New country, new job... New bimmer?

[Dan in NZ]

My 1990 525ia has done me proud through university, but I'm graduating in December, and moving to Australia for an exciting job in January 2006. Obviously I'll be selling the 525i, and hopefully I'll be able to get a nice bimmer when I move to Melbourne. For my job I need to look a bit professional, so I was thinking of an E39 or E46. Probably leaning more towards an E39 as I can get a good 528 or 535 for the same price as a 318i. I've driven an E46 318i and just couldn't live withthe lack of power, even at full throttle/high rpm, they don't even pull as hard as my E34 525.

What do you guys think is going to be more reliable, cheaper to run, and overall a better car, an early E39 528/535 or an ear;y E46 318???

[niall]

i call e39 all the way

[Rory535i]

Obviously the 318i is gonna be cheaper to run but i'd go for the e39. no way could i change to the 3.

[Paul in NZ]

dan dan dan.....there can be only one..... choice .....the aussie special 540 limited edition,the closest thing to an 3.8 m5

[niall]

haha
good suggestion,
are they for the same money?

[Rory535i]

Good point Paul, forgot about them. I've seen them go for around 40k over here for a good one. That's what i'd go for come to think of it!

[Paul in NZ]

Not much help in the mechanical dept I am afraid, But I had a 1998 540i after a 1991 535i and sold the 1998 540i to get back into a 1995 540i/6sp.......You might want reconsider......the e34 in my opinion is much better made!

You seen that post Dan huh...huh...??


if you want to find out about the 540ile go here .The guy who set up that group posts here 95-540iLE.I think you get them less than 40k now.

[Zeuk in Oz]

moving to Australia

Seriously though, the problem with E 39s in Oz is that they are all autos (except for M5s of course), apart from a few UK imports that come on the market from time to time.
Having said that, 523i & 528i prices have come down dramatically since the release of the E 60 so are very good value - '98 and newer are the go !
(They would have to be good value to make up for that ugly E 39 front end - still don't know if I could live with the look of it !)
Hope you enjoy Melbourne.

[Dan in NZ]

Early 535 E39 could be a good option. They seem to go for around 30k over there.

Zeuk, were there a few problems that were sorted out by 1998???

I don't really know if I want another E34... Gotta keep up with the times y'know.

I wonder if I could take mine over with me!!!

[pundit]

...I'm graduating in December, and moving to Australia for an exciting job in January 2006...

OMG!!... lock up your sheep!!