Checked out a 5 speed 3.0 today

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

I never really had a problem with the back end of the E6x. I can't stand the headlights or the slab sides.

It is absolutely subjective, of course! But IMO, the E53 has aged a lot better.

And while I'd like the N54 power, I don't really want to deal with N54 maintenance. (And I have no reason to get the N52 wagon.) I have enough cranky engines in my life already. ...and the thing is that I don't like the way that modern turbo engines drive. So I'd have to change the turbos to make it drive the way I want. And then we're talking about a whole other can of worms. You can see how I ended up in the E53.

Yep, your powertrain reasoning makes a lot of sense. Which is why I have a 550i carcass that was in a slight front impact sitting out front as a donor for the N52 powered wagon whenever I have $$$ to burn doing the swap. Though I must say the N52, while slow, still drags the E61 around without feeling unsafe. Has enough torque to merge and drive normally. Just not enough to be spirited in any way. Plus it's very smooth. Quietest cabin of any vehicle we own, which is saying something being a wagon.