Current model that drives like E39

[stavstavcc]

The last BMW I owned was an E39 530i about 10 years ago and it was the best daily driver I've even had.

I absolutely loved the way it drove, especially on highways. It was like a hungry hippo swallowing the highway miles like marbles and made the distances feel much shorter. After a five hours drive I would not feel tired at all. It felt like a tank or a train, eager to take me to my destination without any effort from my side.

Not sure how I can make myself more clear. I just assume that since this is a E39 group, most of you have felt the same and can understand what I am feeling.

Anyways, to make the long story short, I am finding myself in a position where I can again afford a luxury car, and want to get one that resembles that feeling the most. I was thinking of a cross-over, something like an X6M or XM, but not sure if I will get the same driving feel. Just from test driving them for 2-3 miles it's difficult to tell.

I guess the obvious best bet would be a 530i or wait for the 540i, but wanted to get feedback from this group as well.

Do you understand what I am referring to? What make/model in your opinion comes closer to the above?

Thanks in advance!

[tturedraider]

The G20 M340i is what you are looking for. A current 5er will not be the same as the E39.

[ppointer]

I though I have not owned an e39, I do have an e60 and g30 (among other BMWs). The g30 is more luxury oriented than the e60. The regenerative brakes on the g30 feel quite odd at very low speeds, though they're fine above 30. I keep the steering set to 'sport', but that just makes the wheel heavier without adding any more road feel to it. The e60 has great steering and brakes.

All that being said, my g30 540i m-sport eats the highway miles with ease.

[stavstavcc]

Maybe I should have done a google search before starting this thread. Looks like I am not the only one that misses the E39..

[MJBO]

You’re kind of all across the board OP. Want an “E39 feel”, but test driving X6 and XM which are quite different price points and nothing like a 25 year old sedan. Then you’re throwing a povo 530i into the maybe mix.

You’re in the General section here which is across the whole Bimmerpost site. E39 stuff is here: https://e39.5post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=201

With the way the sizes have grown over the decades, a 3 series is likely where you’re looking. But if you’re prepared to spend XM money, then I don’t know.

[tturedraider]

I should have mentioned in my first post the G20 M340i is a pretty phenomenal highway cruiser. It’s not the first thing I think about with the 3er and it’s not the most important thing to me either, so I was quite surprised (pleasantly) when I drove my 2020 G20 M340i xDrive on a road trip from Chicago to Williamstown, KY in June. It was a real pleasure to drive and it just ate up the miles. The car was comfortable, but it really was the phenomenal B58 motor and the ZF8 transmission combination that made it so enjoyable. The response of the powertrain is absolutely effortless. That experience is one of the things I miss most about the M340i. Ultimately the G20 was just a little too techie for me and I decided to go back to a 2018 LCI F30 340i M Sport, but if regular, long road trips were a part of my life I might have made a different decision.

And, just for clarity, the G20 M340i is the BMW today that is most like the E39 5er. The F30 3er is not that car. But, for me I am happier with it because I am down deep a 3er guy.

[stavstavcc]

Originally Posted by MJBO

You’re in the General section here which is across the whole Bimmerpost site. E39 stuff is here: https://e39.5post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=201

Oops. Sorry. I messed up

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by stavstavcc

Oops. Sorry. I messed up

I don’t think you messed up. If you want input from owner across the range you’re in the right forum for everyone to see your post.

[stavstavcc]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I should have mentioned in my first post the G20 M340i is a pretty phenomenal highway cruiser. It’s not the first thing I think about with the 3er and it’s not the most important thing to me either, so I was quite surprised (pleasantly) when I drove my 2020 G20 M340i xDrive on a road trip from Chicago to Williamstown, KY in June. It was a real pleasure to drive and it just ate up the miles. The car was comfortable, but it really was the phenomenal B58 motor and the ZF8 transmission combination that made it so enjoyable. The response of the powertrain is absolutely effortless. That experience is one of the things I miss most about the M340i. Ultimately the G20 was just a little too techie for me and I decided to go back to a 2018 LCI F30 340i M Sport, but if regular, long road trips were a part of my life I might have made a different decision.

And, just for clarity, the G20 M340i is the BMW today that is most like the E39 5er. The F30 3er is not that car. But, for me I am happier with it because I am down deep a 3er guy.

Thanks, helps a lot! I didn't even have the 3 series in my radar. Will definitely be going and test driving one, once I can find one locally!

[stavstavcc]

Originally Posted by MJBO

You’re kind of all across the board OP. Want an “E39 feel”, but test driving X6 and XM which are quite different price points and nothing like a 25 year old sedan. Then you’re throwing a povo 530i into the maybe mix.

With the way the sizes have grown over the decades, a 3 series is likely where you’re looking. But if you’re prepared to spend XM money, then I don’t know.

I haven't been fortunate enough until now to be able to afford a BMW again, so haven't kept up. Hence I'm asking here. But if you think X6M and XM are all over the place, then you should see the other cars I've been considering..

Thankfully you folks pointed me to the right direction

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by stavstavcc

Thanks, helps a lot! I didn't even have the 3 series in my radar. Will definitely be going and test driving one, once I can find one locally!

Personally, I think the 2020 model is the best. It is the only one without the mild hybrid, which totally neutered the exhaust note. Also, 2021 and 2022 especially got hit with missing features because of the pandemic supply chain issues. A guy in Cali just posted a perfect 2020 in the G20 classifieds. The Dravit Grey and the Mocha leather are a pretty unique combination. Dravit Grey is an extra cost Individual color and it is in pretty high demand.

Here it is - https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2056865

It may be priced slightly high. It’s a little hard to say. This car is virtually identical to my car, except a little better in that it has the adaptive suspension my car lacked. My car had about 25k miles when I sold it in July and I sold it for $47,900. It had a brand new set of performance all season tires. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2029798

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by stavstavcc

I haven't been fortunate enough until now to be able to afford a BMW again, so haven't kept out. Hence I'm asking here. But if you think X6M and XM are all over the place, then you should see the other cars I've been considering..

Thankfully you folks pointed me to the right direction

No judgement, plenty of times in my motoring history my list of cars under consideration is wildly diverse.

Just means it’s rather difficult to make suggestions.

[tturedraider]

Just want to be sure you notice I added more to my post with the listing link. I have to be honest. That listing tugs at my heart strings. The powertrain in this car is, in my opinion, one of the very best BMW has ever produced.

[stavstavcc]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Just want to be sure you notice I added more to my post with the listing link. I have to be honest. That listing tugs at my heart strings. The powertrain in this car is, in my opinion, one of the very best BMW has ever produced.

Yeah, I saw it, thanks!

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by stavstavcc

Yeah, I saw it, thanks!

I was just looking at one more thing about that car and this pretty much makes it a perfect xDrive! It came with staggered wheels and tires (225/40 & 255/35 19) and that means it has the 840 high speed synchronization, aka the increased speed limiter. Now, in all honesty, I am a rwd snob, but the G20 3er is the first xDrive 3er to come with the 704 10mm lowered M Sport suspension. Previously xDrive always meant no sport suspension. This change is the reason I was willing to buy an xDrive model, but mine came with a square wheel and tire setup and therefore the lower speed limiter. Mine also lacked the adaptive suspension. The only thing that really could make this car any more perfect would be a few less miles, but it’s pretty hard to complain about 45k miles on a 2020 model.
https://bimmer.work/vin/f5a5ffccd1b2...bf07f/options/

[DontGetPassedOnTheRight]

Even a 330i is fast enough for most people. Similar smoothness, just less power. The G20 is almost identical in exterior dimensions to the E39, although the old steering feel is never coming back. I miss the hydraulic steering, but I don't miss having to top off the steering fluid...

If you want a similar-sized car that feels good to drive, consider a G20. It's not as comfortable and doesn't have as beefy of suspension as the bigger offerings even before adding air suspension into the equation, but it's slippery (low coefficient of drag) and eats up highway miles. The current 5 series is better in almost every way since 25 years ago, but it's much larger and may even feel boaty in non-M/sport trims. If you want a tank, consider an X5 or higher (or G63?).

[2heeldrive]

I had an e39 (2001 525i) for 15 years. I miss that car!

I think the e39 was the high water mark for BMW. Best driving, best looking five series ever. Of the new BMW's I have driven, none even come close to the road feel of the e39. I'm afraid the engineers that designed that car have left the building.

Modern BMW's have lost that locked to the road, on rails feeling. There are a lot of BMW's these days; maybe the M cars have more road feel. I don't have any experience with those. The only "new" BMW's that I have experience with are current generation, X3, X5, X7, 330ix, 540ix, 530ix, 740ix. Maybe someone with experience with M cars can share their experience.

The new cars have a much improved drive train compared to the e39. The turbo engines mated to the 8 speed ZF are amazing! It's like warp drive compared to my e39. So, what the new cars lack in road feel, they more than make up with horsepower.

The G20 3 series is essentially the same size as the e39. So... if you like the size, that's going to be the one. It's no e39, but it is much faster (even the 330i), has great brakes and is better in every way... except road feel.

See if you can get some seat time in the cars you are interested in. A quick road test is probably not enough time... although sometimes that first impression is pretty accurate.

Best of luck, and have fun checking out the new cars. They've made a few changes since the e39.

[2heeldrive]

Originally Posted by DontGetPassedOnTheRight

Even a 330i is fast enough for most people. Similar smoothness, just less power. The G20 is almost identical in exterior dimensions to the E39, although the old steering feel is never coming back. I miss the hydraulic steering, but I don't miss having to top off the steering fluid...

If you want a similar-sized car that feels good to drive, consider a G20. It's not as comfortable and doesn't have as beefy of suspension as the bigger offerings even before adding air suspension into the equation, but it's slippery (low coefficient of drag) and eats up highway miles. The current 5 series is better in almost every way since 25 years ago, but it's much larger and may even feel boaty in non-M/sport trims. If you want a tank, consider an X5 or higher (or G63?).

Fast enough indeed! The G20 330i's performance 0-60 and 1/4 mile are essentially the same as the e39 540i. That is pretty amazing considering that the 330i has less than half the displacement of the V8 in the 540i.

[BMthusiast]

I haven't driven it, but I'd guess the G80 CS is the closest there is to E39 chassis.