Convince me not to want a 540i/6

[mcdtus]

I have just bought a later model and will be selling my 95 540 6spd, champagne sport seats on a dark green exterior. I have had it for over a year. Bought it as follows
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...558688048&rd=1

[Paul in NZ]

i have a 535 and have driven a few 540 six speeds.Even with the high gearing theses cars have the power and tourque is amazing,at 100 ks(60 mph) just give the throttle a squeeze and next thing you are doing 160 km hr no drama at all...I dont think the 540 is quite as well balanced as a 535.All three exapmes i drove didnt steer or brake as well a my 535.I dont think it would take long to get used to it.
Whatever you do if you are kinda thinking of getting a 540 DONT drive one.

[CharlesAFerg]

i have a 535 and have driven a few 540 six speeds.Even with the high gearing theses cars have the power and tourque is amazing,at 100 ks(60 mph) just give the throttle a squeeze and next thing you are doing 160 km hr no drama at all...I dont think the 540 is quite as well balanced as a 535.All three exapmes i drove didnt steer or brake as well a my 535.I dont think it would take long to get used to it.
Whatever you do if you are kinda thinking of getting a 540 DONT drive one.

Is there anywhere that there is a really detailed comparison? I am looking into it, and I think the 535 would be cool, but is the v8 just a big honking weight compared to the 3.5? It does get like 280HP or something, and the 3.5 gets like what...211?

I'm just curious, my 2.5 isn't enough.

[Paul in NZ]

the weight difference is just enough.Surprisingly the M60 may even be LIGHTER than the M30 but the gearbox is much much heavier and the diff is heavier too.Both V8s i drove were "nicer" in feel( that sorta V8 smoothness allied with the feeling that there is ALWAYS power there) than my 535 too and it feels more powerful cos it has lots of torque,even with the high gearing
525i '88-'91 M20 6 - 9.5sec 168hp / 170bhp 164ft.lbs@4300 Rpm 8.8:1
525i '91-'96 M50 24v 6 - 8.6sec 189hp / 192bhp 184ft.lbs@4200 Rpm 10.5:1
535i '88-'92 M30 6 - 7.7 sec 208hp/211bhp 225ft.lbs@4000 Rpm 9.0:1
540i '93-'95 M60 32v V8 - 6.4 sec 282hp/286bhp 295ft.lbs@4500 Rpm 10.0:1
M540 '93-'95 M60 32v V8 - 6.2 sec 282hp/286bhp 295ft.lbs@4500 Rpm 10.0:1
see the v8 has as nearly TWICE as much tourqe again than the 535 has over the 525 41 for 535 vs 525(m50) and 71 for the 540 vs 535 at 500 rpm higher.From what i read the fuel economy will be similar the v8 will prolly be slightly easer to "service"(no valves to adjust) but everything elseis harder to get to and did Ii mention NIKASIL.As said above if you drive one you better be ready to buy one....for me it would have to be PERFECT in every other respect for me to change.

[rob101]

Is there anywhere that there is a really detailed comparison? I am looking into it, and I think the 535 would be cool, but is the v8 just a big honking weight compared to the 3.5? It does get like 280HP or something, and the 3.5 gets like what...211?

I'm just curious, my 2.5 isn't enough.

i've driven a 540i auto
even that
was sooooooo easy to go fast. very very fun
i doubt the v8 would be lighter than the m30, even though it is alloy block it has 4 cams which is bound to put the weight up a bit.

[CharlesAFerg]

i've driven a 540i auto
even that
was sooooooo easy to go fast. very very fun
i doubt the v8 would be lighter than the m30, even though it is alloy block it has 4 cams which is bound to put the weight up a bit.

I say this because both rents have V8 cars, my mom has a Porsche 88 928 S4 auto and my dad has an BMW 01 740i Sport(OEM) w steptronic... My car is sooo slow compared to those... Not to mention my dad's project 928 Euro...

I drove the 740 today, everyone else is so insignificant when you've got that pwoer, it's really nice.

[jbraswell]

I have just bought a later model and will be selling my 95 540 6spd, champagne sport seats on a dark green exterior. I have had it for over a year. Bought it as follows
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...558688048&rd=1

Is that oxford? That looks pretty nice.. This car made me consider a green one..$7500 locally, but 200k and automatic



The weight difference cannot be too significant. Even if it is, I'm not looking to autocross/track the car, so that isn't really a big concern. Only thing that I'm still on the fence about is the wide grill look, Im just not sure that I like is as much as my car

[BillionPa]

you know, you should do a megasquirt turbo install on the 535 and drop an M5 clutch in there, it would murder a 540 6 speed and the maintainence costs for the engine would be much lower.

......

[brosher]

Lower maint costs on a turbo'd engine? Is that factoring in the cost of the turbo itself ($5k?).

I always thought the wide body looked best in white. And I think I got scratch going into 3rd the other day.

[BillionPa]

its mainly that the V8 maintainence cost is so high, and such a pain in the ass to work on yourself. also the 4L V8 is significantly heavier than the 3L and all the 6s. this means more frequent tire/rotor/pad/control arm bushing replacement.

also the V8s eat through power steering hoses, and they are a total bitch to change.