[89911]

I own a 2003 540i and searched long for one. If your looking for something that is a reliable used car and little issues, stick to Honda, Toyota, and maybe Subaru's. I have yet to see a higher performance vehicle like a BMW (or Audi, Porsche, VW) not have some kind of issues. It comes down to how much you value the driving experience. The E39 5 series is one of the best handling platforms ever designed. The car feels like is is made from one solid piece of steel. If this stuff is important, sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and just buy one. Or else drive Toyota's.