Lextasy89

you want a badass car? get the isf
you want a bigger, nice sedan.. get the 550i

i say get the isf bc i see one like once a month, i see a 550i everyday

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

i see 525 530 all the time here, get the feeling people are just going to think its a cheapie 535/530 at first glance. I would prefer the 535 over a 550. However the 550 might be really cheap due to gas prices

S8B

It you wanted a more executive looking car, get the 550i.

If performance is your priority, the ISF is a no-brainer.

.

Alvin_H

5 series have been out for many years already. New models are going to replace the current ones. Why buy a car that's going to be outdated in a year?

SoCalSC4

I know the BMW is a great car to drive, but I can't get past two things:

- the exterior appearance
- very, very common here in California.

The V8 powered cars are somewhat rare, but to the general public a 525, 528, 530, 535, 545, and 550 basically are the same car.

Of course, this is a Lexus board, so I'm not surprised by the poll results so far.

kyle3481

if IS-F has 5 seats, i would get IS-F
otherwise the 550i is good balance between comfort and sport

SecPole14

Wouldn't have to spend more than a second thinking about this. The 550 for sure, especially since it can be had with a manual.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Seriously though what kind of lease rates are on 550/535 right now? I wasn't impressed with a 550 that I test drove, but the 335 was a blast, is 535 comparable to the 335?

doug_999

They are decent although not great.

2008 BMW 535i Sedan
24 Month – Residual 66% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 36% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 29% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate

2008 BMW 535xi Sedan
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 36% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 30% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate

2008 BMW 535xi Wagon
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00200 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 32% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 26% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate

2008 BMW 550i Sedan
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00220 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00220 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 29% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 23% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate

above are for 15K/year - add 2% to the Residual for 12K

Och

iTrader: (3)

I actually was just looking at BMW website at the 335... Its amazing, I think I now understand why people buy BMW's. You can actually buy this thing in a coupe, with all wheel drive, with sports package, with manual, with wood trim. This is just too totally awesome. You can have your car anyway you want, heck, they even have a convertible. I used to think 335 coupe was only RWD, and I didnt know you could get AWD version with sports package.

Now to the transmissions. I dont want a manual, I'd rather have a fully automatic transmission, and I undersnad BMW has a bunch of different SMG/DMG or whatever transmissions. Which one is best while being fully auto?

herbvdh

I drove several BMW or rode in one and had the same complaint HORRIBLE VIBRATION FELT IN STEERING I asked a BMW engineer about it amazingly I was told that gives you road feel it is normal. UGH!!!! I know one owner brought her BMW back refused to drive till BMW corporate assured her it was safe and normal.
IMO unsafe abnormal!!!

doug_999

Not only can you have it any way you want, but you can order it and get it here in about 6 weeks (if your dealer has open slots). Some people even get theirs quicker....

The new DCT transmission in the M3 (avail as of July 2008) is their best manual/auto (I believe like the SMG it is a manual at heart but with automation). But unfortunately the BMW SMGs (not sure about the DCT) are wonderful on the track and sucky on the street (from what I've read - note that I don't have one). The auto in the 335 however is supposed to be wonderful (and can be had with paddle shifters). Many people (and reviews) claim it is superior to the manual. It is not as fast as the IS-F auto, but rumor has it that it is sweet.

Now Och - did you really just write "totally awesome" and BMW in the same post?

Och

iTrader: (3)

This is gonna be so lame when I get a BMW after bashing them on this forum for five years. The hardest part will be convincing the wife that we need a new car.

I'm defenately gonna check out a few variants of the 335. See, I just dont like the way 5 series looks, and the 3 looks good in the coupe form only. If I junk my LS or pass it to my daughter, then I can make my GS the beater, so there's no reason not to get a coupe, especially that I was considering an SC430 anyway. If I get the 335, I'll probably get the AWD, non sport, with as much wood and leather as possible.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I would say that 90% if not 99% of steering wheel vibrations in todays cars comes from bent wheels. Nowadays cars come with low profile tires, and lightweight aluminum wheels that easily bend when hitting a pothole.

But some cars, like Lexus, or at least the 2nd gen GS300/400/430 suffer from vibration because of its flimsy steering column. But that comes as no surprise as Lexus is built by a company that should be flipping burgers instead of making cars.

ChronoJ1

iTrader: (2)

I'd go with 550.

As much as I love the IS-F, the back seat is useless.