Why are 530xit touring so rare in the states

[Helmsdeep]

Can anyone tell me why the BMW 530xiT is a rare car to find? Especially in a manual transmistion. When i go to the various dealers no one seems to have one on the lot and i think i have only seen maybe 2 on the road....EVER.

[SeaTown]

BMW just do not build a lot for the dealers. We get maybe 1 for every two months of allocation.

[exmercedesowner]

They aren't completely rare -- I have one and have seen a few in this area. It's kind of neat to see so few on the road. What color is yours?

[jcatral14]

I'd have considered one if they only offered rwd version :mad:

[AzNMpower32]

I'd have considered one if they only offered rwd version :mad:
The 328iT is out in rear-drive form now :)

Honestly, the lack of touring versions in the US stems from the outdated American stereotype/phobia of wagons. Americans are into what's "cool" at the moment. Not too long ago it was mammoth SUVs. Now its dinky hybrids and subcompacts. Since BMW knows the "wagon image" doesnt sell, they dont bother allocating a lot of touring versions to make it onto dealer lots since they'll most likely sit there too long.

Honestly, I think the American buying habit is like an ADD teenager.

[Locksmythe]

Pardon my foolish American tastes, but frankly I am baffled that anyone would go out of their way to find a touring model. Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here. I was shocked to see posts of people who really want a wagon.

One Wagon Queen Family Truckster, please!

[philippek]

Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here.

And in the process they got uglier, less fuel efficient and worse handling.

Sing along with me now: And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free...

[Locksmythe]

Point taken. Subaru is sure sticking with that concept.

[simplemind]

As I posted before, I find it interesting that Volvo wagons seem to be pretty well accepted, in fact I think I see more Volvo wagons than sedans.....what's your take?

It may be that BMW's are seen as "performance" cars, and wagons just don't fit that image.

[exmercedesowner]

Pardon my foolish American tastes, but frankly I am baffled that anyone would go out of their way to find a touring model. Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here. I was shocked to see posts of people who really want a wagon.

One Wagon Queen Family Truckster, please!

Gee....that's a tough one. Drive a suburban tank-like SUV, a minivan or a BMW wagon that is fun to drive and can fit three large dogs and two kids. Maybe if I didn't have to worry about any of these passengers, I'd go for a sedan but given the options with my passengers I am not shocked that I really wanted a wagon. :rofl:

[Helmsdeep]

my 530xit is also mystic blue. i chose the tan interior, i think we have virtually the same car, although my status is.. expected completion of production 11/15.. then who knows how long after that. Can u tell me anything about the car that you do not like since u have had yours?

[Helmsdeep]

my 530xit is also mystic blue. i chose the tan interior, i think we have virtually the same car, although my status is.. expected completion of production 11/15.. then who knows how long after that. Can u tell me anything about the car that you do not like since u have had yours?

[caveatesq]

I live in Fairfield County Connecticut and see quite a few 530xiTs around, along with other highend Audi and MB wagons. They are not as common as SUVs and minivans, but they are not that rare either.

We are picking up my wife's new 530xiT (Monaco Blue w/ beige, manual, premium, sport, comfort access, nav, PDC and heated seats) in Munich on 11/22. Its a replacement for her current Audi allroad. Before we ordered it we looked at and test drove minivans, SUVs and the MB R class. Nothing compared to the 530 and with just 2 kids, we see no reason to be driving a "bus" or a "truck".

[gojira-san]

It may be that BMW's are seen as "performance" cars, and wagons just don't fit that image.
In the USA that is true. In Europe, you get all sorts of performance-model wagons.

My local dealer had a few 530xiT models when they first came out, now I think he has 1 325xiT. My sales guy told me the dealer hates wagon allocations because they are hard to move. Forget about getting a manual transmission unless you order it. Personally, I'm wondering if they will now bring in a 530iT now that they have RWD and AWD versions of the 3er wagon.

[simplemind]

I live in Fairfield County Connecticut and see quite a few 530xiTs around, along with other highend Audi and MB wagons. They are not as common as SUVs and minivans, but they are not that rare either.

We are picking up my wife's new 530xiT (Monaco Blue w/ beige, manual, premium, sport, comfort access, nav, PDC and heated seats) in Munich on 11/22. Its a replacement for her current Audi allroad. Before we ordered it we looked at and test drove minivans, SUVs and the MB R class. Nothing compared to the 530 and with just 2 kids, we see no reason to be driving a "bus" or a "truck".

Why are you switching from the Allroad? My b-i-l really likes his (stick also). How does it compare?

[Helmsdeep]

That sounds great. Tell me, how would you compare the allroad to the 530xit?. Also describe the European Delivery, i know what it is but it seems like it ends up being an excuse to take a great trip..... the money u will save on the vehicle you will more than spend on the trip..... very cool...don't get me wrong, driving your car in germany will be fun.

[caveatesq]

Why are you switching from the Allroad? My b-i-l really likes his (stick also). How does it compare?

The lease is up on the allroad in January. It is the third Audi my wife has had in a row and the first automatic car either of us has ever had. We both hate the slushbox and have had numerous issues with the car's air suspension and drivers seat and neither the dealer nor Audi of America were interested in doing anything to keep us loyal.

We have not been able to test a manual 530 - as others have stated they are impossible to find on dealer lots. We did test an auto and it had a decidely sportier feel than the allroad - heavier steering, tighter suspension. We ordered the sport package to get the comfort seats and blackout window trim. I wish BMW would offer the sport supension w/ x-drive cars, but I guess it will make do for a family hauler.

Also the lease program on the 530xiT is so strong that a car with an MSRP of over $60k has a lower monthly payment than my current $45k 330i.

[caveatesq]

That sounds great. Tell me, how would you compare the allroad to the 530xit?. Also describe the European Delivery, i know what it is but it seems like it ends up being an excuse to take a great trip..... the money u will save on the vehicle you will more than spend on the trip..... very cool...don't get me wrong, driving your car in germany will be fun.

This will be our second ED trip - we picked up my 330i last fall. I highly recommend ED - I am a car nut and getting to visit Germany and drive these cars as they are meant to be driven is a blast. Plus on our last trip we went on a BMW factory tour, toured the BMW museum and visited the Audi headquarters in Ingolstadt. It was like being a kid in a candy store!

This years trip is going to be a short one - we arrive on Wednesday morning and are leaving on Sunday afternoon. We will spending one night in Munich and are then heading to Prague for two nights. Our last night will be spent back in Munich. In all the trip will cost less than the amount we are saving by doing ED and we'll get a kid-free get away out of the deal. Not bad if yuo ask me.

[Helmsdeep]

i too drive an 2005 Audi A6. it is my second Audi and my wife is on her 3rd Volvo Wagon. I too dislike the auto transmission and can not wait to have a stick. I have yet to find a stick wagon to test, but i did try the auto 530 two weeks ago and at the conclusion of that test, ordered my 530xit. (prem pac,Sport pac,sound sys,pk dist,cold weather pkg,18 inch wheels) Mon blue beige interior. I just am getting sick of looking at the brochure and can not wait to get behind the wheel, i hope to have it before the end of Dec.

[Helmsdeep]

Sounds great..... i have 3 small children and it just was not logistically possible for us to take such a trip. Maybe my wife will like my new car sooooo much she will want the same and switch from Volvo to BMW, then we can plan the trip with more lead time. Good luck and i hope you have a safe, great time.

[exmercedesowner]

my 530xit is also mystic blue. i chose the tan interior, i think we have virtually the same car, although my status is.. expected completion of production 11/15.. then who knows how long after that. Can u tell me anything about the car that you do not like since u have had yours?

My interior is auburn. I'll have to look for another mystic blue wagon. Did you opt for manual transmission? If the scheduled completion date is the 15th, you don't have too much longer -- two to three weeks I bet. It's kind of fun waiting, although it's more fun having the car. I can't think of much that I don't like about the car. I just got the iPod adapter installed and I'm very happy with that. I think it handles very well, the brakes are awesome, and the comfort seats are very comfy. I think you will love the car.

[simplemind]

My interior is auburn. I'll have to look for another mystic blue wagon. Did you opt for manual transmission? If the scheduled completion date is the 15th, you don't have too much longer -- two to three weeks I bet. It's kind of fun waiting, although it's more fun having the car. I can't think of much that I don't like about the car. I just got the iPod adapter installed and I'm very happy with that. I think it handles very well, the brakes are awesome, and the comfort seats are very comfy. I think you will love the car.

Did you get the MOST iPod adapter? If so, I'm curious, when you turn of the ignition, (like you stop to go in a store) and then return, start up, does the iPod resume to where it was (similar to a radio)?

[cme]

I just got a 07 530xiT in May and it is awesome. Don't know why people would by a big SUV unless you have 3 or more kids to haul around. If people really want to drive around in their living room but a minivan. The E60 Touring is perfect for people with 1-2 kids and there is plently of room in the car. Handles like any E60 sedan and also gets pretty decent gas mileage (18/26 city/hwy).

If you can want a manual you will probably have to order one as you just don't see those cars on dealer lots. Mine is Monaco w/Auburn and fairly loaded up. Just had the iPod adapter installed and with Satellite radio there are too many entertainment options now.

Any serious driver will not be dissapointed with the new Touring.

Chet

[donkeyjote]

Your car is awesome, cme. with current lease rates, you can probably get one doing ED for $500-550 a month. very tempting!

[mfel]

Just picked up our 530ixT a few weeks ago and are having a great time with it--haven't driven our other cars since. Besides the whole kids+dog+kayaks capability, I actually like the looks of the 'wagon' better than sedans--the sedans just seem uneven in the back half.

We graduating from a line of SAAB hatchbacks which were pinnacle of practicality- could swallow larger cargo than most SUVs that weigh twice as much, got good mileage and were fun to drive. They've lost that edge though recently. Test drove Volvo and Audis but the 5 series wagon had it all, so long as price wasn't a primary concern.

I think the US still has some hangups regarding 'stationwagons', but counter argument to that is that there are a large number of Audi and Volvos wagons around here. BMW wagons are definitely rarer, probably because people looking for wagon kind of practicality aren't BMW's primary US market, the whole yuppie image that still clings to BMW.

I did make make a plea to the dealer's manager that when they start bringing in diesels in a year or so, make sure to bring in diesel wagon too. My argument was that the kind of people that buy BMW wagons in the US are probably the kind of people what would buy BMW diesel wagon. So, am I right? A BMW Wagon running on biodiesel (available a few miles from my house) is my dream....

[Flee67]

I think the wagon is a great car, but it's $$$ for those of us who do not lease. IIRC the price is pretty close to that of a V8 X5, and higher than the X5 with the same drivetrain.

[scottscottscott]

My wife and I love the idea of a wagon and bought a 530xiT after test driving a 3-series!

We currently own a CR-V, which is a great little SUV, but we wanted something with more performance, style and luxury. Since the new car was going to be my commuter car, we considered a 3-series sedan. But, since my wife has an hour+ commute, our other car is going to have to be something like a Civic sedan...something that will get near 40 MPG. So with a Civic in the garage, we decided we'd need something more than another compact 3-series-like car. We wanted something sporty, stylish and practical for those trips from the DC area to the Delaware shore, Outer Banks, Vermont, etc. We decided the 5-wagon was the perfect fit. While SUVs are fine, unlike a lot of people, I don't like sitting high up...I like being closer to the ground. Another consideration was the fuel economy of the wagon...if I can get close the 30mpg in the 5-wagon, it will match the CR-V's fuel economy AND I'll be able to go much further on one tank of gas (the CR-V's gas tank is too small).

We bought ours in England (Diplo sales) after a trip to Germany this summer. We take delivery in Feb-07 and will be bringing it home to the States next summer...so for you Boston area Touring owners out there, if you see a Silver Gray Touring with Virginia tags next August, don't forget to wave...that will be us on our way to the Cape.

Cheers!

[wagonman]

Pardon my foolish American tastes, but frankly I am baffled that anyone would go out of their way to find a touring model. Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here. I was shocked to see posts of people who really want a wagon.

One Wagon Queen Family Truckster, please!

go to europe and you see hip, cool, young men driving wagons. it is only the american dorks who drive suvs which are the real foolish mobiles!

[ademitt]

More room than an X5 (you can actually carry golf clubs in an E61), better handling than a SUV and it looks great as well.

As wagonman said, go to europe and see how many touring models are on the roads with great deisel engines!

[gojira-san]

Another consideration was the fuel economy of the wagon...if I can get close the 30mpg in the 5-wagon, it will match the CR-V's fuel economy AND I'll be able to go much further on one tank of gas (the CR-V's gas tank is too small).
First, congratulations on your new wagon! I would think that you could get into striking range of 30mpg with the wagon once it is broken in; I can get 30-31 on longer trips with my E46 sedan with AWD, and in my old E39 wagon, I could get right around 29mpg on longer trips (and the car was 100,000+ miles at that point too!)

[Helmsdeep]

very nice looking car. i think these wagons look great. i live in the north east as do you i think and i also made the decsion to get the Roadblock protective film that is placed like a decal along the nose and the back of the side mirrors for the added protection from road hazzards like flying rocks,sand etc. i had that on my first Audi, and i was very thankfull one morning after following a plow truck on the mass pike, and it sounded like the car was getting sand blasted. They really do work, and for the 500-600 bucks it costs, it is well worth it considering the price of the car. GREAT PHOTOS. I also opted for the 18" wheels and the high performance tires, what do you think about how that will work this winter? i was told by a friend that I might want to consider investing in some snow tires for the winter or do you feel the tires that i see in your photos will be sufficient?

[Helmsdeep]

nice, i will look for you on the mass pike!! I just got off the phone with BMW and they told me i should expect the car to arrive stateside in about 6 weeks. I live about 25 miles west of Boston and i drive 4 miles to the commuter rail line. So i will be putting very few miles on my wagon. My wife is on her 3rd Volvo and has been a fantastic car for the family, kids, dog, gear etc. Now we will be a two wagon family. I decided after looking long and hard at the Audi A6 wagon, the only drawback for me is that the Audi does not come in a manual transmission....so this will be my first BMW. We plan on taking a family trip next spring (07) to DC with the kids and that will be in the 530xit, i can hardly wait, so if you see us in a Monaco Blue 530xit headed to DC, wave back! Ciao!

[caveatesq]

what do you think about how that will work this winter? i was told by a friend that I might want to consider investing in some snow tires for the winter or do you feel the tires that i see in your photos will be sufficient?

If you plan on driving in the snow, snow tires will be a must. You will not get far with high performance summer tires even with awd. We ordered a sport package with summer tires on our previous A6. We took it out once in the snow and could not stop or make it up even minor snow covered inclines. We put some on Blizzaks and the car was fantastic in the snow. This time we passed on the 18" wheels and summer tires in favor of all season - I just can't justify the expense snow tires on a 24 month lease.

[Helmsdeep]

Thank you.

[ProRail]

The 328iT is out in rear-drive form now :)

Honestly, the lack of touring versions in the US stems from the outdated American stereotype/phobia of wagons. Americans are into what's "cool" at the moment. Not too long ago it was mammoth SUVs. Now its dinky hybrids and subcompacts. Since BMW knows the "wagon image" doesnt sell, they dont bother allocating a lot of touring versions to make it onto dealer lots since they'll most likely sit there too long.

Honestly, I think the American buying habit is like an ADD teenager.

But mostly they just cost too damn much.

[ProRail]

Pardon my foolish American tastes, but frankly I am baffled that anyone would go out of their way to find a touring model. Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here. I was shocked to see posts of people who really want a wagon.

It takes all kinds.

[exmercedesowner]

Did you get the MOST iPod adapter? If so, I'm curious, when you turn of the ignition, (like you stop to go in a store) and then return, start up, does the iPod resume to where it was (similar to a radio)?


It does resume to the last played song in the iPod menu. Pardon my ignorance, but I'm not sure if I have the MOST adaptor -- I have the "official" one from BMW. Is that the MOST?

I have a Nano, which isn't too packed with songs, so it doesn't take too long to scroll, but if you have a massive library (like my teenaged son) it can take quite a while to hunt for a song. That's probably the only drawback, but it beats the limited selection of an in-dash CD player or a multi CD player.

[Billd104]

Pardon my foolish American tastes, but frankly I am baffled that anyone would go out of their way to find a touring model. Wagons got replaced by minivans, then SUVs here. I was shocked to see posts of people who really want a wagon.

One Wagon Queen Family Truckster, please!

The 530xiT is just about as far from the "Wagon Queen Family Truckster" as you can get. I love mine.

[simplemind]

For the record, has anyone here test driven the MB R500 (http://www.mbusa.com/models/main.do?modelCode=R500)?
The syling is not to my liking, but the specs are pretty good. BTW, they also produce it in a very nice diesel.:thumbup:

[exmercedesowner]

For the record, has anyone here test driven the MB R500 (http://www.mbusa.com/models/main.do?modelCode=R500)?
The syling is not to my liking, but the specs are pretty good. BTW, they also produce it in a very nice diesel.:thumbup:

I did -- my impression was that it's a mini-van with a different name. It was roomy, not very exciting to drive, and it's very heavy.

[Wagons]

Aside from the difficulty of finding one to buy, once you own a wagon, I like the fact that it's rare.

For us, the wagon is great for the kids, dog, and roadtripping with the rooftop box, skis, or bikes on top.

Also, the E39 touring is apparently even better balanced (front to rear weight ratio) than the sedan.

[simplemind]

Now if I could just find a good receiver hitch for the 530XiT, I'd be in hog heaven! :wave:

[be-em-veh-808]

I'd have considered one if they only offered rwd version :mad:

++++ 1

[be-em-veh-808]

It may be that BMW's are seen as "performance" cars, and wagons just don't fit that image.

May be to you it doesn't. But this is a big world and lots of people do. I just took delivery of a 328iT in Munich. When I drove on the Autobahn, tons of sporting wagons. A4/A6 Avant, VW Passat, Merc C & E Class Wagons, 5er and 3er wagons, you name it. Wagons were sporting down with no speed limit. Over there, Wagon:Sedan ~ 40:60.

[be-em-veh-808]

go to europe and you see hip, cool, young men driving wagons. it is only the american dorks who drive suvs which are the real foolish mobiles!

+ 1

[mason]

Can anyone tell me why the BMW 530xiT is a rare car to find? Especially in a manual transmistion. When i go to the various dealers no one seems to have one on the lot and i think i have only seen maybe 2 on the road....EVER.

Dealers tend to keep popular models on the lot. However, I do see quite a few 530 or 525 xiT and they are 100% auto-tran.