545
08-31-2003, 01:02 PM
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Hi everyone. I live in Dubai, in the Arabian Gulf region. We got to take a look at the new 5ers in the first week of this month and they've been on sale for the last two weeks. We have a few on the road already and they are looking really nice. I had a lot of misgivings about the design before seeing the car and after seeing it I've mellowed out a lot. I still hate the way the cockpit feeling has been destroyed and replaced by a nonsensical 'flat' design. But overall the interior design is wonderful (the interiors of the doors are a work of art. Driver's seat is exceptionally comfortable and snug (Nasca covered comfort seats). Rear space has increased drastically. Bravo BMW, you finally listened to us!
Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545. I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
The only problem with the first few shipments of the new 5 is that you only have three colors to choose from (blue, black and silver grey) and they come full options (HUD is not available yet in our market). They are in high demand and the dealerships know that so they are selling it for a fixed price of the equivalent of $55,000. This seems too high for a 5 as the outgoing 5 stocks are being sold (fully optioned as well) for $37,000. BMW tends to have a policy of not raising prices much between generations, so this difference is unwarranted in my opinion.
But I'm holding off my purchase for another reason. I'm going to wait until the new 3 liter engine is released as I'm sure it will be more powerful and optimised for the 5. In the meantime, I bought a 330i Individual. I hope that in mid-2004 the 5 series will have sorted out all of its initial bugs (if any) and come down in price (or at least have production meet demand) so that I can buy one more easily.
Looking forward to hearing stories from those who experienced this wonderful work of art and engineering.
z
Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545. I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
The only problem with the first few shipments of the new 5 is that you only have three colors to choose from (blue, black and silver grey) and they come full options (HUD is not available yet in our market). They are in high demand and the dealerships know that so they are selling it for a fixed price of the equivalent of $55,000. This seems too high for a 5 as the outgoing 5 stocks are being sold (fully optioned as well) for $37,000. BMW tends to have a policy of not raising prices much between generations, so this difference is unwarranted in my opinion.
But I'm holding off my purchase for another reason. I'm going to wait until the new 3 liter engine is released as I'm sure it will be more powerful and optimised for the 5. In the meantime, I bought a 330i Individual. I hope that in mid-2004 the 5 series will have sorted out all of its initial bugs (if any) and come down in price (or at least have production meet demand) so that I can buy one more easily.
Looking forward to hearing stories from those who experienced this wonderful work of art and engineering.
z
08-31-2003, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by z' date='Aug 31 2003, 02:02 PM
Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545. I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
09-01-2003, 02:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Litster' date='Aug 31 2003, 06:30 PM
[quote name='z' date='Aug 31 2003, 02:02 PM'] Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545.? I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
I have read that it shall only be the oval exhaust pipes and the grill in chrome. But on the official pics the exhaust pipes are still rounded....
09-01-2003, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Thomas the Swede' date='Sep 1 2003, 04:41 AM
[quote name='Litster' date='Aug 31 2003, 06:30 PM'] [quote name='z' date='Aug 31 2003, 02:02 PM'] Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545.? I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
I have read that it shall only be the oval exhaust pipes and the grill in chrome. But on the official pics the exhaust pipes are still rounded....
[/quote]The other way round!
The 545i has rounded exhaust pipes and all other 5's got oval ones!
09-01-2003, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Guest' date='Sep 1 2003, 01:57 PM
[quote name='Thomas the Swede' date='Sep 1 2003, 04:41 AM'] [quote name='Litster' date='Aug 31 2003, 06:30 PM'] [quote name='z' date='Aug 31 2003, 02:02 PM'] Before the new 5 was publicly launched, I got to see a few behind the scenes and I saw something interesting in the corner of the garage - a 545.? I was told "the Germans brought it here to undergo desert heat tests."
I have read that it shall only be the oval exhaust pipes and the grill in chrome. But on the official pics the exhaust pipes are still rounded....
[/quote]The other way round!
The 545i has rounded exhaust pipes and all other 5's got oval ones![/quote]
Well, in that case BMW must do their homework. By comparing the pics below both the 545 and 525 seems to have rounded exhaust pipes.
09-01-2003, 01:23 PM
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Hi Litster and others,
Quite frankly, I was so excited about seeing the new 5 that I didn't really look for differences between the 530 and the 545. We'll all know in due time what the differences are, but I do remember that they had the same rims (wheels).
However, you have to note that this was a prototype test. The car may not have been in final commercial trim. They were mainly doing the final testing in mid-summer heat conditions.
I'm definitely sold on the new 5. Although I bought a 330i Individual a few days ago, I convinced my parents to get a 530 sometime next year when the bugs are taken care of.
z
Quite frankly, I was so excited about seeing the new 5 that I didn't really look for differences between the 530 and the 545. We'll all know in due time what the differences are, but I do remember that they had the same rims (wheels).
However, you have to note that this was a prototype test. The car may not have been in final commercial trim. They were mainly doing the final testing in mid-summer heat conditions.
I'm definitely sold on the new 5. Although I bought a 330i Individual a few days ago, I convinced my parents to get a 530 sometime next year when the bugs are taken care of.
z
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