion to have to drive fifty miles after the count-down hit zero.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#11866 of 12737 Re: gas guage [shipo] by designman

Jun 11, 2007 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 11, 2007 5:33 pm)
Real men run out of gas.

Messages Page 1187 of 1274

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