540i vs. 528i

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andy81563

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I am in the market for an E39 540i or 528i. I will be using this car to travel quite a bit and I am interested in the difference between the two as far as gas mileage goes. I know what the rated mileage is respectively but I wonder if anyone can give me some real world information?

I realize the thrill of driving the 540i should outweigh any increase in gas consumption but I am trying to be practical at the same time.

Andy
 
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epj3

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Get the 540 if you dont mind a little more gas, little more expensive insurance, and little more expensive/harder repairs.

Personally i would suck it up and buy the 540...
 
Average Jae

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hey Andy, welcome aboard!

if you have any enthuist bone in your body, you'd opt for the 540i e39 540i was an amazing car when it first came out, and is still regarded as one of the best sports sedans.

it'll cost more to purchase, maintain and to run, so you need to justify it. thus my point about you having even a single enthuist bone [:D]

528 is also a great ride. and the decision really depends on your style, and what you are looking for. i know a lot of people that still prefer the e39 to the e60. and frankly i don't think you can go wrong with either model or style. good luck and keep us posted.
 
Chesty Bonds

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Yeah the 540i has a lot more spirit in the drive. The M62 V8 is an absolute joy. It has plenty of low-end pulling power and will sing all the way to 6,000RPM with such smoothness. It truly is one of the great V8s, and the noise it makes from 3K and beyond is just bliss.

The 528i is a great car too, but I believe the M54 inline six is quite blunted in its performance delievery due to the considerable weight of an E39 5er.

I'd swallow the extra fuel consumption of the V8 (which can be considerable if you fang it a lot [headbang]) and go the 540i.
 
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epj3

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Chesty Bonds said:
Yeah the 540i has a lot more spirit in the drive. The M62 V8 is an absolute joy. It has plenty of low-end pulling power and will sing all the way to 6,000RPM with such smoothness. It truly is one of the great V8s, and the noise it makes from 3K and beyond is just bliss.

The 528i is a great car too, but I believe the M54 inline six is quite blunted in its performance delievery due to the considerable weight of an E39 5er.

I'd swallow the extra fuel consumption of the V8 (which can be considerable if you fang it a lot [headbang]) and go the 540i.
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I think highway stuff, the V8 is probably faily close to the 528i? Can't be TOO far off.
 
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epj3

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CosmosBlack said:
I get 17 to 18 mpg regular driving (not heavy city traffic)
and 20 to 23 highway (spirited driving, not just cruising)
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Hell thats what I get, and your car sure as hell is faster than mine!
 
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Big Papa G

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I am wrestling with a similar decision. Although i still have an E36 M in the back of my head, but practicallity might win out and the e39 might be the choice.

My thought was towards a 2001 530, and then adding in a stage 2 or 3 dinan kit. This would bring the power up to that of the 540, but not nearly as much gas consumption.

Thoughts?
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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Big Papa G said:
I am wrestling with a similar decision. Although i still have an E36 M in the back of my head, but practicallity might win out and the e39 might be the choice.

My thought was towards a 2001 530, and then adding in a stage 2 or 3 dinan kit. This would bring the power up to that of the 540, but not nearly as much gas consumption.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I would save the money on a 530i and the Stage II or III Dinan kit and purchase the 540i, preferably the 540i/6.....

Good luck
 
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thebodab

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Take it from someone that has owned both cars. My old one was a 525 and though the gas mileage was better the 540 is a much more ejoyable car and more than makes up for the diff in gas mileage. Take a test drive in a 540 , 525 and hit the gas pedal a few times in both cars and you will know why the 540 is one of the best sports sedans in the world. Buy a smaller car latter if you you what to get better mileage.
 
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94silverbullet

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I say 540 6spd.

I'm used to fast cars, so less than a V8 wouldn't have been up to par for me. I recently bought one and it's not quite as fast as my other car, but It'll do for what it is. It's very smooth, and the handling's good. I love it on the highway.
 
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