New 5 Series

[MITSU-EVO]

I think it looks pretty awful...

[Brom]

BMW has never been my cup of tea til the new 5 series came out
all the old ones were kinda funky looking IMO

i love the 525i and bought it
also looked a jag V series and G35

ps i love all the lines etc...

[Brom]

and oh yeah
to all you old bimmer addicts
this 2004 525i is gonna be a classic

[Filehorse 525i]

Originally Posted by Brom

BMW has never been my cup of tea til the new 5 series came out
all the old ones were kinda funky looking IMO

i love the 525i and bought it
also looked a jag V series and G35

ps i love all the lines etc...

I understand where you're coming from. I'm torn between the E60's technical\performance achievments and the exterior styling. I'd never thought about it until now but you bring up an interesting point: I don't see how someone could be passionate about the E39 and immediately fall in love with the E60. Of course, if you never really liked the E39 then appreciating the E60 styling is much more likely.

Hey, it's still a BMW.

[JimLev]

The new E60 sucks.

[kyazh]

I think the new 5 looks pretty good (speacially jet black or alpine white). It just stirres up a lot of controversy because of the new styling. It's something new, most people aren't used to the design so that's why it's so controversial. I guess in the end you either love it or hate it. There just a couple drawbacks such as paying extra for folding rear seats (come on I bet folding seats are standard even in a Kia), the 10 speaker stereo should also be standard, it is after all a beemer! But overall I love it.

[chrism]

I have an e39, saab 9-5 wagon (huge mistake) and an '04 MDX...tricked out.
the new 5 is growing on me...I disliked it at first; thought it looked too japanese...that's OK because I just got rid of my impressive '02 Acura TL Type S for the MDX (kids plus 3rd row and dvd for my wife)...but we're talking bimmers...if I wanted another japo, I would've forgone the e39 and picked up the new tl.
the soon-to-be M5 is solid...however, I think I'd pick up the e39 style M5. the new 6 series is questionable as well....talk about your pontiac copies...too goofy.
the "new" 7 was a blatent mistake. one of the sharpest cars on the road is the 98-2002(?) 7 series.
the z3 was awful and the z4 is not much better.

I really do not know, I may dump the '97 e39 (60 K) and get an 330 conv, m3 conv, or maybe even benz e-class. the amg is pretty wild.
we'll see...I understand the new 3 is supposed to be decent.

BMW really needs to sit down w/ Bangle and tell him he's dropping the ball.

there is nothing wrong w/redesigns, but his are too radical. look at the carerra...refined for 30+ years and still looks more fantastic each year.

"tired" styling sometimes=classics.

[MITSU-EVO]

As much as I used to like the E39, I hate the E60 with passion...And I cannot help help wondering why BMW replaced Henrik Fisker(the designer of the Z8) with Chris Bangle. Nowadays, Henrik Fisker is creating wonders with Aston Martin

[TheScientist]

Originally Posted by MITSU-EVO

Nowadays, Henrik Fisker is creating wonders with Aston Martin

I'd like to say he is doing a very good job the the new Astons. Especially the new DB9. Did he design the Vanquish and AMV8 (sorry for posting Aston stuff in the BMW but he brought it up )

[Presley348]

"Do your best. Now do it Better" (BMW)

And they have! I was looking to purchase a like new preowned; BMW certified 2003 530i with only 8000 miles for $39,000.00, but after I test drove the new 2004 530i, (That cost $54,000.00), I quickly changed my mind, there is no comparison with the two, it is like night and day in the smooth ride the new 04 has over the 03, and 04 active "flat cornering" steering and handling!

Now I am getting use to the i drive, and I do not know what I would do without it, it will spoil a person, bottom line: it is BMW's Microsoft based type invention that control's many everyday driver functions, that can be found in the i-drive menu of the 04, 5 series, It is awesome!

But don't take my word on it, if you have not already test drive one yet, you might want to for yourself, if you like Bimmers.

Now I admit, I too liked the old body style, but the new body style kind of grew on me after a while, especially after test driving it..

After a couple of weeks now of looking and test driving 04 530i's, the other day I finally struck a deal with the BMW dealership here in Atlanta, GA, and got my 530i at a fair BMW price. I now own the new 04 530i, and all I can say it is one hi-tech, more power than one would ever need in a 5 series Bimmer, that gets 32 MPG, Hwy!

The ride in the 2004 530i is much smoother than the 2003, and the 2004 530i is far superior in handling than the 2003 530i.

Ep

[MITSU-EVO]

Originally Posted by TheScientist

I'd like to say he is doing a very good job the the new Astons. Especially the new DB9. Did he design the Vanquish and AMV8 (sorry for posting Aston stuff in the BMW but he brought it up )

The V12 Vanquish was designed by Ian Callum before he got in charge of Jaguar, but AMV8 is designed by Henrik Fisker, just like the DB9...Sorry everyone, done with the Aston conversation, back to Bimmers.

[patuxent]

The e60 is an improvement over the e39. On test drives, I was impressed with the Active Roll Stabilization (ARS) and active steering. I like the lack of drama, even "spookiness" with which the car goes through a back road sharp turn. The e60 w/ sport package will apparently generate 0.90 g on the skid pad, while my recollection is the e39 was in the low .80's.

Anyone who owned a e34 or e12 might fondly remember the "rear wheel steering" of these models which would occur when the rear sqauted in aggressive turns. I missed this in the e39, but then it was clear that the e39 was an improvement.

The only thing that doesn't stir my sole about the new e60 is the styling.
But then again, I was never blown away by the e39 styling. For that matter, it's a pity Bangle isn't in to retro styling. An update of the e12 styling, which I still think looks great, would have been interesting.

[Presley348]

Originally Posted by TheScientist

father's on list for the M5

Looks like my new one, and it is one fine Hi Tech BMW!