Want a fun car to replace my Harley

Bimmerbill

Bimmerbill

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
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I know there is probably better things to do with $5K but I'm thinking of buying a very well maintained 1995 BMW 540i with 6 speed manual tranny.

I don't have a "toy" to wax and play with since I sold my Harley when we started a family. I have a commuter car and family car, but nothing to fulfill the car guy needs...

I haven't had a BMW since 2001/02 and the joy I got each time I drove it still makes me smile. Yes, I have a car addiction.

What do you think?
 
Very nice. A sound and well reasoned choice. Best to maximise your smiles/gallon. All the BMWs have their strong points - not just a matter of "same sausage, different lengths", yet they all are noticably BMW - even my loaded down family truckster.

Gone:
'83 533i, very much missed
'86 524td parts car - crank is in a stroked 325
'91 318i missed - woke up and sang at a pleasing rpm
'89 325i convertible goodies donor for the
Current
'89 325i

And the work truck:
'93 525it
 
Yeah, the E34 body style is one of my favorites. Supposidly built like a tank. I'm thinking of selling my commuter car since it is in very high demand right now and I could net more than I bought it for 2 years (and 40K miles) ago.

I'd love to get my hads on a nice BMW diesel, but all the ones I see aound here are beat and not running...

Maybe I'll see what kind of mileage I get before selling the commuter car if I get the Bimmer. My commute is set up for good mileage (if I keep my foot out of it) and the 6sp may help...
 
Bimmerbill said:
I know there is probably better things to do with $5K but I'm thinking of buying a very well maintained 1995 BMW 540i with 6 speed manual tranny.
Click to expand...

If you can buy a well-maintained 540i 6MT for $5k, better do it. Otherwise, I'll beat you there and offer the guy $5,250. ;)
 
Yeah, this Thursday I plan to buy it after a nice long test ride. It had no plates on it so I only took it around the park. I was amazed at how tight the steering was. Will take it on the highway to check for shimmy, etc.
A BMW speciality shop is selling it for one of their customers and gave me all the receipts since 2004 (glad that guy sprung for the clutch and cats!). The customer has 4 or 5 BMWs and moved across country and this one got left behind (must have been his weekend Bimmer for the lake house).
Insurance is a bit more than I expected, but hopefully registration fees won't be much for an old car.
I like the Z3, but at 6'6" I think the 5 series has plenty of room. Never sat in a Z3, but I know the 3 series I've sat in are TIGHT.
 
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My 525 gets 23.5 overall,filled with tools and parts, figured by dividing miles/gallons for each fill. That's with a Marc DaSylva chip. If i fill and do a 60 mile there and 60 back highway run up to the airport the OBC reports 29+ at 70+. Betcha that big 8 would get maybe 4-5mpg less with similiar usage. and be a WHOLE bunch more fun.
 
Yeah, I'm hoping for 20. My commute is set up for MPG and I should do OK if I keep my foot out of it. 35 miles, 45MPH to 55MPH, two traffic circles and a couple of lights. Specs state 27-29 highway, but they must lug it in 6th gear!
 
I had the chance to buy a stick 1996 M3 awhile back for cheap. I was tempted, but have no garage space. That thing was a screamer, that's fo sho'
 
What the! The guy sold it tonight. I had an appointment tomorrow morning to give it a final look over and had indicated I'd buy the car in email. Geez, you would think the guy would at least give me a call first.

I already ran a CARFAX, took the day off from work, set up the bank check, set up insurance, etc.
 
Wow, that sucks. It wasn't me, honest! :p You think somebody offered him a better deal than you were going to give him?

Regardless of how it happened, it was definitely rude of the seller not to at least give you the option to match.
 
Bimmerbill said:
What the! The guy sold it tonight. I had an appointment tomorrow morning to give it a final look over and had indicated I'd buy the car in email. Geez, you would think the guy would at least give me a call first.

I already ran a CARFAX, took the day off from work, set up the bank check, set up insurance, etc.
Click to expand...
I don't know why, but I'm really :rant:!
 
Here is what I wrote:
Does the car have its owner's manual? How many keys are included?
>>> If the longer test ride works out (I'm sure it will, it was very
>>> tight just driving around the parking lot) I would like to purchase the
>>> car.
>>>
>>> How would you like payment? I can get a bank check from MY BANK if that will work for you.

I can see they guy wanting to close the deal, but I thought I was pretty clear with my intentions.
Oh well.
 
He's a jerk. Being a jerk, maybe he wasn't totally honest about the condition of the car, too. Maybe he wanted to dump the car fast on the first buyer who didn't spot the glaring deficiency in the car! Jerks will do that. Probably had Crisco in oilpan so she wouldn't smoke. Heck, maybe he's just a sociopath--I'll bet he was dumping carborundum in the crankcase just to make it tough for the guy who bought that darn lemon!

You got out of this deal just in time!
It's a big sea, you'll find another fun car. Maybe a Miata.
 
Eh. I admit it is a big shame for Bimmer. I can understand the seller's point, though. First one in with cash in hand is better than the expectation via email that someone will buy. Now, if there was a deposit to hold the vehicle until everything was squared away (carfax, mechanic, final test drive), then that in my mind would prevent negotiating with another party. Without that, though, there are enough cases in the world where a potential buyer got cold feet at the last minute that I might well take the first offer myself. I am not sure the guy really was a jerk.
 
Bimmerbill said:
What the! The guy sold it tonight. I had an appointment tomorrow morning to give it a final look over and had indicated I'd buy the car in email. Geez, you would think the guy would at least give me a call first.

I already ran a CARFAX, took the day off from work, set up the bank check, set up insurance, etc.
Click to expand...

That's why you have to move FAST on private part deals, there is no "loyalty" on them............in most cases the first guy with cash wins. :p
 
Marquette said:
But Wyoming was gritting their teeth last month over us not buying American, so I assume they misspoke here and/or misremembered the car.
Click to expand...

He only gets mad if you buy NEW BMWs, to him, a use one means the money stays in the good ole USA.............;)
 
bbbamI said:
I don't know why, but I'm really :rant:!
Click to expand...

Why? I don't think the seller is a jerk, private party transactions don't have the "rules" dealers have to follow...........;)
 
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