I've been following this board now for a few months and primarily focused on the E90 forum since I was most interested in a 330xi. I decided to drive the 525xi and 530xi yesterday while I was at the dealer for a first drive of the 330xi. I realized that I actually prefer the 5 series over the 3, maybe its a sign of age, but I think the 5 is a better fit for my current needs including the need for a larger back seat. I know my spouse would much prefer the larger car and always considered driving the 3 series to be like being in a "go cart". I currently have an A4 (bad mistake, buying decision made in haste a few years ago when I needed to move from my manual 325 to an automatic due to a knee injury) and the back seat is not really very functional for anyone other than kids. The new 3 series back seat is a bit larger, but access is still not that easy (especially for men with large feet). The 5 backseat was much more roomy and also easier to access.

I've started reading up on the 5 and see that it has a poor reliability rating from Conumer Reports, but that was based on the 04 model year. Any idea how it has done now that it is in its third year of production? I know from a recent CR report that models tend to become more reliable in subsequent model years, but BMW still was pretty far down the pack on reliability.

I've also seen a number of comparison tests where the 530i did not fare very well (third place in Motor Trend, sixth place in Car and Driver), but that was the old engine, not the new 255 hp version. And, it seems that much of the downgrade for the 5 is based on styling (which I like) and iDrive (which on a quick look yesterday did not seem that complicated), not on actual driving performance where they all note the wonderful BMW engine and the terrific handling. I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts about where the 5 sits compared to other models. I also drove the Lexus GS300 AWD and the Infiniti M35x yesterday. The Lexus was a nice car, but more tuned toward luxury, not driving pleasure and the headroom and access to the backseat were pretty compromised by the roofline. I liked the Infiniti a lot and you certainly get a lot more toys for your money, but I did not really like the sound of the engine and I also am a bit put off by buying $50,000 for a car that in many ways is an upscale Nissan (I really like the fact that BMW does not have a division that sells less expensive versions of its cars). That said, the M has gotten outstanding reviews and has won every comparison test I have seen (Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, Car and Driver). So, how do people think the 5 compares to the M? I'm planning to do ED if I go with the 5 so that is another "plus" and it helps to offset the price difference between the 5 and the M, though there are still some nice "toys" in the M (e.g., rearview camera, rear seat DVD system) that you cannot get in the 5. I'm looking to buy a car that I will be happy to keep for many years, I loved my old 325 and I love the feel of how BMWs drive, but I don't want loyalty to be the only factor in making a decision on what $50,000 car to buy.

OK, I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Thanks

John