2001 with 44.4k miles, bmw certified in silver for $26.2k. It is a great machine and thanks to everyone on this board for all the help. I was close to getting a MB, but a comparable S500 was $15-20k more and the drive and performance did not justify it. I will post pics as soon as possible. The car is certified and I have to think about extended warranty for when the bmw warranty expires in october.

I have two questions for all the helpful people on the board. First, I have to take the car back to the dealer to have a look at an odd squeaking sound that comes from the left side of the car. From the driver's seat it sounds like a squeak or chirping sound coming from the window or door to the left. They think that it might be a washer or something like that. Has anyone had a squeak sound like this in their car, or have a good idea of what it may be? I want to make sure it gets fixed correctly as this is one of the IOU and the car is still fully covered. It happens on bumps and such and is clearly audible.

Second, I have a question about the center console. This car came with a star tac cell phone dock. This appears to be totally useless to me, and I am wondering what other people who do not use this cell phone do with this dock and the power cord that is sticking out of the back of the unit? I am thinking about just cutting the cord, but I wanted to see if people know of a converter or something that I can do with this to make it usefull. It is a real eye sore that is totally useless.

Other than that, the car is fabulous. It is solid, fast and handles great. I am still trying to figure out the nav and radio and stuff, but that is coming along. Also, how do you turn off the climate control? It is spring in Chicago, and sometimes I just want to roll down the windows and open the moonroof to enjoy the fresh air, but it seems odd having the climate control on.

Thanks again, and my Lexus will now go in the dustbin of my auto history, and I am happy to join you guys in the Bavarian autobahn (mythically of course).

Congratulations!

Great choice of color, yet I suppose my opinion is biased ;) Not sure about the first question, as for the second you can replace it with a tray or replace the whole thing to get a solid arm rest. I have the tray right now, I want to get a solid piece. I stopped at the dealer and they said it'll run me $500! Needless to say, I'm going to try to source that elsewhere hehe. Regarding the climate control, pressing fan speed down when the fan is in the lowest setting will turn the system off.

Enjoy your new ride! :)

My star tac cell phone works fine in my 2001 IL!

For the second question,

You can disconnect it and you should sell if you have no use for it.

I want a lexus. My E38 has so many emmissions issues; it is really becoming a money pit. Maybe a VIP style ls430??

Been to Lexus...came back to BMW.

The Japanese cars are just too soft for my liking although the ES300 in its day was a 'pocket rocket', which just kept going and going and going, until one day it was crushed between an 18 wheeler's bumper and a telephone pole....strong lawsuit follows....six figures in our future.

The BMW drives and handles like a car should...heavy, powerful, classic lines, and a penchant for letting you feel the road through the seat of your pants. It's also an extremely safe car to drive.

To my way of thinking, BMW is a state of mind....

jk

I want a lexus. My E38 has so many emmissions issues; it is really becoming a money pit. Maybe a VIP style ls430??

Lexus?! Who let this man in here? Doesn't somebody screen these users?

Lexus?! Who let this man in here? Doesn't somebody screen these users?

I will be looking at the new Lexus once it comes out. The LS460

Lexus isn't too bad,

I don't like the soft steering wheel though, I can literally steer the car with my pinky.

2001 with 44.4k miles, bmw certified in silver for $26.2k. It is a great machine and thanks to everyone on this board for all the help. I was close to getting a MB, but a comparable S500 was $15-20k more and the drive and performance did not justify it. I will post pics as soon as possible. The car is certified and I have to think about extended warranty for when the bmw warranty expires in october.

I have two questions for all the helpful people on the board. First, I have to take the car back to the dealer to have a look at an odd squeaking sound that comes from the left side of the car. From the driver's seat it sounds like a squeak or chirping sound coming from the window or door to the left. They think that it might be a washer or something like that. Has anyone had a squeak sound like this in their car, or have a good idea of what it may be? I want to make sure it gets fixed correctly as this is one of the IOU and the car is still fully covered. It happens on bumps and such and is clearly audible.

Second, I have a question about the center console. This car came with a star tac cell phone dock. This appears to be totally useless to me, and I am wondering what other people who do not use this cell phone do with this dock and the power cord that is sticking out of the back of the unit? I am thinking about just cutting the cord, but I wanted to see if people know of a converter or something that I can do with this to make it usefull. It is a real eye sore that is totally useless.

Other than that, the car is fabulous. It is solid, fast and handles great. I am still trying to figure out the nav and radio and stuff, but that is coming along. Also, how do you turn off the climate control? It is spring in Chicago, and sometimes I just want to roll down the windows and open the moonroof to enjoy the fresh air, but it seems odd having the climate control on.

Thanks again, and my Lexus will now go in the dustbin of my auto history, and I am happy to join you guys in the Bavarian autobahn (mythically of course).
Squeeking might be your brakes.

I love lexus.how would you compare your BMW to your ls400?

The Lexus was a fine machine. It was a 1991 LS400 which still runs great with 160k miles on it. The engine is bullet proof and kicked out 250 hp which opened up as soon as you hit the gas. It seemed to have a quicker jump off the line than German cars. Like many older cars it was having some electronic related issues and just generally sucumbing to the ravages of time with rattles and such. It had the easy loose steering alluded to earlier, which started to bother me over time. I have a 10 week old at home, and upgrading for safety became an important issue for me.

I had a MB 300SE before this car. I totalled it on a head on collision on Lake Shore Drive. I walked away without a scratch. I switched to Lexus and really liked the extra power and performance over the 6 cylinder 300SE. However, I really missed that "German" stiff feel for the suspension and steering. I resolved to go back to a German auto and did not even test drive the newer Lexus, Infinity, etc....

I cannot tell you what a tremendous find this BMW was. I insisted on going back to MB and had been driving S500's all over town. I had a dealer show me a newer 7 Series, and my jaw dropped test driving that one. The engine pinned me in my seat, while the interior was such a unique combination of sport and luxury. Still, we were talking mid 40s for that puppy, but it totally blew me away. I had another dealer show me a 2000 7 Series and I realized what an incredible compromise this was. It gave me all the power I wanted and incredible handling. Also, the ride was not as "cushy" as the MB. I was reminded that I was driving a machine. It is really much more fun to drive and for significantly less money I feel that I easily matched and surpassed performance with the MB. It is a total BMW stereotype, but I guess stereotypes are rooted in truth. So after driving that one, I started looking at these until I found the 2001. An equivalent certified 2001 S500 with about 44k miles would have been in the low 40s from a dealer. I paid $26.2 for mine, out the door at $28.8k. I was willing to pay some extra for the MB before this all started, and then I just felt completely stupid after driving them both. No way is that car worth 15k more.

I am very pleased with the purchase. I tend to drive my cars into the ground, so I hope to be in this car and on this board for the next 100+k miles....

You bought basically the same car I have with 1K less miles for 3K less bucks.
Not too shabby. And, depending on the options, you probably got an even better deal....mine is basic BMW, everything there but the bells and whistles,
well, maybe some of the bells.....

But, almost everyting works as advertised. I found out recently that my air conditioning needs some attention, so in it goes next Monday. Can't afford to have a car of this quality with no a/c on a July day in Vegas.

jk

We have both a 99'
740il and a 97' LS400. The BMW has 160K miles and the LS has 215K. The beemer is definately a drivers car, and expensive/problematic. The LS has never had any problems, only a timing belt @ 100K. Other than that is is all original (not withstanding tires and brakes). BMW needed a tranny at 150K.
Both have been in the family since new and dealer seviced.
They are two totally differant cars, I really like the BMW and my wife would not trade me her LS for it.