Raleighbum

Thinking of gettin a BMW.
The new one BMW 645Ci is cool but I understood that was it the 530d that got pretty good reviews also and that car would be cheaper too...

Anyone have experience or knowledge about new BMWs?

You guys who know is it a good car?

thanks!

Halx

BMWs are good cars if you can look past their price tag and their new designs. Of the new stuff, I love the 6 series the most. The difference between the 5 and the 6 series is simple: do you need room? Do you need luxury? Then go with the 5. Do you want speed and handling? Go with the 6.

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castex

5's, like any bmw, handle very nicely too!

saigon1965

Dude, wait for the new M5, 500 horse under that hood=awesome, I drove the last M5 with only 400 horse and that was amazing. They are great cars, however, they are not the bulletproof bimmers of the old, just too much electronics in them now.

fuzyfuzer

if your looking at the deisel thenyou must be in europe because they aren't sold in the US, so if your in europe i do believe there will be a 630d that would be awsome so much torque that is what i would have for the money

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powerclown

The BMW 5 & 6-series are both among the finest cars on the planet. Don't take my word for it, go test drive a bunch for free. Compared to a Lexus-Mercedes-Jaguar-Audi, they are sportier cars, ie., stiffer shocks/springs, tighter steering, less body roll, firmer, less cushy ride. The 5 is a sedan, the 6 is a coupe. The 6 starts at over $10k more than the high end 5. Resale is good, parts/service/repair are very expensive.

roboshark

You can't really compare these two. The 645Ci is a sportscar. The 530d is a sedan and a diesel on top of that. Both are damn fine cars, but each has been built for a different purpose/audience.

If you live in Germany, don't have a family and have a 100,000 bucks to spare, then get the 6 and you'll love life. On the other hand, the 530d is the more sensible choice for an everyday car. The 530d will handle very well too, though not as well as the 6, for obvious reasons. Besides, in my opinion, the 5 has a bit more of subtle image than the 6.

Resale value is good, maybe more so for the 5. Reliability should be ok, although the newer cars a loaded with electronics, so not sure there. Parts and repair by a licensed BMW dealer are likely to be expensive.

Your best bet is alt.autos.bmw. Lot's of fine folks out there with plenty of BMW hands-on experience.

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nomorensx

I would hardly call the 645Ci a sports car. It's way too big and heavy. And it's underpowered for all that size and weight. The M5 will be a MUCH better "sports" car, but will be a little on the expensive side. If you want a sporty comvertible, the go for the M3 conv. And if you don't want a clutch, then get the SMG. You canno go wrong with an M3, and with the SMG transmission, you cannot over-rev the engine.

Personally, I much prefer Porsches, and the 911s don't break.

Mobo123

hey i have had a Z3 since 1999. and it has never broken down. I have put in just basic maintenance. (oil changes, new tires). I love my car. My wife has hated it since the day i bought it. Two seater only. two kids. Not enough seats.

but the car moves when i tell it. it's fast and great.

Spyder_Venom

I have currently a 1992 325i as for my daily driver. I was able to pick it up locally for just under 3k with 160k on the clock..

Currently, 260k - aside from general maintenance (brake pads, oil changes) I have had to do 1 thing that was a 'repair' if you will. I can't complain, it was just a valve cover gasket, 1 hour job, 20 dollars in parts and I was good to go. Dispite what people may say, BMWs are VERY easy to work on, it's just a bitch if you need a scan tool!

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ergdork

I have a 200 Z3, and I love it. A couple of things to be aware of:
1. My car, and I'm told BMW's in general, are TERRIBLE snow vehicles. I spent $1000 on an extra set of wheels (rims and tires) for the winter. Without them I just about killed myself many times.

2. The service is INCREDIBLE. This has been one spot where I've been REALLY pleased. I got mine certified preowned. Every time I take it into the shop (routine stuff - no probs), I get a call after from BMW coporate asking me to rate my experience. Sure, its a bit annoying, but I appreciate the effort they make to ensure good service.

Finally, a friend of mine bought his BMW (3 series, I believe) in Germany and shipped it to the US. He said that the total cost (car + trip) was about the same as the cost of the car in the US. But he got a free trip to Germany!

poof

I cant afford those, so I have a 2000 3 series E46 body style. I absolutely love my little 323 for mileage, dependability, and it is a pleasure to drive. I drive it more often now that gas is so high and my Jeep gets about 9-10 mpg.

madsenj37

The 5 series gets great reviews wherever it goes. Where are you that you can get a diesel? Being in California I can only dream of such cars. Diesels always get better gas mileage. The 6 is definately cooler. Either way, BMWs are great 200k+ mileage cars. They usually need less repairs, but when they need repairs, it can get expensive. As for the M5 suggested, a new one is 90K and does not come in stick. But the older M5s are sweet. It will be less than a 6, as cool and more roomy.

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thadon

I have grown up with Bimmers. My dad is a BMW mechanic and we have had numerous Bimmers. I agree with what some of the other guys are saying. The 5 series is the best bang for the buck as a sport sedan. However the older BMW's from the late 80's and early 90's seem to be more durable than the newer stuff w/ too many computers running everything. Spyder V nailed it w/ the 1992 325, great little car, plenty of parts and great for club racing. My favorites would be the 1988 535is, 1988 M5, 1988 M3, the early 90's M5 and 540i.
The Bimmer that surprised me the most was dad's 2003 540 wagon, that thing was fast and fun. That is my 2 cents worth