I'd say stay away from the 2000 S Type get a 2003 or above 4.2 you will enjoy this as they worked out most of the kinks.

 

BMW= Break My Walet. Everybodys got a bmw these days. Go with something classyer. Jag ftw!

 

2003 and above S type R will give you better performance then a regular 5 series on pace with an M5 and not a lot of other people will have it. Buying a BMW 5 series is almost as generic and a waste of time as buying a BMW 3 series.

 

Also, the touch screennavigation system is a lot friendlier than iDrive(pain in the ***)

 

I would stick with a Jag, my wife has the BMW C330, nice car but as soon as the 50,000 mile/ 5year waranty with the free servicing is up I think the servicing cost are going through the roof and I think the BMW is made to be very hard to service by anyone other than a BMW dealership.

I have the 2000 s-type fully loaded with all the bells and whistles including onboard phone and a system very similar to the microsoft sync offered by ford.
My car was corporate owned so all the servicing etc was done with no expense spared.

So in short, if your going for a Jag get one thats got pleanty of detailed history.

 

i work at a shop with both jags and bimmers, i have always liked the jags far more than the others. Everyone has bm's anymore, just about the samenumbeer ofteens thathave riced out hondas. Jag = cream of the crop! Definately go for a v8 S-type if you decide for the S, even better go for the S-R.

 

Your dad will like the BMW. The ladies will dig the Jag. Your wallet will like the Jag too.

 

My parents have a 2000s-type. Over the past 4 years I have replaced 6 power window regulators, the entire sunroof assembly, the rear end, front wheel hubs, 4 struts (with electronic suspension VERY pricey!), and now I am replacing the engine. It is, however, a very nice and safe car! I was rear ended on the freeway by a car going 65mph and I was completely fine, the car is very solid.

With that being said, I would recommend the newer s-types with the 4.2 engine.

Good Luck

 

Ok Id say I have a very good qualification to answer this question and be completely unbiased. Id say go with the 540 for sure. I would never buy a pre '03 s type to begin with under 99% of circumstances( or the 540 considering the warranty is done). I had a 2003 540i M-Sport for a short period of time in Titanium Silver. The only mid-size car to ever rattle me enough to not get another one was my S type R though I also just recently drove a brand new 535i for a week when the 7 was being serviced, didnt miss it one bit and got back in my S type to a rawr. With the M Sport package (M5 aero kit, diff wheels,03 only) the car is very rare, almost as rare as an S type R but cant match the performace 290HP vs 400HP. Original cost was almost the same with most of the options. BMWs tend to be more reliable with higher mileage although Id never buy an example of that age as maint. costs can easily equal aquisition costs. For the price of a 2000 540 your likely to be able to get a much newer, lower mileage example of an S type though. Obv. the only close comp would be the V8. Let us know what your budget is and even give us a specific BMW and S type you have in mind for a better idea. Here are a couple of pics to fuel the excitment.

 

With the 2000 BMW 540icoming in at 282 hp and 324 torque with a curb weight of 3800 pounds, I would have to disagree that it is impressive.....I saw a modified one run a 14.5 in the quarter, I think that is right upthere witha vtech honda with a loud exhaust. But I would tend to agree with bmw745 above in that if you are comparing a 2000 S Type (especially v-6) to a 2000 540i you may be better off with the bmw; however, it is dissapointing if you base your opinion on an s type on that specific model, as I have never seensomeone get out of my s type R without a smile on their face.

 

chalk and cheese. Thats like comparing a 3.0 Formula 1 to a Ford 3.0. Same thing right?
You asked for opinions and thats what you got. Most peoples opinion is, go drive the S-Type R and see what you think. $30k? You can find an 03 R for about 16 or 17 if you shop it. Far superior car to the 540i.

 

it's a Jaguar forum..of course Jag is better. Too many BMW's on the streets,it's got to be an M6,M5..or something special to stand from the crowd.Steve McQueen had a lot of cars(there's a book " Steve McQueen's cars") he had a Jag among them...
Anyway you should be gratefull that you can afford one of these cars considering your age.
And bmw745ion19...I bought a pre-owned S Type 03,with 75k warranty,and it's perfect.Of course I would have not bought it if I could afford a brand new one

 

I just wonder if you seem have sold yourself on the BMW already then why come on here and ask the question. If we didn't like jags we wouldn't own them. Ane we certainly arent going on the BMW forum and telling them what great cars we have. I think it's more along the lines a kid of letting everyone know that he can afford them, Well........SO CAN WE!!!

 

I will even help you out, this one is red and even has tv's in the headrest.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...mp;cardist=295

 

They are all wonderful automobiles. Get what YOU like not what people tell you to purchase. If you like BMW get the damn thing. I like Mercedes but I liked theS Type better so I bought it. Does it have problems, you betcha, but they all do. Whatever you decide enjoy the ride. Oh I made a rhyme lol

 

Lets face it. There is only one way to buy a car. Decided what features you want and then go looking for it. Any other way is inviting disappointment in the missing features. I tested BMW, Merc, Audi, Lexus, and finally a Jag. Took me a while but I have everything I need and want in my car and nothing left out.

Mark