My New Car

540 V8 wrote: Lucky B'stard Andrew, to say I'm a little green is an understatement! There is only one thing I'd change though and that's to get some sportier alloys on it as they do look a little too understated for any car but hey, just my opinion chum!

I dunno I quite like the alloys.  They are 17", there was an E60 parked outside my office yesterday that had BMW rims that I had never seen before that looked very square and boxy with the cut outs in them, they were 16" rims.

The 17" give quite a harsh ride, 16" might have been better.  I'm more of a cruiser than into pure performance so would prefer an ever so softer ride (like my E39) but I like to hear the engine growl every so often though.

Fingers and toes crossed for the M5 touring.

Andrew

M3Nally wrote: Nice one Andrew, Just be sure to tell the passengers when you are engaging warp drive! In normal driving you hardly touch the throttle at all. Great motors. Only criticism I have of my 540 is that the engine is too quiet, maybe some carbon boxes would be good! Enjoy.

You are spot on there Sir.  I was a bit disappointed at how quiet the engine is.  You really cannot hear it until about 4000 rpm, I wanted to hear a V8 burble but what you get is very difficult to describe, just a smooth sound.

As for the throttle anything more than a gentle pressure gets you going at a rapid rate of knots.  You just waft along with your foot resting on the throttle.

I bought her in Edinburgh and was driving back along the bypass, over the roundabout with the A7, the traffic disappeared and there was no more roadworks so I planted the right foot coming out of the roundabout (I waited till I had got used to it first) and the thing took off like a jet plane, you got a kick in the base of your back, more than I have experienced in an E39 530d.

Frighteningly quick, as it is so quiet, you don't know that you had actually hit a speed ahem, slightly higher than the legal limit.

Andrew

Peter Fenwick wrote: I hope it gives you many years of trouble free service.

It should do as the previous owner (a computer company in Birmingham) paid up for a 5 year maintenance pack, so I have essentially free servicing for 1 year.

It was that that swung the deal for me.  It was already way below the price in the Parkers guide (if that is to be believed) and to get a further years free servicing was a huge bonus.  I also got a new Goodyear runflat out of the deal too, and a new rear seat.

The trade price on my E39 was only a few £££'s less than the price in the Parkers guide (if that is to be believed) so I don't think I did too badly out of it.

Only bummer is that is has an Englafied registration number coming from Birmingham.

Thank you all for your kind comments guys.

Andrew

dryle wrote: The first pic is ruined by the car in the background. Looks lovely.

My wife will not be impressed when I tell her that one.

I couldn't persuade her into an E46 so she went for the wee Merc instead.

Thanks

Andrew

Ahhh so you went for it!

Fabulous engine.  I still smile when I hear mine, everytime without fail.