2002 525i or 2003 530i DILEMMA

I'm at a cross road & looking for opinions. I've found two nice BMW's CAR 1 - is a 2002 525i - Private sale
1 owner Just hit 100,000 miles. - Has maintenance records: recent work includes: new brakes/tires,
radiator, water pump, oil housing gasket, power steering hoses , oil change etc. Clean car fax - however,
the owner did disclose in 2006 the rear was hit and they replaced the bumper. No signs of damage. Very
clean car - $7,900.
Car 2: 2003 BMW 530i Sport - Private Sale - 2 owners 62,500 miles. apparently very clean - all service
record. I haven't seen yet but will tomorrow. Asking: $9,850.

The first car is going for a PPI wednesday. I would send the 2nd for a PPI also if it looks as good in person
as it does on the web.

So, here the question: if both cars check out with the Mechanic - equally. What would be the better car to
purchase? And why?

Very subjective - I look forward to experienced advice.

Best - CH

I would say go with the 530i but the price is way to high, plus it's an 03', (I personally don't like the black trim around the 03's windows, but that's just me) You'll also be looking forward to some repairs in the future, cooling system, suspension, CCV. unless they've taken care of these things already, i think this car is overpriced.

Even though the 525i has more miles, it looks like its been well taken care of. And most of the big tasks have been handled already. I also think you can talk this guy down a little more as well.

My vote is for the 525i ....Good Luck and let us know what you get

Have you driven them both? What do you think?

Assuming the overall condition of the two being equal it's a no brainer - the 530i wins. With 40 more HP and more torque the 3 liter engine whips the 2.5 all day long.

I love the shadow line trim on the Sport package cars as well as the stiffer suspension and larger wheels.

I paid 10K for my 01 with 38,774 (not a mileage typo) last year so their price is not too unrealistic but check with your banker to see what the book is on it. There will be a premium for low mileage in addition to the base value of the car.

I would suggest you look for all the usual issues like a leaky VCG, OFH gasket, PS hoses.
Front bumper cover damage from being hung up on curbs along with damage to the inner fender liners.
Missing ambient temp sensor.
Broken headlight adjusters.
Broken cup holders.
Torn door gaskets and broken plastic seat trim, the piece where the electric seat controls are located.
Missing pixels in radio display and any SES codes.

Armed with this info you may have some leverage when to comes to negotiating the price.

Why are you considering an e39? If you are looking for the Ultimate Driving Experience, the 530 sport is the clear choice. This model will have much better handling and overall performance. If you are simply looking to drive a BMW, the 525 is the better choice. Better gas mileage, comfort and ride quality.

1. The $2K differential is clearly worth the 38K mileage difference, larger engine and sport package.

2. Both cars will need to have their Vanos seals replaced.

3. 100K is the magic time when e39 cooling systems begin to turn into pumpkins. The 525 has had some work (it could use additional service, expansion tank?) but should be OK for the near term. You will have some time with the 530 before PM is needed.

4. Suspension work is a nice to have. A rebuild will restore the original ride and handling (isn't this why you are buying an e39?). Less critical on the 525 as it is less performance oriented. More noticeable for the sport package but you have time.

5. All other maintenance issues (CCV, DISA, VCG, OFG, FSU, etc.) are applicable to both cars and are the luck of the draw as to when to do it.

Both seem like nice cars.

I would lean towards the 2003 530. The lower mileage means you have some time before you really have to start thinking about some of the items recently replaced in the 525, but it's not all mileage dependent either. There is a certain amount of decay due to age as well.
I think once you look at the second car and talk to the owner you'll get a vibe about which one is the better car. If still unsure, the PPI reports will seal the deal.
A 525 is far from a penalty box. there is still plenty of low end torque to get you moving off the line. More power is always nice, no doubt.
Think about not only what it will take to buy the car, but also what it will cost to maintain it over the next year. The front end on the higher mileage 525 is probably past due. That means thrust arms, control arms, sway bar end links, and struts. The 530 will probably need that same work in the next 20k miles to keep it at it's best. It's certainly nice to have some of the work already done on a higher mileage car that you can buy for a lower price, but you also have to consider the quality of the workmanship and the parts. If the cooling parts were all aftermarket low end pieces, then that work was really a stop-gap to get the car sold and will need to be replaced again in about the same time that the 530 will need it for the first time.

You're not just buying the car, you're buying a service history and with that comes the maintenance mentality of the previous owner(s). Wait to see what kind of vibe you get from the seller.

The 530 sounds like a winner here. I think it worths the price for such a low mileage car if the PPI checks out.

No contest. 530i>525i

Originally Posted by Sequence

I would say go with the 530i but the price is way to high, plus it's an 03', (I personally don't like the black trim around the 03's windows, but that's just me) You'll also be looking forward to some repairs in the future, cooling system, suspension, CCV. unless they've taken care of these things already, i think this car is overpriced.

Even though the 525i has more miles, it looks like its been well taken care of. And most of the big tasks have been handled already. I also think you can talk this guy down a little more as well.

My vote is for the 525i ....Good Luck and let us know what you get

Are out of your mind... and 03 with 62k and sports, Overpriced?

Please dont listen to this this car so no where near over priced. the ones with 100k on them go for this price. trust me if this car checks out you need to jump on it. 1800 is the diff. i mean the sports pkg alone is worth 1800, and dont forget its a 03 and on top of all that it has 40k miles less.

530 hands down. No brainer.
Get the 525 and you will kick yourself a few months later.
Price differential is actually in the favor of the 530.

Originally Posted by Sequence

I would say go with the 530i but the price is way to high, plus it's an 03', (I personally don't like the black trim around the 03's windows, but that's just me) You'll also be looking forward to some repairs in the future, cooling system, suspension, CCV. unless they've taken care of these things already, i think this car is overpriced.

Even though the 525i has more miles, it looks like its been well taken care of. And most of the big tasks have been handled already. I also think you can talk this guy down a little more as well.

My vote is for the 525i ....Good Luck and let us know what you get

what the heck are these comments

03 is not good ? dude 03 is the best year of E39
black trim ? BLack trim = Sport package = must to have
525i > 530i ? really ? and 530 > 540i and 540i > M5


And FYI : 2001 525i NON Sport is one of the basic E39 here

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to continue a search for a nice 5301 -(ideally manual & in Topaz Blue)
The nice 530i I was considering was scooped up before I had a chance. The good news I learned a lot more and even when speaking with 2 mechanics they both said a 530 engine better especially if you plan to keep the car - which I do. I'm not as concerned with speed but durability & longevity.
One thing I do not quite understand - Both are Aluminum blocks, 2.5 & 3.0 respectively. One mechanic said the manufacturing is also different between the 525 & the 530 I believe he said the 525i is cast and the 530i is bored out for the 3.0. I looked online but didn't see anything on this - Interesting. Anyone know what the difference is?

Now here'e a scenario: A 530i with Manual & basic package Vs. a 530i auto with sport? What would you prefer?
Also, why is the manual so rare but seems to be preferred for longevity?

Lastly, would a manual with 20K higher miles be preferred over an auto

Thanks again for all the advice this has been very helpful.

Cheers- Colin

Originally Posted by NordicWolf

Now here'e a scenario: A 530i with Manual & basic package Vs. a 530i auto with sport? What would you prefer?
Also, why is the manual so rare but seems to be preferred for longevity?

Lastly, would a manual with 20K higher miles be preferred over an auto

It all depends on what you want to drive. The difference between a manual and an auto makes a significant difference in the driving experience. With the manual, you are fully engaged, which can be good (on the twistys) and bad (like in traffic). It is a preference that only you can answer. My personal thoughts are that a manual is best enjoyed in a sports car. While the e39 has a high level of performance, I bought mine for the luxury aspects. For many here with manuals, this car represents the best of both worlds (luxury + performance). For me, I will wait until I can afford a Boxster before getting another manual.

You can convert a manual 530 into a sport model (at least the suspension components) easier than converting a 530 auto into a manual. All it takes is money. Hence, the former is the better choice if a manual tranny is the priority.

Manuals are preferred by the few because of the driving reasons above. The durability of the manual is the icing on the cake to the decision, not the reason for the decision. Even if the manual tranny's durability was worse than the auto, I believe those that have chosen a mnual tranny would still choose a manual tranny.

E39 manual trannys are rare because of the US marketplace, where manual trannys in any luxury car are rare. How many manuals do Lexus, MB, Audi, etc. sell on their larger 4 doors here? Not many. However, go to Europe and that ratio flips completely around. It must be because US drivers are lazy or just bad drivers!

I don't think mileage factors into the equation. If you prefer a manual, you prefer a manual, irrespective of the mileage. Simple as that.

The auto on the 530 is beyond awful. It's the same unit Audi used in several cars and is well known for frequent torque converter seal issues and other things. It's got good shifting logic and comfortable and quick shifts, but has severe reliability issues. For reference it's the 5HP19.

Sent from my LG Revolution 4G using BimmerApp

A 3-pedal 530i is the only way to go if you like to actually "drive" your car. Like Fud said though, if you have other drivers in the family that are not well-versed shifting gears, you drive in miles of stop and go traffic or you simply prefer the ease of driving a slusher, then a 530i sport automatic will not disappoint. Many in here with the iA cars absolutely swear by them.

Originally Posted by NordicWolf

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to continue a search for a nice 5301 -(ideally manual & in Topaz Blue)

Also, why is the manual so rare but seems to be preferred for longevity?

Lastly, would a manual with 20K higher miles be preferred over an auto

Thanks again for all the advice this has been very helpful.

Cheers- Colin

I've truncated your post to address the points that I feel reasonably well-qualified to respond to. I'm humbled by the rest of your questions and will encourage others to respond.

If you know anything about statistics and scientific studies (I know just enough to be dangerous), you'll know that you have to have a random population if the study is to mean anything. A group of people who frequent an online message board and post about cars which are 9-16 years old are far from a random population and, I would offer, not the same population who bought these cars new in most cases.

So while the people here seem to prefer a manual transmission for a number of reasons (longevity, reliability, fuel mileage, driving experience, cost of maintenance,etc), these are not the people who bought these cars new and therefore did not make the decision about whether the cars would be equipped with an automatic or manual transmission.

an auto trans car with X miles or a manual trans car with x+20k miles? I guess it depends on your preference for poison. I would take the manual car, but just know that suspension bushings and everything else will require replacement sooner...or perhaps they've already been replaced making the manual trans car an even better buy with the higher mileage.

Other people think an automatic is always better than a manual trans car...my wife for example. In her mind, there is no reason to drive a car that has more pedals than she has feet. I don't agree, but for the sake of marital harmony, she will always have an automatic car...and I will probably lean towards buying automatics for myself so that she can drive them if necessary.

Originally Posted by NordicWolf

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to continue a search for a nice 5301 -(ideally manual & in Topaz Blue)
The nice 530i I was considering was scooped up before I had a chance. The good news I learned a lot more and even when speaking with 2 mechanics they both said a 530 engine better especially if you plan to keep the car - which I do. I'm not as concerned with speed but durability & longevity.
One thing I do not quite understand - Both are Aluminum blocks, 2.5 & 3.0 respectively. One mechanic said the manufacturing is also different between the 525 & the 530 I believe he said the 525i is cast and the 530i is bored out for the 3.0. I looked online but didn't see anything on this - Interesting. Anyone know what the difference is?

Now here'e a scenario: A 530i with Manual & basic package Vs. a 530i auto with sport? What would you prefer?
Also, why is the manual so rare but seems to be preferred for longevity?

Lastly, would a manual with 20K higher miles be preferred over an auto

Thanks again for all the advice this has been very helpful.

Cheers- Colin

15% of e-39 had them. A MT car should give you little in the way of transmission problems, except for a replacement clutch . Autos have a habit of self destructing a whole lot earlier, but there are lots of high milege auto e39 w/o tranny problems. I think the MT is way more fun to drive.

Originally Posted by vavet5308

In her mind, there is no reason to drive a car that has more pedals than she has feet.

I love it.

Originally Posted by vavet5308
In her mind, there is no reason to drive a car that has more pedals than she has feet.

I love it.

That the best quote of the day for sure