I cannot make up my mind on what car to get. First I wanted an m3, then a 328, then a 528, and now a 540. As I was looking for a nice, relatively low mileage 528, I discovered that a similar 540 could be had for only a few thousand more. I am specifically looking at 1997-1998 540s and 528s. It almost seems stupid for me to go with a 528. If I got a 528 I would end up doing lots of little upgrades for more power, but still would be way short of the power of a v8. I currently am torn whether to get a 528 now and have it paid for completely or either wait until I can afford a 540 or borrow money to pay for it now. I know the two cars are very different, but what would you guys do? I am 16 years old and this will be my first car. I currently have around 14 or 15k, but like I said I always can borrow more, and I was looking for a car with around 60k miles. I still really want an m3, but my parents wont let me get one, so I am going for the next best thing. Even though I definitely am not getting an m3, I think I will stick around here because the m is still my dream car and you guys are great:D I appreciate any advice you guys have to offer. Thanks.


-Eric

I have driven both a 528, and a 540, and the 540 is a monster. Get the 540 NO QUESTION!!!!! Even get it in manual if you can find one!!!

thats a lot of car for a 16 year old. i dont know you well enough to say you cant handle it. but i know 16 yearolds. as i do psychology for a clinic every now and then. be careful. drive it for a month or two to get to know it. im sure youvve heared this: you think you know the car, but you STILL need to LEARN to drive it.... but that saying is true. learn the car. test it alone in a COMPLETELY empty parking lot one day. get user to it. test in in the same lot when its wet, to see where its threshold is.

be careful. and if you must, and i mean must race it, TRACK...ive seen street races go wrong, and i USED to street race...

you are lucky, I am 23 years old and I cannot afford a 540...

This brings up an interesting question. M3 Vs 540i? I know the M series were "built" to handle more abusive driving, but when it comes down to power, are you better off getting a 540? Whats different about the handling (my main concern) between the cars in stock form?

////\/\3 handles better.

I know the m3 handles better, but I think that the 540 should be safer. From what I have heard, understeer and oversteer are much less of a problem with the 540 than on a e36 m3. Plus, the larger body is safer in the event of a crash.

Have you talked to your parents about insurance costs???

Insurance companies do not like seeing 16 years olds driving six-cylinders let alone a V8.

I dont think insurance should be too much worse. I talked to my dad about how our plan works and for me to be insured for all of our cars my insurance rate is for the most expensive (insurance wise) car. My dad already has a 740, so I dont imagine why the insurance would be that much greater on a 540.

*smiles* Don't be so sure Eric. When I was 17 I had a small misshap in my 83' 280ZX that took my insurance to over $8K a year. Keep your record clean, or they will clean you!

Regardless, I can't warn you enough about what your wanting to do. The M's have ALOT of power, and you WILL be tempted to race. Just don't get in over you head, ok?

if you are under your parents ( i wasnt,m parents werent nearly that nice) your rate will be cheap. under parents, driving part time? maybe $40-60 a month. chump change to you guys.

I am 20, and I bought my M3 when I was 19. I looked into an M5, but I just couldn't see myself drivign that big of a car, at my age. I also dont like the idea of four doors, but some people like that.

On the insurance thing... I am 20 like i said, and to insure myself on my M3 they wanted $7600 a year. When I ran it as my parents second vehicle it dropped to $1000 a year. So there are ways around the insurance costs. But are you sure you want a 5 series?

Im positive I want the 5 series. There are a number of reasons. It is really luxurious, with a few mods i can make it really stand out, way too many kids drive three series out here, it has a full backseat, and my parents wont let me get an e36 m3 but they will let me get the 300hp 540:D

540i, 6spd.

Originally posted by eric77
Im positive I want the 5 series. There are a number of reasons. It is really luxurious, with a few mods i can make it really stand out, way too many kids drive three series out here, it has a full backseat, and my parents wont let me get an e36 m3 but they will let me get the 300hp 540:D

Well if you are set on a 5 that is cool. Like I said the 540 six speed is a monster. But there aren't alot of kids out there with M3's that for sure!

Originally posted by Hyolee///M3
540i, 6spd.

Bump, Bump!!!!!

Anyone else got an opinion?

LOL I have lots of them to share! :thumbsup:

Why not get that Aston Martin in ur sig! :thumbsup:

I have had one E34 540 and an E39 540iS 6sp. Get the E39 540 w/ the 6 sp if you can find one, they are harder to get a hold of than the M's/ The 540 has alot of M parts on it w/you get the 6 sp/ My wheels were M,'s and the engine has alot of M work put into it. Great hwy car because of all the Tq, Passing is as simple as downshifting from 6 th and nailing it. However going from the 5 to my M3 made my 5 feel like a motorhome.

I'm going to use the "M3 as the parents second car" trick myself, hopefully it works with the distance between me and my parents. ;)

Insurance rates are BS anyway.

When I was 16 to when I was 17 I daily drove a '98 528 5spd. Wonderful car indeed, and I was in love with her. Black on black, birds eye maple interior, all the goodies.
Now to the issue at hand. I drove the living crap out of that car, and lived to tell the tale. I got in over my head with it, learned a lot about car control, and could drive better then than I can now. I felt it was more than enough when I first started driving it, and then after a few months I wanted more power and handling.
To that point, I would have to say I most likely have killed myself if it was a 540. I think of myself as an above average driver (who doesnt? :D ), and although the E39 is a very benign chassis, you can still get into trouble. I think the best course of action is finding a little bit newer E39 530 5spd, which will quell the need for more speed, and will be less tempting to go over board with in terms of speed and cornering.
The E39 is a extremely safe chassis, so that is a huge plus. Almost any accident you will get into you will most likely get away from. I just think to propensity to have a problem will be higher with the more power you have. I dont mean to berate your driving ability, I am just looking back at myself. I wanted at 540 6spd back in highschool, but now looking back at it I see that may situations I got into with the 528 might have been fatal in the 540, as I would most likely have been going that much faster.
Good luck getting which ever car you get. IMHO a good driving school like Barber Dodge or Bondurant is a must if you jump into a car of that league. I didnt take one, but all of my buds who did said that they were more comfortable in their cars and exhibited more precise amounts of car control.
Both will serve you well. Just excersize extreme prudence if you go with the 540, as the M52 is a very powerful engine, and if not used correctly can get you into trouble fast. Good luck!
:beer: