[fthirtyfivea]

Ok, I wish I didn't read that poll a while back that asked if anyone would have rather had something else than an e90.

The 330i that I ordered a couple of weeks ago is now in production and I am now having second thoughts. I didn't consider the 530i because of cost and need. I am going to be using the 330i mainly as a commuter car to and from work. I have an SUV already that my wife drives. The extra room didn't justify the cost. Also, the 3 Series have had such good reviews, as opposed to the 5. The 330i would definitely be a better driving experience. I drove both teh 325i and 330i, but not he 530i. But the 530i appears more luxurious than sporty and has similar power and acceleration to the 330i. Plus, I am in no ways an agressive driver. I would rather have a car that would be a good driving experience in terms of a comfortable ride. My typical drive to and from work is 35-45 mph.

Now I don't know what to do and would like some input from 3 Series enthusiasts on the e60. Obviously, you wouldn't be going to this board if you were lukewarm about he e90. My questions is not geared necessarily to what would you prefer - that's pretty obvious. I'd like to get an e90 enthusiast's take on the e60. What do you like and don't like about it? Exterior? The less than enthusiastic reviews? Dirivng, handling, power? Features, luxuriousness?

Thanks in advance!

[tonee8519]

3 series is simply fun and 5 series is simply luxury.

[foofighter]

it's the same motor that's in the 330 right? but put into a bigger heavier car...

[wyrm11]

One common misconception about the 3 vs. the 5 is that the 5 has a significant amount of more room inside...which just isn't the case. If you look up the interior measurements on the website, you'll see that both the e90 and e60 have comparable dimensions for riders.

[N1]

5 series is M5, 530i and 530d or 535d. I prefer 3 series because i use the car often alone and 5 series is bigger, heavier, for oldest ? Nevertheless M5 and 535d are great cars for 1500 miles day with more comfort.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by fthirtyfivea

Ok, I wish I didn't read that poll a while back that asked if anyone would have rather had something else than an e90.

The 330i that I ordered a couple of weeks ago is now in production and I am now having second thoughts. Thanks in advance!

What are you having doubts about? Everything you mention above clearly favors you purchasing the 330 over the 530. Many car purchases are based on cost and need and it seems the 330 fits the bill for you.

My brother owns a 530. I like it, the exterior has grown on me. The reviews vary so it's hard to gauge without driving it yourself. It's a BMW so it drives well, handles great, yet I think it should have a more powerful engine. He should have bought the 550 or M5. BMW can nickle and dime you on options, but no matter how it's equipped you can luxury it up or sport it down. It all depends on what you like and what you're willing to pay for. I hope my rant was helpful.

[JSpira]

Two weeks ago, I spent almost a week driving a 540i.

Although it had some nice features (NightVision, HUD), it reinforced my decision in moving from a 5er back to a 3er late last year.

At a speed of 220, the 540i didn´t feel quite as stable as my 330xi.

There is no question that ,,Freude am Fahren`` applies more to the 3er than to the 5er.

[CnoteMD]

More than likely my wife will get a BMW 530i as her next car, so we took a test drive a while back. The car we drove did not have the sport package and was a steptronic.

Overall, the E60 was much more spacious inside than the dimensions would lead you to believe. I am 6'2" and I actually fit in the backseat. Also, the acceleration was only slightly slower than my 330i (with 6 speed manual). I noticed that there is only a small weight difference between the 330 and 530 (I think it is due to the amount of aluminum in the front contruction of the 5 series). The handling was very good for a larger car, but cannot compare to a 3 series with sport package.

After that test drive I was even more confident that I made the right decision. However, if you are going more for a comfortable and luxurious ride a 5 series may be a reasonable option. I would characterize my 3 series at 70-80% sport/20-30% luxury. The 5 series is more of a 50/50 split.

Hope that helps.

[hotsand5]

Actually, I had a 525, not a 530 but close.. for a loaner, and I thought that the fit and finish looks way better in the 330 than in the 525. Yes, the outside looks more luxurious in the 5 where the 3 is more sporty. The ride was good, but way more aggressive in the 330. Again, it just comes down to personal preference. In my opinion the 330 loaded gives you better interior and better performance.

[canucklion]

it's atually not much bigger and not much heavier (due to even more lightweight materials being used), like others have pointed out, it's a general misconception that 5 is significantly bigger than the 3. Exterior-wise, yes the 5 is bigger, trunk space, again it's bigger, but interior-wise, not really.

Here's the data from edmunds:

Originally Posted by foofighter

it's the same motor that's in the 330 right? but put into a bigger heavier car...

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Ethirtynine

I am 21 and sometimes I feel somewhat too old to be driving a 3-series.

how old or young do you perceive the driver of a 3er to be?

[foofighter]

canuck you're right...the interior is more suited towards 4 passengers rather than 5 and those interior dimensions dont lie. it's big enough though to put the 0-60 up a tick or so.

[Krockit]

Go to a dealer and put them side by side in the same color, your color of choice. 5 series is plain ugly next to the 3. I could have bought either but just couldn't get past the trunk styling on the 5. Drove them both and the 5 was more ponderous. Now if you want a beautiful 5, find yourself a creampuff low mileage 2002-2003 540i - now that's a fine ride...

[HKlein]

Originally Posted by Ethirtynine

I am 21 and sometimes I feel somewhat too old to be driving a 3-series.

2.5?

WOW! This brings up an interesting discussion. How old is the typical e90 driver? I'm 41 and don't feel too old to drive an e90. It's still a fun car. Am I kidding myself?

Admitedly, I suppose most people on this site are younger enthusiasts, but if we think about the "typical" 3-series driver, how old do you think he/she is.

Has anyone seen demographics on the typical driver?

[fthirtyfivea]

Originally Posted by foofighter

it's the same motor that's in the 330 right? but put into a bigger heavier car...

But I think it's only about 100 lbs heavier.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by Ethirtynine

I am 21 and sometimes I feel somewhat too old to be driving a 3-series.

.... no offense but that makes no sense to me.

[human]

Trust me, the 3-series is for everyone! It's a little sportier (remember, the 5-series is sporty too), more affordable, and doesn't have as long a trunk as the 5-series! That's about it as far as functionality. Of course, there are the obvious styling differences. Since the 3-series is so versatile, it really can be for just about anyone.

To fthirtyfivea: PLEASE try out the 325 non-sport!! After buying my 330 sport last year, a friend bought the 325 non-sport, and for commuting (or for anything, really), this IS THE CAR. It feels just as sporty in 95% of driving situations, just as tight, and just as fast in 95% of driving situations. It's quieter (not as much gear/engine whine), and feels like it has equivalent torque. With the non-sport wheels / tires, I was amazed by the balance of performance and comfort. I also regret not having ordered i-drive/navigation. There's a lot more to it than just the maps!

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by fthirtyfivea

Ok, I wish I didn't read that poll a while back that asked if anyone would have rather had something else than an e90.

The 330i that I ordered a couple of weeks ago is now in production and I am now having second thoughts. I didn't consider the 530i because of cost and need. I am going to be using the 330i mainly as a commuter car to and from work. I have an SUV already that my wife drives. The extra room didn't justify the cost. Also, the 3 Series have had such good reviews, as opposed to the 5. The 330i would definitely be a better driving experience. I drove both teh 325i and 330i, but not he 530i. But the 530i appears more luxurious than sporty and has similar power and acceleration to the 330i. Plus, I am in no ways an agressive driver. I would rather have a car that would be a good driving experience in terms of a comfortable ride. My typical drive to and from work is 35-45 mph.

Now I don't know what to do and would like some input from 3 Series enthusiasts on the e60. Obviously, you wouldn't be going to this board if you were lukewarm about he e90. My questions is not geared necessarily to what would you prefer - that's pretty obvious. I'd like to get an e90 enthusiast's take on the e60. What do you like and don't like about it? Exterior? The less than enthusiastic reviews? Dirivng, handling, power? Features, luxuriousness?

Thanks in advance!

Based on what you have said the 530 might be a choice for you if you like the feel of a larger car but not really. Typical BMW handling, mannerisms and so forth. 530 is the type of car that you can just cruise around and enjoy your destination whereever you go. If you need to step on the gas and get there quickly, you can do that too. It offers slightly more room if you are concerned about your passengers or for a trip. Price is more on the 530 but has several different feature the 330 i does not have (HUD). Exterior styling has different hues unlike that of the 330. Different taillight and design, front faschia and hood lines. People who usually drive this car expect a certain level of luxury and tend to take it easy driving. Nice car with several different trim levels to choose from. I think the 530 is right up your alley and benefit you more than the sportier 330i. Even a loaded 330i with all the features would already put you in the 530 price range. Good luck with your decision.

[codylcast]

I test drove a 525i before pulling the trigger on a 330i. IMHO, 5 series beats the 3er in the following 2 categories: comfort of ride (5er isolates the driver a more from the road than the 3er - if thats a good or bad thing you decide), cabin/trunk space (not much more space than the 3er). Thats it. The 3er has better acceleration, handling/steering feel, interior fit and finish, gas mileage (not much advantage over the 5er though). Both cars I tested had similar set-ups (sports package, steptronic).

BTW, I'm 34..

[ed328ci]

Originally Posted by foofighter

...it's big enough though to put the 0-60 up a tick or so.

50 lbs? That's the difference between an average driver, and a fat driver, or between a male verses female driver.

Ed

[canucklion]

search for it, there's an age poll somewehre here

Originally Posted by HKlein

Has anyone seen demographics on the typical driver?

[fthirtyfivea]

[QUOTE=canucklion]it's atually not much bigger and not much heavier (due to even more lightweight materials being used), like others have pointed out, it's a general misconception that 5 is significantly bigger than the 3. Exterior-wise, yes the 5 is bigger, trunk space, again it's bigger, but interior-wise, not really.

Wow. I didn't know that they were very similar. I mainly was looking at the external dimensions. Width is very similar. Main difference was in the length.

Everyone has provided great opinions to chew on. For me I think age is somewhat of a factor. I'm 40 and don't want something that's for a younger crowd. But I've also been seeing a lot of 5 series lately and there is somewhat of wow factor with me. Maybe I've been looking too much at 3 series pics that I downloaded on my laptop.

A number of things give me pause besides price. Anyone concerned with the less than enthusiastic reviews. What's the deal with them? I haven't seen many recent ones either.