I would check out the 07 GS 350 thats what you call a Luxury Sport Sedan. Looks, Speed, reliable and all the bells and whistles.

 

Well its a done deal. Here are the stats - Super clean car... impeccable interior and exterior.. not a scratch anywhere... Just a doll in maintainance... dang lucky...

2006 BMW 530i (05/05 manufactured)
6-speed Auto (w/255Hp)
Mystic blue/tan
40K miles
Cold Weather pkg, Premium Pkg, Navigation, Bluetooth, Sat Radio
Park Assist
$27K + TTL

Overall, not a bad deal and just what the wifey wanted. I found a bunch of Bimmers at lots cheaper price than the above, but the wifey wanted one loaded up and still under factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. Sure its a tad over my budget, but the smile on my wife's face is worth the stretch.

I am a happy camper, and so is the wifey... Of course my daughter is mighty happy with her new (used) A4quattro. That car is a whole lotta fun to drive, and I am hoping I get a chance to drive the Bimmer as well. I am now the only one left with a Toy product (TCH)... cos my LS and LX are sold, but still sitting on my driveway Sad to see the Lexus(es) go, but time to go in a different direction.... It's been fun being in the Lex family, but the Germans make more fun cars, sorry Toyota/Lexus...

 

VERY nice color - very sharp.

You did good getting the NAV and the options. You won't regret it. There is an update you can do to make the car play MP3s (it might have already been done). Also there is an iPOD adapter you can throw in there as well - they just need to update the software.

Congrats.

 

Thanks Doug. I am still kicking myself for missing the 2005 545i loaded with only 51K miles, and that car sold for $25,300 How I missed that still beats me, but I guess I had to pay a tad more to get what the wife wants. I'll be checking on the MP3/iPod adapter cos I'll definitely like to have these installed as well when the car gets here. How does BMW get away with a single CD on their $45K cars? I mean, this is just pretty bad when a mere $20K car these days can have a 6-CD changer? What gives?

I am wondering if I should get an extended warranty for this car, although it is in such fine shape that it gives me good confidence to just ride it out after the warranty expires. I don't suppose these cars are that bad reliability-wise, are they?

 

Congrats and welcome to the BMW family You can find out more about the car here bimmerfest.com Very mature BMW audience

 

Well you really don't want that 6 disc CD changer (hell you might even have one) because it is so far back in your glove box that you can not get to it while driving - hell you can barely get to it from the driver's seat! It goes bye bye when you put the iPod adapter in anyway

You have two choices on the warranty/maint
at least 6 months before the warranty is up, you can go to any local BMW dealer and extend it for two years. Shop around as the prices will vary. You can ALSO extend your maintenance (you need to determine if this is worth it to you). I think to do both on the 550 was something like $4,000 but I never got it officially quoted. Anyway, doing this will cover you bumper to bumper without any need for spending money on anything but tires for up to 6 years and well, I don't know the mileage.

That 545 you missed.... well everything works out for a reason and I think you got the right car.

 

I think you may as well go with the BMW 530i. If I remember correctly it will get roughly the same mileage as a 525i but you have the extra power and that is always good.

And if you're an enthusiast then I suppose the 530i is a more engaging drive because I hear the 525i, though no slouch, is a bit on the "boring side".

 

Congragulations.

Now get yourself some of this:

and be ready if and when there is a first time.

 

Congrats! I think you did good with the 530. When my sister took delivery of the E46 M3, the sale person followed us home in a used 545. The damn car would not start when he left our house so he had to call a tow truck. Just a couple of hours before that, he was trying to get us to buy that same 545.

 

Thanks Dash. I sure will be a frequent visitor to that site from here forward... Just one more car site to join, eh?

 

Thanks Doug. Yes seems the 530i is the most *balanced* of the 3 siblings and its the one that most fits our style anyway, so it's all good. I'll be talking to my local BMW dealership about extended warranty and what they'd be asking for it.