Isaiah_Charles

I was _ close to getting a 335i, I like the look of bigger cars but do not think they fit me (only 5'8). With that being said I love my e60 yes, but if a good trade came along I'd have a 335i in a heartbeat, the flaming begans...........lol

Diamond

I had always loved the e60 and this was my first bmw. I was living in Arizona where everyone had a 3 series-actually as I have moved around no matter what city I am in everyone has a 3 series or 1 series. Even in Arizona while plenty of nice cars, a sport packaged 5 series still stood out from the crowd by far as something you do not see on every street corner.

You cant compare interior room like you can wheelbase and track width-something less tangible about room in certain portions of the car. Mere half an inch in certain parts can make all the difference.

All you need to do is sit in the comfort seat of a 5 series and any seat of a 3 series and I feel like I am spilling out of a 3 series seat like a pair of DD's in a C cup bra.

(I am only 6 feet and 185 but have long limbs!

Each time I get a 3 loaner which is often-the 5 series interior is absolutely luxerious in every way-atleast a black interior full leather-Even when I sit in a 7 series, there is a much smaller step between a 5 and 7 feel of luxury compared to a 3 to a 5. Just sat in a new 7 the other week and didnt feel like I was less luxurious driving home in my 5 but I get that feeling every time I am put in a 3.

Was kind of a dream more than anything-for me it was a 335 or 530 in 2007-none of the TT problems arose yet so that was not a factor. No doubt on a track the 3 would be fun but honestly if you have a sport 5 RWD with ARS I personally feel less body roll and more stability on real world scenarios like driving 80 on a freeway, exiting freewayays on long swingers, spirited driving in the twisties-5 feels no roll, 3 sport has roll. ARS is a real gadget that was beyond its time and cant really see how you improve on that.

Kzang

I agree with everyone else that at first my impression was that the 3 series was just too cramped.. this was very true back in 2006, but I feel that the 3 series has now grown in size since then along with the 5 series. I didn't like the 3 series back then because when I sat down and adjusted the seats as low as possible, my head would ever so slightly touch the headliner. But recently I drove a 335i sedan loaner and I was able to sit in the car comfortably. However some of the other reasons for choosing the 5 over the 3 would be passenger room, more technology, and the fact that when I drove the 3 series I really did feel like a teenager driving around.

JayArras

I had my '07 530xi 6 speed manual in for warranty work yesterday, and got to take a 2011 328i with xDrive automatic home as a loaner. I gotta tell ya, fellas, the 3 CAN'T COMPARE to my 5! Okay, I'm biased toward a manual transmission, but I don't think the paddle shifters are as satisfying. It reminded me of when I used to shift from D1 to D2 to D3 on my father's '66 Mustang to make believe I was driving a stick. The seats were very stiff and the headrest not too adjustable. The car handled very well, but after driving my (new to me) 5 for just a couple of weeks, I think the 5 series is a cut above the 3 series.

peter griffin

Before I bought my first E60, I did a bit of study and came to one conclusion;
5 series, mid-size sedan have a average of 7-8 years life spand on the market, which means doesn't look outdated even after the production ends.
Just look at E39, still looks great on the road, for a 10+ yr body.
Now, on the other hand, the 3's and the 7's looks outdated fast right just after the new body starts to show up on the road.
To me, that's more important, I want a car that looks great while in production and still look good enough when out of production.
That's want I consider bang for the buck.