Yikers, I think a 210 E55 could take it. No usable torque for daily driving. Handles well, but other than that.. eh. Thank god for AMG, big V8's and sinister V12's.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

That's dissapointing on the low end torque. 6 speed or "flappy paddles"?

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

6 speed. Nice shifting car, good (typical) BMW driving dynamics. It really reminded me of my E36 M3. However it didn't feel considerably faster... can't see spending big coin on a car like that. The new 335 turbo will burn those, much more interesting car -- seems like a better buy. Gotta wait in line though!!

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Gross understatement of the year

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

There's a wait list for 335i's? (they're all over the place here) Or do you mean YOU have to wait.

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

You do know that the E55 is packing an additional 2 liters (and then some) of engine right? The cars themselves aren't all that different in weight. This is one of the reasons some BMW folk are not happy with the newer M cars. The weight and level of trim have grown, and keep growing, away from what the original M levels. What was a spiffy weekend racer has become a luxury sports coupe.

Perhaps adding an M5 to this comparison would be good. Perhaps it would look something like this:

http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/bmw/m3/compare/index.html?vehicle[1].year=2002&vehicle[1].make=Mercedes-Benz&vehicle[1].model=E-Class&vehicle[1].trim=367;35;5;15&vehicle[2].year=2003&vehicle[2].make=BMW&vehicle[2].model=M5&vehicle[2].trim=1;35;5;15&strTrim1=

MV

No more BMW's for me. The 740 is enough and serves us well.

I 'spoze the LA dealers have an ample supply. One of the service mgr's told me there was a wait, perhaps he was hyping it up.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

I'm just comparing cars that I know well (owned a 210 E55 and E36 M3), both great cars. This M3 wasn't all that exciting. I'd rather have an old E36... OR a 335.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Myself, E30 convertible. Nothing newer really calls to me. Maybe an E28 535. But that's about it. Or a diesel G. But nothing other than those. I think.

MV

I think the new 5 series is to complex, and that includes the M5.

This is the newest M5 and 5 series I'd buy:

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

It's also the best looking M5 they ever made, last of the pre-Bangle 5 series cars. Fantastic sports sedans IMO.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

BMW's problem with the last generation IMHO is that they achevied design perfection. They couldn't make better looking cars no matter what they did, so they said F it.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You are ABSOLUTELY correct. Those 5 and 7 series are just gorgeous, just as good as it gets. Even the 3 series looked great. It was like the high tide; it crested and since then, it rolled back (and continues to do so)

Its gotten worse--fast-- since then, with their looks. And the iDrive controllers, run flat tires, and all the other "improvements" --- weren't.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

A number of new BMW owners have complained to me about the run flat tires. I guess they ride like crap, wear out in 15k miles, and cost a fortune to replace.

If I were to buy a new BWM I'd put on aftermarket wheels, screw them.

Don't get me going on the I Drive BS. Even MB is getting into it. Why to a need a freaken I drive? The W220 didn't have it and it had all the features anyone could ever want.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I love the 740i/L cars I got to test drive one on the country backroads and it was a blast with the torque and the narrow gearing.

I really wanted a 540i 6 speed since 1994 when they came out....cause it looks like a 525i at the signal.....

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k