I'm giving some thought to buying an E39 for a daily driver to replace my '01 Caddy. After owning my M3, I'm completely BMW smitten, and don't really want to drive anything else. I've got a second kid that's due in about a month, so I was thinking about a Touring model for the space.

While I would love a 540iT, I'm thinking that a 528iT would be more practical for a daily driver.

So I guess I'm looking for some advice to steer me towards the right car. Given that I'm looking at a 528iT, are there particular model years I would want to avoid? Any reason I would want to avoid the 528 altogether and look at another model with better bang for the buck?

Thanks!

Congratulations. :)

Are you after the sport or the premium/luxury packages? Since you drove an M3, the sport model would be choice. I suggest anything after 1999 and you know you're saving a few bucks more on gas with a 6 cylinder 528iT than you would on a 8 cylinder version. And raising a child (and sending them to college) ain't cheap, I got two of them.

I still have the M3, and will keep that around for my "fun" car. So I'm pretty open in regards to sports/luxury packages, but find myself leaning in the direction of sport.

I'm seeing a LOT of 2001+ 525iT's out there on Autotrader. What's the word on 528iT vs. 525iT ?

+1

I was down to the same basic cars. I really wanted a 540iT, but couldn't handle the auto-tragic tranny. I liked the styling updates of the 525iT, but the decrease in torque from the 528iT was quite noticable.

So, I got the 528iT Sport/Premium 5-speed and it's perfect! Well, if they had made a 530iT/5 speed in '01 then IT would have been perfect :( .

Julian,

I'm getting ready to go down the same path.

Any info from those knowledgable of the 528iT would be appreciated.

Cheers,

FLi

Any info from those knowledgable of the 528iT would be appreciated.


What exactly is the question? Have you test driven one yet?

The manual tranny is a must-have for me, so that makes the 6 cylinder the only Touring I'd consider. That 528iT 5 Speed sounds about right...

We just purchased a 2003 525iT about three weeks ago for my wife and she has been extremely happy with the car. Our car has a sport package and I would highly recommend that option - especially owning an E36 you will appreciate it. To be honest, the 525 is sufficient for what it is. It is a pleasure to drive. If you want a newer car and want an I6, then you will have to go with the 525. After owning many BMW's, it is a known fact the I6 is more reliable and less costly to maintain than the 8 cylinder cars. IF you are not going to race people off the line, then the 6 will be sufficient in my opinion. We have two kids and they seem to enjoy the car as well. Although my wife used to drive a stick, she opted to get an automatic due to all of the traffic she has to deal with in the city. It does not bother me all that much since it is her car and I have my M3 to have fun with.

My M3 is a manual, and on that kind of car anything else would be sacrilege. For my daily driver, though, I contend with a lot of stop and go traffic and would prefer the automatic.

The 528iT and 525iT seem to be close enough in my mind that I would consider either of them. For me, it comes down to which one would be the most reliable and get the best mileage.

In the absence of somebody coming out and saying "Do NOT buy this particular model year..." it will probably be down to what I can find the best deal on. And by "best deal", I don't necessarily mean "most inexpensive".

So there are no particularly glaring issues with these two engines? (Like a sleeve material for the cylinders that tends to break down, something along those lines...)

Thanks again for all the input.

I have a 2000 528iT 5-speed manual, Premium with optional heated seats, non-Sport, non-Cold Weather, non-DSP audio. I've posted my (lengthy) reflections on owning it in another wagon thread on this forum (the name of which escapes me); I'm sure if you search for the Touring threads you'll see it.

The Cliff notes are: even without the Sport Pkg, it handles much better than a 4000-pound wagon should; even with the manual trans it feels a *little* underpowered (enough to make me wish sometimes I'd gotten a 540); it's incredibly well put together from a fit and finish standpoint; the utility is great (hauls my 4 kids and all their stuff, plus big items); it's a very strong highway car; the gas mileage is really, really exceptional (26.4/mpg avg.)

As for common problems on this particular model year look out for cooling system issues (only model year with a Consumer Reports "black dot" for that category), rear liftgate latch failure, window actuator motor failure, "hanging" 5th gear (in the manuals), and, of course, the dreaded VANOS failure. I can report that at 108K, none of these things has happened to mine, although I am starting to think I have the VANOS issue. YMMV, of course.

As far as "good things" go, all the common mods for 528/25/30/40 sedans (tails, angel eyes, M5 bumpers and M-Technic stuff, rims) apply to the Tourings, as well (expect rear suspension if you get one that has the airbag).

Overall, I love my Touring and am very happy owning it. Good luck finding one...the 5-speed manuals are very rare.

another tidbit about the 528iT is that in the lasst model year (2000)...production started in June/1999. And those 1st 3 months of production...the 528iT w/auto tranny has the same 4 speed transmission as the previous model years...BUT...starting with 9/99 production...the 528iT w/auto tranny got upgraded to a 5 speed auto w/STEPTRONIC.

Many claim that the new 5 speed auto tranny is a better fit for the M52 VANOS engine in the 528iT...and it's able to get more from it. So if you run across a 2000 528iT w/STEPTRONIC...you may want to check it out so that you can compare it to the ones with the 5 speed manual & 4 speed auto. :)

My M3 is a manual, and on that kind of car anything else would be sacrilege. For my daily driver, though, I contend with a lot of stop and go traffic and would prefer the automatic.

The 528iT and 525iT seem to be close enough in my mind that I would consider either of them. For me, it comes down to which one would be the most reliable and get the best mileage.

In the absence of somebody coming out and saying "Do NOT buy this particular model year..." it will probably be down to what I can find the best deal on. And by "best deal", I don't necessarily mean "most inexpensive".

So there are no particularly glaring issues with these two engines? (Like a sleeve material for the cylinders that tends to break down, something along those lines...)

Thanks again for all the input.

If an automatic isn't a deal breaker, then I see no reason not to get a 540iT. It gets almost the same mileageas the 6 cylinders, and it's much quicker. A bit more expensive to maintain, but the loud pedal is so rewarding...

If an automatic isn't a deal breaker, then I see no reason not to get a 540iT. It gets almost the same mileageas the 6 cylinders, and it's much quicker. A bit more expensive to maintain, but the loud pedal is so rewarding...

If you drive a M3 now you will just feel bad when you have to drive a 6cyl wagon.

If you drive a M3 now you will just feel bad when you have to drive a 6cyl wagon.

One of the best attributes of the M3 is the steering feel and feedback from the road. This is where the 6 cylinder beats out the V8. It also has better balance in my opinion. You just have to accept the wagon for what it is and what you are primarily using it for.

I enjoy driving the wagon with the 6 cylinder. Just because it does not have the torque and HP of the V8 does not mean it will be sedate. The same is said of the E36 M3, but many people still think it is one of the best driving experiences regardless of HP and torque.

Aw, man. Just when I had myself convinced that I needed an i6, I come across this:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211067296&dealer_id=48515963&car_year=2000&search_type=both&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=BMW&model=540IT&transmission=&distance=0&address=63012&make2=&default_sort=priceASC&advanced=y&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=&sort_type=priceASC&min_price=&body_code=0&end_year=2002&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=2000&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=955

... which is more or less everything I would want in a DD wagon, short of a NAV system. It's unbelievable how hard it is to find a silver wagon with a black interior! It seems like 90% of the silver wagons I come across have a grey interior. No offense to those of you who have grey interiors, but I personally don't care for them.

*Sigh*

I think there IS something to be said for the power the 540's have. The Caddy's v8 put's out about 275hp, and even that feels anemic next to the M3. (Of course it handles like crap, but that's another story...) I hate to say it, but great gas mileage or not, I would probably end up missing the HP if I were to go with the i6.

Time to do some more homework on yet another model. I'm trying to narrow my search, but it just keeps getting wider.

I like that one a lot. A LOT!

Aw, man. Just when I had myself convinced that I needed an i6, I come across this:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211067296&dealer_id=48515963&car_year=2000&search_type=both&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=BMW&model=540IT&transmission=&distance=0&address=63012&make2=&default_sort=priceASC&advanced=y&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=&sort_type=priceASC&min_price=&body_code=0&end_year=2002&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=2000&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=955

... which is more or less everything I would want in a DD wagon, short of a NAV system. It's unbelievable how hard it is to find a silver wagon with a black interior! It seems like 90% of the silver wagons I come across have a grey interior. No offense to those of you who have grey interiors, but I personally don't care for them.

*Sigh*

I think there IS something to be said for the power the 540's have. The Caddy's v8 put's out about 275hp, and even that feels anemic next to the M3. (Of course it handles like crap, but that's another story...) I hate to say it, but great gas mileage or not, I would probably end up missing the HP if I were to go with the i6.

Time to do some more homework on yet another model. I'm trying to narrow my search, but it just keeps getting wider.

That's a NICE car! GREAT price, too...almost too good to be true. My 528 was about $1K more than that without Sport and with more miles. I didn't see ANY '00 540iTs in Mass. for less than $15000, so if that car checks out well, I'd scoop it up...I'm not sure they know what they're selling. ;)

Edit: Or maybe I was a dope and paid too much...but I don't think so.

If you drive a M3 now you will just feel bad when you have to drive a 6cyl wagon.

I drive a '00 528iT with the sport package and 5sp autobox with steptronic.

My fun car is a '95 993 with a 6 speed.

Just two comments on my own expeirence/preference.


1 - I would never have bought the car if it did not have the sport package

2 - I never feel sad driving the wagon after the 993. Just understand what the cars really are.....and with the sport package you can pretty much embarras most folks on the road.

Either way, you can't go wrong - but drive both first!

Good luck