[fueledbymetal]

I just traded in my '07 328i for a CPO '05 545i. I loved my 328i, but I have bad knees and hips, so I wanted something a bit taller that was easier to get in & out of but was still fun to drive. I'm big into cycling, so I was also hoping to find something that I could attach a trailer hitch to for a bike rack (I don't like roof racks because I keep my car in a garage).

I had been doing some research over the past few weeks and on paper the X3 looked like a great fit. I made an appointment to test drive one but it didn't meet my expectations. It was by far the best handling SUV I'd ever driven, but it was still to "truckish" for my tastes while I was hoping it would be more like a tall wagon.

I had driven my neighbor's 545i a few months ago and was blown away by the handling and the smoothness of the V8. There were a few CPO '05's on the lot, so I asked to test drive one. The sticker price was more than I was willing to pay, but I thought it would at least be worth trying to work out a deal.

The test drive went great - the car was just as awesome as I had remembered. The 5 is only about 3" taller, but it was much easier on the joints getting in & out. The Active Roll Stabilization (ARS) has to be the best modern handling gizmo - I just love how flat the car is taking turns. Although my 3 felt more nimble, I just can't get over how nice the flat feeling of the 5 is. And of course the engine rocks. The 328 engine is fun and definitely fast enough for my needs, but the V8 just takes things to another level in torque & smoothness.

I'm sure the 335 would pull harder (especially chipped), but there's a certain satisfaction with NA power, especially since we may never see NA V8's from BMW again. I know today's gas guzzling V8's are the devil, but I bet buying a used car is better for the environment when you consider all the additional energy that goes into building a new car that only gets ~20% better fuel economy.

The car had many of same options as my 3, but everything was just a little nicer in the 5. Both have the L7 system, but the 5 is a little quieter so the overall listening experience is better. As mentioned above, the ARS makes the handling superior for my tastes (spirited driving around town). The heated seats can be biased towards seat bottom or seat back, and the heated steering wheel is nice. I-drive allows all sorts of cool customization. My favorite feature is the ability to program the HVAC fans to kick on while the car is parked to help cool it down on a hot day rather than melting your face off when after a hard day at work

As great as the 5 is, there are a few things I'll miss on the 3. As mentioned above, it's a little more nimble. Plus, at 5'10" & 145 lbs, the sport seats hugged me better in the 3. Despite the lack of power, the 3 overall feels more "sports car like". But at this stage, the overall driving character of the 5 fits my needs better.

So, we ran the numbers and after a little bit of haggling things worked out to almost exactly what I had gone there willing to spend. I haven't been able to find a trailer hitch for it, but the overall joy of driving the vehicle more than makes up for the hassles of using a trunk rack

If BMW is reading this, please please please add ARS as an option to the next 3 series!

[6MTFTMFW]

5'10", 145lbs....your 0-60MPH is probably the fastest that 545i has ever done

Good luck with the new car.

[jaespark87]

5'10" and only 145 lbs !? haha time to stuff some meat

but yeah, that V8 engine should be rocking your seats.

[yazz]

if you don't mind how much was the sticker and how many miles were on it?

i'm looking to get a 3 in the coming weeks, but i'd take a 5 if i could afford it

[Year's_End]

That 4.4L V8 makes a great noise too.

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Its a pig, but a great cruiser.

[StarrDlux]

can you explain the handling? does it have 35 series run flats on 18's as well? or 19's?

I've always like the 5 series but based on my audi a6 driving experiences, it still felt like a boat.

now i had a nice 89 750il with racing dynamic 5 spoke 17's and that bugger for its age and condition seemed to handle very nice as well. but its been so long nice is relative.

perhaps you could give us a more in depth comparison.

i assume your 328 was sport too??

[Dmillion]

I have a 545 with sports package (18 inch wheels) and it handles pretty good. I was surprised at how flat the car was in turns. I make sure make a few hard turns everyday.

My dealer always gives me a 328 (without sports package) loaner when I take my car in for service, and I can say that the 3 does feel a little bit more nimble. I think the size and weight of the 3 series is partially what gives it that feel.

I dated this sexy chick that purchased a e92 328 with sports when they first came out, and I can say the ride was definetly stiffer compared to my 5. I could feel a lot more of the road in her car.

[Dmillion]

Check this out too if u want to compare the 3 to the 5

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108915

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by yazz

if you don't mind how much was the sticker and how many miles were on it?

i'm looking to get a 3 in the coming weeks, but i'd take a 5 if i could afford it

2005 545i flawless condition, 33k miles, Step, Sport, Premium Audio, Cold weather and Park Distance Control. Sticker was ~$39k, paid $33,870. Also, BMW has a program now for '05 CPO cars where they make the first 2 month's payments if you finance with them + they have pretty good rates. Or, if you find a better rate (like I did ) you can let them make the first two payments then refinance - that will knock ~$1.5k off the price if you finance for the shortest term possible.

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by StarrDlux

can you explain the handling? does it have 35 series run flats on 18's as well? or 19's?

I've always like the 5 series but based on my audi a6 driving experiences, it still felt like a boat.

now i had a nice 89 750il with racing dynamic 5 spoke 17's and that bugger for its age and condition seemed to handle very nice as well. but its been so long nice is relative.

perhaps you could give us a more in depth comparison.

i assume your 328 was sport too??

Both cars had the sport package and the 5 is on the stock 18" wheels with runflats. The 5 doesn't communicate quite as well as the 3 and it takes a little getting used to the size of the 5, but in no way does it feel like a boat. It's just as buttoned down while braking and even flatter in the turns due to ARS. I'm sure a 335 would beat a 535 around a track, but on public roads I prefer the flat cornering of the 5's ARS to the (possible) higher cornering speed of the 3. Despite the runflats, the 5 also has a much smoother ride.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by panerai7

5'10", 145lbs....your 0-60MPH is probably the fastest that 545i has ever done

Good luck with the new car.

Agreed, Good luck.

O and thanks for letting me test out my bar code reader on my phone.

I thought it was going to be funny. Not your email