Car vs Snow - snow won - now looking for E60 BMW 535D 08/58

[BEEMER69]

can I move my thread here?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

thanks for looking

Car vs Snow - snow won - as a result my 2000 E39 540i has been sent to the great autobahn in the sky. Awaiting what pittance the insurance company will offer me but now actively searching for a replacement.

After a lot of research and moving goalposts I have "settled" on the E60 535D M Sport. Being a gadget freek I am wanting all the options under the sun and then some.

Budget circa £18000, might push it higher for the right one. Seen some corkers advertised but looks like I'm always that little too late and they're gone by the time I decide it's the one. Don't want to rush into it and would welcome all advice on where/what to look for etc

Thanks in advance for your help

one that got away, 58 model - but appears to have the CIC iDrive graphics!!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3613022.htm

[vinnie83]

Awesome car, I had a pre-LCI car but I was lucky enough to have one with many toys specced.

Do try and get one with heads up display, you will wonder how you lived without it.

Also, IMHO the 19" wheels make that car. The 18's just seem too small for the car, and the sharper lines of the 19's just suit the look of the car far better.

The basic stereo however is pathetic, do try to find one with an upgrade - even if you're not into listening to loud music, the stereo at normal levels sounds ste.

[BEEMER69]

Thanks vinnie, classic case of you snooze you lose. I'm not the most patient of people but must resist throwing in the towel and compromising for the sake of getting one sooner rather than later.

If you see any on your travels please do let me know. I'm in Berkshire but prepared to travel a resonable distance for the right one.

[vinnie83]

BEEMER69 said:

Thanks vinnie, classic case of you snooze you lose. I'm not the most patient of people but must resist throwing in the towel and compromising for the sake of getting one sooner rather than later.

If you see any on your travels please do let me know. I'm in Berkshire but prepared to travel a resonable distance for the right one.

Quite surprising as mine took bloody ages to sell and I had to drop the price quite a lot. Maybe the market has picked up in the last year. Surely now is a time where powerful RWD cars are sitting unsold?

[BEEMER69]

vinnie83 said:

Quite surprising as mine took bloody ages to sell and I had to drop the price quite a lot. Maybe the market has picked up in the last year. Surely now is a time where powerful RWD cars are sitting unsold?

Overall I think you're right but it appears with the rarity of higher spec examples they don't hang around for too long. Seems to be a very limited supply around the London area in stark contrast to up North where there appear to be a wider choice.

[vinnie83]

BEEMER69 said:

Overall I think you're right but it appears with the rarity of higher spec examples they don't hang around for too long. Seems to be a very limited supply around the London area in stark contrast to up North where there appear to be a wider choice.

I travelled to Bournemouth from Leicester to get my latest car!

I would say you shouldn't be afraid to travel to get it, you will only have to travel the once. Ask a lot of questions over the phone, satisfy yourself it's straight, call the servicing dealer to verify servicing work etc and you should be fine.

[BEEMER69]

vinnie83 said:

I travelled to Bournemouth from Leicester to get my latest car!

I would say you shouldn't be afraid to travel to get it, you will only have to travel the once. Ask a lot of questions over the phone, satisfy yourself it's straight, call the servicing dealer to verify servicing work etc and you should be fine.

thanks for the tips mate.

[BEEMER69]

Told you I wasn't the most patient when it comes to buying things and as a result pick up my E60 535D next week. Had to compromise on a couple of toys but overall well chuffed with the purchase, added extras include Individual High End audio, Comfort seats with the "flappy neck" attachment, boy are they comfortable. Media Pack with DAB & Pro Sat Nav,Visibility pack..... and above all is absolutely mint with I previous owner, being the fussiest of people even I struggled to find fault and the best I could do is a feint hair's width scratch on the dash, which I have been assured won't be there when I pick it up. Nice chap even threw in a full set of brand new continentals hence why I couldn't pick it up straight away. It's going to be a long 7 days.........

Will put up pictures once I've collected it and of course wiped the grin off my face.

On a side note was disappointed with a couple I did view due the complete lack of courteousy shown to me as a potential buyer, I would never dream of presenting a vehicle covered in muck both inside and out, believe me I am not exaggerating. Also amazed at people's perception of mint and omitting most obvious things such as a dent on the bonnet, apparently as a result of someone sitting on it!!!!!

One apparently swore blind that he wasn't aware of any prangs on the vehicle when he was shown the traits of a respray and loose bumper.

It's not even if I just dropped by but gave a few days notice, in the end I fell I managed to dodge a bullet and it ended up being a blessing in disguise when my offer was refused.

Thanks one and all for your advice and no doubt I will be calling on your wisdom to help with working out what's what.

Edited by BEEMER69 on Sunday 19th February 09:12

[Alfa GTV]

Congrats on the new purchase, looking forward to the pics.

[BEEMER69]

Alfa GTV said:

Congrats on the new purchase, looking forward to the pics.

Thanks mate...T-6 to pick up

[BEEMER69]

Great big round spherical objects, decided not to go through with the purchase as the FBMWSH was in effect through a "BMW Specialist" so back in the hunt.

[Silver993tt]

BEEMER69 said:

FBMWSH was in effect through a "BMW Specialist" so back in the hunt.

which probably means there's a much higher chance that the work was carried out/oil actually changed/filters actually changed etc. Specialist all the way to get quality work done.

[BEEMER69]

Silver993tt said:

hich probably means there's a much higher chance that the work was carried out/oil actually changed/filters actually changed etc. Specialist all the way to get quality work done.

Also potential for the dreaded mileage discrepancy, 4 year old car and not once entered into the BM network other than the first post delivery check , might be okay for some but deffo not me.

Edited by BEEMER69 on Saturday 25th February 15:51

[Silver993tt]

BEEMER69 said:

Also potential for the dreaded mileage discrepancy, 4 year old car and not once entered into the BM network other than the first post delivery check , might be okay for some but deffo not me.

Edited by BEEMER69 on Saturday 25th February 15:51

Mine went in to a main dealer for it's 1st service after 2 years (from new). I discovered after checking the air filter when the car came back from the service that it was full of leaves and contained several handfulls of sand/dust in the bottom of the air box. I was told that the service didn't include checking/cleaning the air filter and this wouldn't be done until the car was 5 years old if average mikeage was done. Complete joke since it takes 2 minutes to open the air filter casing and take it out for a clean. I was also told that this could be domne on request for an extra charge. I've no confidence that they changed the oil or oil filter as the oil was black when checked it after driving back 3 miles from the dealer.

My car will never see a BMW delare again.

Edited by Silver993tt on Saturday 25th February 17:01