Great driving car under $20k

[ProTouring442]

Originally Posted by WSSix

How's the power? Does it feel like it needs a little more to feel proper and not like it's struggling to get up the hills? I actually prefer the looks of the E34 but the E39 has all the acclaim.

Thanks!

It feels good. It's no muscle car, but it scoots pretty well. Runs 85mph all day with the cruise set, handles like a dream.

On my list of things to do are:

-BillyBoat exhaust (already purchased)
-Chip (already purchased)
-3.15 LSD (already purchased)

I'm also thinking of a set of headers. All the above should wake it up quite nicely, I would think. Or, who knows... maybe an LS swap is in the future? I think I could pull it off and still be in the $20K-$25K range when all is said and done.

The 540i/6 comes with the sport seats and the "slightly lower and stiffer" suspension (M5 without "SLS" hydraulic load level in the rear). I purposefully avoided a traction control car as well--too much to worry about breaking, I figured.

So far, I have a total of maybe $15K in the car, including the original purchase, flying to Texas, and driving it back to Tennessee.

The car was $7K, and the rest has been stuff to upgrade and/or make it "all I want it to be." M-Tech front bumper, 3.15 LSD, Chip, front brake upgrade, rear rotors, pads, and calipers, braided brake lines, wheels, tires, exhaust, leather M-tech steering wheel, stereo upgrade, front suspension upgrades, new front door weather stripping, and a few more bits and pieces.

The only repair I've had to make was a new MAF and O2 sensors. Next winter I'll probably do the timing chains and guides. I'll do them myself, over a weekend.

If you have any more questions, feel free to hit me up, or PM me and I'll give you my phone number.

[WSSix]

Originally Posted by ProTouring442

It feels good. It's no muscle car, but it scoots pretty well. Runs 85mph all day with the cruise set, handles like a dream.

On my list of things to do are:

-BillyBoat exhaust (already purchased)
-Chip (already purchased)
-3.15 LSD (already purchased)

I'm also thinking of a set of headers. All the above should wake it up quite nicely, I would think. Or, who knows... maybe an LS swap is in the future? I think I could pull it off and still be in the $20K-$25K range when all is said and done.

The 540i/6 comes with the sport seats and the "slightly lower and stiffer" suspension (M5 without "SLS" hydraulic load level in the rear). I purposefully avoided a traction control car as well--too much to worry about breaking, I figured.

So far, I have a total of maybe $15K in the car, including the original purchase, flying to Texas, and driving it back to Tennessee.

The car was $7K, and the rest has been stuff to upgrade and/or make it "all I want it to be." M-Tech front bumper, 3.15 LSD, Chip, front brake upgrade, rear rotors, pads, and calipers, braided brake lines, wheels, tires, exhaust, leather M-tech steering wheel, stereo upgrade, front suspension upgrades, new front door weather stripping, and a few more bits and pieces.

The only repair I've had to make was a new MAF and O2 sensors. Next winter I'll probably do the timing chains and guides. I'll do them myself, over a weekend.

If you have any more questions, feel free to hit me up, or PM me and I'll give you my phone number.

Thanks! I've considered the 03 540i M-Tech since it's essentially a 300hp M5 with a slightly less luxurious interior. I'm concerned about being down 100hp though considering the weight of these cars. But, I'm not sure the extra 100hp is worth the many thousands more the M5 costs. Decisions decisions.