Ok, the feedback you all gave me when I posted regarding purchasing a 1999 cl500 was valuable, so I will risk a flame war and ask for more advice. Once again, I am a senior in college and currently drive a 1988 420sel. I'm looking to replace it with a car with more current safety features (and a warranty).

I'm thinking I'd like to replace my car with a 2001 or 2002 530i. Does anybody have any experience with these or any other words or wisdom regarding their upkeep? I already searched around other BMW forums to try to get an idea on their common problems, repair costs and reliablilty, but it wasn't very useful. It doesn't seem like the BMW owners are as interested in repairing their own vehicles.

Anyway, as always all of your comments are appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Peter
1988 420sel

PS - If anybody has any other suggestions on cars I would like to hear them.

A good friend of mine drove a 2000 or 2001 528i for 3 or 4 years, and it was a really nice car. I don't think it gave him any trouble at all.

I'm not a BMW fan (thus the Mercedes in my signature), but I really, really like the styling of the 5 series, excluding the current iteration.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".