NACRO

Well my wagon doesn't have a huge rear wing, I do however have 17" wheels does that count?

Tiggs

ahhhh, well i hane 19 inch and a lip spoiler? anaylise that!

NACRO

As far as I can see the 19" and lip spoiler mean your 5 looks uncommonly good.

Steve V8

525i : A5S325Z gearbox

540i : A5S440Z gearbox

[Edited by Steve V8 - 12/17/2003 7:47:49 PM]

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

That's the part numbers

the actual model names of the gearboxes are

BMW 3 and 5 series 98 on : ZF 5HP19
BMW 5,7, and 8 series V8's : ZF 5HP24

Had to find that myself the other day as I have a 540 that refuses to go fowards (cracking car though - even if you have to drive it backwards )

Steve V8

Erm, no the above numbers are the transmission designation as taken from the BMW Tis and parts catalogue, and are also the identification numbers you will find on the transmission case. They are ZF units though.

The relative part numbers are:

525: 24.00.7.505.951

540: 24.00.1.423.302

[Edited by Steve V8 - 12/17/2003 7:52:21 PM]

Lust4Life

So what is the actual difference?

Phil

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Fairy-nuff.. we're both right!

Rich and Mini

E39 525i petrol autos are pretty gutless. The 525d (late ones) is a much better option with the auto. 540i is much better and much faster!

Rich

sebastian

Wow! The gearbox number stuff is getting seriously trainspottery.

Perhaps you chaps might be able to tell us the serial number of the silver paint BMW use, it would be so helpful and interesting.

Rich and Mini

354 is the paint code for Titanium Silver, if that's the one you're reffering to?

Rich

Cosworth427

540's will get picked on by Saxo VTS all day long...

Enjoy the "luxuries" while you get thrashed by Mr Max Power.

Tiggs

540's dont get picked on by anyone.

why would a kid in a saxo race an old mans car?

i have NEVER had anyone try to **** about when im in the beemer.

chinnybloke

Can't say about 540s because I haven't had one, but I've had plenty have a go with wagons either side of yours (535 and M5).

image doctor

at the jelous tw@ts

Cosworth427

Harsh but fair - harsh but fair..

My theory is 540i appear far too conservative for most boy racers, they like to catch cars that look the part (Like Scoobies, Supras, Porsches etc)

NACRO

Who are the jealous ones ID?

Have to say I don't put myself in that category and I'm sure you didn't put me there . The 540 is a fine car and the one pictured here must have represented great value as a secondhand buy. I've actually looked long and hard at a 5 myself and decided that other than the M5 they just weren't quick enough. Good top end on the 540 but not so quick considering the fuel/insurance bills.
I thought the 530i offered the best compromise but again not quick enough. I think the people slagging the BMW's off need to be a little bit more objective, after all which do you think is the better all round car, an Impreza turbo or the peerless RWD 5 that was a class leader throughout it's life.
Sorry to say I'm on side with the 5.

I can't see a VTS keeping up with a 540 either.

Cosworth427

I hope I didnt say 540i's are bad cars or that they're slow, but to me, they aren't that fast.

280 HP sounds impressive, but 1700 KG + kerb weight blunts that performance. A 5 speed automatic transmission smooths the power delivery - again, thus losing even more performance for the HP output.

I can imagine a Saxo boy say "I stuck right on a 540i's tail in me Saxo, it barely pulled away at 80.."

The painful thing is he could be right.

Tiggs

a 540 is a fast car.

its fast off the mark, fast rolling and fast top end. there are faster cars im sure but most cars are slower in all areas.

i came out of a TVR to the BMW and still found the acceleration at 80mph to be excellent, i'd be surprised if a saxo would keep up at that speed.

also worth remembering the obvious....the 5 is a lovely place to sit at any speed. this argument is like saying a big posh house is not as good as a rough terrace because the terrace has broadband. ALL ROUND PACKAGE!

T

ps- how long before the IT/scoob fans suggest that a terrace with broadband is there idea of heaven (beats their parents spare room i suppose )

P1_scooby

At the end of the day, everyone wants a car for different reasons. Some like the raw power, and others like luxury. But there are a few who want the complete package!

540's are a very nice car, plenty of grunt and cruise ability. Scoobies are nice and quick point-to-point. Each has there good points and bad etc. There's no point in slagging each car, just be happy with what you have, if you don't like a bit/part whatever, mod it!

just my 2pence worth.
ps: akshay67 if you'd like to compare against a M5 (and finish your review of 5 the series), no probs!


[Edited by P1_scooby - 12/18/2003 8:43:34 PM]

Rich and Mini

A standard VTS would not get anywhere near a 540 to 100mph! Might be even til about 50mph if the VTS got a perfect launch, but otherwise bye bye Saxo!

I've got a VTS and work for BMW

Rich

tiggers

On the nail!.

Almost Equal to 50mph 6.7(540) vs 7.6(VTS) for the 0-60mph and 17.7(540) vs. 22.4(VTS) for the 0 - 100mph.

Bye bye Saxo!!

tiggers.

john banks

22.4 to 100, that would have trouble with some turbodiesels?

540 in 6 speed manual form is sub 15 to 100 IIRC?

[Edited by john banks - 12/18/2003 10:45:55 PM]

Rich and Mini

It's more like 20 secs to 100mph for late the late VTS, have lots of trouble with turbo diesel at any speed if I'm not expecting it, as have to get the VTS into the power band (4.5k - 7.3k). I'm generally expecting it or am already doing those revs though If you keep a VTS in power band they are very nippy/quick. They're only a 1.6 don't forget!

Manual 540s do 14.5s ish to 100mph. 3 seconds off an M5.

Rich

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Do we care?

Saxo: bag o' cheap sh1te
BMW 540: Luxurious quality comfortably fast cruiser

In fact any little car with a big engine is going to give a heavy(ish - 540's aren't as heavy as you think) car a bit of a run for it's money.

You just can't compare Saxo's to top-end Beamers...now you can compare a 316 compact as that's a poor mans beamer and THOSE TYPES (I'm not saying ALL of them) of saxo driver can really aspire too That's why some of them like to race everyone - they have somthing to proove (like "I'm big boy look what I can do" )!

Tiggs

what are you on about? my short list for the car was a 2001 540, a 2000 E55, a 2001 S-type or a 99 saxo vts with halfords air freshner and upgraded front speakers

T

tiggers

If you chuck it off a cliff maybe

tiggers.

Cosworth427

You folks are measuring speed reach vs time. When you're being chased by a confident hothatch driver on a road, the distance between a 1700 kilo 279 HP luxo-boat vs a Max motor wont be much, and you will have to use 100% of the 540i's power to see any difference.

NeilCH

540i, VTS.....Pah, my mum Maestro (sp?) Auto would have the lot of you, 1.6 you know coupled to real gem of an auto box, who needs more than 3 speeds anyway...

Keep it up, great thread this..

Rgds
Neil

[Edited by NeilCH - 12/19/2003 1:08:32 PM]

Tiggs

"When you're being chased by a confident hothatch driver on a road"

luckliy i no more find myself chased by such people than i find poor people running after me when i wander around tescos.

T