wagon owners satisfied?

how are fellow wagon owners feeling about their car these days? i have had mine now abnout 1 year minus the 7 weeks it took to ship over from europe. i have one complaint: gas mileage. admitedly, my driving patterns of very short distances on a cold engine are the worst. otherwise i love the car. those who feel the wagon is overpriced may have a point. that said, the 530 xi t is less than a comparably equipped mercedes e-class wagon. probably the bmw is more money than the audi a6 avant. i must confess that i am a little bit curious about what i am missing with a 530i sedan with active steering and the sport package. that said, i really do appreciate the wagons versatility, looks and feel. i do wonder about build quality and fit and finish versus bmws of about ten years ago. somehow all cars these days seem chintzier.

Reply » wagon owners satisfied?

Very satisfied. The gas mileage is certainly better than my wife's previous 330Ci and the $1,000 BMWCCA-member rebate helped in addition to a good deal on the price.

Reply » wagon owners satisfied?

What's not to like?

For what it is, I'm delighted. I don't expect the car to handle like a 2WD sedan -- and it doesn't. But I did hope it would be a large improvement on the typical 4WD/AWD -- and it is! The car REALLY handles well, surprisingly well. I don't look close at the mileage but I think it's around 16 and I drive it hard.

I love the sunroof, tinted rear windows, wheels, color, and the fact that it's not a dime-a-dozen car. Two of my neighbors/friends drive the usual SUV's, and I always look close when I see a car like theirs approaching to see if it's them (most of the time not). They see me, and know right away. I guess I'm saying I like the distinctive looks.

The COMFORT SEATS are absolutely a dream. I drove 6 hours yesterday in pure comfort. The fold down seats are VERY easy, the car is totally versatile and does everything I want it to do with ease. EXCEPT....... the #%@&! Comfort Access.

On balance, I'm 99.9% happy with the car!

Reply » wagon owners satisfied?

i didnt get comfort access. it wasnt available when i got mine (june 7th ED). i cant say i am sorry i didnt get it. i also like the versatility and the fact that it isnt a dime a dozen car. i will be very curious to see what bmw does to this design in its next incarnation (2011). as i say, i a litle bit curious as what i am missing in a sports package/AS sedan 530 but you know how that goes...the grass is always greener. on balance, i love the wagon and would not trade it..for anything!

Reply » wagon owners satisfied?

What's the deal with the MPG? Someone mentioned averaging 16 MPG?

The EPA rating is 20/28, isn't it? That's one reason, among others, that I'm more interested in the E61 over the X5. Are E61 drivers consistently getting less than 20 MPG?

Reply » wagon owners satisfied?

At 5 months, I'm still liking the E61 with auto/sport/premium/winter. Admittedly, I miss the compactness of my 5-spd 325xit, but this is a good car that manages to do many things extremely well.

Trips to Home Depot, carting my 100 lb Bernese Mountain Dog, good kid carrier, good airport trip car - those are a few of its attributes. I'll drive pretty fast in the middle of the night if I'm trying to get to the hospital for a delivery and I've been pleased with its stability at higher speeds.

In a couple of instances where car-phone gum-flapping drivers try to merge into my lane and I must say that the wagon suddenly felt very nimble in it's quick response.

I-drive ain't so bad, satellite radio is bonus. Cup holders are holding up better than I thought. The power lift gate is great.

If I could do it over again, I would. I'd hold out for manual transmission, upgraded stereo, and I'd try to get some bigger rims.

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