Any Ex-BMW 5 Series drivers out there? What are the pros and cons when comparing the new E series vs. the current BMW 5 series?

Thanks,
Mike

I'm one. Traded my '97 528 for an '03 E320 last November. Love it. The ONLY thing that, in my opinion, the E doesn't do better is the true "driver feel." My 5 just felt more like a driver's car. Otherwise, the E has exceeded expectations. With the look of the e60 that is forthcoming, I don't seeing going back to BMW no matter how well they drive.

Nick

I still have e39 (not a true ex-5 owner)

e39 still beats w211 in performance and handling. (no doubt, I can easily reach 60 mph or pass a car in a high way while driving bimmer because I can fully control gear switch -- both manual or automatic. (w211 only provides you kick down the accelerator pedal.) but if you are old enough, 35+, you will love w211's comfort and style. (why are you in a hurry?)

I only love hud from e60, I think bmw makes another mistake in design of e60 after e65.

Hi Mike,

I'm a recent 5-series convert. I owned a '98 528i and switched to an E320 this March. I still own another BMW - a 323i wagon - as a commuter car.

The E has some advantages and disadvantages over the 5 but I think the advantages far outweigh the negatives.

First the disadvantages:
1) Even in Sport suspension modes, the E doesn't handle like the 5 in the extremes (as UNC Nick alluded to). Maybe I'm still getting used to it and not confident in its abilities yet but I'm more hesitant to take corners very hard like I would in my 5 (I'm use to taking corners *very* hard). The 5 drove "smaller" than it really was. The E, on the other hand, drives bigger.
2) Too much computer meddling with the brakes and gear shifting. With the 5, you know what you're getting when breaking or accelerating. Occasionally and only occasionally, the E's computer steps in and does something unexpected like a delay in acceleration or braking too hard.
3) Horrible wiper blades. They're somewhat noisy (I'm looking to get blade replacements during the next service) and in my opinion, a little bit skinny for such a big car. My 5 had wipers that looked like huge insect legs and worked very well.

Advantages:
1) Absolutely great looks. Esp. compared to the new 5 coming out. Mercedes did a great job in trying attract a younger set of buyers without alienating the core market. I think BMW has turned off a lot of their fans with the 7 series redesign and the new 5.
2) Lots more standard features than BMW. MB provide lots of features where it makes you think "wow, that's a good idea", such as Teleaid, the emergency carjacking trunk release, ambiece lighting, etc. In BMW, they're not available or you have to buy them as extras - it's pretty spartan relatively speaking.
3) Even though the E doesn't handle like a 5 in the extremes, in everyday driving the E does a much better job in ride and comfort. More solid feeling than my old 5, esp. at high speeds. It feels like you're in a bank vault. It's also more quiet at highway speeds than my 5 was.
4) Cool options like the panorama roof. It's a great feature. It gives the cabin a bright airy feel.
5) The E environment feels more luxurious than my 5.
6) Much better benefits, such as lifetime roadside assistance. I believe BMW's roadside assistance only lasts as long as the warranty, as least when I bought my 5.

That's all I can think of right now. Hope this helps!

You hit the nail on the head. I'm 41 and I like the comfort and style of the w211. I should Not have ordered the Sport Package on my X5. Great SUV, but I'm more of a sedan person and not sure I want to wait for the E60. Thanks for the good info!

Very helfpul! Thanks.
Go Chargers!

I've owned several 5 series cars, including the current body style- a 528i, and a 540i with the previous body style.

Both the current E and the 5 series are truly wonderful cars- among the very best out there in my opinion.

I agree with much of what the others who have posted before me have said in large measure. The 5 feels smaller than it is, while the E dfeels larger than it is. In general, the E is oriented a bit more to the luxury side of the scale, while the 5 is oriented a bit more to the sport side.

In my view, the E nails its goal perfectly, while the 5 does not. The E is very luxurious- very polished and sophisticated. The V-8 in the 500 is just superb; a model of smoothness and sophistication, with tons of power. Acceleration is just totally effortless and smooth- with vast reserves of torque and power. And, when you really get on it, the power it delivers is almost brutal (though, still, smooth, silky and refined). The first time I romped down on the E500 demo car I drove I was hooked! Believe me, once you get used to an E500, driving anything else will really make you aware of how truly wonderful the drivetrain in the E500 is. Everything else seems crude, labored and slow.

The E interior is nicer than the 5, and it looks more modern too. The 5 interior, by contrast, seems a bit dated and cramped. The leather on the E is much nicer that the 5, and it holds up better too. I had trouble with wearing/cracking on the seats of both of my last BMWs.

I say that I don't think the 5 nails its goal because I don't think the 5 is either sporty enough, OR luxurious enough. It falls a bit short on both categories, in my opinion. The whole time I drove my 528i and my 540i, there were 2 things that always bugged me: too much engine noise, and suspension that was too soft.
Especially on the highway, the engine drone bothered me. And, although the 5 is pretty sporty, I simply didn't think the suspension was sporty enough. In short, I didn't think the 5 was luxurious enough (too much engine noise and too cramped) or
sporty enough (suspension too soft).

By contrast, the E is a model of smoothness and sophistication. The engine sound never intrudes in the cabin, and the sound it does make is absolutely wonderful. It is luxury at its apex. It's also plenty sporting too, especially with the airmatic supsension (which I leave on the first sport position), with skidpad numbers as good or better than the 5. The E is perfect in the luxury dept, and it is plenty sporting as well.

Eventually, I test drove a 3 series BMW, liked it better than the 5, and traded for a 328i, which I loved. The 3 series, in my opinion, is perfect in the "sporty" department. The suspension is just dead on for a sporty machine; much better than the 5 in my opinion. It also makes a good bit less engine noise, has a stiffer body, a nicer looking dash, and has almost as much leg room as the 5. I put about 60,000 miles on my 328i, and liked it a good bit better than either my 540i or my 528i. I know others who made the same trade from a 5 to a 3, with the same results.

So, here are my conclusions/recommendations:

1. Whatever you do, do NOT buy a current 5 series. It is about to be replaced, is really starting to feel old, and it pales compared to the E. If you want a medium sized luxury/sport sedan, you shoud either get a current E (preferably an E500) or wait and try the new 5 series and see how you like it compared to the E, and then get either an E or a new 5. The new 5 promises to be much better than the current model, and it and the E will unquestionably be the front runners in this class. If you don't want to wait until later in 2003 to make your move, then clearly the E is the only way to go now.

2. If you want a car that is really sporty, but also quite refined, check out the 3 series (a 330i). It is the sportiest of the lot. But, compared to the E, it doesn't have the same presence, interior room, sophistication or panache. It may not be on your shopping list at all, but if you compare it to the existing 5 I honestly think you'll like the 3 better.

Hope this helps. Go out and drive the E, the 5 and the 3, and then make your decision. If you can wait another 6 months or so, you may want to wait and check out the new 5. Regardless of what you do, however, I think the current 5 should be at the bottom of your list.

-RAI

Mike,

One last thing: since you're used to BMWs, I would recommend getting the Airmatic suspension (std. on the E500 and optional on the E320). This way you'll be able to vary the suspension between normal to sports to bone-cracking ride. The sports (2nd setting) is probably the most similar to the 5 but obviously still not quite to the 5's handling strengths.

I usually leave mine in the normal setting and occasionally use the sports setting. I never use the third setting - it's way too harsh.