View Full Version : 2003 540i 6spd
I know this car has been talked about many times before but I need a refresher. TD I know you drove that really nice black 6 spd home. What were your thoughts and why did you not get it???
Recirculating ball steering is teh suck?
Recirculating ball steering is teh suck?
It's a lot better than the '01+ E46 steering.
I know this car has been talked about many times before but I need a refresher. TD I know you drove that really nice black 6 spd home. What were your thoughts and why did you not get it???
I still haven't ruled one out.
When I was looking, it was for *my* car and, in the end, I decided I didn't want to own my car. I wanted to lease.
When we finally sell the Saab (multiple ads - no bites), if we decide against the V70R, I plan to push strongly for an '03 540i/6.
The only big negative is that it's coming up on 4 years old - which is how old my M3 was when I bought it - and it immediately started costing me maintenance $$. But a year or so ago, the price was hard to justify for a 3 year old car that wasn't an M.
It's a great car and I love it (I can't think of a BMW sedan that is better looking). But it didn't make the final cut.
It's a lot better than the '01+ E46 steering.
I couldn't disagree more. My buddy used to have an '02 540i, and its steering felt infinitely more numb than my '02 E46's.
Now he has an E60 545i w/Active Steering. It feels better to me than the E39 did, but I still like mine better.
:dunno:
I still haven't ruled one out.
When I was looking, it was for *my* car and, in the end, I decided I didn't want to own my car. I wanted to lease.
When we finally sell the Saab (multiple ads - no bites), if we decide against the V70R, I plan to push strongly for an '03 540i/6.
The only big negative is that it's coming up on 4 years old - which is how old my M3 was when I bought it - and it immediately started costing me maintenance $$. But a year or so ago, the price was hard to justify for a 3 year old car that wasn't an M.
It's a great car and I love it (I can't think of a BMW sedan that is better looking). But it didn't make the final cut.
Thanks for the reply. I need to get out a drive this weekend. I got the bug for a slightly bigger road cruiser and I want to stay in and around the low 30's. Need to go drive both the 740i and the 540i.
lip277
08-19-2006, 02:39 PM
I still haven't ruled one out.
The only big negative is that it's coming up on 4 years old - which is how old my M3 was when I bought it - and it immediately started costing me maintenance $$. But a year or so ago, the price was hard to justify for a 3 year old car that wasn't an M.
It's a great car and I love it (I can't think of a BMW sedan that is better looking). But it didn't make the final cut.
I bought my E38 at 9 years old (and ~85,000 miles).
I have done NOTHING to it since then other than replace the audio amp (to the tune of $300) and scheduled maintenance (fluids/filters).
It has 106,000 miles on it now.
Then again - I'm a nut, so take that into consideration.
:D
It's a lot better than the '01+ E46 steering.
So very ****ing wrong. :lol:
So very ****ing wrong. :lol:
I'll admit that that post was mostly a :stickpoke:, but...
I know the E46's steering is more direct and responsive but I was never able to get over it's boost issues. The '01 hyper boosted is much discussed but, IMO, the '01 retrofit rack sucked as bad and I've felt the '02+ racks were still not quite right.
The times I've driven an E39 540, the steering didn't register one way or the other.
So very ****ing wrong. :lol:
I'll admit that that post was mostly a :stickpoke:, but...
I know the E46's steering is more direct and responsive but I was never able to get over it's boost issues. The '01 hyper boosted is much discussed but, IMO, the '01 retrofit rack sucked as bad and I've felt the '02+ racks were still not quite right.
The times I've driven an E39 540, the steering didn't register one way or the other.
I'll admit that that post was mostly a :stickpoke:, but...
I know the E46's steering is more direct and responsive but I was never able to get over it's boost issues. The '01 hyper boosted is much discussed but, IMO, the '01 retrofit rack sucked as bad and I've felt the '02+ racks were still not quite right.
The times I've driven an E39 540, the steering didn't register one way or the other.
Admittedly I did test it while I was still driving a 996. I test drove the 540i6 twice. One was a cpo at a dealer and it was terrible. At the time, I drove it back to back with a 530i, and I found myself much more partial to the 530i despite the obvious gutlessness. The 540i felt heavy up front and loose. It could be that it's bearings/shocks were gone or had low pressure on front tires. You know dealers, my new e46 was delivered to me with 26psi... But still even my gf said she felt that car's steering was like a chevy truck.
The other time I drove the 540i6, I was at this place that specialized in salvage cars. I went there for the low prices and then realized all cars were salvaged. However, the eastern european owner/repairer was quite cool with many comments on the m3's, s4's. He even had a 850i in stock. This was 2004 and he had really bad things to say about the just out e60. He kept saying that the front of that car fell off in bad accidents :yikes: and that the e39 was the best 5er ever. This 540i had some damage from theft but it was a phenomenal drive. Drove back to back with m3 and 330 and somehow didn't "notice" the steering. It was a solid, fast, transport capsule that easily hit and stayed in the three digits. It was my favorite of the day and I would consider it if I could also have another sportier car. BTW, so much for a cpo being better than a salvage, it always depends on the individual car.
Like ex-gfs that pop into mind once in a while, I have stories and soft spots for many cars :)
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