PUZZ1

How do you respond to the C/D comparison test which rated the 530i 6th out of 8 entries in a recent comparison. I'm strongly considering a 530xi Touring vs. an Audi A6 avant as my replacement for an E500. This commentary doesn't get me there however.

Thoughts are appreciated. I wish I had a link to the article but I don't. They basically said that the 530 was slow compared to other Japanese competition such as the Infiniti M35 (which won), Acura RL, Audi A6 4.2, etc. And, they continue to hate, I mean HATE, the I-Drive system.

Thanks for your comments. I really want to go with a BMW for my future car.

kaboom

Going from a E500 to a 530 is a downgrade as far as the engine goes... if you dont mind that... more power to you!!!

znod

I don't think that the 5ers currently are particularly fast in their classes until you get to the 550i. In this regard, the 545i was fastest in its class on the last mag-testing circuit. I am hoping the 550i will be the same. The iDrive is good. To heck with those that don't take the time to learn how to use it. I'd buy a 550i for reasons of fastness.

UUronL

Bear in mind several things.


1. That car was a 2005, so it had the 225 hp engine. It had an automatic, and much of the deductions in the test were due to their frustration with the slushbox.

2. The car was a non-sport. It only pulled .82g. The Sport model would fare better.

3. Car and Driver hates iDrive, and they tend to get distracted by whatever is newest and shiniest. The 5 series was close to the oldest model in that test. The fact that there were a few factual errors relating to the car they were testing really tells me that they didn't give it more than a grudging and cursory look.

Ricracing

You need to get the 550i, even if the 3.0 sixinline 530i gives a match to the V8's
of VW (audi as you see it) and M-B's.

The sixinline engine is a BMW highlight and will get even more acclaimed if the future.

I can tell you that I didn't like to learn the PC (yes I'm that old).

I also had to learn English, German and economics...

The iDrive is not a problem and you do not have to use it all the time
just program your settings and that's it.

Compared to the next to a thousand buttoms of an E/S M-B, I love the iDrive.

xexyus

Drive a 550 and im 100% sure you will forget about your E500. Point blank.

To me, E500 seems very small inside and has no tech goodies as the 5ers. The engine is powerful though I wont lie but the interior and exterior is just Blah.

I personaly am not a fan of 2003-2006 E Class at all and I think they completely destroyed a perfectly good model. The 1996-2002 E class was such a work of art and in my opinion was a real competitor if not a winner over the E39.

Damn Chrsyler merge :thumbsdown:

znod

Thank you das for your reply/comment removal.

jet190rs

Who cares? I continue to hate, I mean HATE, using Mac OS. I prefer Windows. But there's tons of ppl who love Apple. Are you gonna not get a Mac just cause I said I hate it?


If you want it, go for it. Just make sure its the right car for you. Don't worry what other ppl think. If a coworker says to you he doesn't like your new Rolex, who gives a fock? Am you gonna stop wearing your new Daytona cause other ppl don't like it?

swajames

"It said on the box that I needed Windows XP or better. So I bought a Mac"

znod

You know me. I like both and use both, sometimes simultaneously, depending on the circumstances. And, I like all cool cars--BMW's, Merc's, Corvettes, and on and on and on.