e53 F15 musings - am i missing something

[Russianblue]

So the time has come to bequeath my beloved 2003 e53 with 176k to my teenager who is getting her license.

So I have begun shopping for a new X. Today a girl at work let me drive her 2015 F15 with M Sport package. I drove it around town. and it was nice. i think.

But after driving an 88 528e (w massive mods), a 97 328is and my e53 over the past 19 years, i have come the conclusion that I must be missing something.

What happened to the BMW I came to know and love? is it gone forever, awash in a storm of technical 'advances' ? the first time i ever drove a BMW was my old salvage title 528. i was shopping that car as a sort of joke, and wondering if i really could get a 65k mile bmw for $4k. but they did a decent job rebuilding it and the FIRST time i drove that car, i was in love. it was the brakes and steering that did it. and that has continued, with a very similar driving experience through my past 3 models.

but WTF is going on with the NEW BMWs? was this an anomaly? are all the BMW models like this now? what happened to the FEEL? where are my heavy brakes and steering? are they no longer my direct connection to the road? extensions of my hands and feet?

the F15 felt like my wife's 2015 Buick Enclave she just sold. and wasn't even connected as her e350 wagon. Seriously. Very similar. In fact, I may have even liked the Enclave better.

is it possible to have the BMW driving FEEL again with any of these newer models or is it time to look for another brand?

i have heard the e70s FEEL better. I'm test driving a nice used one this weekend. i'll find out. but what does that mean for the future? are we all destined to drive by wire from now on?