550i or 535i, help my buddy decide
#41
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My Ride: 535i 6-speed
Model Year: 2008
I am one who has a '08 535i and have had no HPFP issues at all...and I absolutely love my car. I really don't care which car people recommend. Chances are pretty good that those who have had a bad experience, will suggest against the 535i...those who have had a good experience, will recommend for the 535i. That's the whole point...to get different perspectives. My experience with my 535i has been great...so I say get one if you can find a nice one. Regardless of which one you get...you're gonna love it!
#42
So the 535i owners who have chimed in with no HPFP issues and are happy with their cars are offended? Funny, I don't see anybody offended in any of the positive 535i posts. I simply see them posting their opinions of a car they actually own and drive. Unlike you who has neither a 550i or 535i and always like to put your 2 cents in on the 535i. From reading this and your prior posts in this forum you seem to be ridiculously obsessed at justifying your decision to buy a 530i over the 535i. Be happy with your decision and your car and move on. :thumbsdown:
it's pretty simple logic. if the HPFP realistically affects 35-40% of the x35i's then almost everyone is going to NOT recommend you buy one. it doesn't mean yours sucks at all, it just means odds are definitely against you if you purchase one.
#44
anyway, he didn't want me to test drive a 2007 version of the 535i and fear that i might not want the 530i that i liked so much (and he knew my budget and that i was pretty stern about sticking to it, so i don't think he thought logically i would spend more), but i really wanted to drive a 535i so he suggested a 2010 that was loaded and completely out of my price range. at least then i could see the difference but obviously not have any compelling urge to get that particular 535i over the 530i that's well under half the price of what the asking price on the 535i is.
and that's what happened. i test drove it with my girlfriend in the car, we went down the same course i did with my 530i only minutes before, and i did the same 0-90mph WOT and i literally felt no difference from the 530i. if there was a difference, it was marginal at best. after that i pretty much figured if a 2010 535i didn't impress me there was no way i was going to spend another 6-7k on a 2007-2008 535i and expect it to wow me either. pretty much end of story.
funny thing was, the salesman said he can virtually tell no difference between a 535i and a 550i, except that there is a bit more torque down low on the 550i, but marginal, and that the 550i feels like it has a harder time stopping due to its weight. therefore i had no interest in test driving the 550i after that. i've done a notorious analysis before that shows the true performance:weight ratio in the 3 cars is not as significant as bmw advertises, and between his real world view of the 535i vs the 550i and my view of the 530i vs the 535i, it sounded pretty accurate. they are still incrementally quicker than their predecessor, i just think it's a bit overstated by the manufacturer. to each his own i guess
#45
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My Ride: 04 525i, 04 Dinan M3
I would personally chose a 550 over 535. I want another car but instead of going to one of those I think I'm gonna hold out and just go from my 525 to a m5. Because if I get a 550 I'll always think of, what if I would have got the m5.
#46
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My Ride: 535i 6-speed
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I just spent a long day in my car yesterday ('08 535i)...and a particular thought kept coming up in my head. These E60s...all the different flavors of them...sure are nice cars. They all seem to have issues of one sort or another...but almost ALL cars do...especially when you go and look at the online forums. But when these E60s are running right...omg...they are such SWEET rides. So while I really do appreciate all the back and forth "debate" between owners of the different flavors of E60s...I definitely feel lucky to own one...regardless of which flavor.
#47
Naw, I could never get offended about anyone making mention of the HPFP problems. I actually used that knowledge to my advantage when it came time to shop for another one, getting another grand off the sticker ($9k total) when I threatened to walk. I went into my second one knowing full damn well that I could have some issues, but the enjoyment that I get from the additional power makes it well worth the gamble. Worst case scenario is that I turn mine in and get to drive me a free loaner around until I get my baby back. No big deal to me, especially since my dealer is so near to my job.
(...and I'm probabbly jinxing the hell out of myself right now!!! )
But to say that a 2007 530i accelerates like a 2010 535i is somewhat surprising. My bro-n-law has one and it never felt to me as if he could hang off the line, although it did feel just as able above 80. Perhaps a brand new unbroken in 535i would feel about as quick as a fully broken in 2007...that would make more sense to me.
(...and I'm probabbly jinxing the hell out of myself right now!!! )
But to say that a 2007 530i accelerates like a 2010 535i is somewhat surprising. My bro-n-law has one and it never felt to me as if he could hang off the line, although it did feel just as able above 80. Perhaps a brand new unbroken in 535i would feel about as quick as a fully broken in 2007...that would make more sense to me.
#48
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My Ride: 2008 535i
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[quote name='tuffluck' timestamp='1287091731' post='1254799']
oh, the 2010 535i was never an option for me. i think the MSRP on it was like 60k+, it had the M package and every possible option. i was originally looking for the 255hp 530i since i felt it was the most practical of cars in my given price range with decent power and good gas mileage (ha).
I do not want to bash you, but it looks like you are trying to justify your 530i purchase just because you could not afford 535i or 550i. How often do you WOT a car from 0-90 in real life? If you want to compare, compare like you would drive everyday traffic - speed up from 30mph at low rpm. And if you don't feel the difference between 530i and 535i at the lower end, I am sorry, something is wrong with your "sensors"
oh, the 2010 535i was never an option for me. i think the MSRP on it was like 60k+, it had the M package and every possible option. i was originally looking for the 255hp 530i since i felt it was the most practical of cars in my given price range with decent power and good gas mileage (ha).
I do not want to bash you, but it looks like you are trying to justify your 530i purchase just because you could not afford 535i or 550i. How often do you WOT a car from 0-90 in real life? If you want to compare, compare like you would drive everyday traffic - speed up from 30mph at low rpm. And if you don't feel the difference between 530i and 535i at the lower end, I am sorry, something is wrong with your "sensors"
#50
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