Dave, that's a nice pic there! Love that car!

 

the E39's caught my eye and got me started on liking 5ers but i have fallen super hard for the E60

 

My 2001 E39 replaced a Mercedes and it really opened my eyes to BMW driving. As good as the E39 was I have to say that, in my opinion, the E60 is superior in every regard. Now, I'm waiting for the F10. It should be fantastic.

 

I have to say I prefer to E60. But when it comes to 3 series, I would much rather have a 1999-2005 model than the new ones. I could get a mean looking M3 from '04 for the same price as a nice new 3 series.

 

e39 is a better highway driver (to me at least). Had an 02 530 sport and now an 05 545i...both are great but the e39 still has some of the more classic lines on a car to date......just great.....especially when comparing the rear ends!

 

The new- new : LCI E60, E39, E60

I always thought the E39 540i was the perfect car but my 535i tops it.

 

I first fell for the E39 styling in '97 and drove the 528i and 540i along with an E36 M3. I almost bought a 528i but waited a year or so and got a '99 540i.
It was the best car I ever owned in almost every aspect. Then I traded for an '02 M5. It was (and still is IMHO) the best ever total package. I then tried an '06 650i and was disappointed. Too harsh a ride and not enough luxury (at least compared to the E39 M5).

The '08 550i is darn close to the '02 M5 in most areas and better in some. I still don't like the headlights/taillights and trunk cut-lines but the styling stands out without being ugly or obnoxious lke many new cars (TL, Camry, CTS, etc). Handling wise, the 540i had a great ride and good handling, the M5 had even better handling with little loss in ride but too much lean. The 550i has very impressive handling with a good enough ride. It may not have the tactile feel of the E36 or other older BMW models but its far better than most cars today that you turn the wheel and pray they go where you want to.

 

I had a e34 525 that in its day was awesome, still to this day the lines of an e34 are beautiful, I then had an e39 540i sport, light years ahead, fast as hell and handled great, was def 100% a drivers car and meant to be on the highway, I was searching for a 545 sport when I came across my e65 sport, all of the 5ers were hot in there day, that holds true for the e60...

 

I think that boxy yet smooth look give the e60 its classy look, when i see one well put together it never looks to old just like a 93-97 toyota supra those machines are timeless i think

 

My Father in - law had an 03 530 Black on Tan 5 spd. I wanted that car so bad. My plan was to buy it from him when he was ready to sell. Then, the idea of having another V8 made me want the 03 540 M-Sport. I loved the way that car looked. I was all set to start looking for one, then I saw that an 04 545 wasn't that much more. I decided to do the research, and decided on the 545. Even though, I thought that the E39 drove like a dream, I know that I made the right choice by getting the E60. When I see E39s now, I still admire them, but they do look dated. Classic though. I would have grown tired of the E39, and wanted an E60. So that's what I got. End of story.