Power, torque, fast, handling, comfort, quietness, ride.

None.

Second only to M5. Better than even MB E55. Nothing else in the class compares. Actually there's no other car can be placed in the same class as BMW's E39 5 series.

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All mid-sized sport sedan

Interior (very spacious), handling (smooth and so precise), seats (very comfortable), sporty look.

Long delay if the car is ordered (3 months); interior commodity (see below).

I used to own a 325i 1996, which I wanted to change for a 328i 1999. Feeling the interior too crampy, I sat in a 528i, and I immediately knew I had found my car.

I wanted a manual transmission and Xenon lights. Since I couldn't find a dealer with any car carying those features, I had mine ordered. It took 3 months to have it (since it had to be built), but I got to choose the Orient Blue color (only available on the 3-series, stock), and put a moonroof.

My only complaint is about some interior irritants. The glove box is too small; the cup holders are a joke (watch out for spills when turning); climate control is so-so (it is easy to operate, but the target temperature is hardly reached - too hot or too cold); not enough integrior storage; the armrest moves forward/backward, and it shouldn't.

Overall, this car is excellent, and I haven't got any problem for the first year.

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None

Aggressive looks, powerful and smooth engine, great braking and handling. Quiet for the performance level, memory seats/wheel/mirrors, this car seems totally in control at high speeds, crash tests are the best, side airbags, very nice looking interior, 17" BBS wheels and 235/45/17 tires.

Driver's seat is a bit narrow for my broad back. Bolsters should be adjustable. Entry/exit is a little awkward. On-board computer and stereo controls are too complicated. Car is blue, I'd have preferred a Black one.
Rear visability isn't great. Could use more and better on-board storage and a real console. And of course, the ubiquitous mediocre cupholders.

$30,900 used w/ warranty. Car has 67K miles and is in great shape mechanically, good cosmetically (a few very small dings and chips)

I would recommend this car to anyone who wants great performance and four doors and who can give up a little comfort and space in return. It's definitely an enthusiast's car. It's more "logical" to buy an Acura and pocket the other $25,000, but if you have the money, enjoy.

We were shopping 528's but couldn't find a good used one, so we went up a level and found that these were usually in better shape. Probably because their owners could better afford to take care of them and were more respectful of what they had. The power is fun, but you really have to watch yourself. This car entices you into driving through traffic like it's standing still. You can punch it and be passing someone at 110mph and not even realize it.

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The only thing even close I've owned was a '83 Toyota Supra. The supra was great, but it isn't in the same league. The Supra seats were, however, superior.

see below

see below

In my previous review (see below), I mistakenly put the year as 1996. In fact I have a 1997 (new style) 540i which I got in 1996.

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see below

Great looking exterior. Elegant interior. Fairly quiet ride. Very good acceleration and performance. Decent gas mileage. Hands-free phone works well -- is a pleasure to use.

1. driver's seat too narrow for my back, and I'm NOT a muscle man! 2. climate control system drives me crazy -- with auto turned OFF, it still constantly changes the fan speed! 3. have had numerous problems with cooling system. 4. have had numerous problems with gas gauge -- fill up tank and it displays half-full; brought to dealer for fix, which proved temporary -- still doesn't work reliably! 5. back seat not comfortable for average size adults. 6. CD player: random function has poor memory...will play a given song, then play 2 or 3 or 4 other songs, then return to song it played 10-15 minutes before! 7. door lock mechanism poorly designed. This is difficult to explain, but if I want to lock all doors, I may have to push door lock button twice instead of just once. I like cars that lock doors automatically when the ignition is activated and UNlock doors automatically when the engine is turned off. My wife's Honda does this --why can't BMW learn this trick?! 8. The steering wheel tilt function broke at about 60,000 miles -- a costly repair. It took hours of phone calls to get BMW to fix this at their cost -- but I should give them credit for doing so!

Some of the problems and quirks I described are minor, others are not. Taken together, these problems and quirks have made ownership of this car somewhat frustrating. For a car of this cost, I believe ownership should be an absolute pleasure -- for me, this has NOT been the case!

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My first luxury sedan

-the looks
-the handeling
-the power out of a 2.8
-the way it leaves a lexas in the dust
-the way it picks up girls.....lol

-the damn cupholders(to small and fragile)
-no bass in sound system
-i cant think of anything else

All around a great buy. This car has everything u would wanr out of a 2.8 liter sports sedan. Its got a pimpin look,and it handles like carzy. The one thing i did not like was the stock speakers(no bass).the only thing i will choose over this car is a 540i six-speed,and the all time great m5(both are bmw's,and 5 series). There is nothing more to say BMW's are the #1 SPORTS/LUXO cars out their.

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-gs 300
-e 320

Refinement

Cup Holders

I've read some of the reviews with problems and costs....well, first everything imaginable is covered under warranty for 3 years. If I bought an American car, I'd be changing oil every 3k miles and my own expense. BMW oil changes every 15k miles (still bothers me, that's a long time) and they cover it under warranty. The money you save that way surely makes up for something. I've seen other manufacturers doing similar things since we bought ours in early 99.

We've had a problem wih the glove box lock, works sometimes, sometimes whatever it was you were trying to get out just has to stay in there:-)

My biggest gripe is the lack of cup holders. For those of you stating excuses for BMW to NOT have good ones, those are ludicrous. "You can't drink if you drive the car the way it's meant to be driven"? If you drove it that way ALL THE TIME, you'd have so many traffic violations, you could trade your Bimmer for bus fare. Come on people, we live in America with no Autobahn and we gotta have our latte's and foofoo coffees every morning on the way to our 9 to 5's. If you have kids, God forbid they may want to hold their drinks after the Mc'y dees drive through for Happy Meals. I've had ours up to 135 mph (with four occupants) and over 100 mph multiple times, and I can still have a drink in the cupholder. I'm also very meticulous and it kills me to see a 16 oz pop go spraying across the car because of a lack of engineering and marketing studies for where they sell their product.

Now, we are VERY happy with the car, and to have an only gripe of cupholders on a car is phenominal. We don't have any desire to replace this car except for another BMW in quite a few years. I'd suggest to anyone looking to look at BMW. We started wanting a Pontiac Grand Prix GTX and when pricing them out, $32k for a Pontiac led us to looking at a BMW. Wow, I can't believe we thought about buying a Grand Prix:-) WE don't regret spending the extra money. It's more than worth it and a great value and these cars are awesome. If you want to go fast, you can, if you don't you don't have to. BMW offers many models to choose from.

I only wish my Ford Superduty, that cost almost as much as the BMW was built as well and I've had more problems with it and it's newer.

Mark

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Nothing really similar tested, wife doesn't like Mercedes and no Audi or Lexus dealer within 1.5 hours.

Looks. Mine is in billiant red, with black trim, and a Zender rear spoiler and bra. Wolf brand bra, I don't like the fit. Wood interior and leather, looks good and is durable, no cracks and I live in 100 degree + Tucson weather. Windshield has taken quite a few rocks from I-10 construction with no cracks (knock on glass). Engine is strong, smooth, and delivers power well past 100 mph. Handles well, more forgiving than the three, though heavier. Most parts are easy to find, and engine work is easy. I can remove the radiator in minutes, and can replace the fan clutch in 4 minutes, love the high mounted oil filter, great AC, good heater. Tail lights easy to replace. Do most of the work myself, so maintenance is cheaper, plus I know what gets done. Much more status, and doesn't cost as much as people believe!

Some parts are expensive, for no apparent reason. Rear muffler, $300+. Tail lights $265.00, thermostat $15. Have had an annoying overheat problem, runs hot, turn on heater, runs normal. Replaced Radiator, Fan clutch, hoses, water pump, thermostat. Checked electric fan. I'll figure it out, but it's a pain. Radiator also has plastic parts that break, can't be repaired, only replaced.

I love this car. I've been driving BMWs for 13 years, and this is my favorite. My brother has a 94 318, and I like that style, but it feels like a step down. Mine's a 1990, but looks newer, thanks to BMW keeping the style for 6 years (Not three, like a Toyota, and then they change the style so much you feel like you got ripped!). Had a lady hit my taillights last month, and she thought my car was new. I've just hit 100K, and it still is so fun to drive. Put a Dinan chip in a year ago, and it brought some pep in (human nature to get acclimated). There is just something to driving a BMW that I won't feel in other cars. You can take the Lexus out of the garage, but you can't take the Toyota out of the Lexus!

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84 325, 86 325. 88 735. More of a family car than the 325s, more power, but less agile and fun on city streets, but a better highway drive by far. Trunk and build sound better than the Lexus SC300 (Can you say Toyota?).

Very user friendly compared to Mercedes, good gas mileage, excellent handling

Back seat is a tad short but acceptable. Other weaknesses such as cupholders are hardly worth mentioning

The 530i is close to perfect so far; however, most of the luxury and near luxury cars are also good nowadays. It's much more fun compared to the Mercedes E's & more solid than Acura and Lexus.

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Mercedes Benz E430 -- the 530i feels as if it has as much power as the higher priced (by $9k) Benz on the road. Mercedes is more of a luxury stodgy car; the BMW is filled with excitement. Not sure yet how it will hold up in the long run

Exellent piece of German machinery!!
Exellent gadgets for an almost 20 year old car.

poor sounding audio.
Computer chip dried up.That is it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you see one in good shape I highly recommend it.YOU WILL LOVE
THESE BMWS.

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BETTER PERFORMER THAN A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY!!!!!!!!