Which bimmer to buy next
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URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=43058
Printed Date: 29-April-2024 at 01:11
Topic: Which bimmer to buy next
Posted By: afsar
Subject: Which bimmer to buy next
Date Posted: 10-November-2008 at 23:31
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Guys,
Just thinking of upgrading my entry level 3 series to something better, not immediately but by first quarter next year. I have appx 15k to shed and want to buy used something appx 2 years old and less then 30k miles driven. Users of car will be myself (weekday office goer) my wife (weekend passenger) and a baby (7 months now). I was planning for a hard top convertible (325ci) but don't think it will be comfortable with a baby now. Give me your input on this if you have been through this situation ever. Shall I go for 5 series? Shall I buy diesel or petrol? What kind of car can I afford with my current budget? blah blah blah... so many question coming in mind. So I need your recommendation before I make any move. Many thanks. -Afsar |
Replies:
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 11-November-2008 at 11:42
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Blow the years and the mileage and get an E46 M3 or 330 clubsport.
Or an M5 ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: spokey
Date Posted: 11-November-2008 at 12:40
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I saw an E39 M5 for under 8 grand today. I saw an LE E34 M5 (probably the best E34 M5 in the UK) for 8 grand yesterday. E38 7-series regularly go for under 5 and you'll have plenty left if something goes wrong. For 15 grand, you'll really be spoilt for choice -- IF you chuck out the restrictions (which are pretty nonsensical ones, IMO!) If you want a sensible, pragmatic choice, get a 118 diesel, you'll be on the lowest tax bracket and they are great fun to drive, handling wise. ------------- Ciao, Spokey 
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Posted By: Sporty1
Date Posted: 11-November-2008 at 14:17
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I would make any plans of what to buy quite yet, by the end of Q1 next year £15k might buy you a load more car that it does today, just wait...... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/782133.htm - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/782133.htm ------------- 
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
Posted By: davy tombstone
Date Posted: 11-November-2008 at 22:31
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i agree. the way things are going 10 grand will buy you a 15 grand ride next year ------------- http://s324.photobucket.com/user/davytombstone/media/newsig_zpsd6056b1d.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 12-November-2008 at 10:45
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thanks guys for suggestions so far.
645 will be too much for me, not just the price but 4.5 litre car to carry 12 stones will be overkill. My car share pal drives 645ci one of these and he can do one traffic light to another pretty quickly and then wait there for like any other fiat punto. btw. howz a 2 door car for a baby. If thats not a problem then I was quite interested in 325ci hardtop. What do you guys think of this one? |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 12-November-2008 at 12:13
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325ci is a fine car although if you have a baby you might find a 4 door more convenient. You will also get more car for your money if you go for a saloon. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: alym786
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 17:07
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Diesel or petrol??? Depends on your mileage! I have a E46 coupe and its a little tight for carrying passengers comfortably. Don't get me wrong its still practicle (i.e big enough boot). But i'd def go for a 4 door if I had a kid! As the conv has a smaller boot due to the hood etc. I'm having to change mines soon as well as its not practicle enough! I fancy a E65 730d or E60 535d next... Must be getting old!!!  I was reading in one of the Bm mags that the 5 series is a great buy now (E60)... And come early next year prices are set to prob come down a lot more, due to the amount of cars coming through from fleet companys into auctions... ------------- E46 328ci now sold :( 
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Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 17:15
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Our 2 kids have been through 318iS coup, M3 coup, 520 saloon,535 saloon,320d saloon,328 coup and now the 540 touring.
I prefer coup to saloon with kids....ok so you get in the car with the seat forward to do the seat belt up (whether they get in or are in car seat) but thats sooooooooo much easier than opening rear door then put them in the car then lean over them to fumble with the seatbelt. Especially if, like us, you happen to live on a busy road. Coups easy with kids. ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 17:31
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15k will get you a barge like mine which looks like a boring smelly noisy 520d but can scare M3's! I didn't pay much over that for my wheels! 333bhp 0-60 in 5.9 secs 450 Nm, limited to 155mph. Near enough M3 performance but it doesn't stand out like an M model plus you can get kiddie seats in the back after all it is a practical 4 door family saloon! Don't get a diesel! Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 17:34
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From the suggestions of Stone-IslandV8 and alym786 it
seems in convertible problem is the small boot space then 2 doors. However coup is recommended with a kid as it will have big boot and reason explained by Stone- IslandV8. Did I miss something? -Afsar |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 17:36
More people seems to recommend 5 series saloon. Hmmm need to give a serious thought. |
Andrew Rolland wrote:Posted By: alym786
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 18:37
Have to agree... If you aint doing the mileage get a petrol! I now live in Hamilton... But still work in Edinburgh so my miles are sky high just now... (On the wifes Yaris though )Have to agree a E60 is a nice sleeper..... More subtle!  ------------- E46 328ci now sold :(
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Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 18:50
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I would imagine that used prices of big engined E60's will have fallen thru the floor and will be rock bottom in the new year. If you can wait two months then go in to a dealer at the end of Jan they will be giving away cars at the end of the month to make their sales figures up for the month. All you would need to do is find a nice big engined machine. Other than the two 545i's that I have owned I can only honestly say that I have seen two other 545i's and one was last weekend. I have seen two E60 550i's but never an E60 540i. I think the best buy would be a current 530i which has ~270-272bhp which is fairly chuffin' impressive out of a 6 pot 3.0 litre. The early E60 530i's were not quite as powerful as that, but I've not got a feel for how much a facelift (post Sep 07) E60 530i would be. It would be more economical than my V8 but only ~60 horses down. Not too shabby! If you want economy and a diesel, buy a diesel Ford. BMW's are for dynamic driving which you just don't get from a smelly, slow, noisey diesel no matter how many turbo charges you bolt on to the engine. Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 14-November-2008 at 18:57
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Re reading all the above posts..... You will need to cart around the enevitable sprog gear which will consist of prams and buggies etc. Her silly pal, while pregnant, bought a 3 door 316 compact which she cannot get the sprog/sprog seat in and out of very easily nor can she get the pram/buggie in the boot. When my wife went on a day out with her and the sprog, my wife was in the back seat next to the sprog in the sprog seat while the buggy was strapped in on the front seat. I would think that the boot of a 1 series would be somewhat limited due to the drive train and general size of the car. Get an E60 but make sure it a) isn't a diesel b) has the higher spec ventilation controls c) has leather d) is an auto and e) if you can get comfort seats they are the best seats I've sat on! Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 17-November-2008 at 16:14
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The e46 coups boot space is fine for buggy etc....issues arise when holidaying,luggage etc. Compacts have more restricted access IMO than the coup. Both my lil'uns were in e36 & e46 coups in kiddie seats and were fine.
As I said I only went to the E39 cos of dog therefore more space needed again. Where the E46 coup does fall down is when the kiddies are older...my 9 yr old in a booster seat started to complain that it was a touch cramped for her....the interior at the back of the coups slopes inwards slightly. ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: Daz
Date Posted: 18-November-2008 at 21:07
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Good call... just don't buy a cheap one. Like everything, else buy cheap buy dear, as the saying goes. Make sure there is good service history your sorted. My advise if getting an M car get one still under warranty, like mine! But it's not for sale... have fun searching. Also if you drive the M3 you will not buy a 330 so be careful which order you test them. Daz ------------- http://smg.photobucket.com/user/silverbeastie/media/Milltek/Sig.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  2009 E92 M3 - Milltek |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 08:13
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I think that given the original posters criteria an M car is off the list. Stop getting over excited guys ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 10:01
True, having top performing M3/5 saloon will be too much to have. My baby and wife both won't digest that. Also my trip to petrol station will be more then tesco's. Regards, Afsar |
Posted By: Daz
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 11:01
Gulity as charged. But it is a car forum we were always unlikely to suggest a Yaris and pocket the difference. ------------- http://smg.photobucket.com/user/silverbeastie/media/Milltek/Sig.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> 2009 E92 M3 - Milltek |
Posted By: keithc
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 12:30
What about an E39 Alpina. I've seen them go for silly money and they are fantastically kitted out. I'll be gettin one.....some day!! ------------- BMW's in family: 2004 E46 - Replaced by 2006 E90 ; 1992 E32; 1986 E28 (x2); 1986 E30 (x2) Wishlist: 2002 Turbo; E28 M5; E24 M6; E46 M3CSL; E39 M5 |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 12:54
I'm telling you a 545i is the way to go You would get one for not a lot of cash I would think as nobody will want them anymore. Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 13:18
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Given some concern for Fuel economy my choice in that price range would be a 530 or a 330. I can't see them getting much worse mpg than the 323/525 and you get a bit more grunt. The V8 has quite a bit more pwer but dspite what Andrew says it will get worse mpg and it will cost more come service time. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 13:31
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530 seems a good choice to me too. Incase I decide on
330 shall I go for saloon, coup or convertible? I love hardtop convertibles but would it be comfortable enough? I know it may be difficult to get a 330 hardtop in this budget. What do you say? |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 19-November-2008 at 13:43
But isnt that offset by the V8?
Am I the only one on here who's wife works on the basis that if I don't get the engine/power I want/like then I'll be a nightmare so lets me get on with it??!!? But then again its my car...she can't drive. As for the baby not standing it......it'll have your wallet in its mitts before too long so get your own back in advance. My kids loved the M3 and the 540, and no I don't drive it exuberantly when they're all in the car. ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: dutch
Date Posted: 22-November-2008 at 17:05
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E39 530i doe's what it says on the tin! fast comfortable loads of room, all the bells and whistles for you to play with, problem i found with the vert and coupe's is the doors are so long,can't fully open it in car park to get the nipper in or out of the back.(unless you drop the top!) ------------- e39,1200 bandit cooper S, Z3 topazbleu |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 22-November-2008 at 17:51
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Get the 530 or a 330 saloon. If it was me and I had kids I would forget the 330 coupe/convertible. IMO the 530 is a much nicer car than a 330. Lots more space than a 330, more refined and in general a nicer drive.
------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 22-November-2008 at 17:55
Sometimes you have to set a limit in terms of running costs. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 22-November-2008 at 23:22
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Thanks for your advise my friends. I am less confused
then before. 530 seems better option to me now. Having decided on model lets get in more details. ;-) What shall I expect in a car before I commit a deal. e.g. bluetooth, rain sensing wipers, swivel headlights, heated seats, even lane departure warning system (if I am not asking too much  ), harmon kardon
system, alloys etc. I am not sure if these systems are by default or not possible in 5 series at all! Please guide me here too. ~~Afsar~~ |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 23-November-2008 at 09:21
Oh blow that, cross that bridge when you come to it. ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 23-November-2008 at 09:25
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Well, if you're worried about space and practicality for the little 'un go for the touring then you'll never have to worry about space again.
Satnav/TV is a nice addition but not an option I'd pay over the odds on, sports pack is good, I think you're looking at the E60 with options like lane departure system and driver-adjustive headlights aren't you? IMHO the E60 comes alive style-wise in a dark colour (think Henry Ford or blue etc) with bigger wheels. ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 25-November-2008 at 13:46
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Must disagree with you there sir. Since the 20th of August my car has returned the following average mpg when filling it up, calculated by hand not going on the cars computer. 30.0, 31.3. 30.7, 34.4, 34.4, 30.7, 30.7, 29.1, 31.0, 28.8, 23.5, 29.1, 21.9, 22.4, (Towing a caravan for the last two) 29.4, 30.7, 26.4, 27.9, 24.3, 29.4 and 29.4. All on Shell VPower. (info recorded for my ongoing VPower v Unleaded experiment) So that lot averages out at 28.8 mpg. So yes I must apologise profusely to everyone when I said my car gets on average 30.0mpg. Sorry knuckles duly wrapped! It will quite clearly give me more than 30.0mpg on some runs but when you then drive thru stop start commuter traffic on the M8 it brings it down to the above figures. Return run to Edinburgh for a Saturday nightshift and I got 33 mpg, now that I have driven on the M8 three times in commuter traffic it is now down to about 31 mpg IIRC from this morning. Still 28.8 mpg is not much worse than my E39 (31mpg at best) and way better than my old Senator. If you take out the two rouge ones when I was towing a caravan it averages out at 29.5 mpg. Remember that is around 29 mpg from something that will crack 60 in under 6 seconds and is pegged back at 155mph and scare the brown stuff out of E46 M3 owners. It's when the back end wiggles and the traction control checks your progress when you are accelerating hard at 40-50mpg, that is the scary! As said by others the cheaper older V8 with higher running costs is offset by paying less for it in the first place. Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 25-November-2008 at 14:38
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Having checked pistonheads recently and the prices shown there I'm still plumping for an M5 and buy the wife a cruise with the change to keep her happy!!! ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 28-November-2008 at 10:37
If you were scaring the brown stuff out of E46 m3 owners then you wouldn't be getting 29mpg. I bet that you have to take if fairly gently to get 29mpg out of your car. Either that or you spend a lot of time on the motorway at 70mph. You will certainly not be driving it hard to get that MPG. Am I right?
------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 28-November-2008 at 12:39
I can assure you Peter that I do have fun in the car . Just not all the time.------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 04-June-2009 at 13:24
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Guys,
Sorry to invoke this old thread but I couldn't buy in the first quarter due to my job uncertainty. Now things seems be a bit better and promising then before. I am quite keen to buy 535d as I find reviews quite positive. I never owned a diesel before but as said in various posts above that diesel is not recommended, may I know a subtle reason why diesel should not be considered. Given the combination of mpg and performance of 535d I think it is quite reasonable. They say it is world's best diesel car ever made, also I heard 530d at BMW showroom and it wasn't that loud when we started the engine keeping all windows down. I don't find E60 cheaper either, my 15k budget won't get me anything what I want. As said in first post I am after automatic, 2006 onwards, 40kish on clock with sat nav, xenons, possibly lane departure featured model. Actually price for this car never dropped in past 6 month, they are still coming for appx. 20k, which is a lot and well above my budget. But by selling my current 318i I can consider spending that much but I need ur say before I go ahead with any deal next month. Thanks for reading, -Afsar |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 05-June-2009 at 08:03
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If you must buy an oil burner then todays 535d and 335d are the ones to get. They are both twin turbo engines and not single fan driven stuff which will have noticeable turbo lag. Little turbo, no lag at low engine rpms gets you going then when the revs build up they are suifficent for the bigger turbo to kick in which then sends you well on your way. 0-60 6.4 secs, t'is no slouch. The 535d comes standard as automatic. I wouldn't have thought you could get a 535d for 15k yet. If you search Youtube you might find a clip from TopGear when JC reviewed the 535d. (This clip keeps getting pulled off so my links never work and I can't access Youtube at work) He liked it for a diesel but he proved that no matter how many units of torque you have it can be out done by sheer power or POOOOOOWWWWWWWEEEEEERRRRRR as Mr Clarkson would say. 286 bhp and 580 Nm of torque from the oil burner vs 333 bhp and 450 Nm of torque from the V8. Big difference in torque but wasn't enough to match the power from the V8. Very close but, just not quite. If conditions dictated that I had to get a diesel, that would be the one I would get. And more importantly there have been no horror stories of turbo's failing. Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: alym786
Date Posted: 05-June-2009 at 22:44
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535d Sport is the one to have, I've seen a few around for about 16k but with over 70k on the clock!!! I test drove the 335d and the power delivery is very impressive! You won't be disappointed! ------------- E46 328ci now sold :(
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Posted By: mjansari
Date Posted: 04-July-2009 at 15:46
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760 sport |
Posted By: mjansari
Date Posted: 04-July-2009 at 15:47
| duh just realised 335d sport or 535d sport |
Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 11-October-2009 at 19:27
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Guys, forgot to update this post. I bought a 535d few months back. It is very good combination of power, luxury and performance. Now when I think what car should buy after this I can't think of any. This is simply the best (given my requirement of having a family saloon 5 door car with a bit of performance) I don't accelerate it harder when my wife is sitting on passenger seat as she starts getting headache but I do it when a friend is sitting next, it takes sh*t out of them. It is seriously cool car. Thanks for your extremely evaluable suggestion friends. Here are the pics.
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Posted By: afsar
Date Posted: 11-October-2009 at 19:29
| and it took me almost 1 year to buy this car. |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 12-October-2009 at 10:04
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Nice motor
I think it will take me longer than 1 year to find my next BMW...
------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 12-October-2009 at 18:16
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Nice....face lifted model too. Just don't park up on that kerb too often. That won't do the wheel alignment much good not to mention them 9.5 x 19 alloys... Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN4-KA0VGzs - Clarksons review of the 535d. It's good...for a diesel.... ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |