Meticulously maintained, looks like a new car, No accidents, with clean carfax. 6 speed with sports package, and the cold weather package. Records, needs nothing. 147,000 miles. Asking $14,700 obo. Car located in Cary NC. (That's very close to Raleigh NC). Zip code 27511.





Feel free to e-mail me;
ahmete@gmail.com
Thanks.
Ahmet

5/25/2006 12:41:54 PM

beauty

5/25/2006 2:14:43 PM

What's the gas milage?

5/25/2006 2:17:15 PM

Thanks.

It really depends on the driving. Around 65mph in 6th gear it'll break 30-32, but in town can go as low as 16-17 if driven hard. I usually get around 19 in mixed/mostly city driving, but I do drive quite spiritedly...
Ahmet

5/25/2006 3:33:46 PM

The EPA says 24MPG highway, which is usually considered an optimistic figure. Just an FYI.

5/25/2006 4:57:35 PM

beautiful car

5/25/2006 5:25:41 PM

I mean I averaged 29mpg driving to Nags Head 2 weeks ago with myself, the girlfriend, and Nick H, including two hits of 155+mph, as checked by filling up, driving over 200 miles, and filling up again. Infact, the trip computer was off by about 1.2mpg and was on the pessimistic side. The car's a 6 speed, which ends up giving it two over drive gears, unlike the auto, if that's what you were looking at.

PS: My 944 turbo beat it's 'rating' by quite a bit too, while my 325 (e36) was way under it.
Ahmet

5/25/2006 6:01:42 PM

Jesus, dude.

Good luck with the sale - purty car.

5/25/2006 7:28:12 PM

Beautiful car, I'd consider save for the milage.

5/25/2006 7:57:26 PM

Car looks fantastic.

5/25/2006 9:11:06 PM

i wasi n that car last week, it was nice as shit....... and fast too

5/25/2006 9:32:15 PM

You have a PM ahmet.

5/25/2006 9:58:37 PM

Replied to.
Ahmet

5/25/2006 10:28:48 PM

Nice looking car! are you a non-smoker? do you have maintenance records?

5/25/2006 11:10:08 PM

I smoked for a few years back when I was a teenager and into my (very) early 20s. This car has not had a cigarette smoken in it (not by previous owners either), and I only smoke but 3 or 4 single cigarettes a week nowadays.

Anyway, I do have full records for the car. It was VERY well maintained.
Ahmet

5/25/2006 11:59:08 PM

how are you pricing the car. i'm getting $8000 tops on edmunds.com

1997 BMW 5 Series 4 Dr 540i Sedan
Trade-In Private Party Dealer Retail
National Base Price $7,710 $9,135 $10,877
Optional Equipment $491 $585 $777
Heated Front Seats $39 $47 $62
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio System $61 $73 $97
Sport Suspension $92 $109 $145
6-Speed Manual Transmission $299 $356 $473
Color Adjustment
Gray $-35 $-41 $-49
Regional Adjustment
for Zip Code 27502 $68 $81 $96
Mileage Adjustment
147,000 miles $-1,863 $-1,863 $-1,863
Condition Adjustment
Clean $0 $0 $0
Total $6,371 $7,897 $9,838

tradein / private party / dealer retail

oh, and this is an accurate quote from someone on the web:
NADA is completely out of touch with reality. Kelly BB is too high as well.
The only pricing to be considered as a guideline is TMV (True Market Value) available on http://www.edmunds.com. Prices on completed auctions on e-bay will show the highest bids also.

[Edited on May 26, 2006 at 12:45 AM. Reason : nice car but i'm just wondering how you priced it...nothing else]

5/26/2006 12:44:18 AM

Theres less than 5 people on TWW who seriously could and might buy this car, and you arent one of them so why should he respond to your question?

5/26/2006 12:52:50 AM

Quote :

"The 540i with big V8 pumps as much as 282 hp to the rear wheels -- so much so that this car can scoot from zero to 60 mph in the mere space of 6.1 seconds. A new 5-speed automatic or the Getrag manual 6-speed show up as choices here, with ultimate sport edition totaling to $52,000."

http://www.thebiglot.com/reviews/1997_BMW_5%20SERIES_REVIEW.asp

5/26/2006 1:18:32 AM

^^^a quick search on autotrader.com for 97 bmw 540 any distance
$37,995 Highest price
$6,900 Lowest price
$13,469 Average price

he has the 6speed, sports package, cold weather package, and it looks very clean......so i would say it's a reasonable price

[Edited on May 26, 2006 at 1:23 AM. Reason : carrot]

5/26/2006 1:23:34 AM

This issue always comes up when buying and selling cars... You can use the 'guides' to give you an idea when looking to buy a Honda Accord, but this is a fairly special and exclusive car, and it's in exceptionally good shape. A 540i sport is rare enough, couple that with the gorgeous color combo and the sports packages, and it becomes yet rarer. If this is what you want, then it's worth a premium. I would not have owned any other 5 series...

When I had my Porsche 944 Turbo S for sale, I had literally dozens of people tell me I was asking too much, some even telling me I should've asked between 1/2 and 1/3rd of what I was asking. I on the other hand, felt that I had priced the car on the low end for a quick sale. Well, the 2nd day the car was 'advertised' (only on a few message boards, kinda like this car) I had somebody fly down and buy it, at my asking price. Funny thing is, people are telling me I'm asking a very low price for this car, and that it should move quickly at the BMW boards too. Draw your own conclusions.

I'm not forcing this car down anybodies throat, if you don't think it's worth it, feel free not to make me an offer.
Ahmet

5/26/2006 1:34:48 AM

^ i'll buy you hardees if I can borrow it for one night. i can't recall what torque feels like.

5/26/2006 1:58:34 AM

i could do 12, & i think thats an extremely lowball offer. you shouldn't have a problem getting 14 or more quickly if you're hitting message boards where people actually care about nice cars.

5/26/2006 2:39:03 AM

its a gorgeous car (saw/rode in it last night)
no doubt its worth what he is asking

5/26/2006 7:59:45 AM

good luck!

5/26/2006 8:20:56 AM

just don't be posting on the bimmer forums i frequent, cuz you won't be getting that asking price.
here's a sampling: http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/classifieds/cars/listads.php?cat=213&pages=1&sortby=_PRICE&dir=ASC

5/26/2006 10:19:12 AM

I got $14k for my nearly identical 540 (it had a few less miles but needed a couple minor things) when I sold it last fall. The price is fair.

5/26/2006 10:26:56 AM

^ last year pricing =! this year pricing

if you want to get that asking price:
1. i would NOT post on car enthusiast forums b/c you'll have more competition from other sellers and those buyers know the fair asking price
2. i would NOT post here on tww, you'll have people telling you if they could afford it they would pay your asking price when in fact you know they're BSing and would only pay fair market value if they really had the money
3. i would NOT sell to carmax or any other dealer posing as a consumer buy, you'll get auction pricing
4. i would NOT sell on ebay, where folks can check fair market value from completed auctions
5. i WOULD post on cars.com, autotrader.com, craigslist where you can get the average joe suckered in

i think it's a nice car, i think you could get it for that price if you hold out long enough, i'm just detailing what the smart consumer would do

when i sell my car, i would do the exact same thing you are....and try to get as much as i can for it...econ 101

5/26/2006 11:14:16 AM

he won't get $14k for this car...if he gets above $12k for this car, i'll be surprised

5/26/2006 11:20:03 AM

^ I think you'll be eating those words.

^^
1. Even if said forums are FREE?
2. Once again, it's a free post. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
3. Well duh.
4. What if they are selling for $14k+ on eBay?
5. Cars.com and Autotrader.com have a cost associated with them. I spent $65 on my last autotrader ad. Why not exhaust the free stuff first?

Frankly, I don't think Ahmet is going hungry while he waits to sell this car. I'd hold out for top dollar too.

[Edited on May 26, 2006 at 11:22 AM. Reason : s]

5/26/2006 11:21:47 AM

Damn, Don't freak out or anything

5/26/2006 11:21:55 AM

everyone's missing the key part of this: the sn is krazedgirl

Quote :

"Sex: F"

argument over.

5/26/2006 12:44:31 PM

1. forums are mostly/always FREE
2. correct, but would be best spending time marketing elsewhere if he has limited time
3.
4. they aren't
5. i would go through craigslist first, then the charged ones

5/26/2006 2:14:55 PM

Quote :

"1. i would NOT post on car enthusiast forums b/c you'll have more competition from other sellers and those buyers know the fair asking price 2. i would NOT post here on tww, you'll have people telling you if they could afford it they would pay your asking price when in fact you know they're BSing and would only pay fair market value if they really had the money 3. i would NOT sell to carmax or any other dealer posing as a consumer buy, you'll get auction pricing 4. i would NOT sell on ebay, where folks can check fair market value from completed auctions 5. i WOULD post on cars.com, autotrader.com, craigslist where you can get the average joe suckered in"

You've gotta be kidding.

5/26/2006 2:41:42 PM

Quote :

"I think you'll be eating those words."

i might...he may very well get $14k...but i don't think he will, and there's really no way for us to know if he did, so i guess it's a moot point

5/26/2006 2:45:00 PM

Nice car Ahmet-- Good luck.

It's funny -- I just bought a 2006 Chevy Cobalt for 14,500 that gets 30 miles to the gallon w/ a mix of city/hw (mostly city)...

And you're selling a car that is almost a decade old for more than what I paid for my new car.

Somehow that is amusing to me.

[Edited on May 26, 2006 at 4:16 PM. Reason : ]

5/26/2006 4:16:06 PM

Quote :

"Nice car Ahmet-- Good luck. It's funny -- I just bought a 2006 Chevy Cobalt for 14,500 that gets 30 miles to the gallon w/ a mix of city/hw (mostly city)... And you're selling a car that is almost a decade old for more than what I paid for my new car. Somehow that is amusing to me. "

You are comparing a Chevy Cobalt to a BMW 5-series........................................................

5/26/2006 5:14:45 PM

everyone's missing the key part of this: the sn is ncsuGALxcPaC

Quote :

"Sex: F"

argument over.

dumb women

5/26/2006 5:20:41 PM

^haha nice.

Yeah this 1997 BMW 540i with the sport package and 6 speed is atleast 52,000. If its been taken care of with records to back it up, clean body with almost a flawless paint/body (even though its almost 10 yrs old), and a car nut like ahmet who takes care of his shit really really good... I wouldn't be suprised if someone flew in and offered him the cash in hand.

If you know supply and demand, you could see that this car is very rare and if people wanted this car, they'll pay $$$ for it. Same goes with DSM's (eclipse/talons). The 2g gsx's/tsi awd turbo cars are still selling at premium prices even those are 10 yr old cars. awd turbo dsm's only account for 2% of the total eclipse/talon population. While they are only something like 6k-7k on the car's value on sites such as kbb in great condition, you'd be hard pressed to find one for less than 10k.

besides, if ahmet has a nice car like that, I doubt he'd be pressed into selling the car because he needs the money asap.

5/26/2006 5:35:37 PM

I'm not even claiming this is what the car is worth, it's simply my asking price. Nobody is under any obligation to offer me anything for it. I've had people tell me it's (too) low/high, nothing new there.

Different strokes for different folks. If one's objective is good fuel economy, and cheap entry price, obviously you should not be looking at a BMW with a large V8. I like this car a lot, I think I've averaged more than a compliment per day in the last month with it, and there's a reason for that. There's also a reason that the people appreciating this car are not the sorts of people that would own a Cobalt/Corolla or Civic etc. I mean no disrespect, but I would not drive one of those cars, outside of an emergency. You will probably think I'm a snob, but I appreciate fine craftsmanship, good design, safety and so forth.

This is one of the few cars that can provide this level of sophistication, great ride and handling, power and quietness, etc. You drive a car with a rubber steering wheel, and tell me it doesn't make sense to spend more than 14.6k on a car, well obviously it doesn't, not for you. Again, different strokes for different folks. I am somewhat irritated at the tone of some of these posts. We clearly want and choose different things from cars, and that's fine by me. I choose not to tell you that the car you bought was a complete and utter waste of your money, even if that's how I feel.
Ahmet

5/26/2006 6:25:16 PM

Quote :

"econ 101 "

You're an idiot. Stop wasting our time by posting your "advice" in this thread.

Thanks!

Sincerely, TWW.

5/26/2006 6:33:41 PM

DUDE BUT YOU COULD GET A COBALT FOR THAT MUCH MONEY

5/26/2006 6:36:45 PM

YOU MEAN I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A COBOLT INSTEAD OF MY M3 FOR THE SAME PRICE?!?!?!? OMG I HATE MYSELF

5/26/2006 8:28:25 PM

Haha I love my Cobalt... Stop messing w/ my baby or I'll kick your ass... HATERS.

I know I was comparing it to a bimmer. But I was laughing @ the price thing not the car thing..

Punkasses.

5/26/2006 8:38:23 PM

DUDE WHERE CAN I GET A M3 FOR THE SAME PRICE AS A COBOLT?

5/26/2006 9:49:39 PM

wait a second. so ur saying i could get a cobalt for the same price as a civic which i could get the same price for an m3. where can i get the american shittER!

5/26/2006 10:01:48 PM

Why the HELL would you want a chevy when you could have the power, finesse, and class of driving a 5 series BMW? So what if it's OLDER, it's a freaking BMW for god sakes.

I'm a woman and I still have to slap a hand to my forhead and say "Sheesh"...


JB says hi, btw, Ahmet

5/26/2006 10:44:39 PM

I could buy 7 wrecked bikes for that price!!!

5/26/2006 11:03:58 PM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/164964058.html

similar vehicle but its only a 528i going for 11900 so a little higher priced 540i isn't that outrageous.

5/26/2006 11:28:53 PM

^ and you are assuming that listing is a reasonable price? look it's posted by a dealer....gimme a break.

i punched in kbb.com, i was more than generous loading up the 540 with all the extra equipment AND giving it the best Excellent condition, I am still only getting $11500 tops

it's pretty obvious the ones posting in this thread supporting his price are obviously his friends....i highly doubt if you had the money you would pay $14700 for it...you know what i'm talking about.

i have nothing against Ahmet, i don't even know the guy...i hope he does sell it to someone willing to pay $14700, all i was merely trying to do was state what's the fair price.....ppl get called out on tww classifieds all the time for overpricing...how is my action any different....don't get all worked up

and those that are calling me out b/c i'm a girl? gimme a damn break....just b/c your manhood has been challenged and a girl knows more than you, don't be resorting to gender calling as a weak comeback.

5/26/2006 11:48:25 PM

540s are fucking money

whenever i go home my dad lets me drive his and im always blown away at how awesome they are

5/26/2006 11:51:04 PM