My Selection-?

[Shazzz55]

Hey... i am planing to buy a car... around 30,000 and was looking at the BMW 5 series on a second hand selection. I was wondering if there was a better choice anyone would have...(3 Series). I want a BMW that can be luzurius and still run fast!!!

[spieluhr]

M5!!!

[Eric S.]

Originally posted by Shazzz55@Apr 6 2005, 10:15 PM
Hey... i am planing to buy a car... around 30,000 and was looking at the BMW 5 series on a second hand selection. I was wondering if there was a better choice anyone would have...(3 Series). I want a BMW that can be luzurius and still run fast!!!

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My 2 cents -
If you need some back seat space (I have three kids, two are still in car seats/boosters), then stick with the 5. If kids are not as much of an issue (only have one or none), then my opinion of the 330 4-door I drove was that it felt just like a sports car.

Summary - the 3 feels like a 2-seater to drive but has a back seat. The 5 gives you more space but still handles well for its size/class. Best of all - the 540 gives you that V8 torque solution no 3 can provide...

Just go drive some and see for yourself!!

[superdeadman]

depending on how much money you got.
if it's somewhere in 20s - 6spd 540
if you got $40k - without a doubt M5
below it all --- find a 3 series with the biggest engine you can

[rsn48]

For luxury and fast, the 540i as has already been suggested. However the 530i has reasonable pep to it with less maintance concerns and less fuel use.

[Eric S.]

Originally posted by rsn48@Apr 7 2005, 12:02 PM
For luxury and fast, the 540i as has already been suggested. However the 530i has reasonable pep to it with less maintance concerns and less fuel use.

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What sort of mpg are you seeing with your 530? I personally think this "less fuel use" thing is a bit of a red herring because I am seeing consistent 24 mpg daily average with my 1999 540/6 and am getting 29 on the highway, including lunch stops and exits. I don't think a 530 is going to do much better (maybe 2 to 3 mpg?), but then the transmission has a lot to do with it as well.

Just wondering, not trying to stir up anything. I do agree that the 530 offers a very decent middle ground, depending on one's needs/desires.