2003 BMW 530i Sport
Discussion
Morning,
My £225 E36 318i Touring has been on its last legs for the last few months so I've been keeping an eye out for something to replace it with. I started off looking at Saab 9-5 Aeros but after driving one I was quite disappointed in how they drove and the general fit and finish. It sounds daft but my 1996 BMW felt much better put together than a 2008 Saab! Anyway, I carried on searching for something and considered quite a few different cars but eventually decided a 5 series would be the way forward. I had a bit more than £225 to spend this time so hoped to find something half decent!
After searching for a while, asking lots of questions (not always getting a response which I found very odd considering people had provided phone numbers/email addresses to ask questions!), I finally had a drive out to Kent yesterday to view one that really caught my eye. The seller had answered every single question and taken extra pictures for me without any issue.
We turned up and had a wander around the car. Exactly as described which is always nice to see. Took it for a drive and everything was lovely and smooth (soooo much smoother than my tired E36!). I had a look through the old MOT's and checked the mileage etc. Unfortunately the service history has gone walkabouts over the years (not the end of the world for me) but the car looked well looked after. After a bit of back and forth on price we settled on a price we were both happy with and I drove it away
Here's a couple of pictures from the sellers advert. I'll take some myself today if I get a chance.




The main things I want to get sorted are some bubbles on both rear arches and the N/S/F arch. I'll let the body shop at work have a look and see how much they want to sort it out. Apart from that I'm really happy with it
Oh I also want to try and get the most up to date maps for the sat nav
My £225 E36 318i Touring has been on its last legs for the last few months so I've been keeping an eye out for something to replace it with. I started off looking at Saab 9-5 Aeros but after driving one I was quite disappointed in how they drove and the general fit and finish. It sounds daft but my 1996 BMW felt much better put together than a 2008 Saab! Anyway, I carried on searching for something and considered quite a few different cars but eventually decided a 5 series would be the way forward. I had a bit more than £225 to spend this time so hoped to find something half decent!
After searching for a while, asking lots of questions (not always getting a response which I found very odd considering people had provided phone numbers/email addresses to ask questions!), I finally had a drive out to Kent yesterday to view one that really caught my eye. The seller had answered every single question and taken extra pictures for me without any issue.
We turned up and had a wander around the car. Exactly as described which is always nice to see. Took it for a drive and everything was lovely and smooth (soooo much smoother than my tired E36!). I had a look through the old MOT's and checked the mileage etc. Unfortunately the service history has gone walkabouts over the years (not the end of the world for me) but the car looked well looked after. After a bit of back and forth on price we settled on a price we were both happy with and I drove it away

Here's a couple of pictures from the sellers advert. I'll take some myself today if I get a chance.
The main things I want to get sorted are some bubbles on both rear arches and the N/S/F arch. I'll let the body shop at work have a look and see how much they want to sort it out. Apart from that I'm really happy with it

Oh I also want to try and get the most up to date maps for the sat nav

That does look lovely - certainly doesn't help to deter me from wanting to scratch the e39 itch! If I could be so rude as to ask, how much (ball park figure) did you pay for it? If I can find a decent one for the right price I am very very tempted.
Look forward to seeing/reading more.
Look forward to seeing/reading more.
Fox- said:
Lovely.
What happened to the original wheels though? I'd probably want to source a set of Genuine Style 37's to complete the look.
Those are the original wheels, however the previous owner had them diamond cut. Once they start to bubble up again I'll have them refurbed in silver. What happened to the original wheels though? I'd probably want to source a set of Genuine Style 37's to complete the look.
Sammo123 said:
Fox- said:
Lovely.
What happened to the original wheels though? I'd probably want to source a set of Genuine Style 37's to complete the look.
Those are the original wheels, however the previous owner had them diamond cut. Once they start to bubble up again I'll have them refurbed in silver. What happened to the original wheels though? I'd probably want to source a set of Genuine Style 37's to complete the look.
They are Style 37's but something doesn't look right. The OEM finish is painted and lacquered on the inside of the spokes with a diamond cut face on the wheel and the dish.
Those look too shiny - perhaps they are replicas? I can't quite see from the photo but the genuine wheels have tapered spokes and most of the replicas had straight spokes.
Those look too shiny - perhaps they are replicas? I can't quite see from the photo but the genuine wheels have tapered spokes and most of the replicas had straight spokes.
Fox- said:
They are Style 37's but something doesn't look right. The OEM finish is painted and lacquered on the inside of the spokes with a diamond cut face on the wheel and the dish.
Those look too shiny - perhaps they are replicas? I can't quite see from the photo but the genuine wheels have tapered spokes and most of the replicas had straight spokes.
The spec from the Vin states "S780 BMW LA wheel, M parallel spoke" so they have probably just been re-finished.Those look too shiny - perhaps they are replicas? I can't quite see from the photo but the genuine wheels have tapered spokes and most of the replicas had straight spokes.
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