[andyffer]

Edit:I'm afraid to say this on these forums, Im 16 this will be my second car. I will be trading in my sister's '02 Nissan Pathfinder LE. For a good deal.
Saying I'm 16 gets me chewed up. Im not one of those nascar teens either, I like to cruise and enjoy my car. Go for drives.
So please no comments about being 16.

Alright! Im going to get a car pretty soon! Here are my options!
Tell me what you think are the pros and cons of each one and which I should get in the end.
Could you tell me the power differences also, 0-60 times? Im not going to be racing this thing by any means but, curiosity.

Could you also tell me if I am going to run into a lot of problems with either of these cars?
thanks.

http://www.fantasyautoinc.com/carview.php?view=1138

or

http://www.fantasyautoinc.com/carview.php?view=1129a

The 525

PROS
-low miles
-love the color
-navigation
-manual trans.
-xenon

CONS
-No sport package
-less power
-cant see what the interior looks like (not a big issue, ill go down there and see it)

The 530

PROS
-more power!
-xenon
-sport package

CONS
-24,000 MORE miles than the 525
-Automatic trans. (not a big issue)

[ZJP]

I'd take the 525 because its stick. Makes driving more enjoyable.

[EdmM3]

Take the 530i, and put the $4000 in the bank for repairs etc.

That thing looks like a steal - be careful there is no accident damage.

[andyffer]

They just now lowered the price on the 530 to $10,500.
They lowered it $4,400

[mnkybiznes]

Originally Posted by andyffer

They just now lowered the price on the 530 to $10,500.
They lowered it $4,400

I would be VERY curious in seeing this car up close with a drop in price THAT significant .........

[andyffer]

what should I look for when I go see it?

[03BeastCharmer]

If they are in roughly similar shape, I'd say get the 530. It's a better engine for the weight of an E39. The 2.5 engine works well in a 3 series, but not so much in a 5 series. Don't be scared off my the miles on the 530. My 2003 E39 has about the same mileage, but regardless of the car you are most interested, drive them both, and get a pre purchase inspection on the one you really like. It could turn up a lot of things that could become big problems down the road.

[KT322]

(I answered this in your other thread as well)

According to the Kelley Blue Book, the 530i should be at least $2,000 more than the 525i. Make sure you run a CARFAX record check on each car ($35 unlimited vehicle reports, well worth it). Here are the KBB values for each car:

525i (sale price: $14,900):

• Trade in: $13,550/$12,795/$11,455 (Excellent/Good/Fair)
  
• Private Party: $16,635/$15,720/$14,505
  
• Suggested Retail: $19,860

  (i.e. max price for a perfect vehicle with clean title)

530i (sale price: $10,500):

• Trade in: $15,250/$14,330/$12,700 (Excellent/Good/Fair)
  
• Private Party: $18,690/$17,600/$16,135
  
• Suggested Retail: $22,285

  (i.e. max price for a perfect vehicle with clean title)

According to Fantasy's pricing for the 525i, the 530i should be somewhere around $16,500 (assuming identical condition).

[yazz]

there are a lot of miles on both of those cars man, have you looked at a newer 3-series with fewer miles?

you've also got to think about the cost of repairs. you said you're young so that means you can only work part time because of school. if your parents help you out with gas and insurance (my mom helped with gas until i was 18, and insurance until i bought my 330i a month ago) then you could probably afford the occasional problem that is bound to come up with an aging car

also, when a deal seems to good to be true it usually is. good luck nonetheless

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by yazz

there are a lot of miles on both of those cars man, have you looked at a newer 3-series with fewer miles?

44K or even 68K miles is not a ton of miles on a 2002 5 series. We're not talking about exotics here. I know guys with 150K miles plun os 5's. Heck I know people with 120K miles on an E39 M5 engine.

On a 2002, those mileage levels work out to less than 10K a year, and a lot less than that on the 525.

It's not about the raw mileage, it's about how those miles were added, and how the car was maintained. PPI is key.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by andyffer

Edit:I'm afraid to say this on these forums, Im 16 this will be my second car. I will be trading in my sister's '02 Nissan Pathfinder LE. For a good deal.
Saying I'm 16 gets me chewed up. Im not one of those nascar teens either, I like to cruise and enjoy my car. Go for drives.
So please no comments about being 16.

Alright! Im going to get a car pretty soon! Here are my options!
Tell me what you think are the pros and cons of each one and which I should get in the end.
Could you tell me the power differences also, 0-60 times? Im not going to be racing this thing by any means but, curiosity.

Could you also tell me if I am going to run into a lot of problems with either of these cars?
thanks.

http://www.fantasyautoinc.com/carview.php?view=1138

or

http://www.fantasyautoinc.com/carview.php?view=1129a

The 525

PROS
-low miles
-love the color
-navigation
-manual trans.
-xenon

CONS
-No sport package
-less power
-cant see what the interior looks like (not a big issue, ill go down there and see it)

The 530

PROS
-more power!
-xenon
-sport package

CONS
-24,000 MORE miles than the 525
-Automatic trans. (not a big issue)

...why even mention that you're 16? Does it matter? No. You don't have to be worried about it, and it's just pointless putting that in your post (no offense).

[gadget]

^+1

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

...why even mention that you're 16? Does it matter? No. You don't have to be worried about it, and it's just pointless putting that in your post (no offense).

Yea, that's the same thing I thought.

If you really didn't care, you wouldn't have included it.


So why even write that?

No one would have asked you.


The fact that you even wrote that will get you flamed.

[simp0man]

I could always paint it pearl white later and keep the nice performing car.

[andyffer]

i wrote it because the difference of power and what my parents might think.
I wanted to know if which would be safe/fun. I think I'll go with the 525, low miles, manual, parents wont freak about power.

They think I want this to show off to friends and be top dog.
Which is not the case. My school the people are idiots, ricer cars.

[Krueger///M3]

Originally Posted by andyffer

i wrote it because the difference of power and what my parents might think.
I wanted to know if which would be safe/fun. I think I'll go with the 525, low miles, manual, parents wont freak about power.

They think I want this to show off to friends and be top dog.
Which is not the case. My school the people are idiots, ricer cars.

The 525i has 184 hp out of a 2.4 I6. The 530i has 225 hp out of a 3.0 I6. That's really not that much power for either of them. The 530i probably can only manage a 7.5-8+ second 0-60 figuring my old E39 540i could only manage a 0-60 in 6.2 seconds.

I say you should look for an E46 3-Series. It is better for someone in your age group.

[nmulax]

525i for the mileage and manual.