A lady wants my E53...

[PropellerHead]

Kind of a weird story until the dots are connected between the lady and the sale 5 years ago of my 3.0 E53 to my neighbor. They're friends. The lady's teen daughter will turn 16 in July and she's been asking me about the E53 for about a year, now.

On the one hand, I have to agree. Had I the means, I would happily put my own child in an E53 for all the reasons we'd agree on here. In fact, that's sort of been the path we're expecting with my mother-in-law's '01 3.0. At just over 100k, it's been free of most major trouble. We're in countdown mode with my daughter who in 4 years will be 16 in the blink of a father's eye.

But there's my 4.8is. We're supposed to go West again this year. It will be another 5k miles to include Seattle, Oregon, and California's majestic Yosemite National Park. Do I want one last hurrah in my 80k mile 4.8is? Or.. Do I want to bite the bullet and start making new memories in an F15 X5M?Or is all of this crazy talk? Should I just buckle down and start planning next year's E53 National Park tour with longer stays in Glacier and Yellowstone?

I thought of a number. SO SILLY. But if this woman is so inclined and persistent, maybe she'll agree. But what then? It wouldn't be the first time a woman's persistence drove me to a decision I was sorry to make.

[Ricky Bobby]

I'll be first to chime in - the E53 and especially yours has a ton of soul. You'd have to get a stupid high number to even be entertaining it -

Secretly I love reading the E53 Goes West trip threads, so I would miss that a lot.

But everything has a price, my E53 has a price as well, if someone were to give it to me, I'd probably part with it. But I feel like after these years its more the devil I know, and I don't know what I'd get that would have the same "soul" when I drive it. I drove a 435i that I detailed last weekend, nice looking sure but felt pretty numb. My E53 still makes me grin when I drive.

[squidzilla]

The consensus with all of the new F platform Bmw's is they have lost much of the soul the E platforms had. I will not own a new BMW and if I buy a new car it will be a Cadillac since they have picked up where BMW left off with the E's. I was given an F10 5 series while the dealer worked on my 545i and I thought it was a Lexus. Nice but boring. The e53 has more of the old BMW dna in it than any new one.

[mjpgolf1]

In my household we have a 2000 E46 that has been completely restored and is just one of those cars that would be hard to part with because of its history with me, also a 2012 E70 X5 sport, and the 2003 E53 3.0. I personally still much prefer the look and driving feel of the E53 over the E70. Sure the E70 looks mean with its wide tires on its 20" sport wheels, but there is just a feel that the older BMWs have that just isn't present in the newer ones. Even though I've been chasing down a terrible electric gremlin in my E53 for the past few months I still get a big smile on my face when I drive it. Same with my E46. I've been behind the wheel of all of the newer model 3 series cars and they can't even come close to producing the road feel of that E46. I'm sure at some point my E53 will become at its point of needing to move on, but I would be more inclined to look for a newer E53 sport next time to replace it.

I say keep the E53 and drive it until the wheels start to fall off. They just have character that a true BMW enthusiast will always appreciate.

[Dking078]

While I haven't driven any E70-onward variants. I've had some time in the 5 & 6's over the generations. To this day I still refuse to move from E39 > E60.

The soul/performance is there, but heavily clouded.
Will an F15 perform better than the 4.8is? Absolutely.
Will it be more driver oriented? I would think not.

It's all luxury first, performance second now.

KEEP IT!

[g300d]

Well, the E53 is still an awesome driving experience definitely.

But for the right price, I would definitely jump ship to an X5M!

Have spent some time recently in almost similarly performing cars (a CLS 55 and the latest Mustang GT), it drives home the fact that what was once the most powerful SUV in the world is now almost matched in performance by series production diesel SUV's like BMW's own X1 25D.

I havent driven the F X5M but just comparing it to the aforementioned cars that are actually slower, I wouldnt hesitate to upgrade given the opportunity. That much power is simply intoxicating!

[tmv]

She can't afford your iS for her teenager daughter. Maybe a 3.0i with no mods, might not be a V8 and certainly not an iS as yours, Propellerhead.

Originally Posted by Dking078

... To this day I still refuse to move from E39 > E60.
...

You're not alone. That day would never come, for me.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

The consensus with all of the new F platform Bmw's is they have lost much of the soul the E platforms had. I will not own a new BMW and if I buy a new car it will be a Cadillac since they have picked up where BMW left off with the E's. I was given an F10 5 series while the dealer worked on my 545i and I thought it was a Lexus. Nice but boring. The e53 has more of the old BMW dna in it than any new one.

The E platform will most likely (99%) be my last BMWs as well since the brand has lost all that I loved about it.

Funny how this topic came up as I had various co-workers asking to buy my X over the years, but had never entertained the thought of parting with it. I had a serious offer yesterday, but turned it down without a 2nd thought. May be someday

[TiAgX5]

No doubt the E53 has a driver connection the new BMWs don't come close to.

I'm over 200k miles, and would not consider selling unless I'm offered more then I paid when I picked it up at 100k & one owner.

Lots of junk out there, sister in-laws Lexus RX has already been in for leaking valve cover gaskets (under 1 yr & 10k miles!!!).

Drove my father in-laws 2014 Lincoln MKC (5k mile vehicle) over 2k miles in February, what a flaming pile of crap! Actually checked the hood a few times during the trip, the hood shakes and jumps up/down while passing 18 wheelers at 80mph. The passenger side mirror actually moves down and needs to be adjusted after every few truck passes! The sheet metal behind the sunroof is about 1/4" higher then the back edge of the glass panel (actually looked up there at first gas stop because I could hear the wind noise while driving). Turning the climate control fan to high caused a shower of dust/road grit/pollen for the front occupants several times (this car is parked in a SPOTLESS home garage around 99% of the time).

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Kind of a weird story until the dots are connected between the lady and the sale 5 years ago of my 3.0 E53 to my neighbor. They're friends. The lady's teen daughter will turn 16 in July and she's been asking me about the E53 for about a year, now.

On the one hand, I have to agree. Had I the means, I would happily put my own child in an E53 for all the reasons we'd agree on here. In fact, that's sort of been the path we're expecting with my mother-in-law's '01 3.0. At just over 100k, it's been free of most major trouble. We're in countdown mode with my daughter who in 4 years will be 16 in the blink of a father's eye.

But there's my 4.8is. We're supposed to go West again this year. It will be another 5k miles to include Seattle, Oregon, and California's majestic Yosemite National Park. Do I want one last hurrah in my 80k mile 4.8is? Or.. Do I want to bite the bullet and start making new memories in an F15 X5M?Or is all of this crazy talk? Should I just buckle down and start planning next year's E53 National Park tour with longer stays in Glacier and Yellowstone?

I thought of a number. SO SILLY. But if this woman is so inclined and persistent, maybe she'll agree. But what then? It wouldn't be the first time a woman's persistence drove me to a decision I was sorry to make.

Basically that woman should be shopping for a 3.0L X5 E53 If she intends to put your child in one. The 4.8is would not be the appropriate vehicle. Your vehicle is very well maintained and offers a ton smiles and grins when driving. Why give up such an experience. Tell the lady thank you very much and move on.