My gorgeous 2003 540iT saved my family's life last week. We were slammed by a semi truck. The car, a pristine full sport package, not modified, with just at 50k took some real damage.

I have searched far and wide for some CONCRETE numbers on that year models rarity. I have seen suggestions that there were only 50 to 60 '03 sport package wagons imported into the U.S. Can anyone help me locate where some "official numbers" might be found? I'd really appreciate it! I know it will never be worth what it was...

Anyone working for BMW- Thanks for building a great car! It took a real hit.

269 were imported to the US...used to work for BMW and did this research for my own personal knowledge on our tourings...much more rare than the m5...

thank god all of you got out of their safely...was in a big one myself...our cars are there when needed the most...=)

This is evagee's other half....Thank you for your reply! Can you tell us where you got those numbers so we might have some documentation to show (legal stuff) rather than just our word? Would BMW give us that info? This had the M Sport package and was beautiful, black on black. We just need some hard numbers in writing about how rare this car was so we can fight the dreaded insurance companies. Apparently they don't care if the care was rare or not.

Thanks again!!

Take care!!

269 were imported to the US...used to work for BMW and did this research for my own personal knowledge on our tourings...much more rare than the m5...Thats very interesting... only 269 imported into the US.

My Touring is a Canadian car black on black with sport package (just recently found out), absolutely no chrome from the factory. This essentially backs up what the dealer rep said about the rarity of my car, the sports package on the Tourings in Canada is extremely rare, I was told that was likely to be less than 10 Tourings in Canada with sports package, apparently it was not a big seller on the Tourings model.

It was a presant surprise to find out, after I returned the standard air spring that they had ordered for me because the shorter air spring that was removed from the car had a different part #(37121095081) indicating the S227A option. They wanted to charge me a restocking fee for returning the part until they used the VIN to verified what options my car came with from the factory.:redspot

This is evagee's other half....Thank you for your reply! Can you tell us where you got those numbers so we might have some documentation to show (legal stuff) rather than just our word? Would BMW give us that info? This had the M Sport package and was beautiful, black on black. We just need some hard numbers in writing about how rare this car was so we can fight the dreaded insurance companies. Apparently they don't care if the care was rare or not.

Thanks again!!

Take care!!

firstly, contact BMW NA in new jersey for proper documentation...i don't know exactly which department to go through...since i did my research through the dealership's internal connection with BMW university which is an HR resource for training employees...

secondly, why are trying to prove its rarity? is it due to them not giving you the high value your requesting for a settlement? If that's why, provide to them copies of retail value through KKB and through NADA...also provide receipts on anything added to the vehicle which may give more value to the car...that should be sufficient already...My insurance company, AAA at first, tried to give me the iron fist...not wanting to give me top dollar for a 2000 528it with the sports package and at 98K miles...I was asking for $23,000 due to the mods i put in...then they gave me the run around saying the mods aren't covered...and that they're only willing to give me $14,000. i stood my ground and knowing that if my file stayed in their table too long, it'll ruin their quota...took 3 weeks to finally get them to give me $21,000 which i originally wanted (gave them 23K for room to play)...

for more reference in my mishap and the steps that followed here are some threads that may be useful to you...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=879723

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=884303

Thats very interesting... only 269 imported into the US.

My Touring is a Canadian car black on black with sport package (just recently found out), absolutely no chrome from the factory. This essentially backs up what the dealer rep said about the rarity of my car, the sports package on the Tourings in Canada is extremely rare, I was told that was likely to be less than 10 Tourings in Canada with sports package, apparently it was not a big seller on the Tourings model.

It was a presant surprise to find out, after I returned the standard air spring that they had ordered for me because the shorter air spring that was removed from the car had a different part #(37121095081) indicating the S227A option. They wanted to charge me a restocking fee for returning the part until they used the VIN to verified what options my car came with from the factory.:redspot


I remember when I was in the market to find another touring, I also looked through the canadian autotrader...out of all the provinces...only found one touring!!! =) yes the touring is much more rare in canada compared to the US...

secondly, why are trying to prove its rarity? is it due to them not giving you the high value your requesting for a settlement? If that's why, provide to them copies of retail value through KKB and through NADA...also provide receipts on anything added to the vehicle which may give more value to the car...that should be sufficient already...My insurance company, AAA at first, tried to give me the iron fist...not wanting to give me top dollar for a 2000 528it with the sports package and at 98K miles...I was asking for $23,000 due to the mods i put in...then they gave me the run around saying the mods aren't covered...and that they're only willing to give me $14,000. i stood my ground and knowing that if my file stayed in their table too long, it'll ruin their quota...took 3 weeks to finally get them to give me $21,000 which i originally wanted (gave them 23K for room to play)...

for more reference in my mishap and the steps that followed here are some threads that may be useful ...Congratulations, you were lucky to get $21K,Insurance companies like to deal in "whole sale value" of the car they have a hard time paying out perceived retail value unless you get the car appraised by a certified appraiser and have the Insurance company add the appraised value to the policy under section 19a. That way if some thing happens to the car they will pay out the appraised value no questions asked. The only hastle is getting the car appraised every five years or so and the appraisal fee sometimes ain't cheap.


I remember when I was in the market to find another touring, I also looked through the canadian autotrader...out of all the provinces...only found one touring!!! =) yes the touring is much more rare in canada compared to the US...They are hard to find in the US as well but you seemingly had very little trouble finding one.

Apparently they don't care if the care was rare or not.They do care but they choose to ignore it unless it is to their advantage.

This may not be what you want to hear but proving how rare the car is will probably not yield very much. As I stated before Insurance companies don't like to deal with perceived retail value, so you need to find out what the wholesale value of the car as it was prior to the accident (leasing companies have a book that has this info), add the cost of all the options then they may deal with you. Unfortunately the value is often lower than expected,...thats the car business.

sorry for your accident... 415banker had a loooooong journey to find his...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=884303&highlight=the+next+willis

Congratulations, you were lucky to get $21K,Insurance companies like to deal in "whole sale value" of the car they have a hard time paying out perceived retail value unless you get the car appraised by a certified appraiser and have the Insurance company add the appraised value to the policy under section 19a. That way if some thing happens to the car they will pay out the appraised value no questions asked. The only hastle is getting the car appraised every five years or so and the appraisal fee sometimes ain't cheap.


They are hard to find in the US as well but you seemingly had very little trouble finding one.

They do care but they choose to ignore it unless it is to their advantage.

This may not be what you want to hear but proving how rare the car is will probably not yield very much. As I stated before Insurance companies don't like to deal with perceived retail value, so you need to find out what the wholesale value of the car as it was prior to the accident (leasing companies have a book that has this info), add the cost of all the options then they may deal with you. Unfortunately the value is often lower than expected,...thats the car business.

i don't consider myself lucky on this mishap...and 21K is nowhere near the cost of the damages it has left my family...as for finding my second touring, that's because of a great supporting cast i have on the forums...my e39 brothers helped me search around...i even got jonmcc test drive a touring in SC! =) it was Nadir(Detroit) who reminded me about this touring when I was giving up on getting an 03 540it sport...I may not have gotten the one I had dreamt of (alpine white 03 540it sport with black interior, graphic trimming and navi)...but I couldn't pass on a 99 with 53K miles for 15 grand...

for the OP, just because this is what Insurance companies do on a daily grind. Doesn't mean you gotta play their game...just don't settle for less especially if you don't need the money right away...i was on a time crunch but was persistent. being part of the car business and insurance as well, just throw out receipts at them of how you took care of your baby...I had about an inch a half thick of paperwork that i mailed to them...I also had a spreadsheet of the totals. I showed them I was organized and that I meant business...DO NOT let them bully you...

sorry for your accident... 415banker had a loooooong journey to find his...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=884303&highlight=the+next+willis

thanks to you too bro! got lots of support from u!

This is evagee's other half....Thank you for your reply! Can you tell us where you got those numbers so we might have some documentation to show (legal stuff) rather than just our word? Would BMW give us that info? This had the M Sport package and was beautiful, black on black. We just need some hard numbers in writing about how rare this car was so we can fight the dreaded insurance companies. Apparently they don't care if the care was rare or not.

Thanks again!!

Take care!!

Depending on your type of coverage, the insurance company may take the replacement value into consideration. If the car is rare, the replacement cost should provide a much higher number than a non-rare car. In your case, I would search hard for exactly what you had (including the low mileage) and take the selling prices to your agent. I was fortunate to have an agent that did the work on his own when I wrecked my Harley. I got what I paid out of my settlement. I wish you luck and I'm very happy that you were not injured. Sorry to hear about your car. :(

Thats very interesting... only 269 imported into the US.

My Touring is a Canadian car black on black with sport package (just recently found out), absolutely no chrome from the factory. This essentially backs up what the dealer rep said about the rarity of my car, the sports package on the Tourings in Canada is extremely rare, I was told that was likely to be less than 10 Tourings in Canada with sports package, apparently it was not a big seller on the Tourings model.

It was a presant surprise to find out, after I returned the standard air spring that they had ordered for me because the shorter air spring that was removed from the car had a different part #(37121095081) indicating the S227A option. They wanted to charge me a restocking fee for returning the part until they used the VIN to verified what options my car came with from the factory.:redspot

I was on the 427 two days ago and I saw a beige 540iT with the sports pkg.

There's also another beige one somewhere in T.O. thats got some DINAN work done to it.

Awesome cars. The 3.15 rear end is key. I want one of those so bad.

I think the key here is the 2003 M-Sport Wagons. This is what makes them very, very rare. I have only ever seen one.

NO OTHER YEAR was an M-Sport in the United States.

I was on the 427 two days ago and I saw a beige 540iT with the sports pkg.

There's also another beige one somewhere in T.O. thats got some DINAN work done to it.

Awesome cars. The 3.15 rear end is key. I want one of those so bad.
I know a few of the guys with 540iTs around the GTA if you want one I'll can let you know if and when one becomes available.