[R44MS_K]

forgot to mention this one,

a while back i had my graduation ceremony, my brother in law decided to give him his bmw for a few days as it was his promise if i did well, i could lend it (i got a 2.1, if i got a first, he would of gave the BMW to KEEP!!)

its a e39 530i sport (last 100 of the e39s to roll out of the factory!) the e39 is one of my dream cars which is why he borrowed it to me!

it was graduation day, cermony started at 3, i got to my sisters at 12 after getting suited and booted! grab the keys, press the remote to open the door and nothing...

tried again... nothing.... tried manually opening the door by insterting key in lock.. nothing... alarm started blaring

panic!!

i knew exactly what it was, he left his phone charging in the car and it must of drained the battery - he insisted its not the battery, so he comes down from his work by taxi to investigate

we got the spare key, still no joy

we phone the AA to come and look at it and then we phoned bmw service car (his car is under warranty) who said they will send a team out asap (i felt like crying - my graduation day FFS!)

guess what happens next...

bmw get there in 30 mins (in a e39 estate, boot full of diagnostic tools), jump start the car (for those that dont know, some bmws have to be jump started in the "bmw way!!" have a quick natter and leave. could not believe the service - very professional!!

its 2pm and guess who else arrives... THE AA!! we tell them to go home and off i went to my ceromony

was defo a day to remember!!

got to praise BMW - the dealers are excellent too, when i had my 325i,

they treated me as if i had a M3 - very genuine service. VW on the other hand....

ps that cars a tarmac eater!!

moral of the story - do not leave things till last minute!! []

 

[sir_blates]

lol nice, thats how all services should operate. e39 530i sport .. nice car.

Congrats on the result by the way.

 

[Mikedav]

Dad used to have E39 530i Sport, damn I miss that car it was fantastic [] Glad you enjoyed it, sadly not all BMW dealers are that good though...

 

[R44MS_K]

thanks Blates!

was a good day!

Mikedav - so true, there is good and bad dealers all over - we just seem to have luck with our bmw dealers, our vag dealers on the other hand....

i cannot believe the performance on that car, weighs so much but it shifts!! (and drinks)

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by R44MS_K on 06/10/2004 13:53:03

Mikedav - so true, there is good and bad dealers all over - we just seem to have luck with our bmw dealers, our vag dealers on the other hand....

Very true. For me, BMW and VW are shocking but Audi very good - depends very much where you are...

i cannot believe the performance on that car, weighs so much but it shifts!! (and drinks)

You got me reminissing now. Im off to www.Autotrader.co.uk ...! []

 

[R44MS_K]

suppose the e39s are getting so cheap they are falling into the wrong hands

i remember when they were exclusive (to some extent)

thats why we are looking to get a e60 soon (and i hope my bro in law sells it to me for a "family discount" price!!) its only got 5k on the clock!!

only mods i would do is debadge it and genuiune m5 rims.

 

[phil08]

my dad had a 540i and that thing shifted,fully loaded up etc he traded it in for an M5 which is an animal and now i think is looking into the new M5 again!! I love BMW's and their service. Hopefully getting one of their cooper-s for the weekend as a 'test drive'[8D]

 

[R44MS_K]

thats my dream car - e39 M5 - post some pics of your dads car !

 

[Rye]

what are all these codes like E39, E60 CSL etc? I thought it was just 3 series, 5series etc... M3, M5 etc...

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by Rye on 06/10/2004 16:41:57

what are all these codes like E39, E60 CSL etc? I thought it was just 3 series, 5series etc... M3, M5 etc...

Its the nerdy stuff, model numbers. Mercedes have them too but I dont know those at all, W124s etc...

'MK2' BMW 3 Series: E30 - 1980s

'MK3' BMW 3 Series: E36 - 1990s

'MK4' BMW 3 Series: E46 - 2000s

'MK2' BMW 5 Series: E34 - 1980s (late)

'MK3' BMW 5 Series: E39 - 1990s

'MK1' BMW 5 Series: E28 - 1980s (early)

'MK3' BMW 7 Series: E65 - 2000s

etc etc...its the number they are assigned in the factory each time they draw up a new car to differentiate between the old 3 series and the new one for example

 

[Rye]

Quote: posted by Mikedav on 06/10/2004 16:49:09

Quote: posted by Rye on 06/10/2004 16:41:57

what are all these codes like E39, E60 CSL etc? I thought it was just 3 series, 5series etc... M3, M5 etc...

Its the nerdy stuff, model numbers. Mercedes have them too but I dont know those at all, W124s etc...

'MK2' BMW 3 Series: E30 - 1980s

'MK3' BMW 3 Series: E36 - 1990s

'MK4' BMW 3 Series: E46 - 2000s

'MK2' BMW 5 Series: E34 - 1980s (late)

'MK3' BMW 5 Series: E39 - 1990s

'MK1' BMW 5 Series: E28 - 1980s (early)

'MK3' BMW 7 Series: E65 - 2000s

etc etc...its the number they are assigned in the factory each time they draw up a new car to differentiate between the old 3 series and the new one for example

Oh ok cheers mate... Do VW have these or do we just say MKIV etc?

Also, what are the different M5s? CSL etc? are some M5s faster than others?

 

[calumcousins]

suppose the e39s are getting so cheap they are falling into the wrong hands

couldnt agree more....and its a shame....

saw a proper chav driving one the other day near where i live - bloody [email protected] music blaring out the windows, and driving it like a complete *** - really wanted to go and give him and his chav'ette a slap...but anyway..

A friend of mine's dad had an E39 M5 a little while back now, and i remember just being absoloutly astonished by it - but he didnt like it for some reason??? He's got an RS6 now....hmmmmm.....tough decision!

Calum.

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by Rye on 06/10/2004 16:53:20

Also, what are the different M5s? CSL etc? are some M5s faster than others?

M is BMW performance division - as you probably know the M3 is an M power 3 series, M5 an M power 5 series, etc. The first M car was the E28 BMW M535i, followed closely by the E28 M5. Think of the original E28 M5 as the MK1 Golf GTI and the others as the MK2s, MK3s, etc.

CSL is a lightweight version of an M3 - carbon fibre roof, etc and ?20k more, limited edition. There was an E36 M3 LTW in the nineties which stood for lightweight, similar idea. The CSL name comes from a classic BMW nicknamed the Batmobile from the 70s.

The 530i Sport is like a cut down version of an M5 - bodykit, M detailing, damn good performance. Its not an M5 but its nearly half the price.

 

[golfv64mo]

Quote: posted by Mikedav on 06/10/2004 17:22:53

Quote: posted by Rye on 06/10/2004 16:53:20

Also, what are the different M5s? CSL etc? are some M5s faster than others?

M is BMW performance division - as you probably know the M3 is an M power 3 series, M5 an M power 5 series, etc. The first M car was the E28 BMW M535i,

Sorry Mike!

Bzzt! Wrong! [] The first M car was the BMW M1, in 1978. This used a lightweight 3.5 straight six, which went on to form the basis of the engine used in the E28 M535i. The M1, also, remains to date to be BMW's only mid-engined car.

The 530i Sport is like a cut down version of an M5 - bodykit, M detailing, damn good performance. Its not an M5 but its nearly half the price.

Well, no, the 540i is the 'cut-down' version of the M5. 4.4 litre (begs the question - why didn't they call it a 544i?) V8 producing 300-odd brake. Very nice set of wheels, those!

Oh ok cheers mate... Do VW have these or do we just say MKIV etc?

Yes, VW and Audi do indeed have a similar coding system.

All Golfs (and Boras, Ventos and Jettas) of all ages are built on what is known as the 'A' chassis. The Mk1 Golf used the 'A1' chassis, the Mk2 the 'A2' and so on. The Passat uses the 'B' chassis. The current incarnation of the Passat is, I believe, the 'B6'. What makes it all confusing is that Audi share these chassis codes, and A 1997 Audi A4 in fact uses the 'B5' chassis and a 1999 Audi A3 uses the 'A4' chassis! []

 

[phil08]

i dont have any pics.his 540i was in a light blue/silver colour if i remember correctly and his M5 is in the nice light blue colour with the 2 tone leather too,he also has the the rear windows and rear windscreen blacked out!

I used to love the electric blind they have on the rear window that rise with a touch of the button!

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by golfv64mo on 06/10/2004 19:02:18

Sorry Mike!

Bzzt! Wrong! [] The first M car was the BMW M1, in 1978. This used a lightweight 3.5 straight six, which went on to form the basis of the engine used in the E28 M535i. The M1, also, remains to date to be BMW's only mid-engined car.

Wel, if you want to be piccy! But the M1 was never anything else, there was no 1 Series. That was a homologation job...by first 'M' car I meant the first M in the sense we know it today - a Motorsport version of an existing model.

Well, no, the 540i is the 'cut-down' version of the M5. 4.4 litre (begs the question - why didn't they call it a 544i?) V8 producing 300-odd brake. Very nice set of wheels, those!

Again picky! [] True, but by cut down version of an M5 I meant more that you got a fast, dynamically excellent executive sports sedan with agressive bodykit, wonderful engine and fantastic RWD handling - the 530i Sport is that as well. And for ?20k less than an M5. Don't get me wrong its no M5, but still a great car in its own right. I feel if you are going to go for 540i, you may as well have paid the extra ?8k and got an M5.

All this talk has got me tempted now though, they start at ?15k...you getting one then R44MSK?

[]

 

[R44MS_K]

phil - silverstone blue - my favourite!

 

[R44MS_K]

mike - im going to wait next year for my bro in law to get his bentley, i know he will do me a good deal on the 530i - its MINT!! hopefully i will have a more secure job by then!!

i would not spend 15k on a 540i when 22k will get you a M5, but if i was on the market looking for a 5, i would be sensible and get a 530d.