2003 BMW 5 Series Consumer Reviews

Still love this car after 5 years

Written by: Tom Mager on 04/16/2008

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A)

Review

This has been a great car. Fun to drive, fast, extremely comfortable (the sport seats are wonderful for me - the only car I can drive for hours with no lower back pain), very reliable, and looks great. With the 6-speed manual transmission, I also get decent mileage considering the size and power of this car - 21 in mixed city/hwy, and mid-to-high 20s in all hwy driving. BMW makes some very nice cars but I don't see a new one I would trade this car for.

Favorite Features

M-Package with 18-inch wheels look great and make handling excellent. Sporty, understated styling. 6- speed makes it fun to drive. Solid, high quality feel.

Suggested Improvements

None - I have the aftermarket cup holder that hooks into side of console.

Report inappropriate post

Solid performer

Written by: SC owner on 11/21/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Wonderful car with a strong luxury feel. I've owned the car about a year and driven it about 7,000 miles. I did have to replace the thermostat since I kept getting a service engine light. Another problem is missing pixels in my instrument display and radio display. This required replacing the instrument cluster and the MID display. Electronic parts are very expensive ($1600). Since the car was out of warranty, I wrote to BMW to see if they would assist with the repairs and they said they would. Put me in the BMW good will program and agreed to pay for the parts if I paid the labor. Good deal for me, nearly $2000 worth of repairs for less than $175.

Favorite Features

Engine, smooth shifting transmission. Amazing acceleration for a sedan when you pull out to pass traffic. Ride is comfortable over rough roads, despite having the sport package. Automatic rain sensing windshield wipers are nice.

Suggested Improvements

Decent cup holders. Be nice to have a center console storage compartment.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

BMW 530i - You gotta drive one!

Written by: diggertoo on 09/28/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Purchased used in great condition. The suspension system is incredible. The car feels like it's glued to the road and is the smoothest and most comfortable riding car I've ever driven. With a bad disk in my back, the lumbar system can be adjusted to make even longer trips very comfortable. The air vents in the dash provide circulation throughout the car, without hitting anyone directly in the face. And the sound system... if you close your eyes you would swear you were live at a concert. The sound system with 10 speakers and 2 subwoofers is that good and the list of other useful features could go on and on.

Favorite Features

Suspension and handling; stereo system.

Suggested Improvements

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Best of the best

Written by: blues55555 on 08/21/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A)

Review

The E39 style 5 series is a great mixture of classic BMW styling with modern technology. The later E39s (2001-2003) benefit from an upgrade to xenon headlights (with angel eyes), LED tail lights, steering wheel, and other cosmetic pieces. The V8 in the 540i is very quick for a mid-sized sedan. The quality of materials inside the cabin are top-notch. I could not be happier with this purchase. It is a lot of fun to drive. You read about people complaining about cup holders all the time, but I could care less about that. I don't think BMW is designing their cars for the Starbucks or Slurpee crowd. These cars are meant to be driven at fairly high speeds on the Autobahn. No car is perfect, but the 540i is close!

Favorite Features

Performance. High quality materials inside and out. Styling.

Suggested Improvements

Report inappropriate post

2003 540i - Ultimate Driving Machine!!!

Written by: J.J. on 04/08/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A)

Review

If you're like me, and don't like what BMW has done to the interior of the new 5 series than you'll love the 540i. It's still a "driver's" car with the interior cantered to the one behind the wheel. Having just purchased a pre-owned with relatively low miles this car is going to be a collector's car someday. It's the last of a BMW classic. The thick steering wheel in the M sports package add to the 540i's overall handeling and driving sensation. The engine is more than enough and commands repect even amongst it's peers. Fun, superb road handling, saftey and style define everything that has built BMW to what it is today. If you're not into the new look and confusing iDrive, the 540i is it!

Favorite Features

Thick steering wheel, V-8 engine, smooth engine & transmission, solid handling and driving is simply fun. Cantered driver's cockpit and the M sports package. This car has it all and will become a classic in time.

Suggested Improvements

Cupholders. Even aftermarket cupholders are flimsy. It's actually helped to keep my interior looking cleaner though as I tend not to eat or drink in my car as much. Hey we still have to look at the bright side.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

I've had my 530i almost a year

Written by: Charles Henke on 04/07/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

My 530i is my second BMW. This automobile is not only stylish but comfortable and fun to drive. It is an excellent road vehicle that gets reasonably good gas mileage. Quality in workmanship throughout the vehicle is exceptional. Some of the dash controls are somewhat confusing, however.

Favorite Features

Rain-sensing wipers, memory seat setting, audio system, large fuel tank.

Suggested Improvements

Relocate cup holders for more efficient use as they are practically unusable as designed.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

2003 BMW 540i

Written by: D.Chow on 03/26/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A)

Review

How can I say this... I finally understand the true meaning of, "The Ultimate Driving Machine!" I brought a CPO 2003 540i with the sport package in 2006. This is my personal sports car, family car, golfing car (room for foursome and 4 sets of golf clubs - they even give you a picture of how to best store the clubs in the trunk). I have so much fun driving this car. Sometimes I even take the longer but winding road home just to feel the acceleration and handling of the 540. Even with the automatic, I can either put the transmission in "S - Sports" mode or just shift it manually. It's FUN either way. My 9 year old son is already counting the days until his 17th birthday.

Favorite Features

The V8 engine, suspension, wheel, aggressive looks.

Suggested Improvements

A real cup holder would be nice. I had to purchase a aftermarket TEC holder. If you think about it, the Germans don't drink and drive. I would like some more lumbar support in the sports seats as well.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Don't waste your money!

Written by: steve on 02/14/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this vehicle as a certified pre-owned BMW. Let me tell you, at first, I loved it! I liked the feeling of driving a luxury car. Now we'll get to the bad stuff. We drove 1000 miles away from home to visit family. We made it up there just fine. while we were up there, we had to take the "Bimmer" to the shop four times in three days due to a electrical malfunction. After the first two times of the dealership servicing the car, it overheated because one of the hoses had a hole in it! i expected better from BMW's certification process!

Favorite Features

The luxurious interior, powerful 530i engine.

Suggested Improvements

Better front cup holders, and add rear cup holders as well. Redesign the whole certification process.

9 out 12 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Amazing Driver's Car

Written by: natesatl on 02/10/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A)

Review

This car is the most fun to drive ever, the V8 has endless power and the 18 inch rims from the M-sport package glue it to the road. Don't complain about the cupholders because you'll need both hands on the wheel. No complaints at all. I'm glad I got the last year of the old model, I don't like the new styling. Its just a real solid build.

Favorite Features

V8 Msport package with M logo on door sills, steering wheel and sport transmission. Nav system is nice too. It's a real rare find to get the M package on the car, get one if you can.

Suggested Improvements

I get about 15 mpg in the city and 24 highway, but I wouldn't trade the V8 for anything.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

525 with M package

Written by: haas311 on 01/26/2007

Vehicle

2003 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 5M)

Review

It is probably the best car that I have ever driven, and I test drive cars for fun sometimes. This is not a cup holder type car especially if you have a stick shift, which doubles the fun for me. I dont eat, drink, or do much of anything else but totally enjoy the daily driving experience. I love spending 2 hours washing it inside and out. It does not have a lot of horse power but the torque made a Mustang GT seem like a turtle to me. I will probably never get rid of it.

Favorite Features

The interior design, the seat support, the power, the steering, the suspension, the look, and not having a good cup holder.

Suggested Improvements

None.

5 out 6 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post