Used 1995 BMW 5 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
1995 540i w/ Six Speed Manual Tranny
With a budget of $20,000, I went to a couple of dealerships and drove some nice cars, like a 2000 Maxima and a 2002 Altima. First, I really don't like front wheel drive cars, which doesn't leave one with many options these days. Plus these cars (even the Maxima) seemed a bit sluggish. Then, I found a '95 BMW 5401 w/ a six-speed manual tranny. I asked about it and the salesguy said, "Oh, it's a manual shift...we can't seem to sell it." Well, for me...a six-speed is a real selling point. I took it for a spin and I could'nt believe the torque from that beast ! It had soooo much power and it handled so much better than the other cars I had driven.
Germany builds a muscle car
Simply put the best car you can buy for a few grand. Build quality/ride/handling/braking rivals new cars. Steering is ok, loads up well, good feedback but poor on center and is not as quick as modern cars. V8 with a 6spd manual (proper) gear box is a dream. These things take a good deal of maintenance and repair, simple as that (find me a 16+ year old car that doesnt'!). Parts are reasonable, labor is pricey. Parts availability and technical info is outstanding (old bimmers have a great group of owners!) I like this car a lot but it just isn't the best fit for my needs. I would prefer to sacrifice some of the greatness of an old BMW for a less hassle newer car.
My Favorite Car Ever - Fell In Love
Bought black with black interior BMW 540 used - 9 years old (nickname Vader). All my previous cars were just tools for traveling. Vader's comfort, solid construction, and performance made me 'fall in love'- feel safe and pampered. Superior quality leather seats and interior. Exterior is classic and elegant. Gets 19 mpg; engine has hp & torque to merge into highway traffic, and maneuver out of danger with ease. Headlights are more like laser beams. No one keeps brights in my eyes if I flash the hi-beams at them! Nikosil engine was replaced by a previous owner. Vader has been reliable daily driver, with only routine maintenance needed, and I travel 100 miles/day. This is one great car.
Fun to Own - Worth the Money
The car is definitly worth the money, however, have it inspected first to ensure the prior owner took care of it. Yes parts can be expensive, but use the internet for all of the online distributers and your maintainence costs drop dramitically. The engine is incredibly strong throughout the RPM band with torque and horsepower consistently available (especially in sport mode).
Solid, and classy
Who would have known that a four door sedan would handle like a rocket ship. I had a littl 318, and the 5 was a definite step up in life. The power and feeling from the engine are great for any driver who likes to have complete control.