Convince me not to want a 540i/6

[jbraswell]

I've had my car now for about 3 months. I asolutely love it, I take ridiculously good care of it, and it puts a smile on my face everyday. There are just little things that bother me though. I detail for a living, I am stupid picky, and this car has a 14 year old cars worth or door dings, little paint chips and slgiht bodywork that has been done in the past. I spend half the day polishing it and the afformentioned flaws piss me off. That said, I love having a clean black car because you don't see it a lot, but I can't help but imagine what a more unique color would look like if I put the same amount of effort into it. I would love to own a calypso, lachssilber, something like that.

I also have the power craving every once in a while... I have thought about the TCD kit, but 6k for that (not sure that I need 350 whp), plus another few thousand to get the body how I want it to look and I am absolutely buried in this car.

I have always loved 540's, then the other day I heard an e39 with an Eisenmann exhaust and it sounded incredible. I was almost sold right there.
I am torn. If I could find a nice (remember I'm picky) e34 540/6 for ~10k, I would take it... Is this feasible price wise? Is the difference worth the trouble?

What makes the decision so hard is I would have to sell my car first, and drive the e30 around until I found a suitable 540i. I'm fairly sure I could get ~5.5-6k out of my car with the way the market is around here, so its tempting. What are your opinions, someone convince me one way or the other. Sorry for the novel

[632 Regal]

this should do it
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?p=209225#poststop

[brosher]

They feel like different cars. The M30 is a torquey lump and a great motor. The 540 is silky smooth and just a monster above 3500rpm. When I first drove my 540 I thought this is it? Now that I have learned the tq curve I no longer feel that way. :D

There are definitly some nice ones out there. I would recommend staying away from black as it shows everything. You should be able to find a good one for 10.

[brosher]

DING DING, we have a winner

http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/classifieds/cars/detview.php?view=38068&sortby=&dir=

[jbraswell]

Oh man, my best friends mom lives in Richmond. So who is looking for a 535i/m?

[jbraswell]

this should do it
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?p=209225#poststop

Ha calypso too...such beautiful cars. 6 speeds are hard to find though, and way pricey.

[632 Regal]

damn that was quick!

[jbraswell]

I was halfway kidding, don't think I could sell my car for a white one. I need something different. But that price is encouraging

[rob101]

Ha calypso too...such beautiful cars. 6 speeds are hard to find though, and way pricey.
join the calypso conspiracy

[DigitalRelay]

I have never driven a 535i, but I absolutely love my 540i/6. I got mine off eBay for just under $5000. 139K miles and in good shape. There is some rust on the doors and typical dings and chips you would expect, but I would think with a $10K budget you could find something very nice.

Good luck!

[mcdtus]

I have just bought a later model and will be selling my 95 540 6spd, champagne sport seats on a dark green exterior. I have had it for over a year. Bought it as follows
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6008&item=4558688048&rd=1

[Paul in NZ]

i have a 535 and have driven a few 540 six speeds.Even with the high gearing theses cars have the power and tourque is amazing,at 100 ks(60 mph) just give the throttle a squeeze and next thing you are doing 160 km hr no drama at all...I dont think the 540 is quite as well balanced as a 535.All three exapmes i drove didnt steer or brake as well a my 535.I dont think it would take long to get used to it.
Whatever you do if you are kinda thinking of getting a 540 DONT drive one.

[CharlesAFerg]

i have a 535 and have driven a few 540 six speeds.Even with the high gearing theses cars have the power and tourque is amazing,at 100 ks(60 mph) just give the throttle a squeeze and next thing you are doing 160 km hr no drama at all...I dont think the 540 is quite as well balanced as a 535.All three exapmes i drove didnt steer or brake as well a my 535.I dont think it would take long to get used to it.
Whatever you do if you are kinda thinking of getting a 540 DONT drive one.

Is there anywhere that there is a really detailed comparison? I am looking into it, and I think the 535 would be cool, but is the v8 just a big honking weight compared to the 3.5? It does get like 280HP or something, and the 3.5 gets like what...211?

I'm just curious, my 2.5 isn't enough.

[Paul in NZ]

the weight difference is just enough.Surprisingly the M60 may even be LIGHTER than the M30 but the gearbox is much much heavier and the diff is heavier too.Both V8s i drove were "nicer" in feel( that sorta V8 smoothness allied with the feeling that there is ALWAYS power there) than my 535 too and it feels more powerful cos it has lots of torque,even with the high gearing
525i '88-'91 M20 6 - 9.5sec 168hp / 170bhp 164ft.lbs@4300 Rpm 8.8:1
525i '91-'96 M50 24v 6 - 8.6sec 189hp / 192bhp 184ft.lbs@4200 Rpm 10.5:1
535i '88-'92 M30 6 - 7.7 sec 208hp/211bhp 225ft.lbs@4000 Rpm 9.0:1
540i '93-'95 M60 32v V8 - 6.4 sec 282hp/286bhp 295ft.lbs@4500 Rpm 10.0:1
M540 '93-'95 M60 32v V8 - 6.2 sec 282hp/286bhp 295ft.lbs@4500 Rpm 10.0:1
see the v8 has as nearly TWICE as much tourqe again than the 535 has over the 525 41 for 535 vs 525(m50) and 71 for the 540 vs 535 at 500 rpm higher.From what i read the fuel economy will be similar the v8 will prolly be slightly easer to "service"(no valves to adjust) but everything elseis harder to get to and did Ii mention NIKASIL.As said above if you drive one you better be ready to buy one....for me it would have to be PERFECT in every other respect for me to change.

[rob101]

Is there anywhere that there is a really detailed comparison? I am looking into it, and I think the 535 would be cool, but is the v8 just a big honking weight compared to the 3.5? It does get like 280HP or something, and the 3.5 gets like what...211?

I'm just curious, my 2.5 isn't enough.
i've driven a 540i auto
even that
was sooooooo easy to go fast. very very fun:D
i doubt the v8 would be lighter than the m30, even though it is alloy block it has 4 cams which is bound to put the weight up a bit.

[CharlesAFerg]

i've driven a 540i auto
even that
was sooooooo easy to go fast. very very fun:D
i doubt the v8 would be lighter than the m30, even though it is alloy block it has 4 cams which is bound to put the weight up a bit.

I say this because both rents have V8 cars, my mom has a Porsche 88 928 S4 auto and my dad has an BMW 01 740i Sport(OEM) w steptronic... My car is sooo slow compared to those... Not to mention my dad's project 928 Euro... :D

I drove the 740 today, everyone else is so insignificant when you've got that pwoer, it's really nice.

[jbraswell]

I have just bought a later model and will be selling my 95 540 6spd, champagne sport seats on a dark green exterior. I have had it for over a year. Bought it as follows
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6008&item=4558688048&rd=1

Is that oxford? That looks pretty nice.. This car made me consider a green one..$7500 locally, but 200k and automatic :(
http://images.autotrader.com/images/2006/10/6/210/266/1050723224.210266164.IM1.MAIN.240x180_A.240x180.jp g


The weight difference cannot be too significant. Even if it is, I'm not looking to autocross/track the car, so that isn't really a big concern. Only thing that I'm still on the fence about is the wide grill look, Im just not sure that I like is as much as my car

[BillionPa]

you know, you should do a megasquirt turbo install on the 535 and drop an M5 clutch in there, it would murder a 540 6 speed and the maintainence costs for the engine would be much lower.

......

[brosher]

Lower maint costs on a turbo'd engine? Is that factoring in the cost of the turbo itself ($5k?).

I always thought the wide body looked best in white. And I think I got scratch going into 3rd the other day. :D

[BillionPa]

its mainly that the V8 maintainence cost is so high, and such a pain in the ass to work on yourself. also the 4L V8 is significantly heavier than the 3L and all the 6s. this means more frequent tire/rotor/pad/control arm bushing replacement.

also the V8s eat through power steering hoses, and they are a total bitch to change.

[Incantation]

well basically if you need convincing you need to realize that the 540 is almost equally as slow as the 535.

if you really want speed buy a bike

if you just want a nice sedan that cruises comfortably at most reasonable speeds.. but the 540. it's not fast. most cars aren't. buy it for what it is: a safe, comfortable, and peppy (at most) passenger vehicle. the 535 is really not much different, if at all.

[Jehu]

You know, i admire your tenacity but bikes and cars are really not comparable in any way more than they convey your body thru space and a bike can do that faster mainly because it is a very great deal lighter and far more aerodynamic.When i hit a pot hole at highway speed i survive whereas on a bike I'd likely be kissing asphalt. Its just apples and oranges as they say. I can't afford a super car and i know all about the M5 but the 540 can pretty much get you there if you put every mod on it you can and when i blow my engine it'll cost about half as much to replace as the M5 though surely more than a two wheeler.I'm guessing if he wanted a bike he'd be looking on a bike forum. Maybe its what he really wants , that's cool but as an owner of a 540 i can't agree that the car is slow.Even bone stock its a little more than merely "peppy".

[Paul in NZ]

THE m30 WIGHS 143 KG
THE M60 IS 203 KGS (DRY)

[Incantation]

i'm not advocating he get a bike i'm telling him there is little difference between 535 and 540

[Traian]

Bikes are slow. If you really want to go fast get a jet.

[Paul in NZ]

Jets are fast,bikes are Quick,540s FEEL quicker then 535,s

[brosher]

Well according to e34.net the 540 is 1.3 seconds quicker to 60. Maybe this explains the feeling? Yes they are the same basic car but the engines are nothing alike.

[angrypancake]

m5 > 540i/6 > 535i/5 > 525i/5 there is a noticeable difference in all of the models. the m5 is so raw and connected and just damn. the 540 has the power but it's got the smoothness to it, the refined luxury, with power on tap. the 535 has teh power too, just not so much as the 540. 525 feels fast when it has replaced an '89 accord automatic. i miss my 525 :(. when you start to throw FI in the mix it messes it all up. but for what its worth, the manual transmission cars are very different drives.

jon k's turbo > *

[31Hertz]

I had a nice little essay typed up comparing my E28 535is/5/3.91LSD/chipped/225,50,R16/stock springs/Bilsteins/170K miles/in good tune to the stock E34 540i/6 at 161K miles. It dropped for some reason from the server. Anyway, I realize it may not be a fair comparison as opposed to the E34 535, but it's my impression. I have not driven an E34 535. The 540i/6 is faster and handles better than my old E28. It mostly depends on how you drive it, but if you squeeze the M60 at 3K RPM in fourth (~67MPH) it does not flinch. The M30 was not as smooth or free-revving, but had similar power feel @3K RPM in 5th (~68MPH) with the 3.91 diff attached. I use 6th gear for cruising ONLY and almost never below 2K RPM unless it is a level road. The 540i/6 is a fast sedan in my opinion.
Incantation is correct in stating that a bike will be faster. They can be scary fast when passing you at a rate of speed that I would probably not contemplate in a wheeled vehicle of any kind... I have only ridden a motorcycle once in my life. I enjoyed it, and I trusted the driver (he was my uncle). But it was a Shovel-Head Smooth-Side Harley. Not fast compared to most Japanese bikes, but also considerably heavier. But for a heavy-weight sedan the 540 is fast. Why compare it to a different class of vehicle? It is not a motorcycle. It is not a Porsche. It is not a Ferrari. It is not a McLaren. But you also have the ability to carry 3 other adults simultaneously. Apples and oranges. I have great respect for anyone who rides a motorcycle or drives a Tractor-trailer. They must put their trust in all of the vehicles around them to be aware of their presence. They also must be keenly aware of others around them and give the same respect. If you are a full-time thrill-seeker; buy a bike. Here endeth my opinion.

[Incantation]

get a clue bud

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIiyRuX4QPo

this is without a wheelie bar. and if you actually know anything about bikes you will know a litre bike could accelerate faster but it will loop in first and second gear at full throttle.

that porsche is considered to be a fast car. a 535 and 540 are nowhere near the porsche in acceleration.

so again, there is not much difference between a 535 and 540.

[Incantation]

and in case ur clueless the guy on the bike shuts down the operation well before that porsche catches up

[jbraswell]

Wow... this got kinda crazy. I would have to agree that jet>bike>porsche>540>535.

I don't really know what I want to do. I'm kind of hesitant to put my car up for sale, but at the same time, I hate looking at cars knowing that I can't do anything because I haven't sold mine yet.

[Jehu]

At least you can probably take the jet out of consideration,for now.. that help?

two guys were killed in this area on bikes in the last couple of days. One had a TREE fall ON him after heavy rains and high winds the other was just minding his own business, being aware of everything going on around him until someone changed lanes into him and killed him.Hope you're faster than the grim reaper.

[brosher]

get a clue bud

that porsche is considered to be a fast car. a 535 and 540 are nowhere near the porsche in acceleration.

so again, there is not much difference between a 535 and 540.

http://asuaf.org/~thatoneguy/idiot.jpg

[Digita1 Ecstasy]

get a clue bud

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIiyRuX4QPo

this is without a wheelie bar. and if you actually know anything about bikes you will know a litre bike could accelerate faster but it will loop in first and second gear at full throttle.

that porsche is considered to be a fast car. a 535 and 540 are nowhere near the porsche in acceleration.

so again, there is not much difference between a 535 and 540.


That has to be -like- the most pointless video. Wow, no secret here that bikes beat anything in power to weight ratio. But who cares if that porsche was racing the bike on an actual track instead of a RUNWAY FOR JETS it would be even, if anything the car winning.


I would tell you to keep your 535, buy a chip, new lsd. Big difference. Personally I think the car is only lacking in lower ends of gears so the shorter gears are awsome.