328i Sport or 540i Sport?
Discussion
I currently have a great condition black 1997 328i Sport with leather, AC, Schnitzer style type 3 alloys with absolutely nothing wrong with it but I cannot get a sensible insurance quote for my dream car, a Z3M Coupe so my dad has offered me his 2003 540i Sport thats just got everything on it, genuine M5 wheels, double glazing, M5 roll bars, M5 mirrors, carbon front and rear valance etc etc but I dont know whether as a girl of 23, the car is too big or too sensible for me although I can insure it ok.
I enjoy driving and as my dad runs a motorsport tuning business, both cars are perfect, but should I go for a big auto or stay with my manual? Am I getting too old too soon? Fuel bills are not a problem as I do not do enough mileage to worry about the extra.
My other running costs are zero anyway as I give dad the car every now and then to check it over and service it and it always comes back 100% perfect, full of fuel and valeted. He he.
MLS.
I enjoy driving and as my dad runs a motorsport tuning business, both cars are perfect, but should I go for a big auto or stay with my manual? Am I getting too old too soon? Fuel bills are not a problem as I do not do enough mileage to worry about the extra.
My other running costs are zero anyway as I give dad the car every now and then to check it over and service it and it always comes back 100% perfect, full of fuel and valeted. He he.
MLS.
8Tech said:
I dont know whether as a girl of 23, the car is too big or too sensible for me although I can insure it ok.
It's a middle aged family man's car.You appear to have come over all pipe and slippers.
Nice car, but you are in the wrong demographic for it.
I'd usually suggest a Mini for someone of your age
and fighting weight.
Hiya 8tech,
First thing is to go and actually drive the 540i! The E39 is and will be regarded as one of BMW's finest ever and as is said in many similar posts, like many big BMW's, as you drive it the car shrinks around you - i.e it belies it's size!
As you are in a enviable position in knowing the car will be looked after without you having to worry about the maintenance bills, the choice basically comes down to how you feel driving the car. They're a quick car for sure, and will be a noticeably amount faster than a 328i, not by a great deal though! The secondary elements in that it'll feel much more solid and refined and comfortable when just pootling and becoming a bit of an animal when you press on, will make the E36 in comparison feel a bit more utiliarian.
As the car already seemingly has some choice modifications, you know it's one of the nicer examples already. Add to the mix that you're a younger woman driving one, it'll ruffle the feathers of the BMW purists and the stereotypical notions as already mentioned in the earlier posts!! I think it'd be cool for you to do that! pending of course you actually do turn out to like the car!
Cheers, Dennis!
First thing is to go and actually drive the 540i! The E39 is and will be regarded as one of BMW's finest ever and as is said in many similar posts, like many big BMW's, as you drive it the car shrinks around you - i.e it belies it's size!
As you are in a enviable position in knowing the car will be looked after without you having to worry about the maintenance bills, the choice basically comes down to how you feel driving the car. They're a quick car for sure, and will be a noticeably amount faster than a 328i, not by a great deal though! The secondary elements in that it'll feel much more solid and refined and comfortable when just pootling and becoming a bit of an animal when you press on, will make the E36 in comparison feel a bit more utiliarian.
As the car already seemingly has some choice modifications, you know it's one of the nicer examples already. Add to the mix that you're a younger woman driving one, it'll ruffle the feathers of the BMW purists and the stereotypical notions as already mentioned in the earlier posts!! I think it'd be cool for you to do that! pending of course you actually do turn out to like the car!
Cheers, Dennis!
23 year old girl, owning/driving an E39 540i is 'unusual' but nothing wrong in it.
I love the E39, I do look around now & again for a car to get next when I eventually do get rid of mine, yet mine is a lowly 523SE! In 4 years I have only has one thing go wrong, and that was a cable snapped on the ASC.
My next car will almost certainly be another E39.
I love the E39, I do look around now & again for a car to get next when I eventually do get rid of mine, yet mine is a lowly 523SE! In 4 years I have only has one thing go wrong, and that was a cable snapped on the ASC.
My next car will almost certainly be another E39.
an E39 540i is f
king cool, i'd say go for it if you want! don't expect it to be quite the thriller as the 328i might be, but certainly, it'll be bloody good for those long trips and when you want to just recline in an arm chair 
if i were in your situation, i'd probably pick the 540i if i could. much more handsome car too (certainly if it's the facelifted E39)
king cool, i'd say go for it if you want! don't expect it to be quite the thriller as the 328i might be, but certainly, it'll be bloody good for those long trips and when you want to just recline in an arm chair if i were in your situation, i'd probably pick the 540i if i could. much more handsome car too (certainly if it's the facelifted E39)
(four years ago 
)Fox- said:
Wow, I wish more 23 year old girls had E39 540i Sport's. My girlfriend drives a Corsa!
Myself and my other half are both 23 and we have a 540i Sport. She uses it during the week to get to work (short journey) and its our every day car for the weekends. We fancied a barge type car and had always liked the E39, I wanted the V8!She loves the car, its comfort, toys etc etc. Its not the best handling thing in the world but the noise and smoothness make up for it. Engine suits the auto box perfectly really.
I'd love to see some pics of your dads though!
On the other hand, I've always wanted a 328i Sport but after driving a few 328i Cab's I didn't get on with the heavy manual box/clutch they seemed to have?!
g3org3y said:
I believe the V8 E39s have recirc ball steering rather than the rack and pinion of the six cyl models. As such, the steering isn't quite as sharp.
What do you think is missing from the E36 that you will get from the E39 (apart from 2 extra cyls!)?
I see so many times the comment that the V8's steering isn't as good a the six's, yet the E39 M5 is regarded as one of the greatest sports saloons ever made, you'd have thought that BMW would have found a way to put a steering rack on it if it needed it ?What do you think is missing from the E36 that you will get from the E39 (apart from 2 extra cyls!)?
Whats missing apart from a ton of torque & the 50% more BHP
Total loss said:
g3org3y said:
I believe the V8 E39s have recirc ball steering rather than the rack and pinion of the six cyl models. As such, the steering isn't quite as sharp.
What do you think is missing from the E36 that you will get from the E39 (apart from 2 extra cyls!)?
I see so many times the comment that the V8's steering isn't as good a the six's, yet the E39 M5 is regarded as one of the greatest sports saloons ever made, you'd have thought that BMW would have found a way to put a steering rack on it if it needed it ?What do you think is missing from the E36 that you will get from the E39 (apart from 2 extra cyls!)?
Whats missing apart from a ton of torque & the 50% more BHP
Being a 23 yr old girl has nothing to do with it whatsoever... Drive the 540 and then decide. It's about how the car makes you feel when you drive it, anything else is secondary.
FWIW I have a 530iA touring, it's a great car and I spend a lot of time in it, but I couldn't have it as my only car. It's natural habitat is on the motorway, and whilst it is indeed a great car to drive on the twisty bits, and definitely feels smaller than it is, it's not a sports car. I'd miss not having access to a manual gearbox, and sometimes I just want to feel the mechanical bits of a car doing what they do. In an E39 you do get isolated from a good deal of that. That's why I have another car to use when I want a bit of fun. I'm lucky to be able to afford that luxury, if I couldn't afford a second car, I probably wouldn't own the E39.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that the E39 has made me hate doing any distance in a less refined car. I will never take the wife's Honda on a long journey it's just too noisy and uncomfortable. I should add that I am pretty close to being an old duffer now, but in my head I'm still young.
The 540 is a hugely capable car, and there isn't much to touch it in it's class, but only you can decide if it gives you a big grin when you drive it.
FWIW I have a 530iA touring, it's a great car and I spend a lot of time in it, but I couldn't have it as my only car. It's natural habitat is on the motorway, and whilst it is indeed a great car to drive on the twisty bits, and definitely feels smaller than it is, it's not a sports car. I'd miss not having access to a manual gearbox, and sometimes I just want to feel the mechanical bits of a car doing what they do. In an E39 you do get isolated from a good deal of that. That's why I have another car to use when I want a bit of fun. I'm lucky to be able to afford that luxury, if I couldn't afford a second car, I probably wouldn't own the E39.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that the E39 has made me hate doing any distance in a less refined car. I will never take the wife's Honda on a long journey it's just too noisy and uncomfortable. I should add that I am pretty close to being an old duffer now, but in my head I'm still young.
The 540 is a hugely capable car, and there isn't much to touch it in it's class, but only you can decide if it gives you a big grin when you drive it.
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