'05, '06 530i; any comments

berettafan · 08-25-2008, 11:10 AM

Okay, wife has agreed that it is a nice vehicle and wouldn't mind owning one.

We drove one this past weekend in anticipation of turning in my '06 Tundra dcab. We've been looking at wagons and the V70 2.5t ( 06 or 07 model) is at the top of the list right now but the bimmer...well it's just a nice car as far as i can tell.

She wants to see a 5 wagon however i'm not as excited about one as i see the awd as lower gas mileage and higher future cost for repairs.

Anybody own one of these cars? Care to comment?

Rode in my buddies '08 528 again today and it is just so nice. Not sure how different the 530's are; nothing is readily apparent.

Seahawk · 08-25-2008, 11:18 AM

Why just 5 Series? 3 Series wagons are great.

I had no idea how much I would appreciate my little 325i sedan.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-25-2008, 11:19 AM

iDrive is reportedly the devil, avoid it at all costs. That's the only comment I have. Nice cars, if your wife is the practical type the wagon is a no-brainer. No doubt, BMW >>>>> Volvo.

berettafan · 08-25-2008, 11:27 AM

the 3 series we sat in felt a bit too narrow. additionally there appear to be negligable differences in the following:

price
weight
mileage

also since i have a 911 so the need for burning up the backroads and/or track can be satiated there.

Seahawk · 08-25-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

the 3 series we sat in felt a bit too narrow. additionally there appear to be negligable differences in the following:

price
weight
mileage

also since i have a 911 so the need for burning up the backroads and/or track can be satiated there.

Fair enough...I get 33/34mpg on the highway, however.

Can't go wrong.

berettafan · 08-25-2008, 11:34 AM

wow, nice figures!

what does the sticker say about mileage for your particular model?

Seahawk · 08-25-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

wow, nice figures!

what does the sticker say about mileage for your particular model?

29 hwy. When I drive hwy, I drive fast but not quick, makes all the difference.

The 5 Series may in fact be next

the · 08-25-2008, 11:45 AM

05/06 530i is a great car, and a great value right now. Because of gas costs, they aren't that much more than a 330i of the same years. The mileage difference isn't that much, and the price difference is a bit irrational, IMO.

Eric Coffey · 08-25-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

29 hwy. When I drive hwy, I drive fast but not quick, makes all the difference.

The 5 Series may in fact be next

MPG be dammed!

If you can stretch it to a `06 550i, or even the new 535i (have seen them under $40k), I recommend driving one. Oh, and yes sport package is a must. Seriously, if MPG is your main concern, don't leave out the 525i.

Last week the dealer gave me a 335i loaner while servicing my 330. I had the weekend to play with it, and wow...they are very nice and very fast. Even though the turbos make it tempting to stomp on it now and then, the mpg was not as bad as I would have thought. With a lead foot and a new engine I still averaged 23 mpg.

I have always cringed at the thought of buying a new car (instant depreciation and all), but it is sure tempting to trade the old 330 in on a new 335i. The warranty and free maintenance make it even easier to rationalize. Plus they are doing 0.9% financing through 09/02/08, hmmm. Actually, I will probably wait until the 335's start coming up on the CPO program and get one with the 6 year/100k warranty and the same free maintenance as a new one.

Tim Hancock · 08-25-2008, 01:32 PM

As you all know by now, I love BMW's. That said, my boss was loking to buy a new Cadillac and I instead convinced him to buy a used low mileage 2005 525.... Awesome car..... just don't be stupid and try to drive it down a flooded street as the air intake is very low on these cars and he was the third guy to have his 5-series towed into the dealer that day with a ruined engine due to water ingestion

Luckily he was covered somehow (not sure if it was his insurance or warranty) and the dealer installed a new engine. I don't know what he was thinking (I guess he wasn't), but for some reason the new 5-series does not like ingesting non-compressible fluid

.

Halm · 08-25-2008, 01:43 PM

5 series AWD system is pretty close to my X5. 117k miles and counting. Not a problem to mention. Great car, much more comfortable than my 330i -that I love too- and I would get another without hesitation.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

BMW's CPO warranty can't be beaten. If you find an '08 that belonged to some employee or was just turned back in on another trade, you'll get the CPO warranty, which is better than the one on a new car. I lust for the 335i or M3 coupe. But I really need to just sell my 330i sedan and not have so many cars that don't get driven.