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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
#6872 of 12737 Infiniti M45 Following Footsteps of Infiniti M30? by riez
Jul 03, 2003 (4:58 am)
designman... Concur with Habitat1's insightful comments. You might read the reviews on the M45 by various automobile magazines. The reviews were lukewarm at best. The M45 just doesn't work well as a total package. No overall synergy between engine, transmission, steering, braking, tires, and chassis. Synergy is key to BMW's success. Driving experience more than the sum of just some nice parts. M45 essentially a cut-and-paste job taking an odd Japanese-market car and making some changes in an attempt to make it appeal to the American market. Thinking it is off the Nissan Cedric platform?Think M45 also hurt because it doesn't offer a manual transmission or a really serious Sport Package.
Latest issue of Motor Trend had a small article on the sales of newly introduced vehicles. Sales of M45 started slow and have plummetted. The market seems to have recognized that the M45 isn't likely to be destined for USA too long.
Wonder if M45 will be repeat of Infiniti's M30. That car (2-door coupe and convertible) was only around for about 2 or 3 years in USA. It was also a hurried cut-and-paste job of a Japanese-market car. Think it was in USA from about 1990-1992. I still see one every now and then. Odd angular car that obviously has Japanese-market styling cues. Thinking it was off the Nissan Leopard platform.
#6873 of 12737 SMG by jjmck172
Jul 03, 2003 (8:22 am)
I had a 2002 M3 with SMG and I thought that it was more fun to drive than a traditional steptronic (if there is such a thing). I haven't driven steptronics a whole lot, but with the SMG, if you are stopped on a hill, you will roll back like a 5 or 6-speed with the clutch in. I'm not sure if this happens with steptronics, but it is something to watch for someone who isn't used to driving sticks and having the carr roll back.#6874 of 12737 Re: 330i vs. 530i by hoopsref
Jul 03, 2003 (12:38 pm)
I am also interested in this boards opinions on this matter. I think the handling with the 3er's will be a key advantage, but safety and reliability (if we believe Consumers Report...) should be with the 5er's. With the incentives being offered on the 5ers and not on the 3er sedans (yet anyway), this puts the cars in the price range.If my numbers are correct...
'03 330i with PP, Step, CWP: MSRP $40,670, Invoice $37,285.
'03 530i with PP, Step, CWP: MSRP $45,70, Invoice $42,105 less dealer rebate of $4,000 = $38,105 !
I have been looking at the 3ers since March or so and have gone from originally thinking about a 325xi to a 330i, now a 525i/530i/330Ci...? This board has been helpful. Of course I'm driving everyone nuts talking about BMW's. What's wrong with that, right? They just don't get it! But now I'm "one confused puppy"!
#6875 of 12737 Thanks Mseals and Kyfdx! by ndegroat
Jul 03, 2003 (1:24 pm)
AKA "Mark" and "the Decision Fairy"I have been driving my 528i for two weeks now and I wonder why I was so scared by the jump. This is the nicest car I have owned (ok, ANYTHING is nicer than a 2000 Sunfire..its really a long story). Hopefully the two of us will have a long a memorable time together! I learned so much through this car buying experience...like there are so many great things out there..I had to remind myself to not settle!
But, there is one thing: Who owns those bike racks that BMW sells? This car came with a roof rack and I don't need one (plus, I can't get the bike up there by myself- the trunk/hitch style are much more comfortable)..I think I hear eBay calling right now.....
Thanks again!
Niki
#6876 of 12737 Hoopsref by carshopper46
Jul 03, 2003 (4:26 pm)
If those are accurate price comparisons, the 5 wins out no contest- at least from a dollar and cents point of view. I just paid less for a new 5 than I did for my 528 seven years ago! Between the discount and the fact that you will likely have a low mileage car (since you are buying it late in the model year), you can't beat the economics of buying a 5 now. You can't go wrong buying the best car ever tested by Consumer Reports at a big discount.#6877 of 12737 Hoopsref by beemer4me
Jul 03, 2003 (8:33 pm)
I was in the same boat as you- thinking about a 325/330 until I saw the incentive. I drove both the 325/330 and 525/530. The 3 series was more sport than luxery while the 5 series was the other way around.(I didn't drive a 530 w/ sport package tho, but I hear it is well worth the $$$) The 5 series was also quieter and wider inside, with a bigger trunk. Imo, of the choices, I would avoid the 525 as you would worry about it being underpowered going up long inclines- still felt peppy to me tho. You can't lose with any of the picks really. However,I opted for a stripped down 530 instead of a loaded 525. With the incentive, the value proposition of owning a 530 for the price of a 330 was too good for me to pass up-this was the deal of a lifetime!#6878 of 12737 530 break-in by designman
Jul 03, 2003 (9:12 pm)
Would appreciate any break-in advice for a 530 automatic. Much thanks.#6879 of 12737 designman by kdshapiro
Jul 04, 2003 (4:48 am)
Break in the car according to the owners manual. That is for the first 1200 miles: keep the rpms below 4,000 and keep the speed under 80 (or is it 100?). In addition go easy on the brakes and tires for the first couple of hundred miles.#6880 of 12737 hoopref- rebates by 530bmw
Jul 04, 2003 (5:31 am)
Where did you find the info on rebates of the 3 and 5 series? I checked both Autosite and Edmunds but found nothing on the $4000 rebates. Please tell me where you got the info from, I live in the DC area and I hope this is a nationwide rebate program.#6881 of 12737 designman and 530bmw by fielding_yost
Jul 04, 2003 (6:44 am)
Designman, regarding break-in procedure, my owner's manual says keep it below 4500 rpm and 100 mph for the first 1200 miles. My manny is so smooth that I want to take it above 4500, but alas, I will have to wait too.530bmw, regarding the nationwide rebates, they are from factory to dealer, not dealer to customer. Nonetheless, almost all of the dealerships are "sharing" the rebate with the customers in order to move product. I don't know if the rebates extended to July, but I assume they did. $3500 for 525 and $4000 for 530 (and 540 too?). Don't know about 3er rebates. I don't think the dealerships wanted anyone to know at first, but silly them, it got out pretty quickly. When I brought it up to my salesperson, I got the old deer in the headlights look.
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