Which would you choose, the 530 with the Sport and Premium packages, or the 545 with the Premium only?

Also, does anyone know if you can get 18" wheels with all-season tires?

[FONT=Times][SIZE=14][B]Well, I ordered the 530 fully loaded. I just didn't want to wait for the 545. Most men want the 545 because it has so much more horsepower(men seem to have a need for speed). But being that I am a woman, 6 cylinders is enough for me.My car ended up costing around 54-55,000. The base price was around 43,000. I think that the base price for the 545 is 54,000 plus you have to add the price of the premium package. So I guess it's just up to you. My car should arrive sometime in November. I can hardly wait :D

When I calculate fully loaded (and I mean fully...HUD, Nav, Comfort Seats, etc.) I get $65,000 including taxes on the 530i. This number is what gives me the bad taste in my mouth. I know the BMW is the "ultimate driving machine", but a fully loaded Audi or Infiniti costs much less. I need to decide how I will go on this. Is $10,000 more worth is vs. Audi A6, or $15,000 more than the Infiniti M35? If I wait until 2005, Audi may have finally put more pep in their new A6. Plus I get that nice AWD for winter driving. These decisions are hard, but I hope you are happy with your new car, and that the new model avoids some of the problems.

One last thought....a loaded new 5, or even 5 with many packages is nearing the 7 series. If I can find a slightly used 745i (2003) that might make me feel like the $60K was worth it.