PinoyMarc

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping I can get your opinion or insight. I've been trying to figure out which of the 5 series to buy this week.

In the past, I've owned a 1998 Z3 2.8 and I can tell you that getting the 2.3 or 1.9 counterpart would have been a disappointment since you can tell a significant difference between the ride.

I then bought a brand new 2004 BMW X5 3.0i back then knowing my driving style for this vehicle. I still own this one and thinking of getting a second car, a 5 series, for every day driving. I'm planning to keep for at least 4 years (or until it dies). I drive about 13K miles per year.

• 2007 BMW 530i is $1000 cheaper than 2005 BMW 545i. All else equals (including relatively the same mileage, around 70K).
• I like the 2005 BMW 545i's color combination the most (and wheels look much better in my opinion)
• I'm thinking the 2007 year may have fixed some of the 2005 issues/recalls, etc...

Which one is a better buy?

Should I buy due to the 2-year difference or the difference in horsepower (which is significant)?

Thanks for your thoughts.

540i

One thing I've always found about buying cars is that you can never have enough horsepower, but that's just me.

There are positives and negatives on both sides. The V8 will most likely cost a little more to insure and the gas mileage won't be as good. On the other side you might be kicking yourself for not getting the car with more power after you get used to the 530i. IMO it's just a matter of personal preference - what's more important to you? I went with the V8 because power was more important than getting some other goodies, but this also comes with higher maintenance cost...

pcy

I6 car has more room to work than V8 car. If you are DIY guy, this may be relevant.
545 in particular seem to have coolant leak, alternator bracket leak, timing cover gasket leak, oil leak from oil pressure switch, vacuum pump leak, etc. It'd be good to know the service history of the vehicle.

Valve cover gasket leak can happen on both I6 engine as well as V8 engine.

You probably are already aware of the fuel consumption difference.

Good luck with your purchase. Enjoy the ride.

KLR4LIFE

I choose the V8 because you seem like you want power and comfort and the 545 has both. Just make sure all the common issues with the car has been addressed nefore you buy it. Get a service history from the dealer.

540i

Agreed.

"545i has a lot more problems" is such a vague statement that needs clarification.

As long as you do the regular maintenance, you'll be OK with the 545i. The only way I'd pick a 530i is if it came with a lot more options and has the exact color combo I'd want. Just find yourself a good indy shop and get it checked out before you buy.

Margal

I agree power is addicted like everything else associated with power. I got v8 becouse I wanted more then just v6 3.0. I would definitely go with 545i. As for reliability expect to spend little more then you would with 530. if it is approaching 100k you might need to change some gaskets and seals. I bought mine with 92k and put about 15k in year and half and have not spent that much on mechanical problems except the clutch. I have some oil leaks at this time but preparing to spend 1k for parts and do complete coolant system refresh as a preventative maintenance and address all leaking issues. If you buy it first thing I would do is flush all fluids and change oil every 5-6k if you intend to keep it longer. Good luck!
Just let us know what you choise gonna be.

elie7

I have 2008 x5 4.8 and 2006 530i. Power is not addicted because i like 530i more for daily commute and practicality, I use x5 just for long driving. The 530i has 65,000 miles and never had any major issues and still running strong. Getting new shoes like m5 wheel will dramatically improve its look and stance. I'm working on getting quad exhaust like magnaflow.

540i

There's a difference between an X5 and a 545i. I'd rather daily drive the 530i over an X5 as well.

pjinca

I can tell you, having had the I6 (2005 530) and now having the V8 (2008 550) =, yes, the power is VERY addicting. I love the V8. There are probably option differences between the cars that you haven't noticed. 545/550s tend to be better optioned since those paying the V8 premium tend to add other goodies to their spec sheets when they buy. On the face of it my 530 and 550 are similarly optioned - both had sports pkg and NAV and Bluetooth. However, the 550 has sooooooo many other options that the 530 didn't have. Based on the year of the cars you're looking at they probably don't have warranty anyway, so I would get the 545 enjoy the power and the additional options plus research the DIY threads here to find ways of dealing with any issues that may arise at a decent price.

BTW, no, they didn't "fix" a lot of the issues from 2005-07, the iDrive is the same, the electronics are pretty much the same. The updates (depending on build date) are an updated LM module (lighting control) and relocating the MPM module from under the spare tire to up near the fuse box in the trunk. Other than that the recalls/tweaks are identical except the vacuum pump recall that only affected V8 cars, however, the dealer will still take care of this if you get the V8.

H F

the deal is the 545 has a high cost of owner ship... it not that its not reliable,, it has never left me stranded in the five years of owning it... regaurdless of the high maintenence issues,,,, its a great car,,