Which BMW Wagon is the Best in the Last 6 Years

[MT930]

Which BMW Wagon's is the Best in the Last 6 Years

Which one ? Were AWD available?

Educate Me.

[willtel]

There are only two. The 3 and the 5 series, both could be had with AWD. Same sausage, different lengths.

[asphaltgambler]

I'm partial to the E39 540T - last year for them '03. If you can find a nice well maintained example I think they are better (mo) than the later platform.

[Nostril Cheese]

E39

BMW is a much different company now. What are they saying, something like 12,000 miles between oil changes? Hell, they dont even tell you how much oil to put in the engine. It just says "Contact your local BMW service center".

[911dean]

I have a 2001 325 sport wagon with a 5 speed and really like it. If i were to upgrade I'd start looking for a 2006 530 wagon with a 5 speed. The Caddilac CTS wagon would be on my radar also.

Dean

[Ed Bighi]

I've been driving an E46 330D for a few years now. When buying it, I was going back and forth between RWD or AWD. But I get a lot of snow where I live and that makes a RWD a real blast on good winter tires. I bought RWD and enjoy it a lot. No problems there. I pretty much drive on snow every day of winter since I live in a ski resort. But as far as engines, that 3 liter, turbo diesel, inline 6 is a gem. In this world of V's, V's and more V's, you don't pass up on inline 6s. Gobs or torque, and about 30 mpg after driving all day on the autobahn at triple digit speeds.

My mother keeps an E39 in the US, and an E91 in Europe. Both great cars. The current 5 series I find too large. Between the E91 and E46, I prefer the E46. Better looks, far better dashboard design. I have a full size spare in the E46, nothing in the E91. But E46s are getting harder to find in good shape where E91s in good shape can be found all day long. At the end of the day I like both and find the 5 a little on the big side. They are longer than X5s after all. But as far as engines, that turbo diesel inline 6 is out of this world. But I think they still cannot be had in the US.

[cairns]

The e39 528i was the best car i ever owned. 130K in twelve years and the only unscheduled maintenance was a water pump. It had the manual trans and sport suspension but was a sedan and not the wagon.

[Rtrorkt]

We have had a '04 and now have a '10 328Xi. Great cars both, but the newer one is really good, just sucks on gas mileage

[5String43]

We've got a 2003 E39 wagon with the six-cylinder engine 525i, it is. Best car we've ever owned. It's now got 146,000 miles on it and is still going strong. I keep thinking, though, that it's about time for something newer. Only real problem was a fried bearing in a pully that supports the serpentine accessory drive belt. Expensive mess.

One of the things I like about these cars is that BMW really pays attention to seat design. For that reason, you can drive long distances and not arrive feeling as though you've been beaten with rubber hoses. That's been true of every one of the four BMWs we've owned. Not at all true of Mercedes-Benzes, though we haven't had one of those for a very long time.

[Ed Bighi]

I have to agree with what was said about the E39. One heck of a car. Ours is also a 525 sport package wagon. Huge trunk, excellent suspension, nothing broke other than an issue with the radio antenna.

But my 2002 E46, a car I found cheap in Munich (7K euro), has really surprised me. I like it enough that I had an autobahn accident last year which had about 4K in damage to the front and instead of just calling it a day and going to look for an E91, I said nah, let's order up all the parts to make this thing perfect again and get it fixed. After all, I knew the car already and it's becoming harder to find perfect E46 wagons with the big diesel motor.

On the subject of the M57 3L diesel motor, it is a gem. I don't know if it is coming to the US yet. When it does, choosing it is a no brainer. The way I see it, you buy the M57. What bracket you use to carry that motor, be it an E46, E90, E91 or the new F31, they are all good. To those who haven't driven that motor, I highly recommend it. I see it as the best mid sized diesel out there. Here are some M57 links.

BMW M57 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BMW diesel engine (M57): Used in purpose-built Police Cars by Carbon Motors [Archive] - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

It's also the motor of choice for Local Motors Rally Fighter

Diesel Power Local Motors Rally Fighter BMW Diesel Inline 6 Engine Photo 3

If that motor isn't in the USA yet, it's a shame. On my wagon, I have mine chip tuned to 245 hp/370lb-ft of torque. I drove down to Monaco about three weeks ago and got back better than 30 mpg with the foot mostly to the floor whenever traffic allowed. I would have been in the 40s had I driven like a normal person. All with the inherent smoothness of an inline six. Mine is nearing 180 thousand miles on the odometer. With those kinds of numbers I have no interest in hybrids.

[dewolf]

I have an E39 540i and an E46 M3. The E39 is an amazing car. Get very good mileage considering it's almost a 300HP V8. Love it. Love the E46 but if you are looking at an E46 get it inspected carefully.

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