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Sedans BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series Sedans
12657 messages, Last post on Nov 05, 2009 at 6:14 PM
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| Interestingly enough, I had rarely seen all wheel drive BMW (admittedly, they did not make many of those until the current gen models and e34 and e30 were not as plentiful by then, and I had one of the few e30 Tourings with AWD) during my 3 years in Germany or Mercedes 4 Matic/Audi Quattro/VW 4 Motion, for that matter. I don't think I remember seeing e46 AWD ever, in fact. The certainly get decent amount of snow and people just put the snow tires on as one would put gloves on in winter and drive away. This was more or less true in most of Western European countries, but especially in Germany. | |
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Replying to: orion53 (Mar 14, 2008 8:33 pm) I passed on the active steering as to me it felt a bit artificial and not what I am used to from BMW. I am very happy after 5K miles and consider it to be the best all around car I've owned to date (several BMWs MB's, Lexus, Infinitis etc have been in my past). Good luck. |
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I've had all wheel drives but reluctant to spend more on the car or even a little more on gas to get 535xi rather than 535i. Trying to reconcile good car performance with absurd I-drive, and substandard BMW service and problem dealer attitudes. I either pay inflated price at my local dealership or get it elsewhere. But BMW, unlike other brands, does NOT provide loaner for warranty service, but lets dealer decide, meaning dealrs don't provide loaner unless you bought it there. You're right about M35-- if I did that, I'd get the BMW. G35 -- main argument for it is that it has all the features and is very, very cost-effective. But it's sightly smaller than the others and not a much car. I'm really conflicted, because the last two years in my BMW I've had to deal with excess air conditioning that is noisy, stupid I-drive, substandard navigation, and burdensome changing of radio stations between satellite and AM. The latter corrected somewhat; the nav still archaic but with real traffic. 535i more powerful, but gas mileage down. I would have preferred a bit more powerful, and not quite the loss in mpg. G35 mileage is quite disappointing. Also, my lease turn in experience for BMW was very disappointing. Again, I feel I was treated poorly because I did not get the car at my local dealership where I imprudently turned it in. -- If I go BMW again, does anyone reading this now any dealership in So Calif that would sell one at invoice, then lease it with net money factor, without markup? There is not enough value in the BMW without trying to get a deal, because the MSRP is too inflated. Also, my last one -- 530i -- was in the shop twice for 2 weeks+, for the same safety problem-- passenger air bag sensor. BMW sells too many cars and cannot adequately service them. The service writers are insensitive yuppies. Problem is I want a rear wheel drive car and don't see much in the way of alternatives. But the I-drive shows a culture of arrogance at BMW that extends to dealerships. I do want to praise the Internet folks at Pacific BMW in Glendale.
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 29, 2008 7:03 am) FWIW, I don't think there is a BMW dealer anywhere in North America that sells cars at invoice. Period, full stop, the end. Best Regards, Shipo |
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He states "BMW sells too many cars and cannot adequately service them. The service writers are insensitive yuppies. Problem is I want a rear wheel drive car and don't see much in the way of alternatives." Man, you've sure been dealing with the wrong BMW dealer. Now on my third BMW, the service is comparable to my service experience with Lexus, having previously owned six of them. Maybe I've been lucky but I actually had my Lexi' in more frequently for problems. BTW, I'm getting 27.3 mpg in mixed city/highway driving which for the performance level I'm enjoying with my '08 535, is fantastic. In contrast, with my '06 M35, I achieved only 20-21 mpg at best. Yes, the Nav. ergonomics were better than iDrive, but iDrive is improving with each generation and I have no issue with it. I agree with Shipo that you should try a different make car (than a BMW) or at least find a good (BMW) dealer to enhance your experience.
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Replying to: carnaught (Mar 29, 2008 7:17 am) I friend had an M35 -- he found the turning radius unaccepttable. I think it's better now. I've never had a Lexus. I ahd good service in past years with Cadillac Eldorado, Audi turbo, Aud turboi, Infiniti (when they had the big Q45), Mercedes E, Audi A6, Lincoln V8LS. BMW was worst. Does anyone reading this reocmmend any particular BMW dealers for service? When I had a safety problem, I was turned away by Bob Smith because I didn't buy the car there. (In contrast, with any prior car, a safety issue was properly and understandably handled immediately.) I went to where I bought it (actually leased it) at Pacific in Glendale, and they were immediatley responsive. I don't know if I-drive on the 535 is that much different than the 530, but I do believe the 6 programmable buttons and the AM/Fm button can probably switch me between bands and between stations without the cumbrsome Idrive that made it so difficult to between say, CNN or Fox and the local Am stations. The NAV remains primitive. A frustration is that BMW provides loaners only if you go where you bought/leased the car. Anyway, I'm open to suggestions for anyone on So Calif BMW dealers -- where is good experience to buy/lease (I had positive experience with Pacific BMW in Glendale -- very straightforward, deadline-oriented, responsive, and quite knowledgeable). And where to service, if different? Open to multiple dealership suggestions. I just want to say that I have a friend with two BMWs and he has had service problems. Also, he had a higher 5 series (545 or 550?), that had several problems. My cousin has a mini -- and it was in the shop for a long time with brake problems they could not resolve. Of course, these can be exceptions. Everyone has good or bad stories with any brand. I'm keeon BMW driving performance and encouraged by your psot on mileage. Also, has anyone had experience with the run flat tires. I had three (3!) flats -- I live in the Santa Monica Mountains, with small rocks on the road after storms. These tires didn't seem that strong -- and BMW maintained they could not be repaired. They wanted $450-$460 for each tire. (I went to a tire place I used for years that charged $100 less. |
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Also, has anyone had experience with the run flat tires. I had three (3!) flats -- I live in the Santa Monica Mountains, with small rocks on the road after storms. Actually, I have experience with run-flats (RF's). I had them on my '03 Lexus SC430 and my last BMW,an '06 3 Series. I hated them on my Lexus and found them quite favorable on my BMW. (I did not get them on the '08 535 because I don't have the SP). They gave a harsh objectionable ride on the Lexus but a nice ride and descent handling on the BMW; both were Bridgestones. I live in an area with a lot of construction, hence many nails, bolts and debris on the roads. It is a flat tire haven. Once with the BMW a bolt was removed and the tire was repaired. This is perhaps a rarity because with the other two flats I had in two years the tires needed replacement. They were replaced at my BMW dealer where I read the paper, watched the large screen LCD tv and had a Starbuck's coffee and danish, at a cost of $250 each, and my car returned to me freshly washed and vacuumed. The advantage was that during each flat, I was able to drive on them to the dealer with no fuss, no muss, for service. When it came time to turn in my lease, with a total of 36,000 mi. on them, the two originals still had some life to them and I did not have to pay for new ones. In other words, they wore pretty well for a "performance' type car like a BMW. So, one way to look at it, is $500 in 36,000 mi. for tires is not bad by today's standards. I also dread the day when I have a flat on my current car without the RF tires. |
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My goal for a 2 yr lease was not to replace tires. I'm AMAZED yours were $250 each; ALL the BMW dealers I dealt with --wanted approx $450 each. My firends had the same prices. The tire place was $350 and that was cheap. Perhaps you had a different size or tire. I've quoted you an accurate amount. I like the concept of run-flats, but these tires seemed hazard prone. Also, BMW says you can't fix them. Tire place says you can, and without compromising safety or performance. |
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I'm actually considering 535i, because it resolved some key 530i problems (somewhat better NAV w/integrated live traffic; memory buttons for radio and AM-FM-satellite band-switching; voice recognition that actually works). Mileage worse than Lexus GS350 with more value, but lease terms not so great, and BMW has free maintenance (w/brakes!). Still prefer NAV and other user friendly items on Lexus, Infiniti and other alternatives I'm exploring. As long as I can avoid my local dealer, Bob Smith BMW, I may give BMW another chance! Questions-- (1) Given the slowness of the auto market, how close to invoice does 530i go? (2) Does BMW offer financing deals, or just leasing deals? (3) Other than premium, sports, comfort access, navigation, sirius satellite radio, does anyone reading this recommend any options ...especially if they are perosonally familiar with them? If I go beyond the above, I must special order: (4) Are head-up display and night vision use mere toys or useful? (Seems odd that night vision visible only in NAV system.) (5) Is rear door side impact airbag safe, or a threat to kids? (6) power rear &manual side sunshades worth the money to keep the kids happy? (7) any other options truly worthwhile and worth the money? (8) Last time, I did 24 mo, cheaper per mo than 36. Now, 36 slightly higher. I still think 24 mo, to save buying 4 costly fun-flat tires. (8a) FINALLY -- does anyone know what the Money Factor will be for 535i for APRIL for 12000, 24mo, 36 mo, and, possibly for 15000. If I go BMW, I could buy/lease Mon/3-31 or wait until Tues/4-1, if MF different. (8b) IF I special order, due to other items, I'd use March MF or June MF, whichever is lower. My guess is June MF would be lower. Thoughts? |
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 29, 2008 5:47 pm) Logic 7 is worth it if you are a music person. Also, Ipod integration. Sport Auto trans is only around 500 bucks I believe and is excellent. It features engine breaking and very fast shifts. You can read all about it here and also on Bimmerfest.com. I also went for HD radio. I listen to satilite 90 percent or more but if you like FM or want to hear a ball game or talk radio on AM, the difference is night and day. Coverage is a bit spotty so it tends to "toggle" between regular and HD at times but I do enjoy it overall. I passed on the comfort access just because I couldn't justify the price for not hitting a button on my key. You still have to insert the key in the slot to turn on the car (unlike other systems where you just keep it in your pocket) so for me it wasn't worth it. Good luck.
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