flipspeed

my father is planning on buying a bmw and is not interested in any other car manufacturer. my first words to him were, "they're not as reliable as lexus." ok, so for the 328i:
-monaco blue metallic
-beige leatherette
-steptronic auto trans
-power front seats with driver memory
-heated front seats $36,340.




the other is 2004 530i.
Mileage: 13,722
External Color: Black Sapphire Metallic
Interior Color: Auburn Dakota Leather
Transmission: Automatic
Price: $38,995 *

Installed Options:

Cold Weather Package

Moonroof

Premium Package

Satellite Radio Preparation

Steptronic Automatic Trans.

my father is more interested in the 530i and he'll take it home for $35k.

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

From the pics that looks like BMW of Bayside in Douglastan Queens. Got my X3 there Get the 328I over the 530. It will be a new car fresh out of the box.

matsarge

Go with the 328i. The 530 only has about 18 months or so left on the warranty/free maintenance and the overall performance of the 328i will be very similar to the 530i. The 530i will have a little more room in it, but not much.

SteVTEC

uhh, the E60 has a lot more room than the E90 does. If that's important, definitely go for the E60.

flipspeed

yes, DASHOCKER it's bmw of bayside. maybe you can tell me which salesperson will budge with the price as for the warranty/maintenace, that's definitely something we have to inquire about. obviously getting the new car>used car and one is bigger than the other but are there any other significant reasons you would choose one over the other? matsarge, i thought there would be a big margin between the two in terms of performance. i checked out the 0-60 times for both cars and they're in the high 6 seconds. if that's the case, then having a bigger car with similar performance seems like the better buy.

doug_999

I really would not want to own a 2004 5-series car. It was their first year of production

Check out e60.net and bimmerforums.com. There were "issues" with those cars. Not everyone had issues, but if you got a car with them, you are in big trouble.

You could have the service person pull the service history on the car - that might tell you a thing or two.

Oh yea, they had some GREAT money factors on the 2007 530s not too long ago - if those still exist, a lease would be very attractive.

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

Henry Lou was my sales guy He will definately give you a great deal.

newr

I would get the 530 if they also throw in the extended warranty.. otherwise, I would get the 328

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

Personally I'd get the 328. If you are getting the 326 Sedan most of the bugs IMHO should be worked out since basically it is the same E90 with just a tweaked 325 engine, or a detuned 330i engine depending on how you look at it

Och

iTrader: (3)

Everytime I see interior shots of the new 5 series, it makes me wanna puke.

LexusChris

iTrader: (1)

I was just thinking that myself it looks like BMW of Bayside!
Anyways, I'd go with the 328I simply because it's a new car.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

EAASSSYYYYY choice.

5 series > all

TwiBlueG35

I agree that 04 530i may have some serious issues. If I were you, I would pick the new 328i.

Nextourer

3 series. I'd prefer a new car with a new warranty. Also.. leatherette? Add real leather so it matches the 530i's price haha. There's waaay more front legroom in the new 3 over the old 3.

CHIS350

Have your dad try and tune the radio and turn the volume up with the 5 series....guarantee he'll go with the 328i