john banks

These are very temptingly priced (from 10-16k) at the moment in the second hand market and I am weighing up using one as a daily driver.

Wondering about the benefits of the 4.4 V8 over the 2.8 or 2.5 sixes (older car so no 192 or 231 2.5 or 3.0 or 3.0d - too expensive).

The V8 is less popular, more expensive to insure, less fuel efficient, and "only" 100 BHP more, but also a poor man's M5 with ride quality and refinement, plus an auto.

I would only use it about 10000 miles a year, group 16 insurance is about £500 a year.

In the real world does an Auto in give and take driving situations have a plus or minus effect on performance? ie see a gap and boot it, auto kicks down promptly, vs see a gap, drop two gears and go for it?

fatherpierre2

The V8 is all the car you'll need. Silky Smooth and no more thirsty than any other big engine. Should give 25mpg+ on a run. Can't comment on the 528/5 but my old man had a 540 auto for about 4yrs and it never missed a beat.

It had done about 170k(mostly by him) when he sold it and it was still driving like a brand new motor.

The kick down was excellent, but I had a 270bhp MR2 turbo at the time so it didn't feel so special!

Tractor

Well the 540 has about 90bhp more than the 528, so if those are your choices (and you aren't considering the 530 - 3.5 V8 - in between) there will be quite a bit of performance difference I would imagine.

Mark Miwurdz

I've just bought an auto 528 having run a scoob for the last 3 years. While it doesn't have the all out grunt of the big V8's, it is a much better balanced car and I reckon, a lot more fun to drive. I tried a 540 but the 528 won it for me.

Get a go in a diesel if you can - awesome engine which has many tuning options.

Cheers
Kav

TopBanana

The six cylinder cars use rack and pinion steering, while the V8's use a re-circulating ball system which is significantly worse

brickboy

It's purely personal but I've never got on with autoboxes. Most recent experience was a newish Jag XJ 4 litre.

Even with the box in sport mode, there was still a disconcerting delay between flooring it and actually getting forward motion. It's as if the gearbox is having to think a bit too hard about which gear it wants. Don't know if this is peculiar to the Jag box but I've driven a 24-valve 525 auto and that was the same.

I'm sure it's something you get used to when you've had a few days experience in the car, and when the Jag actually got the gear it went very well, but it didn't inspire confidence in me for A- and B-road road overtaking ....

Even though the delay before the power comes in is probably only half a second or so, it made me think twice about overtaking. I'd go manual every time.

john banks

Heavier nose end and recirc ball steering does put me off a bit.

With the auto it sounds quite quick if you are going within 1/2 second or so, although I can appreciate it dulls throttle response for an overtake.

TopBanana

My choice would be a 530i Sport - very nice cars

camk

I've had a 523i for last 3 years, never missed a beat and its very regularly 200+ kmph on Abahn, it will cruise quietly and easily all day at 180kmph. Not the sportiest in the engine front but no slouch either, chassis and suspension good for a big car. I get about 700 KM per tank, 65 litres I believe. Average computer consumption says 30-31MPG.

Cheers
Cammy

Pavlo

My old man has a 540i touring. I think it's one of the best overall cars I've ever driven. It's pretty quick, especially on the mway, although it actually handles very well.

However, it cost s lot to run, maybe not lots in scoob terms, but as a car to have as well as a scoob I couldn't recommend it unless you have plenty to spend.

Only trouble is the lesser models don't get all the nice toys! You can also get a supercharger for 450 easy hp.

The 540 autobox has improved from the older shaper (he had oneof those too) which was a pain. The new one is very clever, and generally you don't ever have to use sport or manual overide. If you're caning it, it knows, and will change up accordingly, it also applies engine braking if you've been giving it some.

Build is superb, loads of room, nice and quiet. 540 has the lowered Mtech suspension which is quite firm but about right for the car/power.

Mileage, expect 24mpg on the motorway, 13-16 around town, 28 absolute max, but that is 95 UL so not so bad. They also go better with optimax though!

Brakes are great, huge discs, but pricey to replace.

My dads one is a 99 car, and has never gone wrong I don't think, which isn't bad considering it tows a caravan an awfully long way every year (kart racing).

Paul

Richie1

I have a 1998 540 Auto just now and have owned it since Nov 2002.

Wont bore you with the faultless build quality cause thats just the norm from the 5 series (except for those damn cupholder ) and also the fact its won best executive car for 6 years and 7 years running in 2 diff mags (WhatCar and something else) so here's the rest -


So far noone has commented on the torque of the V8, instead concentrating on the BHP diff. The 4.4 V8 gives you 325lb/ft @ circa 2850RPM.

This is a LOT of torque, enough to propel the near 1900KG car to 60 in 6.1 secs which is good considering its RWD and then carrying on to 14.01 1/4 mile


Pretty quick from a standstill, the 540 is a weapon once its moving, even more so from M-Way speeds and would easily leave most other cars on the road including Imprezas - The Scooby may have 200+BHP but its still only 2 litre car with a blower and as such they run out of puff before the 4.4 litre V8. As the yanks say, there is no substitute for CC's

I have only taken the car to 130MPH on an empty M-Way. The scray thing was that, where most cars start to accelerate more slowly as they get above 100MPH, the 540 did not slow down one bit. It wouldnt surprise me if this car didnt slow down at all until it reached the limited 155MPH


The Auto box is also very good. It adapts to the driver as well as the conditions. The kickdown is very swift altho you have to learn to push the pedal right down to activate the switch as BMW have added a small detent to allow full throttle without kickdown and you have to push past this.

By slipping it into Sports box, the car will normally kickdown 2 gears (depending on revs and forward speed) and will allow the car to run all the way to the redline before automatically changing up for you.



Handling - the 5 series is the best handling car in its class. A lot of straight 6 owners moan about the re-circulating ball sterring of the V8's but I have never noticed any problems.

The 5 series also have DSC (from 98 onwards) which is a very smart stability control system. It goes over and above the normal traction control of cutting power from the rear wheels when they spin by adding yaw and steering wheel sensors. The car can then determine what way the car is being steered and what way the car is actually going and correct accordingly thru its added ability of being able to apply each of the 4 brakes INDIVIDUALLY.

As an example - when Tiff Needell took the M5 out on the track, he could NOT unstick the car with the DSC on no matter how hard he tried. Its the same system in both cars.



Economy - I am managing 23MPG on my own car and this is about 60% town driving and 40% M-Way.



Your main decision is probably economy. If you can afford to run the car then go for the 540.




Its a shame that the 530d's havent come down in price as much. Altho slower off the mark, the 530d has the fastest in-gear with exception to the 540 and M5 and you get 40MPG

Eldar

I had a 530 v8 manual before the scooby. It was an astoundingly capable car. Fast (218bhp), economical (27mpg), comfortable and completely reliable over the 170,000 miles I owned it. A drivers car, and only slightly slower than the 540. Lots of bells and whistles, and they keep working - the build quality makes a scoob look cheap and nasty.

So WFT have I got a scoob? Easy, it is far more fun...

Colin.

Essexboy

I rate the 2.5 523 which i was very happy with.

What Car have just done a two pager about buying a 2nd hand 5bmw.

Think its in this months - the one with the JD power thing.

Thats if youre in the UK.

Richie1

If you go into your nearest BMW delaer they may have the 2nd Hand 5 series buying guide from What Car.... Bout 6 pages in total and pretty good....

john banks

YHM

MikT

RRH - YHM!

RRH

540s get nicked john, but the best car I've ever owned
I had two very enjoyable years with my very rare manual 540i(), mail me direct for more info.

simon

[Edited by RRH - 5/6/2003 11:38:25 PM]