For sale is my 1998 BMW 540i with 6-speed manual transmission and sport package. This is an outstanding vehicle, up to date on maintenance, in very nice shape and is very fast (rated at 0-60 in ~5.5 seconds, quarter mile in ~14 seconds). I have owned it since January 2012 and it has been an excellent vehicle, but it is a 3rd car and is simply not needed (or so says my wife!). I just took it on a 400 mile trip and it performed flawlessly, getting close to 24mpg.
The follow maintenance includes two previous owners and myself
11/8/08 @ 102,000mi replace spark plugs
11/24/08 @ 102,868mi oil + filter change, repair power steering hoses
5/11/09 @ 106,312mi replace driver side low beam
6/27/09 @ 108,109mi replace passenger side low beam, passenger side rear window regulator
7/25/09 @ 108,562mi new tires, front brake pads, valve cover gaskets, #3 & #4 coils, air filter, cabin filter
2/14/09 @ 103,700mi new struts, center tie rod, front sway bar links
2/14/10 @ 115,013mi oil + filter change
4/17/10 @ 116,542mi timing cover gaskets
4/21/10 @ 116,625mi rotate + balance tires
10/27/10 @ 122,968mi rotate + balance tires
12/29/10 @ 125,413mi oil + filter change
5/15/11 @ 127587mi rotate tires
6/1/11 @ 127,820mi replace crankcase vent valve
7/6/11 @ 131,102mi oil + filter change
8/14/11 @ 136,406mi oil + filter change
8/20/11 @138,514mi 4 tires + alignment
9/29/11 @140,205mi oil + filter change
10/10/11 rotate tires
1/26/12 replace flashlight
2/14/12 replace camshaft position sensor & o-ring
3/10/12 @ 143,210mi new clutch, weld short shifter connector, replace rear main seal, oil + filter change
4/14/12 @ 144,363mi replace driver sun visor, sub visor clip, front passenger door speaker bar
4/21/12 @ 144,599mi install shorty clutch stop
12/29/12 @ 148,172mi new battery
1/28/13 @ 148,449 two new rear tires install + balance
4/6/13 @ 149,167 sunroof wind deflector removed, hood cable oiled
4/26/13 @ 149,641 front brake pads, front brake rotors and driver side front brake line replaced, oil + filter change
Everything on this car works, and it currently needs nothing - I would drive it across country in a second. There are some various nicks and scratches on the paint, as it's a 15 year old car, but the paint shines up nicely, the grey leather is in good shape with no tears, and there is no body rust, save for a small spot on the driver door corner where the paint has flaked off a bit and there is a small ding on the driver rear quarter panel. The car currently does not leak any fluids, although there is a very small seepage from the valve cover gaskets. I just had my BMW mechanic look at it again, and he thinks there is no reason to replace it now - it hasn't gotten worse since the first time he looked at it over 6,000 miles ago, but at some point, it may need to be replaced. There is nothing else that needs attention - but feel free to bring your mechanic and thoroughly inspect it.
The OEM muffler has been replaced with an after market unit that (I think) sounds great. A little more rumbly but it won't set off any car alarms. Original muffler will be included with the car. Also of note - there was an airbag light on when I bought the car - the issue is that the passenger seat sensor does not work correctly, so the passenger airbag will be deployed even if no one is sitting there - I installed a bypass plug to remove the light, but I can remove it upon request. There are currently no check engine or other dash warning lights on. The OEM shift linkage has been upgraded to a short-shift kit - very nice, short, notchy throws. All gears engage correctly and there is no grinding or slippage.
Front tires have about 80% tread, rear tires have about 90% tread. The rears were recently replaced due running over a piece of debris and rendering the tire irreparable. Upon request, you can also have the 1 remaining good tire not mounted on the rim, which I saved due to it having about 80% tread left. 17" BBS wheels have some curb rash but still look pretty good. When I recently replaced the front brake rotors, I upgraded them to Brembos and upgraded the pads to ceramic - the car stops very well. Battery is less than 1 year old, clutch has less than 7,000 miles on it. Air filter has been upgrade to a K & N.
6-disc changer and cassette player work correctly, heat and air conditioning work great, power seats, power windows, sunroof, cruise control and power tilt/telescope steering wheel all work correctly. The headlights are little cloudy and could use a good scrubbing on the inside. Toolkit is present, as is full-size spare (although the rim is a little bent, see photo). OEM front pop-out cup holders have been removed and replaced with fixed cup holders that are a little better than stock, I think. Clear title in hand.
This car is available for viewing in Champaign, IL 61821. If flying in, I will be happy to pick buyer up at Willard Airport (CMI) or at the Amtrak station in Champaign, both less than ten miles from my house.
BMW 5-Series for Sale
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Auto blog
Fri, 25 Jan 2013
Back in June, Toyota and BMW announced a "memorandum of understanding" outlining plans for the two companies to join forces on future products and technology development. On Thursday, they signed a more formal and binding agreement that goes further into detail about the partnership, and it all sounds pretty exciting. The two announced they will work together in four main areas:
Joint development of a fuel cell system
"Set up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle"
Fri, 30 Aug 2013
The National Highway Traffic Administration is considering the use of ignition interlocks in vehicles that would require the seatbelts of occupied seats to be fastened in order to drive the car, Automotive News reports, four decades after Congress moved to prevent manufacturers from installing them in cars sold in the US market. Following a transportation bill passed last year that lift some of the restrictions on seatbelt interlocks, automakers such as BMW are considering the benefits of using them in future cars. Now, before you go crying about your lost freedom, keep reading.
BMW said in an October 2012 petition that the use of seatbelt interlocks would allow the company to make lighter and more spacious vehicles, if the devices could be used in lieu of unbelted crash tests. The crash test has required the addition of bulky safety features, such as knee bolsters, that aren't as necessary when occupants are buckled up, especially when considering the dizzyng list of safety features that come standard on today's cars. Europe, which has a higher rate of seatbelt use than in the US, doesn't perform unbelted crash tests on cars sold there.
Tue, 06 Aug 2013
As BMW prepares to launch its new 2 Series lineup, it appears that the current 1 Series is going to get a little attention for itself. Based on these spy photos, the 1 Series hatchback (F20/F21), which is not offered in the US, will be getting a minor facelift in the near future.
From what we can see in these images, the updated 1 Series will definitely be getting a tweaked front end, with most of the attention focusing on the air intakes and grille. Our shooter tells us that it is possible that the headlights may yet be reworked in some way by the time we see this car in production form. It still isn't clear if we'll ever see this bodystyle or the next-gen 1 Series in the US, but our most recent report seems to indicate that the car's fortunes will depend somewhat on how well the Mercedes CLA-Class and Audi A3 sell.