stevenW211

Really got tired of this problematic W211. A BMW 530i is a great choice after asking some current BMW owners abt the overall quality of E60.
Any comments/opinions are welcome, tks!!!

DWP

Been there, done that (concerning the US versions of the W211 and E60, anyway).
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/125706-bmw-5-series-growing-anyone.html

2MANYCARS

I've traded in my 06 530xi for my 07 E550, need I say more?

guru

Get it. We bought a 2007 530 xiT in November and we love it. 2500 miles and not a single visit back to the dealership. First 3 months with my E class, I lost count of the number of times the car had to go back....

Benz-O-Rama

Yeah,
The 530 has been growing on me too...

...Like a bad rash!

Nickc0844

It was sluggish when I test drove it. If you can afford a little less room, that new 335 looks sweeeet!

ProV1

i absolutely loved my 540 E39 which i bought new, never gave me any problems. really well built machine.

i also didn't like the E60 at all, but the styling is definitely growing on me.

you should really check out the new 535, which will have the awesome N54 BMW twin turbo engine standard. this badboy puts out 330-335HP in 335i coupes!!

my only complaint with the 5 series is the lack of rear legroom. i heard bmw will be producing "Li" versions soon though.

BudC

The thing I dislike the most about the exterior of the E60 is the slab sides. Looking at the new 2008 version, it appears BMW have made some subtle changes that have improved things.

There are other exterior changes and on the inside they've improved the materials and done something about the tacky door linings.

It gets the new electronic gearshift from the X5 and also the twin turbo six from the 335i.

I could imagine a 2008 535i in my garage but I'm not sure I could sell my wife on the idea. She's not a big fan of BMW's after the problems we had with the last one. I think she's at the point where I could buy any car I wanted so long as it has a three-pointed star on the hood.

It looks like the best I can hope for is to trade the 300E for an X3.

stevenW211

Trade 300E in for an X3 is gonna cost you a fortune.

BudC

Actually, I meant replace the 300E with an X3. I never trade cars, I always sell my old ones myself. We have two rules of thumb in our family. Never pay interest and never trade cars. When we are ready to buy a new car, we usually wait until the end of the model year, pay cash for a car and drive them forever. The old car gets sold for a premium. The 300E listed for $48,800 and I paid $37,200 for it and I'm still driving it 16 years later.

BenzVince

I like the new 5 series, they are very nice body, it already have grown on me. However I haven't had any problem with my 03' E320 execpt for that SBC recall brakes and a broken cupholder that got replace under warranty. It has 48k on the clock and still problem-free. Sorry for those who have more frequent problem, probably your car were built on a Monday, lol, sorry just a joke there. But i guess everyone has different problems. I haven't seen any on mine. I know for certain I will keep my for years til she craps out or when supplies of gasoline is delepted. HOwever I would love to have a5 series along since but right now my mortage payment is so high.

GTOrleans

wait and get the 535i, twin turbo v6, booyah!

jagata

I personally thinkthe benz is a better built car, the materials seem better quality and road noise is definetly lower than the bimmer, but i love the way the bimmer looks. Here's my wife's car.

rjm

I'm on my 3nd BMW and love them. I've never had a single problem with any of them. Contrast that to my MB which spent most of it's life in the garage being repaired or waiting for parts from Germany. My latest is an '07 E90 which is considerably sportier than my previous 530i. I didn't care for the i-drive and the bangelized styling of the new 5-series so I went with the E90. I don't think you could go wrong with a 5- or 3-Series. I would stay away from the 7-Series....they seem to have significantly more electronic issues.

BudC

BMW is famous for their incredibly smooth straight six engines. They wouldn't be caught dead with a V6. You're right though about the turbo engine going into the E60.