You may want to check www.e60.net

Rob_

I don't own a 530i, but I was given one as a loaner for about two weeks last month. I can honestly say that I didn't much care for the styling both interior and exterior, until, that is, I actually experienced it. It is a wonderful car. The interior feels warm and comfortable while at the same time sporty and aggressive, just like the exterior. The engine is a beast, and it feels like a well-built car all around. As far as the chinese goes, perhaps, I'm not sure. Good luck!

I went from an X5 3.0 to a 530i with SP and active steering…. When I went into the dealer to turn in the X5, I test drove the 530. We did these emergency lane change maneuvers and I could not believe the handling with the SP. I was so impressed after I drove the car (fairly hard) that I left with it that day. I have grown to consider this car my favorite car I have ever owned. To me, it is the perfect balance between the interior size / comfort of the X5 and the sport of the ’99 328i I had.

I did not go for the Nav, so my experience with iDrive is limited to normal car functions, but I find it intuitive and very easy to use once you get the hang of it (plus, if you’re into electronics at all, I am sure you are used to menu systems and stuff). I have no idea about changing languages.

I’m sure the 545 is unreal too.

__________________
___________
'05 530i - Silver on Gray - PP, SP, Xen...
'05 X3 3.0 - Gray on Black - PP, Nav, PDC, Heated Seats, Xen....

I've driven an 04 530i, back when they had only 225hp. Even that is a much more drivable car than my X5 4.4i. It was faster, and it handled much better.

I can only imagine how the 2006 530i drives, with its new 255hp engine!

The other strong contender is the Benz E350. If you look beyond people's usual gripes because they are anti-Benz, that is a serious contender. It looks better inside and out compared to the E60, and the E350 has 268hp - pulls crazy!

__________________
2008 ML320 CDI | Iridium Silver | Black ARTICO Leather | Premium Package (H/K Logic7, Parktronic, Rear Heated Seats, Rear Power Hatch, DVD Nav, 10-way Front Seats w/ Memory) | Backup Camera | Aluminum Running Boards | 4500K MTEC Low-beam HID | 30% Metallic Tint | Boomerang2 Recovery System | Weathertech Front Floorliners | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 Winter Tires

It doesn't handle nearly as well. I drove my friend's dad's E55. The 530i handles light-years better than it. I would probably take a non-sport E60 over the E350 Sport. The Benz has absolutely no feedback whatsoever; it's one very numb experience overall.

I'm gonna have to side with Vinunero on this one. The CEO and i drove the E350 3 times and she decided that the Benz just didn't have it in the performance and handling dept. Oh the interior was great and for her "IT HAD CUP HOLDERS" but to her it required too much effort to get it to jump out of the gate. So she ordered a 2006 530i. Believe me she wanted another Benz, and I even tried to convince her to go that way but she wasn't having it.

__________________
"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Well the Benz is not made to handle. It's a comfort machine. And it cna outperform the 530i in a straight line, while not cheaping out on wood inside...

__________________
2008 ML320 CDI | Iridium Silver | Black ARTICO Leather | Premium Package (H/K Logic7, Parktronic, Rear Heated Seats, Rear Power Hatch, DVD Nav, 10-way Front Seats w/ Memory) | Backup Camera | Aluminum Running Boards | 4500K MTEC Low-beam HID | 30% Metallic Tint | Boomerang2 Recovery System | Weathertech Front Floorliners | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 Winter Tires

LOL.

Thanks for the input, guys! I have taken the plunge, and will be adding an E60 530xi to the stable... the car has really grown on me after I drove it ...although it's not an M5 ... at this kind of lease deal, I really couldn't pass it up! Will post pics soon!!

__________________

As the owner of a 530i I must say that you have made an excellent choice. With the sports package, the car is simply amazing. I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers

__________________
-2006 E53 (X5 4.4) Titanium Silver, fully optioned (sports package, premium package, navigation, ride height adjustment, panorama moon roof, rear climate package). Aero kit installed plus set of staggered 20s with Diamaris tyres.