Indeed, it's all about perception. For most of my life, such cars were something other (presumably much more wealthy) people drove. I still can't afford one.
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Any BMW Owners/Fanatics?
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Indeed, it's all about perception. For most of my life, such cars were something other (presumably much more wealthy) people drove. I still can't afford one.
I really enjoy the E39 5 Series. I think it's one of the better BMW designs of recent years. All of the newer models to me feel very bloated (well maybe not the X5), but that's very subjective. I think in certain colors and and wheel combinations it looks even that much better. The new 5 Series has been improved slightly with the face life - more balanced and rounded. It certainly has grown on me, but I don't "love" it.
I have an E46 M3 myself. I've had her about 3 years and have been very pleased with her. She's a very solid car and a joy to drive every time I go out. I'm certainly in no rush to get rid of her. However, by the same token I can't say BMW will be my next car. I'd see what's out at the time and test appropriately. I am confident though that it will not be American or Asian (I did love my Acura though!).
I have an E46 M3 myself. I've had her about 3 years and have been very pleased with her. She's a very solid car and a joy to drive every time I go out. I'm certainly in no rush to get rid of her. However, by the same token I can't say BMW will be my next car. I'd see what's out at the time and test appropriately. I am confident though that it will not be American or Asian (I did love my Acura though!).
Exactly. Apple makes computers, not cars. Nothing about the two is even remotely analogous.
The newer Bimmers have the same great engines (for the most part) that made the reputations back in the 70s-90s...the problem is they've gotten bloated, heavy, ugly, and tech-happy. The last great ones IMHO were the Z3/M Coupé+Roadster. E30+36 tech for bulletproof yet sportsy internals, yet it just "missed" the wave of electronics that jumped in on the newer models--it was the last BMW made that didn't have the option of a Nav system (in the US, at least)...to say nothing of iDrive etc. Anybody who buys a new BMW with no dipstick(!) is asking for trouble. /end rant.
The year we bought our 525, the 7 series already had that stupid iDrive system. A couple of years later they unleashed it on the 5 series, and I assume by now, the 3 series. The electronic controls in the older 5 series were already too complicated by half. Most of the problems we've had with ours are with this system. We had ours into the dealer I think it was four times in six months with a battery-killing fault that they could never seem to find.
iDrive is the biggest negative with BMWs IMO. I don't want or need it. As my old man used to say, "It's just one more thing that will break".
E39 5 series owner here. Feel free to ask me anything. The 528i doesn't have a very big engine, but it's got a big heart 
I'm sure he'll like it. There's not much better than flooring the 540i on the freeway and watching people who are going 80 look like they're parked.
I'll sell you some Depo Projector39 (best aftermarket) xenon headlights with angel eyes if you're in the market. I'm upgrading to Hella Xenons.
I'm sure he'll like it. There's not much better than flooring the 540i on the freeway and watching people who are going 80 look like they're parked.I'll sell you some Depo Projector39 (best aftermarket) xenon headlights with angel eyes if you're in the market. I'm upgrading to Hella Xenons.
Eh everything controlled by iDrive such as climate and radio breaks even in cars with the more "simplistic" LCD + button arrangement. The climate control LCD on mine is already freaking out and only displays correctly part of the time. iDrive is just a different way (and presumably more expensive) for the electronics to break
Give me three knobs for climate control any day, one for fan speed, one for temp, and one for where the air blows.
Well let me tell you this, don't buy a pre-2004 BMW. They are guaranteed to fail. I am driving a 2004 530i, used. Actually I am borrowing it from my dad, since I don't have a car of my own at the moment(high school...just a kid =) .) Dad drives an 8 series...12 cylinder I think. Maybe 10. It sucks up gas like crazy, and it may be nearing the end of its life.
My advice is to go with something like a 525i from 2004+. A reasonably good car. The problem that I see in almost every BMW is that since there are so many little trinkets and gadgets, lots of things begin to fail as the car gets older htan 3 years. Little things though, like cup holders and vents.
...assuming one can afford it. The OP mentioned a $10k budget, and a 2004 5 series is going to be well over that unless it's stolen.
I was looking at buying an older 5 series like Taylors a little bit ago. Late 90s or early 2000's.
Breaking cupholders were a huge complaint, seems they were flimsy and expensive to replace.
Breaking cupholders were a huge complaint, seems they were flimsy and expensive to replace.
I wouldn't have it any other way...that's why I want an E30 M3.
The E9? has physical buttons for the climate control( much like the E46).
I seriously don't mind iDrive. Could it be improved? Yeah( haven't tested the new one), but I got it on the first day when we picked up the 335xi.
I also like the earlier BMWs and their look. The 2002 series of the early 1970s is very nice. I don't much care for much of what I saw in the 80s until the present day. There is just something very special about the look and it's classic and timeless like a 60s Porsche 911 or Datsun 240 Z.
I drive a couple of M3 convertibles, one of the last generation and one of the current. The metal folding roof is pretty amazing (I certainly wouldn't have wanted to store another separate hard top all winter), but you can kiss good-bye to your boot (trunk? ).
Yes, the older one is now very expensive to service. However, having owned it from new for around ~7 years I'm pleased to say that it has never, touch wood, broken down. It's still such a fantastic car that, despite having the new one, I haven't been able to part with it yet.
Both have the SMG/DCT DRIVELOGIC gearbox. Don't scream at me, but, for me, an M3 has to have one to be a real M3.
).Yes, the older one is now very expensive to service. However, having owned it from new for around ~7 years I'm pleased to say that it has never, touch wood, broken down. It's still such a fantastic car that, despite having the new one, I haven't been able to part with it yet.
Both have the SMG/DCT DRIVELOGIC gearbox. Don't scream at me, but, for me, an M3 has to have one to be a real M3.
I had a BMW 1502 a couple of years back. I'd consider another BMW, but nothing newer than the neue klasse.
That should be a picture of it, but I can't see it here.
That should be a picture of it, but I can't see it here.
I had a BMW 1502 a couple of years back. I'd consider another BMW, but nothing newer than the neue klasse.
That should be a picture of it, but I can't see it here.
I love that picture. I wish BMW still had the same design sense. I saw some new BMWs that looked much like Toyota Corollas the other day. Not that Corollas are bad for what they are, but for BMW to make a car ripping off a Corolla? What gives? I have also seen the same cheap generic subcompact rip off of Toyota Corollas with Volvo (I have an old classic one) and Jaguar. If I want a Corolla, I will buy one and use it for what it was designed for which is great gas mileage and extreme reliability. They know how to do that better than anybody (along with Honda Civic). I am very wary of BMW, Volvo, or Jaguar trying to do that as that's not their bag.
I loved all those old classics when they had trademark design features and you could tell one brand from another. Volvo had that utilitarian look (built for durability) and that's why I love my 240 series. Jaguar had that sleek low profile and had an elegance akin to Rolls Royce but without the Rolls price tag, and BMW had those signature headlights/grill and that compact sporty look with a sophistication and youthful X-factor to it unlike Mercedes or Audi (at the time in the early 70s).
They are flimsy. We broke one but don't know how much it costs to replace.
As far as the newer vs. older 5 series is concerned, it seems to me that the general consensus has been that the early 2000s models are better than their replacements in most every respect. I'm remembering when Consumer Reports reviewed the newer models they were disappointed in the steps backwards BMW had taken. One of the big minuses was the introduction of iDrive.
BTW, iDrive was created by Microsoft. Case closed.
Is BMW in trouble and thus the backwards steps? If they keep on doing that, they can fall like the once great big three of Detroit. When the 1970s waned on, the big three lost their design sense and got good at building "ugly". I will take a '65 Mustang or '57 Chevy or any offering of Detroit in the modern era.
Maybe the real BMW fans are in a better position to say, but it seems to me that they have developed a bad habit of over-engineering their cars. The iDrive system was (I believe) clearly a bridge too far, but even after the rather poor reception it received in the 7 series, they insisted on sticking with it and introduced it into their other lines. It's a shame because fundamentally they make great driving cars. I'd say they need to get back to basics.