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BimmerGuy · (This post was last modified: 08-31-2010 02:27 PM by BimmerGuy.)

I tink I got it...

[Image: 16035937073279821264IM104565x421_A565x377-1.jpg]

Here is a photograph of my '01 540i Sport. I keep this car in California for my monthly visits to help care for my elderly father.

It's a great car to keep up with the crazy Los Angeles traffic.

David

***Wimbledon*** · (This post was last modified: 08-31-2010 08:32 AM by Wimbledon.)

Any larger photos, David? Our forums allow you to share externally hosted photos from any photo-sharing site you prefer, such as Photobucket, Flickr, Imageshack, etc.

The E39 5-Series is a modern classic IMO. What are your thoughts on the E60 and F10 generations? I'm glad the E60 era is over - that car was a blot on the 5-Series lineage, at least in terms of design. The new F10 seems like a much more fitting successor. I think that's quite clear when anyone looks at the image below. The E60 looks out of place!

[Image: BMW_5series_generations.png]

I grew up in southern California so I know how crazy the traffic can be -- you definitely want a comfortable car if you need to be in traffic for extended periods of time.

Taylor

BimmerGuy · 08-31-2010, 02:34 PM

(08-31-2010 08:31 AM)Wimbledon Wrote: Any larger photos, David? Our forums allow you to share externally hosted photos from any photo-sharing site you prefer, such as Photobucket, Flickr, Imageshack, etc.

The E39 5-Series is a modern classic IMO. What are your thoughts on the E60 and F10 generations? I'm glad the E60 era is over - that car was a blot on the 5-Series lineage, at least in terms of design. The new F10 seems like a much more fitting successor. I think that's quite clear when anyone looks at the image below. The E60 looks out of place!

I grew up in southern California so I know how crazy the traffic can be -- you definitely want a comfortable car if you need to be in traffic for extended periods of time.

Taylor

I have always loved the E39 body style and wanted to add one to my garage in 2003 but my partner doesn't really understand my love for cars, especially BMW, but all cars in general. So I only kept one my X5. I test drove the E60 and while fun as most BMW products the looks didn't really do it for me. I love the F10 and plan to test drive it in the next couple months. Have you driven an F10? I imagine the sport/premium is the way to go and is what I'll test drive when ready.

For now my '01 540i is a perfect car for my use in So. Cali. My dad is legally blind and all he can talk about is the smooth feeling of the paint and how BMW knows how to do it!

David

***Wimbledon*** · 08-31-2010, 11:54 PM

(08-31-2010 02:34 PM)BimmerGuy Wrote: I have always loved the E39 body style and wanted to add one to my garage in 2003 but my partner doesn't really understand my love for cars, especially BMW, but all cars in general. So I only kept one my X5. I test drove the E60 and while fun as most BMW products the looks didn't really do it for me. I love the F10 and plan to test drive it in the next couple months. Have you driven an F10? I imagine the sport/premium is the way to go and is what I'll test drive when ready.

I have not driven the F10 yet.

bmwe30lvr · 09-20-2010, 10:02 AM

I love your e39 540i...I really wanted a e39 m5, and was too chicken shit to get it due to the horrors I heard with the Vanos, oil pump that would kill me to fix. I love all the 5 series, but the E60 was a design mistake. Damn Chris Bangle. The F10 looks hot.

grethi · (This post was last modified: 09-20-2010 05:09 PM by grethi.)

They're pretty cool cars. The first BMW I rode in was an early E39 5-series. I never paid attention to BMWs before then, but I certainly looked closer afterwards. 10 years, 2 3-series, and a 7-series later, and that's still the drive that stuck with me.

On the other hand, there's a 1969 2000 4dr for sale in Ballard. I would love to put it through it's paces. For all of you boys with bimmers, are older models more fun for observers or drivers? There have certainly been high performance cars out there that were clearly "spectators' cars."

Edit: refresh my memory- bimmer for cars and beemers for bikes, right?

KevRC4130 · 09-20-2010, 05:20 PM

(09-20-2010 05:08 PM)grethi Wrote: They're pretty cool cars. The first BMW I rode in was an early E39 5-series. I never paid attention to BMWs before then, but I certainly looked closer afterwards. 10 years, 2 3-series, and a 7-series later, and that's still the drive that stuck with me.

On the other hand, there's a 1969 2000 4dr for sale in Ballard. I would love to put it through it's paces. For all of you boys with bimmers, are older models more fun for observers or drivers? There have certainly been high performance cars out there that were clearly "spectators' cars."

Edit: refresh my memory- bimmer for cars and beemers for bikes, right?

Older ones are much more 'raw' and are much more driver-oriented... Most of the people who currently are buying BMWs would be appalled at the ride and harshness of 'real' BMW's (say E30's and earlier)! tongue2

My mom won't ride in my E30 (but admittedly the slammed suspension and hugely-bolstered Recaros could have something to do with it!) Wink

grethi · 09-20-2010, 05:29 PM

I bet it's more the suspension than the seats- I've never been in a slammed car that rode well.

Quote:Older ones are much more 'raw' and are much more driver-oriented...

There's a reason I like my classic car so much, even if it is a underpowered AT machine.

BimmerGuy · (This post was last modified: 09-21-2010 06:29 PM by BimmerGuy.)

I used to own a 1971 BMW 2002 "roundie". Very cool car and definately was BMW feel. For me I loved to look at it and had to be in a certain mood to drive it around town. When I purchased this car it was to save from the PO that didn't really know what she had. I tuned it and put brand new suspension on front and rear. That thing moved and could take corners like any of my newer BMW's with stock suspension.

If I were rich I would have kept that car and just used it when the mood struck me. But like a fine peice of art I enjoyed just staring at it more. But some might think that's an older point of view even if I'm only 42.

When I get home from my business trip I'll post photographs.

Cheers,

David

(09-20-2010 10:02 AM)bmwe30lvr Wrote: I love your e39 540i...I really wanted a e39 m5, and was too chicken shit to get it due to the horrors I heard with the Vanos, oil pump that would kill me to fix. I love all the 5 series, but the E60 was a design mistake. Damn Chris Bangle. The F10 looks hot.

Thank you! I was afraid of all the horror stories of any BMW and finally threw in the towel. I have now owned three new BMW's and have had some issues not common in Honda or Toyota but nothing to scare me away. Nothing ever major has happend (knock on wood) to any of them. BMW has always backed their cars, at least, with me and my dealership is awesome.

I have a sister that bought a brand new Saturn, in 2001, and two months, 1500 miles, later it ran out of oil and ruined her engine quite well. That car was never the same when it was repaired and she refused to drive it to far until it was paid off three years later. She sold it for $2500. Talk about resell! She'll never own another Saturn. That's a far cry from an E39 M5 but it could happen to any car. If you find one have the VIN pulled up and research the heck out of it. I'd bet you would have good luck and never look back.

David

Phishyblue · (This post was last modified: 10-15-2010 11:59 PM by Phishyblue.)

I love the look of those BMW 5s, the e39 being my favorite. I personally like the look of the e60, don't get me wrong, when it came out I thought it was hideous. It kind of grew on me though, and now it's a little piece of ugly I wouldn't mind owning. My boyfriend would kill me though . . . just got an '07 Passat that I'm still paying off and he's stuck with a temperamental '03 Sunfire that needs some body work.