Some shots of my 2003 540i

debunn · 01-10-2013, 03:13 PM

Hi all

Just thought I'd post some shots of my 2003 540i - not sure how much longer I'm going to have her though as the wife is wanting to switch to an auto (likely going to go with a 335d.)

v_bimmer · 01-10-2013, 07:24 PM

very nice!!

i suggest a muffler delete, with a nice set of tips

debunn · 01-10-2013, 07:45 PM

Thanks - my mechanic was suggesting the same thing... I think that's about the only aesthetic thing I'm not happy with.

mhamouda · 01-12-2013, 01:50 AM

540i > 335 auto

debunn · 01-12-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhamouda

540i > 335 auto

I hear you - the trouble is that my wife doesn't drive stick, and we need a car we can both drive. That and premium gas in a 4.4L engine can get painful with two people driving it...

Axxe · 01-13-2013, 04:42 PM

The 335d is an excellent choice all round. 265hp/425lbft @ 7.5L/100km

debunn · 01-13-2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axxe

The 335d is an excellent choice all round. 265hp/425lbft @ 7.5L/100km

Yup - and those are the reasons it's on the short list... it seems like an excellent car, however I feel I'll be giving up some space over the 5 series both for luggage and for passengers. That and I've heard the acceleration is fairly linear, so it won't give you the kick that the 4.4L gas 540i does. We'll see... hopefully going on a test drive or two next weekend...

Alpine · 02-03-2013, 12:36 AM

Something is abit off about the placement of your "540i" badge on the rear.

lvan · 02-03-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debunn

I hear you - the trouble is that my wife doesn't drive stick, and we need a car we can both drive. That and premium gas in a 4.4L engine can get painful with two people driving it...

Get her to learn! My ex woman thought me to drive stick lol.

cormier · 02-03-2013, 11:53 AM

A patient, experienced standard drive can teach most women (or men) enough to drive on their own in under an hour. My GF drives my e46 with ease now, and picked up our rental 911 turbo last summer no problem too .... And it was quite hot

debunn · 02-03-2013, 01:03 PM

While you're right that it's not as hard as you'd think to learn how to drive stick, there are a couple of issues in this case:

1) A 540i manual transmission is more finicky than your average manual
2) It's only possible to teach someone who wants to learn ;-)

5style · 02-03-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debunn

While you're right that it's not as hard as you'd think to learn how to drive stick, there are a couple of issues in this case:

1) A 540i manual transmission is more finicky than your average manual
2) It's only possible to teach someone who wants to learn ;-)

Finicky? Shifter bushings time!

v_bimmer · 02-03-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debunn

While you're right that it's not as hard as you'd think to learn how to drive stick, there are a couple of issues in this case:

1) A 540i manual transmission is more finicky than your average manual
2) It's only possible to teach someone who wants to learn ;-)

i would say the complete opposite.

I taught 2 people how to drive manual on my old 540i, and they haven't stalled once, and one of them was a girl.

I think that 540i clutch, is way more forgiving than others.

Maybe something is not right on your car, as it is very easy to drive.

debunn · 02-03-2013, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v_bimmer

i would say the complete opposite.

I taught 2 people how to drive manual on my old 540i, and they haven't stalled once, and one of them was a girl.

I think that 540i clutch, is way more forgiving than others.

Maybe something is not right on your car, as it is very easy to drive.

It's certainly possible, although it's not changed at all in the 4+ years I've driven it. It does have the longest clutch in any car I've ever driven, and seems particular about the rev matching between gears. First and second are tough to get smooth shifts out of, although gears 3+ are dead easy. I suppose it's possible the synchros are worn on those two gears, or it might be the bushings as 5style suggested. In any case, it's rather moot at this point as I found a buyer for it, and picked up a 335d in it's place. He seemed happy with the performance though, and Rocco @ RMP never seemed to think anything was wrong with it whenever he drove it.

5style · 02-03-2013, 01:52 PM

its always bushings that cause wonkiness. Grinding is usually fluid and if that doesn't fix it, then syncros

Rule of thumb for anyone with manual issues: change fluid first and regularly, makes a massive difference. I know my car grinded downshifting from 5th to 4th at highway speed when I first bought it. Fluid change and the issue vanished. I do it yearly now. If the shifter feels super loose, misshifting and hard to find a gear, bushings. Once those two are done, the last culprits are syncros.

For the new owner