2003 540i 6spd

[Theo]

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???

[Plaz]

Recirculating ball steering is teh suck?

[TD]

Originally Posted by Plaz

Recirculating ball steering is teh suck?

It's a lot better than the '01+ E46 steering.

[TD]

Originally Posted by TBM3C

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.

[Plaz]

Originally Posted by TD

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.

[Theo]

Originally Posted by TD

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]

Originally Posted by TD

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.

[equ]

Originally Posted by TD

It's a lot better than the '01+ E46 steering.

So very ****ing wrong.

[TD]

Originally Posted by equ

So very ****ing wrong.

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.

[TD]

Originally Posted by equ

So very ****ing wrong.

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.