I had a 2002 x5 4.4 loaded with everything. Love that stuff. Well I decided to end my life with SAV's and go with a 530. When I shopped it out they really low balled me on my trade. Same dealership I got it from too. I was pissed at that. The more I looked at the 530 the more I didn't care for it. I like to be excited to get a new car and I just wasn't excited. The clincher was the 2003 530....old style which was in mint condition sitting next to a 2006 530. I loved the old style so much...but I like to buy new.

My sister had gotten a 2006 e350 this July. Never really considered the e-class, but it was beautiful both inside and out.

Long story short I left BMW and got a "LOADED" E350, for $8000 off sticker...better $ than the 530 loaded. Took 12 weeks to order but I got it a couple of weeks ago. I love it. I am use to sitting up high in the SUVs, but I am getting used to it now. The ride is like a dream too. Also the nav. is actually better than the X5.

Got a e350 Black on black with appearance, premium with pano, keyless go, Phone install with motorola v600 and linguatronic, split fold down seats, sirius sat radio, and parktronic.

Favorite option is the sirius. Got the phone becuz I figured I needed the prewiring for any future bluetooth. Phone does work like a dream tho.

This really was a ***** to special order....I kept getting the runaround becuz they were afraid to order such a loaded in case i cancelled. They would tell me that certainn items were backordered and I would call MBUSA and find out they lied. I called them on it every step of the way.

One last thing is they offered me 3000 more on my trade than BMW. I may get another MB, but no guarantees. I'll see what's around in 4 years.

Sorry for the long post,

Jerome

I always think the BMW 5 is striking at first glance, but after a while..hmmmm

But the W211 E Class, whilst pleasant at first sight, has now really grown on me. The design is more elegent and stands the test of time.

I saw a new M5 on the 101 freeway here in Los Angeles yesterday and let me tell you, that thing is bad a$$. Don't get me wrong, I love my benzo but if i had to choose between a new m5 and an e55, i don't know which one i'd pick.

The sound of that V10 alone is worth the price of admission. Besides, how many Mercedes can rev over 8K?

As I’ve mentioned before I’ve owned three E60’s (a 525 followed by two 545’s)…so it goes without saying I like the car (not as much as my W211 though)…however even though I like the overall appearance of the car…there are four areas that I struggle with…and I’ve illustrated those areas in this picture. Granted I understand why they are there in terms of functionality and/or style but regardless…

• Headlights sweep back a little too far for me
• Don’t like the little lip on the bottom of the rear apron
• Don’t like the panel and/or trunk lines in the two areas I’ve pointed out

Again just my 2-cents…

At tickover the thing sounds like a 19th century tractor. When the thing is screaming that V10 is indeed something else, but in a car park!!!! :p What an embarrassment.

Suffice it to say, I think the 5 series is butt ugly.

happy New Year,
John

Went to a BMW dealer today, gave the 5 series one more look over, sat in one, looked at the dash, and left reassured I made the right choice...

...in buying an E Class!

Ouch! Very accurate and embarassing! I'd hate to be your girlfriend! LOL

That's what killed it for me... the close up inspection of the interior left me gravely disappointed with BMW's reputation for quality interiors.. The plastics were bordering on Cadillac quality.

The best combination of look & performance is probably Audi.

With the new RS4 beating the Ferrari 360 at the line, wonder what the next RS6 will do.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...576&q=audi+rs4

i seen it in person and i can vouch for it

Agreed, the W211 will become a timeless beauty. The 5 looks great in black and in the dark

Love the 4 and 8. 6 still is growing on me.

i have both now the 525i and the e350 4matic. the 525i in over all looks a little better. but interior/confort/build wise the e350 beats it hands down!

I have always like the old BMW designs but with their new design I am left again and again with the same impression. To me I think the car at best looks like a cat thrown into a wind tunnel. I go out and look at my mothers 2006 E320 CDI and love the design.

I'll find out soon enough, just bought a 550i.

No

Looks like the car is wearing a skirt.

After owning BMW's for 13+ years now, I went with the E350 just because I didn't like the look of the 5 series. I think that says a lot in itself.

Chenry's post (#106 above) points out some of the major problem areas with the E60 design. A lot of other design flaws could be added to the list. For instance, the rear door cutouts don't even follow the line of the rear wheel opening. How hard would it have been to do that? The jumble of conflicting lines and themes is just bad design. No amount of blather from Chris Bangle about "flame surfacing" and "new esthetics" can conceal that - and that's just the exterior. The cheap-looking, claustrophobic interior is another subject entirely.

I'm a 19-year (1984-2003) BMW driver driven away from the roundel by the E60 redesign. The E39 5-series (1997-2002) was so good that people seriously wondered how BMW could top it. The answer, as it turns out, was that BMW could not. They regressed.

Those are the same elements that disturb me about the E60. When you combine the exterior issues with a mediocre interior the overall styling just does not cut it for me.

Feels no more energetic than the CDI below 3500 RPM, above 3500 RPM its an animal compared to the CDI.

Likes:

1) The seat! Way more comfortable, nicer, softer leather, holds you in place.
2) Heads-up display.
3) Silky smooth yet planted at all speeds. Very tossable, very composed even on rough, curvy, and hilly roads.

Dislikes:
1) That stupid, stupid I-drive. Its deal-killer.
2) Interior not as nice as E.
3) Fuel pig compared to CDI.

All in all, a drivers car. Drive it hard, and its responds with such poise that it encourages you to push it even harder. No nasty traits.

After all my nuisance MB shop visits I would take it over an E500 or E550 and suck up the nasty interior and I-drive. But not over a CDI.

When a 535d twin-turbo I6 diesel variant is imported, I'll be very interested especially if my CDI keeps having to go to the shop 5 times between each oil change interval.

What I appreciate most is the BMW approach of firm car, soft seat, versus the MB approach of soft car, firm seat.

I think the Dame Edna headlights are just horrible, or really rather gay.

There is way too much resemblance between the below picture and the new front end for me!





I just am not digging it.

I almost bought an M5 (previous body style) but waited for the new M series.
When it came out....YUK!
Much happier with the looks of my E500.