Helping making choice for my 2nd car - 1997 M3 (4dr) vs 1998 540i

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Karl North - 18 Feb 2007 03:12 GMT

Hello All,
It's been a while since I've posted in the a.a.b newsgroup. I cannot
begin to tell you how much money the advice from some of our 'members' has
saved me over the past few years.

I'm looking for a little advice tonight. I'm seeking a 2nd car.

My first option is a 1997 M3 with a 5 speed transmission. One of the years
they made the 4 door model. (Which I like and need) Its Artic White with the
black leather interior. The interior and exterior are in good shape. The
seats show no bolster wear. It has @131k miles on it. It has some typical
E36 issues. It has had the water pump / housing changed, etc. It has 17" BMW
Alloys and new Pirelli tires. It has a Salvage Title history from the
previous (and original) owner being involved in a low speed collision which
caused some 'minor' front end damage. That bothers me; however, I know the
current owner / seller and trust his opinion on BMWs. The car is pretty much
stock. (No engine / body mods) This car is located in North Florida. (I'm in
SW Louisiana.)

My second option is a 1998 540i with an AUTO Transmission. (Newer slightly
rounded body style) It's in the Black Exterior / Dove Grey leather interior
configuration. The interior and exterior are in very good shape. The
drivers door has a small palm sized dent which you can tell was popped out
by one of those paintless dent removal places. Its not perfect but its
better than it was. (I saw 'before' pics) The Dove Grey drivers seat is
starting to show some wear. The leather does not seem to be wearing as much
as it seem the color is wearing off. (Is this easily fixable?) The rest of
the seats look brand new. The car is the 'Sports Package'. The owner had a
local BMW dealership install upgraded Hella Angel Eyes, a Dinan Cold Air
intake, and 17" BMW M5 Alloys. The current owner also stated that there's a
vibration coming from the front left wheel during slow speeds. He thinks its
an off balance tire. I think it may be some of the normal 5 series front end
gremlins. This car is outside of Beaumont TX. (I'm in SW Louisiana.)

The 5 series is closer and newer but has more miles. The 5 series is an Auto
Transmission and I really prefer a standard. However I'm getting up in the
years and an Auto might be a better idea. Plus the 4.4L engine has plenty of
get up and go. However the M3 is in very good shape. BMW only made the 4dr
M3 for 2 years. And the seller runs a German car oriented autobody shop and
he swears the car is in tip-top shape.

Over the past 10 years I've owned 3, 5, and 7 series cars. My previous BMWs
have ranged from 1993 models to 2001 models. I like them all. Looking back
on it I realize that I have owned quite a few E36 cars.

The bad part is the cars are the same price.. both sellers are asking
$9,000.00 firm.

Please let me know which car you would go with and why. (Pros and Cons) I
have to email them ASAP.

Thanks,
Karl N.

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Fred W - 18 Feb 2007 12:56 GMT

> Please let me know which car you would go with and why. (Pros and Cons) I
> have to email them ASAP.

You left out one important detail (actual mileage), but in general I
would go with the M3.

A $9000 car is essentially a "disposable" so no worries about the resale
on either car. But, in all likelihood, you will have an easier time
finding a (young) re-buyer for any M3 (even w/ salvage) than a 540
automatic. Even with the salvage title.

It will be a second car. Second cars should be *fun*.
M3 w/ 5 speed = fun. 540i w/ automatics no so much fun.

Gray leather interiors always look dirty to me and I hate them. Black
leather looks better longer.

The 5 series front end shakes may require a full front suspension to get
rid of.

Oh, and did I mention the M3 will be a lot more fun? Life is too short
for boring cars...

Good luck with your decision making

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-Fred W

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pltrgyst - 19 Feb 2007 04:19 GMT

>> However I'm getting up in the years and an Auto might be a better idea.

Karl, you're a wimp. Why not look for a nice tight year old Chrysler
Sebring?

>It will be a second car. Second cars should be *fun*.
>M3 w/ 5 speed = fun. 540i w/ automatics no so much fun.
>
>Oh, and did I mention the M3 will be a lot more fun? Life is too short
>for boring cars...

Right on the money.

-- Larry (only 60, so what do I know?)

-2005 WCM UltraLite (Lotus Super 7 clone, S-2000 powertrain)
-2002 325i (sports pkg, etc., wife's daily driver)
-1995 Miata R (+ Borla, short shifter, too much too list...)
-1980 TR8 (Holley 4-bbl, etc.)
-1975 Lola 342 FF
-1972 Elden FF
-2001 Aprilia Falco
-2002 Honda 919 (daily commuter)
-1995 Honda Interceptor 500

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Dan Buchan - 19 Feb 2007 21:23 GMT

> It will be a second car. Second cars should be *fun*.
> M3 w/ 5 speed = fun. 540i w/ automatics no so much fun.

Have to disagree with you. I've got a 540i automatic and it's
hilarious. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't the M3 be the US version
with a 3L engine with roughly the same power as the 540 - but nothing
like the power band of the 4.4? If the 4.4 had the same BHP/litre as an
E34 525 it would have 338BHP but it has 286, so is desperately detuned,
but the payoff is a serious amount of low-end shove. This thing is
quicker off the line than a full-blown E46 M3 even with wheelspin.

I'm not advising anyone not to get an M3 but I couldn't let your comment
stand. I wanted an E36 M3 Evolution (321BHP) myself and even 'won' one
on eBay but the seller wouldn't go through with it. I wanted it because
it seemed to be the fastest car for the money and still with 4 doors and
probably better fuel economy than a fast 5 series. Rack and pinion
steering was another point in its favour, me being sick of the E34's
steering play (the E39 is actually a lot better). On reflection I
decided that a car of that nature and age was likely to have fallen into
the wrong hands at some point, more likely to have been wrapped around a
lamp post, whereas a 540 is more your company director's sort of car.
It's also better looking and more discreet and, in this market, a lot
cheaper to buy and insure, although it does have a thirst. I'd still
love to have an M car at some point.

> Gray leather interiors always look dirty to me and I hate them. Black
> leather looks better longer.

Agreed there. Grey leather is best described as unfortunate. I
wouldn't want my coffin lined with it. Silver is nice but probably a
pain to keep clean. Black looks a bit gloomy if the interior is all
black, though. My car has wooden trim to warm things up a bit and light
grey headlining. The other one I saw and liked was an M5 which had
black seats with silver-grey panels.

> The 5 series front end shakes may require a full front suspension to get
> rid of.

Are E39s as susceptible to this as E34s? I had bad wheel-wobble but it
turned out to be an outrageously out-of-balance front wheel. The
mechanic had to balance it three times and ended up attaching 12
weights; crap tyre. Anyway even on the E34, my previous car, the fix
was cheap enough once the cause was discovered.

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