We had an '02 3.0 and got a CPO '08 4.8 with 36k for the same reason you noted, not wanting to start dumping repair money into a 10 year old vehicle. We've owned it for almost a year and of course there is no comparison in the power (you can't compare a 3.0 to a 4.8 in this regard) and the iDrive system was another big change that we've adapted to and like. The creature comforts are great and with the sport package it handles almost as well as the E53 despite the longer wheel base and heavier weight. Overall I would say we're happy and I bet you will be too, but I suspect there will be days that you will miss your E53 as we do.

I have to say I miss the simplicity of the E53, it was a rock solid vehicle that was very dependable. The E70 has so many computer systems running things that at times it just seems quirky to us. It spent a week at the dealership because it wouldn't shift out of park and then wouldn't start. They ended up re-programming the software in the entire vehicle and since then it hasn't repeated this issue. The software that controls the transmission seems to be inconsistent with where it shifts at times, I don't know if these issues are something that plagues the '08's or just ours.

Does anyone know or have you experienced transmission/software issues with your '08?