What do you guys think of this 540, its close to where I live, the price is a little high and I was really looking for a manual but it has some major goodies, bbk, eismen exhaust, dinan stage 3. With dinan, would it be as fast as a stock manual?
http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-ALL%7CM-_5_%7CB-30000%7CH-%7CD-_38_%7CN-N%7CR-250%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_2003_%7CX-popular%7CZ-60543&aff=national&paId=220582820&recnum=17&leadExists=true

The difference should be VERY minimal. That is a great looking 540 with a lot of nice upgrade. Love the brakes, wheels and exhaust.

For me the manual has more to do with the driving experince than speed. That car may very well be as fast as the manual, but you will never be able to heel-toe downshift it into a corner...

I think its a great price. I would get it. I bought an 03 540 sport automatic in july and with 23k miles. It had all the same options less the brakes, wheels and dinan upgrades. With the maint package i payed 39k from Levin in Sherervile, IN. I am from Chitown originally so I know where Patrick BMW is.
If I could swap out I would surely take this car for the price. I like my wheels better, but you can't go wrong with having the brake upgrade and the dinan.
Good luck!!

you were looking for a manual for a reason, don't compromise now just because a decent 540 shows up that is close to what you want...wait for the right one or spend the next few years trying to figure out how to swap a 6-speed into that car.

p.s. the manual version of the 540 had a higher sticker price (close to 5k more) than the auto for a reason

if you dont get it I will, I am driving down this weekend to drive it....CPO included is very awesome, I live in Southern Wi, first come first serve man....

It's an auto, run away!

Seriously, if you want a 6 speed, hold out till you find one or you'll be kicking yourself afterwards.

Yea all those goodies are very tempting but the sticker price of 35k is not tempting at all. I will probably test drive it next week.

If you want the man trans that hold out. I don't know where else you find a deal like this for an auto. Check ebay, check autotrader in a 100 mile radius.
There's nothing this good. IF someone is in market for an auto 540, this is a hell of a deal. You're not buying from a private owner, you're buying from a dealership with a 3 yr 100k warranty(from my experience you will need it)
Why is everyone saying this is expensive? Just look at the market. There are no 540's out there with nav and this low mileage in our area, period! Drive the car is you really want the manual tranny that hold out. I wish I would have waited. It wouldn't be for sale. If it was summer this car wouldn't be on the lot. Since there's snow everywhere you'll have a little time to make your decision.