-Robust architecture all the way around. Built like a friggin' Sherman tank from head to toe. Door dings? Yeah right.
-Great power throughout the entire gear range (lots of torque at any speed)
-Extraordinary traction and handling. It's a Bimmer. 'nuff said.
-Interior styling to die for. Love my M series steering wheel.
-Too many pluses to even mention here. It's an incredible car.

-Drinks holders? What drink holders?
-No console storage
-Car loses considerable power when 98+ degrees out and AC is blowing hard. This REALLY frustrates me.

The Germans know their $hit. Bimmers are "badazz" machines that SCREAM "DRIVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I've tried several times to make my 528 work HARD (difficult corners, acceleration, et al) but it never protests and I've yet to feel it even approach its potential. I've owned Honda Accords most of my life. I then upgraded to an Acura 3.2 TL. Though Honda makes a great product for demanding consumers, and frankly I don't know who in their right mind would buy a domestic car when they can have an Accord (manufactured in Ohio - for all you rednecks reading this), they have NO products that can compete with a BMW. Bimmers are in a class of their own and I can say with EXTREME confidence that I will never again purchase anything but a Beam. Do I recommend the 5 series? ABSOLUTELY.

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Acura 3.2 TL. Th thing about the Acura is, although it's a nice car, when you REALLY punch it, it LEAPS forward violently and then lunges into 2nd gear. I hated the transitions. My 5 series takes off in one long steady burst of speed through all the gears. My buddy, riding in my car for the first time, exclaimed, "Hey, I didn't even feel it switch gears!!" That's how smooth it is. We took it up to Tahoe on highway 50 and I smoked everything in my path. Our average speed up the long and windy highway was around 70 mph. Try that in your [enter Japanese car name here]

Very Powerful, yet smooth engine with excellent acceleration. Comfortable seat positioning. Excellent handling. A true drivers car that is a huge pleasure to drive.

Over engineered, under powered and outdated stereo system. Difficult to operate without reading manual. No in dash CD player.

Paid $37,500 Certified Pre-driven. If you are looking for a 4-door performance sedan that is a wolf in sheeps clothing, you will love this car. You can't touch this kind of performance and handling in Mercedes unless you want to pay $50,000+ for the E55.

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Mercedes Benz E320 - Just as comfortable with alot more performance. Also drove CLK430. Looks are sleeker but it does not perform like a 540.

Handling, comfort and driveability is the best I have ever experienced. Car is a little pricey, but knowing it is the best driving car makes it palatable.

Audio system could be better. Marginal performance. Sounds too harsh.

I recently sold my leased 1998 Lexus GS300 and switched to a BMW 528i, so I want to focus on how the 2 products compare. Service at Lexus was terrific, but when I went to release the sales manger said no one would want a GS300 without a sunroof and leather and tried to "steal" my car. So much for good dealer relations. The BMW and GS are quite different in many ways. The GS is more of a family sedan while the BMW is more of a 4 passenger sports car. Handling of the BMW is much better, more precise and has no understeer on curves. Seats are more comfortble on the BMW, particularly going around curves. The GS has more interior room, a better audio system (comparing std. units). Both are very quiet on the road, and neither have any rattles so far. The finish is first rate on both cars. The auto shift on the BMW is much better with the sports and manual option. In summary, both are great cars. One makes me feel 50, the other 30.

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Lexus GS 300

Superb handling, after years of driving GREAT front-wheel drive cars did not realize how well a rear-wheel drive car with 50-50 weight distribution and a sport package will handle. Rock solid structural rigidity and integrity also helps. Great brakes.

Xenon lights with auto leveling feature is set too low, not good for mountain backroads at night. Sport suspension a little on the "stiff" side, too much road "feel"?. Cannot get comfortable in the sport seats, should have stayed with the regular ones. Sun visor does not have an extension which came in every car I owned before. Stupid cup holders, not much room for "stuff" inside. Snug fit in the cabin for 4 people.

Auto manufacturers talk about 4-door "sports car". This one is it, the 530iA is a sprots car that will haul 4 adults in comfort.

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Considered a MB E320 and a Audi A6 2.7T. Comparable power-to-weight ratio to the 2.7T. Will get a Benz when I get old.

Smooth engine. Pretty good fuel economy considering the performance. Handling is first rate. Brakes are superb. Very quiet. Not too expensive to maintain. Parts have a pretty long life.

Some minor rattles. Dealership service is poor. Stereo system could be a lot better. Fold down rear seats should be standard equipment on a vehicle like this. Sometimes automatic is jerky. Vehicle not discounted much at dealership.

What a great car. Had the car for about 6 months. Purchased with automatic, sport package, parking distance control and fold down rear seats. Second BMW purchased. First one was a 318. Will never go to another make. Car will last at least 8 years. LOVE THE NEW 3.0 litre engine.

Handling (I recommend sport package with 17 inch wheel and stiffer suspension)

Engine performance (torque, hp)

Overall design

The NAV system precludes having an in-dash CD player. While you can put a 6-CD changer in the trunk or glove compartment it is a lot less convenient in these locations (they should offer to ditch the cassette player behind the NAV screen and offer the CD player in this location).

The cup holders are tiny and flimsy.

Fantastic car - it makes driving in even the crowded New York City area a joy! The 540i has awesome handling, tremendous power and solid creature comforts and I would strongly recommend it to driving enthusiasts seeking a luxury 4-door sedan.

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Mercedes E430 - Great car, but less sporty on the windy roads.
Lexus GS430 - Another fine car, but more of a cruiser.

Power, torque, luxury, ride, handling, gadgets

"Premium" stereo that is weak

WOW!! A fantastic car! I just replaced my 1998 M3 4-door with this beauty... A bright red 1998 540i Sport 6-speed. It is VERY fast (though you don't FEEL the speed like you do with the M3). The handling is tight for a car of this size, and it is a joy to drive. It is SOOO much more luxurious than the M3, especially with the navigation system, and sport seats. The ride is a lot less harsh than the M3, but still fun. The only complaint I have is the "premium" stereo system (a $1500 option)... I LOVED the Harmon Kardon system of the M3. It had VERY tight bass, clean highs, excellent imaging, and got very loud. But with the 540 system, the bass is weak and the volume is low. I will add an Infinity Basslink to the system to beef it up a little.

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1998 M3 4 door - the 540 is more luxurious, less of a boy racer car, but still very sporty. A perfect "thirty-something" car.

Incredible power with M5 engine (256hp). My first week with the car i beat a 2001 Ford Mustang GT in a race (my friend's). It wasn't even close. Incredibly smooth, luxurious leather interior. Great 5 speed manual transmission (much looser and quicker than most newer american cars). Great handling acceleration, etc... (the car is a performance machine, it has many performance modifiacations.) Great looks, E28 is a classic body in my opinion.

no cup holders

WOW, what a deal. The dealer picked it up at an auction and sold it to me immediatley once it passed inspection. I test drove it and knew immediatley the engine was not 17 years old, and i was impressed at the incredible power (far more than a 2001 Mustang GT). Once i bought it, i looked up the part numbers, and sure enough, i discovered the previous owner had installed a 1988 E28 M5 engine (256hp)!!! I took it to my mechanic to confirm it. He told me it had new performance brakes, and suspension, as well as custom rims and CD player, and that the engine has no more than 20,000 miles on it!!! This car is by far the luckiest gamble i've ever taken. Everything is in almost perfect condition and it will be a classic in 2004!!!

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Ford Mustang 2001 GT (no comparison), 2001 BMW 525i (very nice but not nearly as powerful or agile).

Everything, except the cup holders and the 6 cd changer.

What is with the 6 CD changer? Couldn't they do a 10 CD changer??
I really didn't like the BMW dealership in SF, they're incompetent folks and they should all be laid off. I'd like to form a group and buy that dealership and make some major changes there.

Very smooth, ultra fast and responsive acceleration. Top handling and monster growl in 4.4 V-8 motor.

I find that once i'm on the road, all the pikers driving hondas, mustangs, etc, come out of the woodwork trying to race me. This is how it usually ends up, I give them a slight handicap since i'm a nice fellow and then i spare them no mercy, i gas on the accelerator and i'm warp speeding ahead of them like they were driving a tricycle. I've gone as fast as 130MPH and almost to the 140-150 mark..

Last night some clown in a Mustang thought he could race me, i just blew past him at 120 and then 130 and he was history. He wouldn't stay down and tried to make a come back..so i let him have it and the motor revved to 145 and he was dust..he had to pitifully bail out by going towards the nearest exit to save face.

I think the only cars that can contend with 540i 4.4 V-8 is either 911 porsche, ferrari, corvette, M5, and 850i.

All others are in the rearview mirror..

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BMW puts the competition in the dust..again.

Been using one as a company car, on and off. Very smooth, and the best straight-six this side of a BMW.

The interior, despite some well-thought-out touches, is bland. Bland bland bland. Like a really competent Camry. The leather is of such high quality and evenness of stitch that I thought I had the American-spec leatherette. And Toyota knows how to design decent steering wheels and gearknobs - look at the standard IS200. So what's with the horrible tiller/auto shifter in the 300?

3.5 out of 5. Worth the money? Yes, if you compare it to the E class, 530i, S-type and all the other rivals. it will probably be more reliable, too. Does it excel? Not really, at least not up front. Maybe you have to live with these cars to appreciate them.

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Well, it goes exactly as I'd expect a mid-large saloon to go with a 3.0 engine in it. But dragging these things off the lights seems peurile. I mean there's the bloke up above who said he raced a 728i and beat it. Whoo hoo. Nothing like racing a car the next size up with an engine smaller than you, is there. Hey, I raced a school bus last week.

It compares well to the Merc E (better built than the E, from my limited experience, although the design is inferior aesthetically) but feels a little porky next to a 5. It's not a sports car. Neither is a 728i. Oh well.