want to upgrade to e46 /e39

[bobpuvan]

hi guys'greetings,currently i'm driving e36 318i, after two years i'm already bored with my car(unable to keep up with new civic on the highway- it's faster), and now i got too many parts to be replaced (car is fully used in all road condition - all over malaysia), i was thinking for the cost of the budgeted maintanance i better upgrade for a bigger or a better car whereby if the maitenance cost is similar better i upgrade and spend the money on the upgraded car.i tested my friends E46 325 and noticed the fuel consumption is same like my car . it was always my dream to own a e39 5 series, but the other hand e46 looks is very atractive. my budget is circa 80k. my maintenance budget is rm 500.00 per month to be set aside just for the maintenance of the car -rm 6000- rm 8000 per annum ( nowadays i just drive to work and home around kl, no more offroads driving. but i wanted more power and stability at least to do 200 kmh on the highway occasionally.so to all sifus please advise me whether with my maintenance butget can i afford to drive e46 325, 328 or e 39 523, 525,528 . which car will be the best choice? thanks

 

[funfer_fahrer]

bobpuvan,

As one of the '5ers uncles' esteemed member, this is what I have to say:

Skip the E46 and head for the E39. This is the car for you. It is well composed even at speeds above 200km/hr. At these speeds the E46 steering is getting feather light. If you have extra money, go for the E39 525 since it is newer than 523 and 528. In fact it shares the same engine with the earlier version of E60. The E39 also comes with throttle-by -wire accelerator and the power delivery is smoother with a flat torque curve. The 523 and the 528 don't have this feature. If budget doesn't permit, next you should consider the 528. The price should be cheaper than the 523 for any given year model because people is scared of the road tax. But it is a blessing actually. You can consider the lower price you pay as the subsidy for the road tax. It has the same bhp as the 525, that is 192bhp but the 528 has a better torque. Passing through the 200km/hr is just like a walk in the park. I am sure you are going to be pleased with its ability. Finally, you have to consider the 523. It is the 525's younger brother with 2.5L engine 170bhp. For speeds up to 200km/hr I cannot tell the difference between the 523 and the 525 apart from the flat torque curve of that 525. Maintenance wise, I don't see any big diffrence between E46 and E39. They are both BMWs.

 

[IsaacVky]

Poison poison :top::top:

 

[initialM]

Bro,

Since u said upgrading to better model I'll definitely choose E39. For me its the best car I've ever owned. Mine is 528 wt tiptronic wt an awesome torque. Being driving both E36 & E39 I would say it feel like comparing conti & japs car. Not to say 3 series is not good but its more nimble & easy driving around town. If u only want to own only 1 BMW go straight to 5er. After a while u'll get used to its bigger size & heavier body. Only thing u hv to prepare more for maintenance cost compare to E36 & E46 maintenance its not cheap either.:top:

 

[azwanb]

I agree. Very different feel to it.

 

[B33mEr]

If your budget is around 80-90k you could get away with a 520 or a 523 year 2000/1 and below or you can go for a 3 series as you can get a 328i year 2000 or even a 325i (90+k). good luck to you bro

 

[bobpuvan]

thank you sifus,
i'm very happy now and have a clear state of mind, no more confused, i am going for the 5 series, i will go for the 528, the price is lower, if budget permits then i will go for the newer 525. thank you again for the feedbacks .i remember reading a british car mag.around year 2000 stating e39 is the best executive saloon in the world.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

.i remember reading a british car mag.around year 2000 stating e39 is the best executive saloon in the world.

Let me rephrase that, it's the "World's Best Car Award".:top::top::top::top::top:
And now, .".possibly the best used car in the world" - BMW CAR MAGAZINE 06/2006.:top::top::top::top::top:

 

[Rayman]

gud for u bob, made up yor mind already.....:41:
im still crying..... :bawling: m having the same dillema, E46 or E39:102:. but i envy E46 very much:105:. Being late 30s, am i too young to own E39? Feels like E39 more suitable for pakcik-pakcik only.....:39:

read your discussion here made me think twice, aaaarrrrgggghhhh, me confused...... I envy E46 so much, but looking at the growing passenger at the back seat, made me think twice, again..... E46 is always my dream, but now growing kids is my biggest concern, 3 of them. can anyone give me one good reason why i should get E46 instead of E39. can E46 accommodate all of them, comfortably?Daily usage, work+home+:thrasher: Balik kampung + cuti2 malaysia will be every alternate month. Will this be ok with E46 or should i go for E39?

Confuse...confuse...confuse.....:banghead:

 

[jarance]

go for an e46. the feeling of an e46 is almost the same as an e36 if not better.. An e46 make you feel young and energetic. Go for a 5 sillies if you want to join the unker club..

 

[jarance]

gud for u bob, made up yor mind already.....:41:
im still crying..... :bawling: m having the same dillema, E46 or E39:102:. but i envy E46 very much:105:. Being late 30s, am i too young to own E39? Feels like E39 more suitable for pakcik-pakcik only.....:39:

read your discussion here made me think twice, aaaarrrrgggghhhh, me confused...... I envy E46 so much, but looking at the growing passenger at the back seat, made me think twice, again..... E46 is always my dream, but now growing kids is my biggest concern, 3 of them. can anyone give me one good reason why i should get E46 instead of E39. can E46 accommodate all of them, comfortably?Daily usage, work+home+:thrasher: Balik kampung + cuti2 malaysia will be every alternate month. Will this be ok with E46 or should i go for E39?

Confuse...confuse...confuse.....:banghead:

You should go for the e39.. after all you are considering the family first.. comfort and safety.:wink:

beetr stiill get an e39 for family and e46 for your weekend drive..

 

[Rayman]

You should go for the e39.. after all you are considering the family first.. comfort and safety.:wink:
my fatherly mind agrees with that, but my dark side said "U are still young, its not everyday you ferry yor family wor...."

beetr stiill get an e39 for family and e46 for your weekend drive..

ayoyo, where got money meh.... other wise i wont :banghead::banghead::banghead: so much.

thanks anyway unker. you confused me even more........:24:

 

[Rayman]

go for an e46. the feeling of an e46 is almost the same as an e36 if not better.. An e46 make you feel young and energetic. Go for a 5 sillies if you want to join the unker club..

There!!!!! i told you!!!! 5 sili is for unker oni....( :listen: i said to my mistress....)

 

[Rayman]

my appreciation to ah meng, mspeed. took him for a spin to sri muda and sunway to check 2 e46.

Gosh, my unlucky day..... still cannot put my mony on both cars.
ah meng and his gadget notice the tempered year make and mileage for the car in sri muda. major accident at the rear. The SA said accident free... phew......

The second car at sunway with tranny problem. ah meng said the cost to fix it is around 8K. so, better stay away from it, i tot. but the SA keep calling me and said he will drop the price to 87K (original price is 90K). he even have a gut to say that ah meng is no good and he said his mech did fix the GB but forgot to reset the sensor. and offer me to re-check the car at ingress today....
Guys, one question. if i go for the re-check, can he hide the tranny problem detected by ah meng earlier taking into consideration he has plenty of time to do that, if that thing is possible.... need your advice bro.....

 

[jarance]

gearbox alarm can be reset. However, that does not mean that the problem have been solved.

To verify the GB is drive agressively and forced the gearbox to shift up and down quickly. If the problem is still there, then the alarm might come back on. However, this might be detected during at least 1 week drive.

Good to have a mechanic who have a portable diagnostic tools to check out the car on the spot.. Ask the SA what was the problem with the tranny and how did his mech fix it. It better to know the histroy of the car before proceeding to buy it.

You want to go for a drive with the udm and not taken for a drive.. just be patience..

 

[jarance]

ayoyo, where got money meh.... other wise i wont :banghead::banghead::banghead: so much.

thanks anyway unker. you confused me even more........:24:

not trying to confuse but racun onli.. :listen:

 

[Rayman]

gearbox alarm can be reset. However, that does not mean that the problem have been solved.

To verify the GB is drive agressively and forced the gearbox to shift up and down quickly. If the problem is still there, then the alarm might come back on. However, this might be detected during at least 1 week drive.

Good to have a mechanic who have a portable diagnostic tools to check out the car on the spot.. Ask the SA what was the problem with the tranny and how did his mech fix it. It better to know the histroy of the car before proceeding to buy it.

You want to go for a drive with the udm and not taken for a drive.. just be patience..

Thanks jarance. i'll leave the car alone. Decided already, don't bother to go for re-check. will call the SA in a short while. Just do not wan tto take the risk. Thanks so much. appreciate that.

 

[Hellraiser]

Thanks jarance. i'll leave the car alone. Decided already, don't bother to go for re-check. will call the SA in a short while. Just do not wan tto take the risk. Thanks so much. appreciate that.

Bro, take your time and the right one shall come by one day. always always lookout for a car that has full service history and have it fully checked by a reliable and reputable mech before buying. cheers!

 

[jasonnn]

hi rayman, just curious where's the shop in sunway that u checked the E46. Many moons ago i acquired mine from sunway too. you can PM me if u want

 

[Rayman]

need help

gearbox alarm can be reset. However, that does not mean that the problem have been solved.

To verify the GB is drive agressively and forced the gearbox to shift up and down quickly. If the problem is still there, then the alarm might come back on. However, this might be detected during at least 1 week drive.

Good to have a mechanic who have a portable diagnostic tools to check out the car on the spot.. Ask the SA what was the problem with the tranny and how did his mech fix it. It better to know the histroy of the car before proceeding to buy it.

You want to go for a drive with the udm and not taken for a drive.. just be patience..

Unker Jarance,
i'm goin to inspect one car at M1 segambut on monday.Is this workshop reliable? any contact person should i talk to and his contact number, if you dont mind. izit open on sunday?

Thanks