Originally Posted by cokeefe' post='735506' date='Dec 1 2008, 10:31 AM

Here's the lift - add one to your Christmas list....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...02674_200102674

Originally Posted by cokeefe' post='735506' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:31 AM

Here's the lift - add one to your Christmas list....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...02674_200102674

Originally Posted by cokeefe' post='734979' date='Nov 30 2008, 03:03 PM

Hi guys,
I'm from NorCal and had been looking for a nice 545i for about 8 months. The search was slow because I had to have a 6-speed manual transmission and also didn't want a black car. The manual transmission was a must because it's all I've ever driven, and I just don't enjoy autos even though they've gotten so good in the last decade.

I almost bought a CPO '05 from a local dealer, but then noticed at the last minute that it had had extensive paint work done, so I walked away. I widened out my search to non-CPO cars that still had a factory warranty in place, and finally found this '06 550i in Texas. I got the service records, CARFAX (for what it's worth), and a helpful guy on this forum ran the VIN and got the options for me. Finally, I had an inspection company go out to road test it and look it over. Everything checked out, so I worked out a deal and had it delivered 1800 miles to my door about a week ago.

Other than needing some going-over with the clay bar and Porter Cable, the car's immaculate and everything works. It's under warranty for 15K more miles or until 1/2010, and I may try to extend. I've put about 800 miles on it already. I love how it drives, and it is so deceptively fast for such a large car. It's also getting 25-26 mpg on the freeway (!). My two little kids love it too - they have been squeezed in the back of a 993 for the past few years.

So that's the car. It's got Sport Package, Active Steeering, 6MT, Nav, Head-up display, Logic7, sunshades, etc. I'm really enjoying it so far, and this forum seems like a great group.

Originally Posted by C's Bimmer' post='735517' date='Dec 1 2008, 10:50 AM

I just ordered 2. I need one for each car.

Originally Posted by cokeefe' post='735510' date='Dec 1 2008, 10:40 AM

The head-up display is interesting in a sort of Star-Trek way, but since it doesn't work with polarized sunglasses I haven't seen much of it yet. Maybe when winter comes in full and it's darker out I will get a better feeling for it. I do like the navigation display on the windshield, but it's missing a tachometer display.

Originally Posted by BimmerJay' post='735054

The lift is a Bend Pak mid-rise scissor lift, and it makes doing brake jobs, clutches, and major tuneups a lot easier. I've always done all the work on my old 911s, but I doubt I will try to do much on the 550. It's a whole different animal. It makes me feel like a caveman living in the space age.

Here's the lift - add one to your Christmas list....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...02674_200102674