08-19-2006, 03:50 AM | #1 |
Crazy Old Man
Join Date: Dec 2003
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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???
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08-19-2006, 08:30 AM | #2 |
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Recirculating ball steering is teh suck?
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08-19-2006, 10:23 AM | #3 | |
Founder emeritus
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08-19-2006, 10:28 AM | #4 | |
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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. |
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08-19-2006, 12:11 PM | #5 | |
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Now he has an E60 545i w/Active Steering. It feels better to me than the E39 did, but I still like mine better.
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08-19-2006, 12:30 PM | #6 | |
Crazy Old Man
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Quote:
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08-19-2006, 01:39 PM | #7 | |
The old cranky SOB....
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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.
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Kevin 1970 2800CS - - 2001 740iL - - 2006 997.1 - - 2012 Escalade 1968 Mustang GT Convertible - - 2003 Ford F250 PSD - - 1985 728i |
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08-20-2006, 01:57 AM | #8 |
Alphanumeric
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08-20-2006, 09:05 AM | #9 |
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I'll admit that that post was mostly a , 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. |
08-20-2006, 09:05 AM | #10 |
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I'll admit that that post was mostly a , 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. |
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